Terrorists

Extremely disappointed in President Obama

President Obama is not standing by his fellow Americans nor the victims of 9/11.

Clearly, he lost no one in NYC, VA, or PA. If he did, he would not be backing this mosque in Manhattan.

If he had lost his wife, do you think he would be talking about freedom of religion? No.

I think he would be saying things like: “3000 lost their lives on that day, and they don’t get to practice any religion.” “Screw freedom of religion.”

The only facts that are transparently clear here is: The Cordoba Initiative is using our US Constitution as a crutch and it’s sickening and disrespectful to everyone.

They should all be kicked out of the USA. They don’t understand American values. They honestly do not ‘get’ what 9/11 meant to Americans. Dont’ tell me the story about muslims dying that day too. I am fully aware. But those muslims would NEVER want you to build this mosque so close to where they were murdered – by their gravesite! They would say it’s wrong and very disrespectful.

This does not take a lot of intelligence. This is common sense and human decency. All other legalities and politics you want to shove into this you can. And that is what the Cordoba Initiative has done – because they knew that would be the only way to get this building approved in Manhattan, at this location, for this type of place.

If President Obama lost his mentor and closest friend Ted Kennedy in the Pentagon on that Tuesday morning, I think he would be saying things like: “Our founding fathers couldn’t have imagined such an atrocity. This is not what they had in mind when they invoked Freedom of Religion into our US Constitution.”

I would think those would be his words. Not, the opposite.

This obviously didn’t hit home enough for Obama. It surprises me about NYC Mayor Bloomberg, but I know he is in too big a jam to do anything about this.

Lets put this in perspective and state facts:

Fact #1: All of us against this mosque by Ground 0 aren’t arguing freedom of religion. We aren’t saying don’t build a mosque and we aren’t saying we don’t want you praying this religion.

So for NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Barack Obama to back their arguments with the ‘freedom of religion’ justification is pointless and weak.

Fact #2: What we are all arguing is the location – 2 blocks from Ground 0

This desired center could, absolutely, be built somewhere else in Manhattan and still cater to Manhattan muslims conveniently. In fact, Governor Paterson stepped in with an offer to help – to find another building (a state owned building) – that would suffice, so this sensative issue could be resolved, and everyone would be happy. But Soho Properties said no.

Why?

Ya know, they never answer the question of ‘why’ they want/have to be there. They just always raise the opposing question of ‘why not’.

Well, answer ours first. I think the larger majority of people against this have the right to know. I think your Governer has the right to know.

Cordoba Initiative can achieve their same “agenda” (please, joke) 3 blocks further away, or 5 blocks further away from Ground 0- if that is what they really want to do. They know this is absolutely wrong and idiotic. Yet they still are adamant about doing it at this location. Again, I ask why.

Why not move your location -if you know what you are doing is causing sooo much uproar, pain, hatred, anger, creating potential problems and putting many in very sticky situations. Why wouldn’t you change locations – if your interests are as you say they are: creating togetherness and collaboration.

If you aren’t even willing to work with 1 government official to keep peace in your city before your center is built, how on earth do you think you will accomplish ‘collobaration and togetherness and peace’ once your building is complete with thousands of Americans?

Please, Cordoba Initiative and Soho Properties, do not insult Americans’ intelligence.  We are fully aware of your bs.

Rep. Peter King makes a great statement today. My sentiments exactly:

“President Obama is wrong,” said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). “It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the President caved into political correctness. While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque, they are abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered so much,” King said in a statement. “The right and moral thing for President Obama to have done was to urge Muslim leaders to respect the families of those who died and move their mosque away from Ground Zero.”

So as I stated, Fact #2: The point at question here is the location. Everyone wants to bring up every other issue to divert the attention on the main one and sadly…no, pathetically, it’s working. Wag the Dog.

So, again, there is only one issue on the table here: Location. Move the location and there is no issue. There is no one protesting, there is no controversal topic anymore. It goes away in the news. No one is mad, no one is hurt. People don’t even give it a second thought. We all go on with our lives and the Cordoba Initiative builds whatever the heck they want to.

Fact #3: T his is about responsibility. You have that responsibility to your city and to your fellow Americans, as a person or company that wants to pursue business in that city with their fellow Americans.

And when what you are doing is causing significant problems and aggravation within your city, you stop. Responsibility and morality go hand in hand. Especially when we all know your desired ‘mission’ is never going to happen, and you know it too. Desiring a good thing or wanting to have an ideal environment is one thing, practicality in Manhattan, NYC in this situation, is another thing.

When you know what you are doing or building is causing such hatred, anomosity and pain to others, even before it’s completed, you live civilly within your community and you regard others, and you move your location. It is called common human decency. It’s called saving lives and not contributing towards deeper hatred, crimes and problems in your city.

I can’t imagine what Mayor Bloomberg is thinking. I want to chalk it off to a senior moment. It’s great he is all for ‘freedom of religion’. But I think he forgot to think about his position in office when he was so happy to give that statement in support of the mosque.  This will increase crime, violence, hatred. I see injuries and deaths, grafitti and constant protests in front of this building. What good does he see this doing for the city? His numbers will go down.

I forsee people attempting to destroy this building – arson or who knows (obviously not by me, but this too is common sense). Perhaps they will succeed –  and be willing to go to prison to stand up for what is right – doing so in honor of the victims of 9/11 – because their own elected officials and elected US President failed to stand up for them and for the majority of American citizens.

Does the Mayor and President not forsee the same things I do? Does government not know a key principle in business- where you troubleshoot with vision for problems? Tell them I offer business consulting services.

Does Mayor Michael Bloomberg realistically think Jews and Christians will walk into this place? Why would they need to? They can swim anywhere else or go to other performing art centers. NYC is filled with those! They certainly aren’t going there to pray!

Good Gosh? What are they thinking? They are trying to prevent political suicide, but if you ask me, they just committed it. They are sending the wrong message. As of 8/11/10, 70% of Americans were against it, CNN polling. Those numbers should tell them they need to stop supporting this mosque under the crutch of freedom of religion.

This is all a farse – this ‘colloboration and togetherness building’ the cordoba initiatitve says it will create once the center is done. They put a fancy name around a mosque and added a few amenitities in the building in hopes of creating a distraction and using it as grounds in it’s legal fight of ‘this is not just a mosque’.

I understand not all muslims are terrorists. What I am saying is, if you want to be a part of the community, and you are trying to educate others and send the message of peace and togetherness, then on such sensative issues, you listen to what is going on around what you are doing and you work with your govenor or whoever else is willing to help to allow you to achieve what you want, without causing such a roucus. You certainly do NOT conjure up or contribute to deapen the wounds of an unprecedented and historical criminal attack on the USA! Again, responsibility and morals…oh screw that -just human decency!

