Big Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is up to its neck in funding of Sunni insurgents in Iraq who have and continue to kill our troops. They also do a lot to fund terrorism around the globe.

The real threat is the existence of conditions which allow terrorism to grow within third world countries, such as poverty, ignorance, lack of adequate health care and human rights.

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Those are the conditions which exist under the rule of self-serving dictators. The seeds of terrorism are sown in this environment and gradually grow to maturity. The mistake we make is that once terrorism rears its ugly head in a country, we support the dictatorship even more, thereby losing the trust and respect of the average citizens in that country. Someone in the United States might say, “How can anyone choose an extremist form of Islam over democracy?” But if America supports your leader and you’re living on a dirt floor while your baby is dying and your brother is rotting in prison because he spoke his mind, you might think, “How could radical Islam be any worse than the way I have it now?”

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If we wish to stop the rising tide of terrorism we must stop supporting or tolerating dictators and let the people of the country know this. At the same time we must encourage and help growth in the economy, education and human rights of these countries and not the military weaponry of tyrants.

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War is a poor answer to a human problem; a diplomatic problem. Don’t let the militaristic neoconservatives lead you to believe the only road to peace is by the gun. They are wrong.

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The threat and fear of radical fundamentalist Islam is morphing into a paranoid dread of all Islam.

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An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind
Mahatma Gandhi


U.S. plans big arms sale to Saudi Arabia-report
28 Jul 2007 03:27:23 GMT
Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N27335578.htm

Are we now picking a side?

Will it be the Sunnis?

If we align with the Sunnis are we unwittingly siding with those tolerant to supportive of Al-Qaeda? It seems we may be doing exactly that.

Are we seeking support from both Saudi Arabia and radical elements among the Sunnis, loyal to Al Qaeda, for an attack against Iran?

Are we doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia?

Are we going to attempt to replay the old Iran-Iraq war? It sure seems we may be heading in that general direction.

Where is the national debate?

Where is the congressional authorization?

Where is the Bush administration credibility on intelligence leading to military adventurism?

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Saudis reportedly funding Iraqi Sunni insurgents

Updated 12/8/2006 7:29 AM ETCAIRO (AP) —

Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.

More…

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-12-08-saudis-sunnis_x.htm

Hersh: U.S. Funds Being Secretly Funneled To Violent Al Qaeda-Linked Groups

New Yorker columnist Sy Hersh says the “single most explosive” element of his latest article involves an effort by the Bush administration to stem the growth of Shiite influence in the Middle East (specifically the Iranian government and Hezbollah in Lebanon) by funding violent Sunni groups.

More…

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/25/hersh-qaeda

US confirms it is arming Sunni insurgents

John Byrne Published: Sunday June 10, 2007

The U.S. military has confirmed that it is arming Sunni insurgent factions to try to contain al-Qaida in Mesopotamia, according to a report in Monday's New York Times by veteran Iraq correspondent John Burns."With the four-month-old increase in American troops showing only modest success in curbing insurgent attacks, American commanders are turning to another strategy that they acknowledge is fraught with risk: arming Sunni Arab groups that have promised to fight militants linked with Al Qaeda who have been their allies in the past."

more...

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/US_confirms_it_arming_Sunni

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US has been covertly arming Gulf States since 2004, officials say
Larisa AlexandrovnaPublished: Wednesday August 1, 2007
US has been covertly arming Gulf States since 2004, officials say'

$20b arms sale to Saudi Arabia ‘done deal’
A recently disclosed US agreement with Saudi Arabia for a 10-year, $20 billion dollar arms sale is a “done deal,” according to intelligence officials and experts familiar with the negotiations.

more...