Fact #4: The very fact they are so wanting to pursue this despite all these things mentioned, shows alone, the character of people that comprise Soho Properties and The Cordoba Initiative. They show extreme lack of respect and almost a lack of care about 9/11. An even graver lack of respect, understanding and compassion to fellow Americans. It is almost as if they are inhumane. How could you even possibly think this is a good idea? No one in their right mind would.

And if your mission is such a good one, then why do you refuse to move your location? Why are you so against every non muslim american that is trying to help you get what you still want, yet not cause pain to other NYers or Americans? It doesn’t make sense. This to me, raises a lot of heightened questions of loyalty to the US and alterier motives.

The mere sentence that will be stated in the future: “there is one of the largest mosques in NYC 2 blocks from Ground 0″ is truly incomprehnesible to any intelligent and caring individual in the world. I have heard it even from my friends in Africa -a place that is predominately Muslim! Let’s not even forget the meaning behind the word Cordoba.

This is not about tolerance, this is not about ‘educating others about peaceful muslims’ this is not about togetherness/collaboration, this is not about freedom of religion. This is about an entirely different agenda that we have no idea the depths to that agenda. They won’t show who is funding this $100M project. Again, why not? They are required to actually, but  yet they want to fight this one too – or push it off as long as they can (time to doctor books).

They just want to fight and fight, cause anger, pain, sadness, cause problems, and breed more hatred. I don’t know – but to me, sounds like a group of people that study a religion that is known to have extreme versions in it. And it just so happens these groups of people are  in NYC, and ya know, want to adamantly build a huge mosque – just 2 blocks from Ground 0 – absolutely refusing to move their site location.

But even if you say that there is no other agenda, it’s all legit/upfront, etc. – their mission, standing alone, is absolutely unrealistic and them trying to achieve this mission will do much more harm than good.

Yet our government officials just close their eyes, make their statement and then walk away, not a care in the world about the problems that will (not might, but will) arise from this 15 story mosque/center being built by Ground 0. Because 9x out of 10, by the time this mosque/center is complete and they are ready to open their doors, these elected officials won’t be in office anymore, so it won’t be their problem.

So that leaves all us intelligent & logical people left to deal with this – and to presume nothing but pure cruelness and ill intent sits behind Soho Properties and Cordoba Initiatiave’s entire reason for creating this 15 story high mosque/center that overshadows Ground 0.

Simply because they have done the exact opposite of ‘building togetherness, collaboration and peace’ – before even opening their doors.

Shame on them. Shame on Obama.

Obama says he is “not commenting on the wisdom of the Islamic project” – or putting the mosque/center where they are – but Obama is missing the point. He doesn’t understand that is exactly what we are all mad about. In many eyes, by him backing this mosque, he is not opposing it – meaning he is accepting of it’s location. Otherwise, he would encourage freedom of religion but insist on a different location to keep peace among Americans.

Next month is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 – I can’t not think of worse timing for the President’s very poor decision. He will have balls going to the Pentagon or NYC on September 11th 2010 and giving some speech about honoring those that died.  By him backing this mosque by Ground 0, he will dishonor them every day, so long as this building exists.

His decision showed disloyalty to NYers, it showed disgrace to Americans. This is one political move he made at the wrong time for what he thinks will be a gain. If it is, it will temporary at least. That’s a big ego at the expense of many lives.

This isn’t about freedom of religion, this IS about the wisdom of this project/mosque. What is he backing? Nothing that doesn’t already exist in print. We needed our President to do more, to stand up for Americans. To send the appropriate message of:

“you can practice your religion, and we can’t tell you where, but we will require you to live by the civil laws of America – and that is you don’t knowingly disrespect fellow Americans in such mass numbers and cause them pain and anger so blatently. That is a civil wrong. As the President of the US, I will not stand for that. Human decency comes before any Constitutional laws. Our Constitution was written hundreds of years ago. Our today’s world demands this Constitution be taken within reasonable mind, thought and sensitivity to our current surroundings and environment with which we live today when it comes to enforcing it. That is the only way America will continue to function and lead so well in a global capacity. That is the America, I, Barack Obama, as your President, demand for peace and justice.”

Or something like that.

If he can’t even do this – why do we need a president? All the laws exist already – we elect him to do more.

$8.7 Billion of $9.1 Billion Unaccounted For

Speaks for itself: http://tinyurl.com/USmoneymissing

General McChrystal Out – General Petraeus In

Congrats Patraeus! Now I think we might just have a shot of serious impact!

I agree with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham -the switch of hands of Commanding Officer  in Afghanistan is the perfect time to reevaluate our strategy in AfPak and ’start over’.

We all know we won’t ever ‘win’ this war – this isn’t even a war really anymore. This is just an endless battle. If it were really a war -it would insinuate there could realistically and viably be a side that wins.

But in this fight – no side does. The Taliban and Al Qaeda extremist are never going to wipe us all out…and the USA is never going to wipe them all out.

It’s an idealistic strategy that doesn’t even rank in worthiness for the time to do the probable/possible test. It’s quite clear to see the answer anyway.

But – if we are going to pretend this is war – and we are going to have US Military engaged in battle overseas- now more than ever, we need to give a Serious Sustainable Kick in the Butt to these terrorists!!

Now more so than ever  - McChrystal doing the fine job of making some of the top  US  leaders & US Government look even more like a bunch of jokes (more so than what maybe we all have our personal opinions on anyway). We are now even more the laughing stock to the Taliban and Al Qaeda members…I can only imagine how long and how loud they were laughing when they heard McChrystal’s daring words.

At this point it is crucial, McChrystal’s stupidity or not. It’s been 9 years now and we haven’t made really an ounce of progress. We can’t keep doing this as we approach our 10th year at war. We need to send Petraeus overseas with a serious and dynamite blow-you-up plan to really shake these Taliban out of their hiding cells!!!

He needs to arrive with explosive umph and such power, that the fear we are trying to put upon these terrorists actually works for a change – and not only works – but works instantly – completely taking them off guard!

His presence needs to shake the ground so hard they fall to their feet and say ‘uncle’. He needs to whip massive transformation across the remote training camps, hiding villages and roadside bombs and stop at nothing – going full force 24/7- until our US military is actually the dominant fighter -not the tail chaser we have been for 9 years (not their fault, they are following orders).  General Petraeus needs to do a complete 180 of how things are done there if he wants to bring himself and our soldiers home alive, early and victorious.