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/US_has_been_covertly_arming_Gulf_0801.html

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Saudi Time Bomb
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/

from Amnesty International…
Human Rights Concerns: Saudi Arabia
http://www.amnestyusa.org/Saudi_Arabia/Human_Rights_Concerns/page.do?id=1101942&n1=3&n2=30&n3=980

from Human Rights Watch…
Saudi Arabia
http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=mideast&c=saudia

executing the rapture

I don’t believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again.
Anne Frank
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Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour
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The willful misinterpretation of the Book of Revelations is behind much of current conservative Christian right-wing fundamentalist speculation, not only about this country but the Middle East and the world as well. Too, often this speculation is used to incorrectly determine who is on God’s side; the countries, its leaders and citizens, who are feared to be in league with the end time desires of Satan and as a result, the enemy of the ‘Christian Nation of the United States of America’.
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Some are being tempted to aid or bring about a world situation, that they believe, will lead to the rapture by executing some grand design to force the hand of God to the will of those who would like to steal His plans to justify their own limited vision and corrupt goals.
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Accepting incorrect speculation about the ‘end times’ unfortunately causes some highly impressionable Christians to willingly yield, whether through ignorance or fear of losing worldly comforts, whatever spiritual virtues or values they’ve gained from the Gospels to the whims of Power, its control, greed, discrimination and destruction.
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This misinformation (which I believe the educated leaders absolutely know to be untrue) is used to violate what Christ explained to us was the second most important commandment, ‘to love one another’. Fear, ignorance and paranoia are, and have always been, the ultimate tools of evil and can and often do exist on all sides of any conflict. Evil does exist but it is an action not a person or group of people.
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Terrorism is an example of an evil tool used by some sects of radical fundamentalist Islam. Its existence among these groups does not indicate that all followers of Islam are in league with evil as many equally radical Christian fundamentalists in this country would like us to believe. The Bible or the Koran can be and often is used by the unscrupulous to dehumanize an enemy, in a far too often, successful attempt to justify horrendous acts of violence and collateral damage against any who fall under the unforgivable label of evil. Too often, this presumptive attitude is so pervasive within this culture as to include a Calvinistic determination of who is loved by God or who is left poor, sick or disabled which may lead to a dangerous goat-like deceptive self-opinion.
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I remember hearing of a painting where Jesus was depicted as a junky. I never saw the painting and I don’t care to or need to because I’ve embellished on it in my mind. I picture a Christ-like figure in a urine soaked alley with empty liquor bottles and needles nearby. I consider it a holy image. Why? Because I think we should insult Christ or say He’s something He’s not? No! It reminds me that we are supposed to see the suffering Christ in the most lowly of individuals. That Jesus is served best when we show love, mercy, and caring for all those in society especially those who, for whatever reason, are most looked down on or deemed unacceptable.
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I do believe that the Book of Revelation does teach that the spiritual battle against evil is a global battle but, it’s a struggle destined to be won within the hearts and souls of the individual (each and every one of us). However, He brings about the culmination of all Earthly things it really isn’t any of our business, in fact I believe serious speculation into His business to be a serious sign of a lack of trust.
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I know people are worried about that number (666) but a little faith in God should let you know He’s not going to let you sink beneath the waves of the mythological meaning of that number unaware of what you are doing. This book teaches us to relentlessly cling to the teachings of Christ, to trust what he taught and to understand that whatever worldly cost we may have to endure He will be victorious in the end.
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The greater part of faith is trust.
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Christians United for Israel: New Christian Zionism Lobby Hopes to Rival
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/15/1326256
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"As an essential part of its fight against all forms of terrorism, the international community is called to undertake new and creative political, diplomatic and economic initiatives aimed at relieving the scandalous situations of gross injustice, oppression and marginalization which continue to oppress countless members of the human family. History in fact shows that the recruitment of terrorists is more easily achieved in areas where human rights are trampled upon and where injustice is a part of daily life."
Pope John Paul II
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The Passion for so many centuries has been used incorrectly to justify anti-Semitism. The Jews didn’t kill Christ. Power, feeling threatened killed Jesus. The Religious authority threatened by His popularity and expressed ideas feared He would bring unfavorably dangerous attention to them and their community from occupation powers. But most of all they feared and loathed the challenge to their authority. The politically unpopular occupation appointed governor feared any threat to his power or negative attention from occupation rulers. The occupation administrator of the land feared for local instability and any career-ending negative attention upon himself. When the people were granted the traditional holiday choice of freeing a prisoner they choose the violent insurrectionist, their freedom fighter, over the man of love and peace.
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Those were the choices that resulted in the death penalty for Jesus. We’re wrestling with these same choices to this very day in our land and around the globe.
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The corrupt self-centeredness of power is not surprising but why do people so often willingly chose violent ways over that of peace. The people who yelled for the insurrectionist undoubtedly felt they were in fact loyal followers of their faith who, living under an unjust occupation and feeling threatened, were making the proper patriotic choice of God and country.
Al Franken's SUPPLY SIDE JESUS


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Isn’t it just typical?
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You’ve got the long haired guy who talks about peace and love.
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“This sandal wearing self proclaimed ‘know all the secrets of
the universe’ genius” who even wants some kind of forgiveness
for our enemies, which we all know is just another word for amnesty for those who hate our freedom.
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Liberals are always soft on those who wrong us. The worst part about this guy, who we all know doesn’t have a job, is he’s attracting the attention of our enemies. It’s traitorous, because he’s making us look like we’re not united, that we don’t support our leaders, and then that makes all these horrible people just fight harder and harder and harder. Why, because they think they can outlast us.
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If that’s not giving aid and comfort to the enemy I don’t know what it is. He's a traitor!
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You’re not stirring up trouble, you wouldn’t act like that guy, so what would you be doing?
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Well………You would be cheering the freedom fighters. For the guy who stood against those who stood against God, who harassed your family, who rounded up people and locked them away, humiliated, tortured and murdered. He would be a hero for having the courage to stand against those who picked your leaders.
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You would be screaming for……
Barabbas!!!
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Everything Christ talks about here is exactly what the conservatives attempt to denigrate liberals with, what they seem to believe is the derogatory expression of ‘bleeding heart’.
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Jesus said to his disciples:
"To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
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To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
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Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
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But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
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"Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
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Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."
Luke 6-27-38
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Jesus explains well what it means to be a good follower of His; a good explanation of one type of Cross He has asked us to bare. Also, for those of us who dare to call ourselves Christian it’s a good example of how to be a ‘bleeding heart liberal’.
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"We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bagdad - still a bloody mess

If our presence in Iraq is futile or more destructive to them and us than our absence then we must leave.

The very minimum the United States should do is;

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* Make certain that the world and the Iraqi people know we have no intention of having permanent bases.

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* Turn over the building of the country to the people who live there.

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* Apologize to the nation the Iraqis and the world for the lies that were used to start this war and the crimes that were committed during the occupation. President Bush and Vice President Cheney should both resign. If they won’t resign then they must be impeached.

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* Bring ALL neighboring countries into discussions on the future of Iraq and the region.* We should be listening to Murtha and the others who have plans for a phased withdraw and redeployment. Plans? We Got Plans

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* We must also be doing something along the lines of setting up refugee centers for the many displaced people. These centers should be run by people who know how to do this sort of thing like charitable groups along with the UN. Syria and Jordan are awash in refugees. Considerable aid should be coming from us to aid these people.

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The leaders of the various factions must be dealt with politically at the table of peace and compromise. Reconciliation is imperative. Archbishop Desmond Tutu had great success dealing with the results of the hate such conflicts generated. He should be listened to now and his methods seriously investigated, otherwise I fear the violence will continue for generations to come. This is ultimately the greatest challenge of Iraq and sadly around the globe and within each of us. We must begin to address all the problems that lead to groups using terror as a weapon and embracing extreme radical forms of fundamentalism.

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‘Mutilated,’ ‘Tortured,’ And ‘Unidentified Bodies’ In Baghdad Rise To ‘Pre-Surge Levels’
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/24/baghdad-sectarian/

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Patterns of Sectarian Violence in Baghdad
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3703/Patterns_of_Sectarian_Violence_in_Baghdad


Most Iraqis Want U.S. Troops Out Within a Year
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/250.php?nid=&id=&pnt=250&lb=brme


Think Progress
http://thinkprogress.org/

nation of laws; not men

All of us vets took this oath. We stood side by side with one another in a variety of times and circumstanses and proudly raised our hands to this simple affirmation of duty and alliegience.