We now have an open window of opportunity to seriously shake things up & make significant progress – as our soldiers will be lead by one of the best. So we should take complete advantage of this in every way we can. If anyone can do this – General David Petraeus can! But don’t send Petraeus over without a new strategy, without a new plan. It’s pointless if you do.

Maybe McCrystal committed professional suicide for a reason. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

He obviously did this purposefully. No one of his experience, age, stature, ranking is that stupid to make mistake after mistake after mistake in what you say to a magazine reporter. It was too instant and too easy for it to be a mistake. To me, this was akin to having drinks with Bin Laden himself. Mocking the US to the enemy.  No General is that careless – drinks or no drinks.

Makes ya wonder if McChrystal’s a double agent. Not too far fetched — there was so much disloyalty not only to those specific individuals he mocked, but to the US in general, to the US Military in general. I wonder if he realizes the actual reprecussion his words had in more ways than one.

Either way, McChrystal, Petraeus, Snoopy – this is AfPak fight is still what I call an mission impossible – and it really doesn’t make a difference who is Commanding General.

A Mosque at Ground Zero – NOT IN MY AMERICA!

If you are looking for a way to create an entire new level of absolute extreme hatred amongst the citizens of the USA against Muslim’s, then this is what you should build.

And if you are looking for a way to significantly insult Americans – NYers especially – and all those individuals that lost people in the towers – that now are referred to as Ground Zero, than this is what you should definitely build.

And if you are looking at a way to laugh at and mock- with the absolute cruelest undertone – the tragedy that occurred at this location on 9/11, then this is what you should build.

ABSOLUTELY NOT IN MY AMERICA!

Who is ready to join me in the largest petition that will circulate in the USA against this?

This is absolutely and unequivocally the largest amount of insult to injury any one person, group or business can do to NYers and to Americans!!!

I read this and enfuriation was all over me. And I wasn’t in NYC or DC on 9/11 and I didn’t loose anyone in this tragic event. I know people that did, but this isn’t even personal for me – so I can’t even imagine the hurt and outrage this is causing the people that lost loved ones that day or even reside in NYC.

If you think there is hatred in the world now against muslims – build this and you will see this hatred quantify overnight in mass numbers followed by enormous future killings and most likely worse atrocities.

I can not fathom the mindset of the backassward, ridiculous Cordoba Initiative leaders… that thought out of all the places in the USA  they should build a new mosque, the best place that came to mind was in NY, and it should definitely be in NYC, and better yet, not only in NYC, but at Ground Zero!!

Well, heck – why stop there? I mean, if you are going to build this – why not make part of it a mock Afghanistan terrorist training camp too? The 14th floor would be perfect for this – ya know – rooftop view, rooftop space, safe from flying bullets hitting people….etc.   It could truly be a ‘one-stop-shop where you meet all muslim (potential terrorists) needs’.

*Author’s note: I am fully aware not all muslim’s are terrorists, and I am not against all muslims – but the true fact is – they start by going to prayer at mosques -hint hint

Where is the Government when you (rarely, but) really need them?

How can this even be approved by any NYC building commissioner that has a heart and a conscious? How come the NYC commissioner, the NYC Mayor, the NY Governor and at this point, the President of the USA can not step in and say:

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

“NOT IN MY STATE!”  ”NOT IN MY CITY!”  ”NOT IN MY AMERICA”

This not just a piece of NY property.

This is exactly what today’s (Sunday, June 6 in Manhattan) protest organizer and conservative blogger Pamela Geller declared it: “a war memorial and a burial site”.

I don’t care what party you are – this is American Values backed protesting— not typical Democrat/Republican spats – and she is absolutely right!

This land is sacred and should only be earmarked for either a memorial dedicated to honoring those lost on 9/11 at this location, or a building of some type that doesn’t even remotely hint of anything religious.

At this point, McD’s would be better & more welcomed at Ground Zero than a mosque for muslims at Ground Zero!! (so long as this McD’s started serving healthier food GRIN

My gosh – this has to be a bad joke! Could there even be a hint of political agenda from the Govy for this?

This, the same time they want to put the exact muslim terrorists that outwardly boast they committed the 9/11 attacks on trial – right in NYC. Does this not add fuel to the fire to NYers, to Americans, to the victims of 9/11?  Are people/govy trying to turn one of the greatest cities of the USA into a mockery?

Background of 13 Story Center – To June 2010

This is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative. The Cordoba Initiative aims to improve relations between the Muslims and the West.

Daisy Khan of the ASMA told CNN’s Joy Behar on June 6th – that it “is a center that has a place for prayer in it.” It also will have a swimming pool, cultural arts area, etc.

Talk about tiptoeing around the truth!!!!!

I don’t curse – but this is one time worthy: “BS!!!!”

Its a mosque. A mosque is a mosque is a mosque – whether you put a swimming pool next to it or not.

I am a former investigator and this is what we call a “1/2 lie”. Half of it is true and 1/2 of it is not. It’s the latter part we then go further investigating.

Wake Up Call

This is NOT the place (location)  you try to make your point ‘that all muslim’s are not terrorists.’ Do that on a friggin blog!

If they build this – I imagine it might be the last thing they ever build in America and in supporting allied countries. This is unbelievable poor taste – truly despicable actually!

The President of the United States should immediately step in. Obama should swiftly issue an Executive Order declaring:

“Ground Zero is an area that is sacred ground – a war memorial and burial site. All potential developers/builders that desire to build there must go through a much more rigorous process to have any structure approved. This will include answering to all local, state, and federal authorities, due to the sensitivity of the location both for what occurred there in September 2001, and with regards to NYC being a high terrorist threat city.  They also will be required to have a much longer wait time for approval – so as to allow adequate time for the accurate assessment of public acceptance of any potential building/structure. This ‘adequate assessment time’ will last for at least one year, if not longer, should their be a significant divide amongst citizens of any kind. The ideal structure will be productive to the city of and citizens of NYC, and not in ANY way be offensive to any one person or group, be it race, religion or sex.”

There – I wrote it for Obama – so someone in DC/VA reading this – can you please rush this to him so he can have signatures on it by end of tomorrow?!

In the meantime, all those involved with forwarding this structure being built, I highly suggest you all get body guards – I can only presume many (but not me) will be coming after you for years!

I just wonder how you can look at yourself in the mirror every day. The chaos you will cause and the blood that will shed because of this mosque ‘center’ you want to build so greedily and thoughtlessly will make your shiny mirror quite messy.

Massive FBI Sting Operation goes Undereported

During the last quarter of 2009, a nation-wide, FBI led sting operation titled Operation Cross-Country IV netted 691 suspects who were indicted on charges related to child prostitution.