"I, { }, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

How can we who have taken this oath so easily surrender to those who are using this nation for their own gain. We may have differing opinions about the poor use of troops in Iraq but when it comes to deffending the constitution of this great land there can be no divisions. We are a democratic republic nation of laws; not men.

There is no way any of you can be true to this oath and approve of the recent unconstitutional activities of this Neocon absorbed administration.



ACLU v. NSA: The Challenge to Illegal Spying
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/index.html

U.S. Responsibility for Enforced Disappearances in the "War on Terror"
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAMR510932007

UNITED STATES OF AMERICAAbandon military commissions, close Guantánamo http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAMR511182007

U.S. Attorneys
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/webreturn/?url=http://leahy.senate.gov

Insurrection Act
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/webreturn/?url=http://leahy.senate.gov

Vote Caging
http://www.gregpalast.com/raging-caging-what-the-heck-is-vote-caging-and-why-should-we-care/

Valerie 'Plame' Wilson
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/live/search/node/Valerie+Plame

A New Bush "Executive Privilege" Theory
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/8849

Bush's Illegal Use of Signing Statements is Impeachment Reason No. 1
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_david_ch_070502_bush_s_illegal_use_o.htm
http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=495

Feingold: Censure Bush, Cheney for 'their repeated assaults on the rule of law'
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Feingold_Censure_Bush_Cheney_for_their_0722.html

Resolved, That Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to... (Introduced in House)
HRES 333 IH
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/webreturn/?url=http://www.house.gov%2Fconyers

Have you embraced fascism?

'W' is the commander in chief and as such in a time of war, since he is the president, whatever, he does is not illegal.
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We are at war as freedom loving Christians vs. hateful Islam much like during the crusades.
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Whatever the president decides is necessary to keep us and the homland safe is okay, after all I have nothing to hide.
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Liberals and others like them hate our leader and homeland and want to see it destroyed.
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To speak against the president or his administration is sedition.
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All Moslems aren't terrorists but all terrorists are Moslems.
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The Moslems hate our freedom, our religion and nation and want to come here and destroy it.

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It's time we remove the Moslems from our communities either by deportment or internment.

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The world and the UN are trying to hold us back, destroy our sovereignty and side with our enemies.
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War is freedom.
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We must do whatever we have to in the world, whatever it takes, to preserve our freedom, our liberty, our way of life while spreading the values of the homeland in the nations we must invade.
etc...etc...etc...

If you agree with all or most of what I just wrote then the Neocons have succeded in getting you to think in much the same way as the fascists of 1930's Germany were able to instill in their citizens. In doing so you have disgraced the deeds, memories and the very dust of the bones of those who have built this nation.

As a result you have either embraced fascism yourself or you have become a sympathizer either out of benifit, ignorance or cowardice.

Shame on you!!!

Sadly so many good people who still tear up over 'God Bless America' have filled their lives with so many voluntary and involuntary distractions that they've allowed themselves to become easy prey for the propagandists. That's why so many of us keep begging and screamming.

Wake Up!!!






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The "Good German"syndrome
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Good_German_Syndrome.html

police state

Just another reason why impeachment must be on the table now.

Old-line Republican warns 'something's in the works' to trigger a police state
Muriel KanePublished: Thursday July 19, 2007

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Oldline_Republican_warns_somethings_in_works_0719.html

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)(NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004. I hereby order:
Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,
(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:
(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or
(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;
(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:
(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;
(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and
(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
Sec. 4. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Sec. 5. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that, because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1(a) of this order.
Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.
Sec. 7. Nothing in this order is intended to affect the continued effectiveness of any rules, regulations, orders, licenses, or other forms of administrative action issued, taken, or continued in effect heretofore or hereafter under 31 C.F.R. chapter V, except as expressly terminated, modified, or suspended by or pursuant to this order.
Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 17, 2007.

Special Comment: Keith Blasts Bush Scapegoating: "This is YOUR War."

path to dictatorship

The Bill of Rights is under assault

Neocons and their cohorts are fascists

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

speaking of shameful propaganda!?!

Right-Wing ‘Path to 9/11′ receives 7 Emmy nominations.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/19/right-wing-path-to-911-receives-six-emmy-nominations/

Absolutely the best collection of evidence exposing the blatant distortions of the ABC 9-11 docudrama.
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/live/node/3952

Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise. "
Adolp HItler

Propaganda assails us all day long. The AM radio is dominated by extreme right wing viewpoints spewing pro-administration talking points and distortions across the dial twenty four hours a day. They also have the Fox news network along with many local stations affiliated with all the other networks, The Mooney owned Washington Times along with many other newspapers and publications. Multiple media outlets are owned in each city thanks to FCC deregulation. The other television network outlets are under the ownership of large profit centered corporations who have generated timid news crews. Courageous, independent and honest media sources are becoming harder to find in this country and those that do exist are constantly assailed.
Dissenting voices are considered wrong, portrayed as un-American, traitorous, or evil. Anyone who is not like them is not to be respected or trusted and they are routinely attacked, ridiculed and dehumanized. They advance hate for Muslims, liberals, the United Nations, any country that criticizes the neoconservative agenda and all those who fall outside their twisted moral view of society. Orwellian double speak, lies, half-truths, and distortions are their tools of choice. Anyone or group who disagrees with or contradicts the administration or its allies and benefactors are trashed mercilessly.

The neoconservatives are gifted at what I call ‘misdirection’. Just like what magicians do to distract an audience’s attention. It’s used most often when there is news or some other event they would like to draw our attention away from. Most often the device they chose is terror alerts or some threat of terrorism. They bring out some old report and present it as new, give partial information presented in the most threatening manner or completely fabricate the threat. The lapdog corporate media dutifully covers the administration tale ignoring what it was meant to hide. Sometimes the misdirection is as simple as an attack on a political enemy or policy such as gay marriage or some other conservative hot button issue.

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."

George W. Bush

In The News

Kris Kristofferson

http://kriskristofferson.com/news/

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I am gross and perverted.
I'm obsessed and deranged.
I have existed for years
but very little has changed.
I'm the tool of the government
and industry, too
for I am destined to rule and regulate you.
I may be vile or pernicious
but you can't look away.
I make you think I'm delicious
with the stuff that I say.
I'm the best you can get
have you guessed me yet?
I'm the slime oozing out from your TV set.
You will obey me while I lead you
through the garbage that I feed you
till the day that we don't need you.
Don't call for help
no one will heed you.
Your mind is totally controlled
and has been stuffed into my mold
and you will do as you are told
until the rights to you are sold.
Frank Zappa

The Propagandists

Fox and Reactionary radio * are fomenting war, hate, and distrust of all who don't walk lockstep with Neocon objectives. WHY?

It has already been well established that the Neoconservative dominated Cheney/Bush administration are fascists. All totalitarian oriented societies or political parties whether they've achieved complete power or not need, no must have, a propaganda arm. Fox and reactionary radio are that arm. Their job is to take a spin on the truth, a distortion of it or an outright lie and paint it as the most pro-American or pro-Christian point of view for anyone who loves America to hold. Their very good at playing on peoples prejudices and weaknesses. In other words they are very gifted at getting people to believe what isn't true with gusto. The sad thing is they have no idea it's all being used against them and that the propagandists have no love or respect for those who they fool.

It's absolutely amazing for those of us who have been fortunately immune from this vileness to watch their effect on their mesmerized adherents. The word or phrase of the moment that encapsulates Neocon ideas or concepts are universally parroted by the blind sheep. There's no amount of facts, proof or evidence that can deter them from their hypnotic trance.