52 children, the youngest reportedly being 10 years old, were freed as a result of this operation. Enforcement actions took place in 36 cities; in Miami alone, 85 individuals were apprehended.

Despite the scope and severity of this sting operation, from the minimal amount of media attention it received, one would think the FBI had busted a pirated video game ring.

Of course, the media’s focus on more political issues such as the health care bill, breach of security at the white house, and airport security, etc.

This gross negligence of the media to address the startling results of this operation demonstrates our general obliviousness as a society towards the expansive threat of Human and Sex Trafficking.

Human Trafficking is the transportation of human beings as goods, or the illegal dealing and trading of human beings, most often for purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

Such unawareness, partnered with misconceptions, has enabled Human Trafficking to proliferate largely unchecked. CEO and founder of Project Meridian Foundation Nathan Wilson states, “Almost invariably, when I inform someone of my line of work, I am asked if Human Trafficking is actually that big of a deal in the United States. Well, you would never know from the scant attention which Operation Cross Country IV received, but its results clearly indicate that yes, yes it is. ”

Human and Sex Trafficking is not an isolated phenomenon; it is an enormously substantial issue. Sex Trafficking of children and young women makes up almost 80% of Human Trafficking; and labor Trafficking is a much lower percentage.

What is transpiring behind our backs is nothing less than a systemic corruption of our youth and our society. This problem goes beyond isolated incidents of sexual exploitation. Sex Trafficking has become a viable criminal enterprise which has proliferated within our borders; and most Americans are oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Human Trafficking is not merely “modern-day slavery,” as it is so frequently, and arbitrarily, termed, but it is a pivotal player in a wider, intricate web of corruption.

Human Trafficking, along with weapons and drugs, comprises the three largest sources of funding for worldwide terrorism. Likewise, organized crime and gangs rely on Sex Trafficking just as much as arms and drugs to keep their illicit operations going. Furthermore, the expansion of Human Trafficking networks, often for purposes of sexual exploitation, vastly increases the chances of spreading HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

As long as we refuse to acknowledge the scope of – or stay oblivious to -the extent of Human and Sex Trafficking, we allow its criminal corollaries to spread and further threaten our national security at a time in which our safety is paramount.

Furthermore, while these 52 children have been rescued from this atrocity, their futures are still hazy. At the moment, there are no sufficient safe havens for victims of Sex Trafficking to receive the proper and secure conditions for rehabilitation. This is a vital point of concern.

Most of those involved in the sex trade, despite what Hollywood might depict, are not hard-on-their-luck women looking to make some money to raise a family. Most are young children and young women forced into this inhumane ring of degradation against their will, and remain there under the constant threat of violence.

As such, there are significant dangers in rehabilitating Trafficking victims within city limits, where they can be susceptible to the reaches of organized crime and gangs or vulnerable to running away from their new shelters.

This is a critical issue which Project Meridian Foundation (PMF) is ardently working to address. PMF is actively advocating for the establishment of safehouses far outside of city limits, where victims of Trafficking can be recuperated with the proper health and psychiatric care, education, and vocational training.

Despite PMF’s passionate efforts, we have much work to do before this vision can be realized. Because Congress has failed to appropriate money to establish safehouses for victims of Human Trafficking, PMF is looking for concerned individuals who share our goals and our passion for justice and Human Rights.

If you are interested in learning more about Project Meridian Foundation and our work, or just educating yourself about Human Trafficking, please go to our website at www.projectmeridianfoundation.org . Even acknowledging this threat is helping to combat it.

*This blog information was taken from PMF’s press release on Jan 9, 2010 and altered slightly. PMF’s January press release is to inform the public about “Domestic Human Trafficking Awareness Day” which is now observed on January 11th of every year.

So please mark your calendar for this Monday, January 11, 2010 and go on my friend Nathan’s website to see if you can do something to contribute to erradicating this atrocity or helping increase awareness about it.

And remember to transfer this important date (1/11) every year in your calendar. Remember, this isn’t something that just happens in ungovernized regions, this happens in some of the biggest cities in America: Atlanta, Miami, Richmond,VA etc.

Here’s some more information:

About Project Meridian Foundation

Project Meridian Foundation (PMF) works to assist International, Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies by offering education and awareness training so they may identify and recover victims of human and sex trafficking. PMF strives to bring awareness to the most vulnerable youth in the United States between the ages of 11 and 17, as well as educating University students; and provides our country’s leaders, civic groups and other organizations with factual and relevant information empowering them to take action against human and sex trafficking. Project Meridian Foundation is preparing for the launch of Operation Safe House; an initiative to provide the victims of human and sex trafficking with shelter, healthcare, education, and vocational training so they can resume a normal life. Project Meridian Foundation is a tax deductible 501(c) (3) Organization with Federal Tax identification number EIN # 20-5052942.www.projectmeridianfoundation.org

We Should Thank the Terrorists

An odd statement I know. But if you think about it, the terrorists -Al Qaeda specifically – tells us where we are weak in focus in stopping them.

In the beginning of December 2009, after a very long and intensive decision process with his National Security Team, President Obama let the American people know his final decision to tackle the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was to send 30,000 more troops by the Spring 2010.

Not one peep about Yemen.

Now, Al Qaeda isn’t as large in numbers in Yemen in comparrison to the AfPak region, however, Al Qaeda recently (2008) attacked our embassy there. How come he didn’t consider beefing up troops there as well?

I mean if he is going to ponder troop numbers and his lofty and ideological plan to ‘disrupt, dismantle, and defeat’ Al Qaeda, you would think he would cover all countries where Al Qaeda has a decent size, and more importantly has recently (within 3 years or less) attacked a US establishment.

And it’s not even just the Embassy. Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen have attacked Western hotels and restaurants in the past as well – as we have come to learn via his 1st Weekly Address speech of 2010 on http://www.whitehouse.gov.

Three weeks after Obama’s December announcement, he is celebrating the holidays with his family in Hawaii. He learns that on Christmas, a 23 year old Nigerian attempts to blow up a plane headed from Amsterdam to the U.S. (Detroit  - Northwest flight 253). That Nigerian got the bomb materials and the instructions of how to successfully do this in Yemen.

Now, all of a sudden, all attention is on Yemen and everyone is scrambling to beef up training, security and military there. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is backing the USA 100% with the same.

So, if it wasn’t for this attempted terrorist attack, we wouldn’t be doing a thing in Yemen. It wouldn’t even be in print. I would take a shot to say that I am sure it wasn’t even a discussion during all these long and intense sessions with his National Security Team.