This same group screams about the liberal press but that same press much of which is corporate controlled does little to expose the distortions and lies of the Conservative right. They do little to aid in exposing the truth which is much too often treated as opinion. To their credit they do the right thing now and then but they play ball far too often with administration and corporate goons.

The propagandists have a back-up for when the corporate heads don't interfere with the press and they actually do their jobs, it's called 'distrust'. They have all made it very clear to their hypnotic audience that the truth comes only from them. No one else is to be believed.

We hold the true truth.

It's dangerous to listen to them.

We are the truth.

LISTEN!





Helen Thomas




Big Media Interlocks with Corporate America
by Peter Phillips
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0624-25.htm
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‘shock and awe’ bomb Iran?!?

The Bush administration is using the turmoil in occupied Iraq to manufacture reasons to ignore diplomacy, as they did before the Iraq war, in order to ‘shock and awe’ bomb Iran. If the Neocons are seeking regime change then they may also be considering an invasion into Iran by our sorely neglected soldiers and marines.

I’m greatly concerned that given the Bush administration's abysmal track record on world diplomacy any war like action in Iran will blow up in their faces bringing great harm not only to the innocent men, women, and children in Iran but also to our nation.

I worry about Russia’s closeness to Iran; they are joined by the Caspian Sea and they have sent defensive missiles to Iran. Will they be drawn into this war?

Saudi citizens are sending money in the millions to the Sunnis of Iraq. Will they be drawn into the war?

Will they be igniting the spark, similar to the flash that lit WW One, which causes nations to divvy up sides for another world war?

Will the world view us as the aggressors and retaliate economically if not militarily against our interests?

Are we saying its okay for Saudi citizens to support their Sunni side but it’s not okay for Iranian citizens to do the same for the Shiite side?

Are we just using questionable evidence of Iranian involvement, at whatever level, as an excuse for war with Iran?

Are we now picking a side?

Will it be the Sunnis?

If we align with the Sunnis are we unwittingly siding with those tolerant to supportive of Al-Qaeda? It seems we may be doing exactly that.

Are we seeking support from both Saudi Arabia and radical elements among the Sunnis, loyal to Al Qaeda, for an attack against Iran?

Are we doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia?

Are we going to attempt to replay the old Iran-Iraq war? It sure seems we may be heading in that general direction.

Where is the national debate?

Where is the congressional authorization?

Where is the Bush administration credibility on intelligence leading to military adventurism?

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

I worry about this powerful and arrogant man being in such a weak position politically. All the issues were arguing about, the corruption investigations, bringing the troops home from Iraq and even his very low approval rating will all be on the back burner once he decides to attack Iran. I truly hope he’s facing strong pentagon resistance but he has managed to squeeze two carrier groups in the Persian Gulf.

I feel depressed about the whole thing. It all sounds so much like what we heard before the Iraq War.

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

Albert Einstein

Saudis reportedly funding Iraqi Sunni insurgents
Updated 12/8/2006 7:29 AM ET

CAIRO (AP) — Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.
More…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-12-08-saudis-sunnis_x.htm

THE REDIRECTION
Is the Administration’s new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism?
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH
A STRATEGIC SHIFT
In the past few months, as the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, the Bush Administration, in both its public diplomacy and its covert operations, has significantly shifted its Middle East strategy. The “redirection,” as some inside the White House have called the new strategy, has brought the United States closer to an open confrontation with Iran and, in parts of the region, propelled it into a widening sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
More…
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
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Hersh: U.S. Funds Being Secretly Funneled To Violent Al Qaeda-Linked Groups
New Yorker columnist Sy Hersh says the “single most explosive” element of his latest article involves an effort by the Bush administration to stem the growth of Shiite influence in the Middle East (specifically the Iranian government and Hezbollah in Lebanon) by funding violent Sunni groups.
More…
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/25/hersh-qaeda

US confirms it is arming Sunni insurgents
John ByrnePublished: Sunday June 10, 2007

The U.S. military has confirmed that it is arming Sunni insurgent factions to try to contain al-Qaida in Mesopotamia, according to a report in Monday's New York Times by veteran Iraq correspondent John Burns.
"With the four-month-old increase in American troops showing only modest success in curbing insurgent attacks, American commanders are turning to another strategy that they acknowledge is fraught with risk: arming Sunni Arab groups that have promised to fight militants linked with Al Qaeda who have been their allies in the past."
more...
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/US_confirms_it_arming_Sunni

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Not only would it be a very bad idea to attack Iran using nuclear bunker busters would compound the damage.