I am aware that those discussions were focused on the AfPak region, but remember Obama was working his team off the theory of his overarching goal – to ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda’. He wanted a plan of how to do that best.  In that case, Yemen should have been on the table.

So, we should really thank the terrorists.

I would never really, obviously…I think you get my point.

It also furthers my constant point: since 9/11 that the US is always chasing it’s tail when it comes to Al Qaeda. I laugh very hard when Obama tells the global world he is out to ‘disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda’ when they are just always very ahead of us.

They out number us by so many, and that’s the ones we know of (which are never correct statistics exactly),  let a lone all the Al Qaeda trained individuals we don’t know about yet. Al Qaeda is in virtually every country in some aspect, if not by trained killers, then by people who fund it or help orchestrate the situation for funding (organized crime, drugs, etc). This is an infinite number that is unchaseable, as it grows each day.

They dictate what we (global governments) do. They dictate how we act. They hold a constant threat over us everywhere. And they are incorporated into almost every decision being made today on a global scale in all facets of government. Even Corporate America is influenced by terrorists. Almost every business since 9/11 now has a Homeland Security department or something akin.

Their power is 10x the size of our biggest global players combined (America, Canada, UK, Europe, Mexico, etc.)

With that said, how does President Obama really believe he can make a dent in this organization? I constantly ask this.

You are dealing with individuals whose mindset is pure hatred against America and western countries, where human lives mean nothing to them (they behead and kill like we kill a mosquito) and more importantly when they themselves are willing to die to kill us. Their religious belief almost begs them too – the virgins on the ‘other side’, their families protected, etc. (reference the Koran).

There is absolutely no way we can even come close to stopping them unless we become like them. Where we put all ethics, morals, aside, and say ‘no holds bar”. Where we stop protecting civilians and we just fight and fight dirty until we can’t fight anymore.

The way we fight right now is wimpy. Not because our military is wimpy. Our militaries are incredible! It’s because our leaders have the false belief we can fight an enemy that is both visible and hidden with grace and constitutional law, empty words of trying to scare them, and without giving up our steadfast values, ethics and principles.

This is why the terrorists still succeed. They know this. This is actually our weakness when it comes to them. It’s our strength in other situations, but not with Al Qaeda and our fight against them.

When we alter our course of destruction against them because there are too many civilians in that area, we loose chances to win.  The terrorists know this and they use the civilians as their advantage.

Ex: Count the number of airstrikes, attack plans, etc. over the past 8 years that could have wiped out hundreds of thousands of terrorists that didn’t happen because civilians were in the vicinity.

So Obama can do all the troop increasing he wants. Unless he changes the rules of engagement, Al Qaeda will not only stay strong, they will get stronger.

We are no where near disrupting them, let a lone dismantling and defeating them. This was clear on Christmas 2009.

Keep in mind, just 3 weeks prior to this attempted attack, Obama bellowed out this power phrase proudly and confidently – how 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan was the strongest answer he could come up with for his strategy of ‘disrupting, dismantling, and defeating Al Qaeda’.

Yet, their attack plan still went through. Yemen didn’t flinch. It didn’t even deter them enough for them not to try to implement this attack. Because they know America doesn’t know what they are really supposed to do in this fight against Al Qaeda.  They just proved that even more. So much for Obama’s powerful statement.

The global governments, US especially, are focusing on all the wrong things. All we simply have to do is change the way we fight. And then I surmise, we will really see significant results. But we all know that will never happen – that’s just my ideological thinking I guess.

Since I would not advocate killing innocent civilians, and Obama wouldn’t engage in this either, then there just needs to come to the point of common sense of this all and realize that we  will never be able to ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda.’

Moreover, we can’t do the 3 D’s simply because we rely on the terrorists to tell us where we need to go next! It’s sad, but true.

They point out where we aren’t strong enough to have stopped them from an attack already, as in all the attacks (and failed attacks) that have taken place since before 9/11 even.

We wait until they try (or do) attack us, then we all react to the situation. We are a passive nation. Amazing a superpower is so demeaned by a bunch of men who live in the mountains and have no education.

When you are constantly reacting, and really have no clue of how to handle this (the words just sound great),  you are certainly not in the position to state we will ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat’ anyone or anything.

If we aren’t waiting for the attempted attacks to guide us, then I guess we are waiting for the day when our US President or global governments think 100 Al Qaeda members in Yemen is 100 too many and we should have taken those 100 out 2 years ago when they bombed our embassy, or just earlier overall.

I am aware we had Bush W. as a president then, who did zilcho on terrroism but create a conglomerate mishap of an organization (DHS). But that is no excuse now.

When Obama came into office he could have done more when he reviewed all Al Qaeda attacks on US establishments in the past decade (this is presuming he did this knowing we had a president for 8 years who didn’t handle anything).

Interestingly enough, when Obama first stepped into office in January 2009, he sent more troops to Afghanistan. It’s a hot topic, he acted appropriately.

He should have sent more troops to Yemen too.

Why? Because of the 2008 embassy attack and the others the President mentioned.

Why? Indeed because of the October 2000 USS Cole bombing that was devised and executed in Yemen!

This is a country that should have never left our site as much as it did. It went to the wayside simply because numbers of Al Qaeda members we larger in the AfPak region.

If they really understood Al Qaeda (which it’s obvious they don’t), they would grasp that numbers don’t matter with a terrorist group like Al Qaeda. They don’t need hundreds to be powerful.

The United States benchmark for how we assess where Al Qaeda is strong and where we should take action is based on numbers. We constantly make the same mistake with that assessment qualifier.

So, Al Qaeda taught us again. Yemen has about 100 Al Qaeda terrorists. Apparantly that wasn’t justifiable enough for us to take stronger action – until now, when an attack almost happened, parts of which originated from Yemen.

The terrorists just keep teaching us lessons, and I state that we should thank them because it reveals our weaknesses.

America has this theory that they are so smart with ‘power phrases’ that have zero substance behind them.

In the meantime, the terrorists just keep dangling our weakness in our faces, keep laughing at us, keep plotting more, and show the world we are no less prepared today than we were in September 2001 – yet we have we spent billions of dollars on each year on this.

If it wasn’t for the bomb malfunctioning, and for the passengers jumping to take action (since when are passengers responsible for US security) then we would have a tragic situation on our hands.  The US got lucky.

So why should we thank the terrorists?

It made the U.S. wake the heck up and realize that Al Qaeda doesn’t have to be large in numbers to be successful. And it made the US and UK realize that Yemen is a stronger haven for a powerful Al Qaeda than what they have currently given focus and manpower on.

This is why I laugh when Obama says we will ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda’. That would require we are ahead of them already. But we aren’t.

We can’t ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda’ without them helping us. And Al Qaeda ‘helping us’ means they are always closer to being more successful than before.

And then the cycle continues….we react, send more troops….etc etc etc.

5 Blackwater Guards go Free – Iraq Infuriated

Oh boy. Just when we thought things were steady and okay with Iraq and US relations, the recent U.S. District Judge’s ruling on New Years Eve day to allow the 5 Blackwater guards to go free  - is just asking for serious problems.

I forsee the Taliban and extremist groups trying to make their way back into Iraq and gather up all those angry Iraqi civilians and say “hey, you mad enough at America now?, come join us in our fight against America” I wouldn’t be surprised if they got new recruits from this.

Round 2 in Iraq with the Taliban…so much for troop withdraw there.

I am aware a judge does not need to make his ruling with geopolitical considerations in mind, and I would never want a judge to rule on anything but the facts and the law, but also be sensitive to our current 21st century and global community (ie: technology, terrorist situation, etc).

So, perhaps due to the delicacy of this situation, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina might have let some White House Administration members know his ruling before he issued it, so they could do some damage control before this went globally viral on the news. I am sure this ‘tip’ could have happened – this is D.C. afterall.

The biggest problem with this court ruling is that Iraq’s claim/perception (”America is above the law”) will dominate  - as the truth (prosecutors messed up) gets muddled, reduced to one line in small print, and glossed over very easily, depending on who will be reporting it.

But as a criminal justice major and a former paralegal, and from the information reported about why the judge  ruled the way he did, the judge ruled correctly.  The fact we all know these Blackwater guards committed murder freely and openly is another story, and the judge didn’t deny that. But his final ruling is based on the U.S. Constitutional Law, and on evidence.

The event: These Blackwater chaps allegedly opened fire during the day in September 2007 in Nisoor Square, in Baghdad on innocent Iraqi civilians without provocation as the roads were being cleared by Iraqi police for Blackwater’s convoy to pass through (a usual routine) as they were guarding the State Department. They killed 17  Iraqi’s and wounded dozens of others.

So these 5 Blackwater guards aren’t going free because they didn’t commit this atrocity on innocent civilians in Iraq, but on a technicality that the federal prosecutors messed up on.  So the prosecutors are at fault, not the judge, or America.

Here is why. The federal prosecutors had originally promised these guards that their information/testimony wouldn’t be used in court, but it was necessary for part of the internal inquiry.

But because the prosecutors didn’t have their own sufficient evidence to hold all 5 men accountable for this crime, they used these testimonials from which to build their case upon and gather information.

So, in essence, when they tried to use these testimonials, they were thrown out. Subsequently, anything that was related to these testimonials as evidence became null and void.

Since the prosecutor’s case was too weak to prove evidence was sufficient beyond a reasonable doubt without this, the judge ruled there was lack of evidence and dropped the charges on 12/31/09.

The judge did his job and did his job appropriately. The federal prosecutors did not, because they went back on their word. Now, most likely, America will pay dearly for this.

I restate: I doubt many will understand or accept this fine point -the validity behind this ruling – as the majority of the public globally likes to focus on the negative or on incorrect information to help justify their rage. So the rage of  ”America thinks they are above the law” will build powerfully day after day as we start off a new year.

A new hatred has just formed against America – and it’s not just by the civilians, it is by the Iraqi officials as well, and this one will be powerful.

It’s power will stem from 3 primary reasons:

1. The crime and ruling being more current (2007 & 2009),

2. The recently surfaced information of how significantly horrendous the Bush W Administration for 8 years justified and orchestrated America’s actions overall, but more specifically, in terms of the Iraq war

3. The global community – even many Americans like myself, believe these 5 Blackwater Guards should be found guilty for these senseless and brutal murders. But most likely, the bandwagon rage will surface from other countries

This is a contagious new hatred. All facets of American power (US Military, White House Administration, Congress, The Federal Reserve, Wall Street) need to pay attention to to this seriously, as the trickling effect will happen quicker than America will be prepared for it. I surmise it’s already happened.

I am sure President Obama and his team will do all they can to reassure Iraq that we should keep good relations, etc. but it was our US Government that dictated terms of allowing  immunity for Blackwater guards to not be tried in Iraq for any crime they commit, and it is our US Constitution that just dictated their freedom. If Obama puts himself in Iraq’s shoes, he might realize a lot of smooth talk won’t really work in this situation.

So now Iraqi officials are determined these Blackwater guards will be held accountable in Iraq. I don’t blame them. If the situation were reversed, you better believe America would be doing the same.

I am not sure how Iraq is going to do this without declaring war on America or something like that – unless Obama and his government counterparts do some quick inking and allow these 5 men to be tried in Iraq.

To me, this wouldn’t be such a tough a decision – logically. Make 5 men who are a member of a mercanary style organization take accountablity for their actions and face court in Iraq, or put millions of Americans (and any others on America soil) and our US troops in Iraq in serious and imminent danger relatively immediately.

Remember, the Taliban still exists in Iraq and can pull together quite quick for retaliation on Americans. Although at this point, the rage is so strong, I don’t even think you need the Taliban to do anything, there are so many Iraqi civilians right now that probably want to shoot Americans and American soldiers dead. I think the civilians would be willing to pick up a gun and do it themselves.  They might even call themselves a new insurgent group: “Blackwater Revenge”.  Boy, this is a mess.

But wait, I said logic & Obama (US Government). So most likely that means it won’t happen.

There will be all these political ties and secret threats and special requests from so many and from a million different angles that Obama will be pushed into a very tight corner.

The only saving grace Obama has is if the Justice Department appeals the ruling or goes for different indictments which is what is on the agenda it seems.  I imagine if they don’t do this, some in the Justice Department will be looking for a new job soon. Obama will almost demand it. It’s his America that is on the line, (aka: it’s his ratings).

The global world will be watching how America handles this delicate situation as we begin a new year.

*Suggestion: If you are an American or other country citizen and are unfamiliar with this event, and/or are questioning in your mind whose story you believe (Iraqi’s or 5 Blackwater guards), please read” Blackwater” by Jeremy Scahill. It was an international best seller.

*Notation: Since this event in 2007, Blackwater changed its management team and changed it’s name to Xe.

Best Kept Secret for 13 Years

This new announcement the Osama bin Laden tried to assassinate former President Bill Clinton when he was at the APEC meeting in the Phillippines in 1996 is just oh so appropriate…as this week, the troop increasement officially begins with the first 1,000 US Marines heading to Afghanistan with a less than favorable support from the American public.

Sounds like Obama is getting a bit more heat than anticipated and they need to pull out all the tricks they can now to gain support of this insurgency in Afghanistan. No better than to show this ace card!

The event: The terrorists were actually minutes away from success as Clinton’s motorcade was set to go over a bridge in Manila that had explosives on it, when Secret Service got a quick message from intelligence sources saying ‘bridge’ and ‘wedding’ — wedding is the terrorist code word for assassination.  They quickly rerouted. American intelligence sources later found explosive devices under that bridge. It wasn’t Osama bin Laden himself of course, it was one of his affiliates in Al Qaeda acting on his behalf.

Now, Bill Clinton at the time of his presidency chose to keep this assassination attempt quiet. I am sure he had his reasons.

Key Secret Service and Intelligence officials in many agencies knew and seemed to be good to keep this quiet for 13 years.

All of a sudden, it’s worthy to be known.

So what do you think changed everyone’s mind, all of a sudden?

Do you think it’s just because Professor Gromley’s book is set to release? He’s the one who writes about this.

I doubt it.

My theory – Obama needed this edge to remind people of how important it is to spend our taxpayer money to get good ole bin Laden and to stop his globally conglomerative organization.

Obama’s justifications for this insurgency  - or what he calls reasoning – are weak, if at best, and he and his Administration believe this piece of information might relate to more people.

Big chance to take – hoping people will be sucked into this one because they liked Clinton – and now all of a sudden will be okay with our taxpayer dollars funding this almost 9 year ridiculous war.

Gotta hand it to our crafty govy folks – this one’s a goody to pull out of the bag!

For one second, they almost got me even (as I liked Clinton).

An extra umph to this strategy –  this now helps Secretary of State Hillary Clinton justify her support of Obama’s plan even more so.

Afterall, this is her husband, our former US President for 8 years, who outside his sex scandal, did a phenomenal job, and a man who is continuing to make significant contributions globally through his non profit, The Bill Clinton Foundation.

I am sure Hillary knew of this assassination attempt right after it happened, but still, this ‘news flash’ gives her umph in her position today even more so, as to why she stands behinds Obama’s decision.

Keep in mind, Obama’s polling rates dropped a lot since the beginning of December on multiple issues, the war being one.

Indeed, his team needed to think of something quite clever to have these numbers move back up before 2010 rolled in.

Outside those 3 working weeks in December, there wasn’t much time, as the President is on vacation in Hawaii for the holidays, so he wouldn’t be doing much ‘heroic’ presidencing between Christmas and the New Year.

If this works, one would say it’s perfect timing —-and everyone knows timing is everything in politics and war.

Savvy authors and publishers won’t release a book until a certain time when they know a subject matter will be hotter than any other time of the year to increase a higher chance of sales quicker in a shorter amount of time.

The government invented this strategy years ago (as a way to manipulate the American citizens).

Our elected officials and those in our government agencies not only invented this strategy, but over the years, they have perfected it. They are quite slick  - always picking the ‘appropriate times’ to release classified information to the American citizens and/or global world.

Believe me, they don’t just wake up one day and say, “hey, how about we release xx info today to give the media something to write about in case it’s slow for them”.

This ace…this best kept secret for 13 years…well, there is a heck of a lot of political, military and presidential strategy behind this one – and I am sure there is more about this strategy than just this war and Obama’s ratings. More will be revealed in 2010, no doubt.

I surmise numerous interviews with Bill Clinton will be first. Bill obviously knew once this book was released and this precious secret was revealed, that interviews would be requested.

Perhaps there is a bigger Democratic reason why Bill Clinton needs to be in the spotlight more so now than he already is.

Poor Hillary, overshadowed by her husband, yet again.

I am very glad Bill Clinton wasn’t assassinated, but this doesn’t change my opinion at all. No matter what way you color it or state it, I don’t support this AfPak war. So this didn’t work on me. How about you?

0% proof – A Better Plan for our Troops

We are sending more troops to Afghanistan to stop the Taliban and the Al Qaeda network.

In the Fall, Zazi had a planned terrorist attack in NYC on their transportation system on the 8 year anniversary of 9/11.

Today, December 25th, Christmas, a Nigerian with Al Qeada connections boarded a blane headed for Detroit and attempted to set off his bomb that was strapped to his body shortly before landing. He was only partially successful thankfully. The device came from Yemen.

I have blogged about this before, but I hate venting without offering a solution. I have given this more thought and have increased my solution suggestion based upon the events that have unfolded these past few months.

To restate, we can send thousands upon thousands of troops forever to Afghanistan and we will never ‘deter’ or ‘dismantle’ or ’stop’ these terrorists like Obama claims we can.

There is 0% proof sending more troops to this country will make even the slightest dent in this organization or make the US or global world safer from these extremists. When you look at it from these situations, there really is 0% proof.

No one has really challenged Obama (or McChrystal) , on the percentage of proof. They have challenged him on the strategy, on the dollars spent, but not the proof that his belief/wish can realistically happen.

A strategy always sounds good and can make asking authorities loose focus of the proof. A strategy also always sounds great – until someone comes up with a better one. It’s not too late for my better one.

The locations I am reading about that affect me, an advocate for the US Military, both in voice and donations and as an American citizen are: Colorado, NYC, Detroit, Pakistan,Yemen & Africa.

Right here, right now – that’s real. What almost happened a few months ago and almost happened today is my reality. NOT what is happening in a country that is thousands of miles away and one we will never be able to ‘clean up’ to achieve the objective Obama wants.

No where in all of 2009 have I read that Afghanistan is the actual, truest, most  immeninet and serious threat to unarmed civilians in the U.S. Please note the extreme difference I am bringing to the forefront here when I am making my point.

I am not saying an overall threat.  I am saying the threat that all us unarmed civilians care about each and every day – the threat that is very serious and very immeninet. The threats that are taking place in the US. The attacks that are almost happening, more too close for comfort than I prefer these past few months.

We all know that 1000 US Marines leave next week for Afghanistan as the start of the 30,000 troop increasement. And the remainder military surge from US military and our allies troops will be there in the Spring 2010.

So, do you feel any safer today knowing that? Ask someone from NYC. Ask someone from Detroit. Even if not from those cities, ask anyone.

Do you think that what they do over in Afghanistan will really affect the terrorist attacks – that as I mentioned in a previous blog, are already planned and the sleeper cells just waiting for orders?

If you ask me, the taxpayer footing Obama’s wish, I could care less about trying to stop this organization that can never be stopped. I am smart with my money and this is not a wise investment. I am also a realist, and know his mission is lacking 100% proof and is filled with campaign ideology.

What I do care about is the threat of me getting on a plane or the threat of me getting on a subway system, etc.

Where is Obama’s 100% proof that he can protect me today in America, when just these past 4 months, 2 attacks almost happened under his leadership? Why isn’t he spending my tax payer dollars more on Homeland Security than on something he knows, if he looks in the mirror hard enough, can’t be achieved in Afghanistan.

No one’s polled me to ask me how I want my taxpayer dollars spent. That’s not right either, as it’s my money.  So I am stating clearly,  that’s what I want my taxpayer dollars to go to supporting. I would rally behind Obama if he took those military troops and stationed more of them in locations such as Africa or Pakistan, or in the predominant cities of the US in the primary target locations – transportation, infamous buildings, etc. Your average security people who patrol these are just not trained like the military to spot the terrorists. We could use more military presence in these locations.

And it is clear the source of origin is just as powerful in Yemen as it is in Afghanistan. And it is just as powerful in parts of Africa as it is in Afghanistan. Ditto for Pakistan. Yet we are not sending any more troops to these locations than are already there.  Why?

If Obama really wants to make a dent in ‘detering and dismantling and stopping the Taliban’ and Al Qaeda, frankly he needs to do an insurgency in many locations simultaneously as a massive kick in the butt to the terrorists.

Otherwise, we just move the terrorists out of one location and into another country. You attack with more power in Afghanistan, they will just move more over to Pakistan and Yemen and Africa. They travel quick and easy.

And then the cycle repeats itself – they will grow faster in numbers in those locations before in a few years, we decide it’s time to do an insurgency in them too. 10 year war. Wag the dog. Chase the tail. Reactive not proactive. They are always ahead of us. Someone will one day write the book of history on the military in the 21st Century, and it won’t be pretty.

Government decisions really aren’t that hard. You don’t need to be a genius or have a law degree to figure these ‘decisions’ out. Some common sense, logic and maybe some business savviness is all you need – and you would come up with a much more public acceptance, doable, realistic, less costly solution.

You must hit all the places the Taliban and Al Qaeda thrive all at once. It’s the only way to attack efficiently. That is, if Obama really wants to do this – and he isn’t doing it just to look good.

This is simple sports 101 or business 102. A business owner wouldn’t send out a marketing message to only one country if the business was international. The business person would hit all countries so the competition couldn’t get a chance to get ahead. A basketball team wouldn’t block just one player, they would block the whole team.

You can not single out one country to surge in on when the Taliban is massive in numbers in more than one country, and their power is just as efficient and just as powerful in those other countries as it is in the original source country where they were formed out of.

I think my reasoning makes more sense than Obama’s. And I would support this plan and be glad my taxpayer dollars are finally being put to logical and efficient use. So Obama  is more than welcome to take my idea – I am almost begging him to.

0% proof or a better plan of attack?

Senseless lives lost and wasteful money spent, or better use of our taxpayer dollars and a stronger, more strategic way to keep us all safe right now, today on our homeland soils (and maybe even actually make that dent that Obama wants to ‘deter, dismantle and stop the Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists’).

You choose.

There is still time for your voice to be heard, before the 29,000 more are deployed.

Attempted Terrorist Attack on Northwest on Christmas Day

Northwest Airline is really getting slammed this latter part of 2009.

Just last month, you had 2 pilots that overflew their landing destination by hundreds of miles and an hour outside of their landing time because they were on their laptops, even though they had started their descent to land. Schedules on the laptop was more important than the huge plane they were supposed to land.

Today, on Christmas Day 2009, a Nigerian with ties to Al Qaeda ignited an explosive device that consisted of a powdery substance that was in a plastic bag strapped to his body. The flight originated from Amsterdam Netherlands, and was headed to Detroit, Michigan. He did this just about 20 minutes before it landed.

Thursday, he left Lagos, Nigeria on a KLM flight to Amsterdam. Friday, 12/25/09 he left Amsterdam on Flight 253. He previously acquired the explosive device in Yemen and it is now in Quantico, VA  FBI labs for further testing.

This 23 year old Nigerian, has not been 100 % identified yet. Some media news stations say his name is Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Rep. Pete King, a ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, says it is Abdul Mudallad. Apparantly, Umar’s name is in the FBI counterterroism files and might have been a name listed as a person not allowed entry into the U.S.

Presuming FBI’s identification is a bit more spot on than a legislators, and it is Umar,  stating that he “might have been” sounds like a stall tactic for the FBI and TSA to figure a great explaination of how this man got passed security not only with his name, but with the substances he had.

There were 278 passengers on board and one of them and a flight attendant jumped the Nigerian to stop him and put the flames out on his body. The plane did an emergency landing at 11:31 am EST.

Thankfully, no one was hurt or killed, outside of the terrorist. I don’t think Americans are prepared to handle another airline terrorist tragedy, let alone handle any more bad news at this point, and on Christmas Day to boot.

This will be interesting to follow to find out how this man got through the screening and how his substance was not picked up either. Obviously the bigger question being – just how good is security in airports globally?

On the topic of security, currently, the U.S. threat level is already ‘high’ or orange. So why aren’t they raising it to even a higher level?

U.S. Homeland Security defines high or orange as “high risk of terrorist attack’. That means it could happen more today than 8 years ago (9/11 attacks) basically. They define ’severe’ or red as “severe risks of terrorist attacks”

Well I don’t know about you, but a man who is tied to Al Qaeda that was able to ignite the device in the plane, caused flames, etc (it just didn’t completely work) with the intent to blow up the plane justifies the word ’severe’  a whole bunch more to me than it ‘it’s possible’.

Who makes these judgement calls? Too much eggnog Homeland Security Napolitano? If she doesn’t call it, Secretary of State Clinton should. Unbelievable!

Keep in mind, it was December 21, 1989 when a Libyan terrorist bomb blew up a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland and everyone on board and many on the ground were killed.

So had this attack today been successful, we would be looking at a very close repeat of a transnational flight being bombed around/on Christmas, with yet another origin/source from Africa,  20 years later. History repeats itself.

If this does not raise the threat level, then what does? An actual successful terrorist attack?

The purpose of threat levels is to make us extra aware. It states reality. Reality happened to day. It shouldn’t take the act of a successful attack to make this level rise!  By then it’s pointless, because the world will already be too scared to get on a plane for some time, yet again.

I think ’severe’ or red is more appropriate… but wait, that probably means Obama’s ratings will go down —well then, no more needs to be said.

Not a very Merry Christmas for the CEO of Delta. Something about Northwest flights and landing doesn’t seem to be going quite smooth these days. Wonder if he is second guessing this Northwest merger.

I know I won’t be boarding one of their flights for a while.

I think many will be counting their blessings this Christmas Day 2009.