Please watch…..

Union of Concerned Scientist
The Nuclear Bunker Buster animation
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/nuclear-bunker-buster-rnep-animation.html

and this…..

David Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-uQmEcs2Fgg

and read this…..
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Medical Consequences of a Nuclear Attack on Iran
http://www.psr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=security_main_iranfactsheet

Cheney pushes Bush to act on Iran

· Military solution back in favour as Rice loses out
· President 'not prepared to leave conflict unresolved'

Ewen MacAskill in Washington and Julian Borger
Monday July 16, 2007
The Guardian

The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favour of military action before President George Bush leaves office in 18 months, the Guardian has learned.
The shift follows an internal review involving the White House, the Pentagon and the state department over the last month. Although the Bush administration is in deep trouble over Iraq, it remains focused on Iran. A well-placed source in Washington said: "Bush is not going to leave office with Iran still in limbo."
more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2127115,00.html

More recently I have come to see the need for the method of nonviolence in international relations. Although I was not yet convinced of its efficacy in conflicts between nations, I felt that while war could never be a positive good, it could serve as a negative good by preventing the spread and growth of an evil force. War, horrible as it is, might be preferable to surrender to a totalitarian system. But now I believe that the potential destructiveness of modern weapons totally rules out the possibility of war ever again achieving a negative good. If we assume that mankind has a right to survive then we must find an alternative to war and destruction. "Don't ever let anyone pull you so low as to hate them. We must use the weapon of love. We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight; we are always on the threshold of a new dawn."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bring 'em home!!!

The Bush Neocon march must be stopped before it drags our nation into a dark place much worse than the one we are in now. The House did something and now the Senate must follow suit.

Bin Laden is still free and we’re bogged down in a country that didn’t attack us and was no threat to our national security.

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." G.W. Bush, 3/13/02

The Bush administration is saturated with lies that are harming all Americans and the Middle East. They have been the best friends of those who attacked us by making the United States weaker and reviled in the world while boosting Al Qaeda recruiting and prestige. They hijacked the criminal pursuit of Al Qaeda in favor of their own misguided desires and against the interests of the American people and those of the Middle East and they continue to do so. Their lying tongues like the 9-11 terrorists are drenched in the blood of the innocent. They truly belong on trial for the crimes they’ve committed against the citizens of the United States and Iraq and whatever else is uncovered.

The Republicans in Congress along with a handful of weak kneed Democrats share in these events but the Republican leadership in Congress are coconspirators in crime. They are keeping this nightmare going although some are beginning to see the error of their ways and the harm they are doing here and abroad.

I don’t trust the Neoconservatives. They do have fascist desires. They frighten me a great deal and they should frighten you and the world, too.

Impeachment must be put back on the table!!!


House Passes Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act


Bring 'Em on Home


Maureen Dowd: Bush talks like a cowboy, but he rides a rocking horse
Meanwhile, Al-Qaida regroups in a place that's 'wilder than the Wild West.'
Maureen Dowd
Published: July 23, 2007
http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1315494.html

Impeach before its too late!!!

The Return of Al Qaeda
A new National Intelligence Estimate raises concerns that the terrorist group is growing stronger.
By Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
Newsweek
Updated: 3:10 p.m. PT July 11, 2007
A new National Intelligence Estimate presents a sobering analysis of terrorism threats to the United States, concluding that Al Qaeda has reconstituted its core structure along the Pakistani border and may now be a stronger and more resilient organization today than it appeared a year ago, according to three U.S. intelligence officials familiar with the draft document. More at…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19717961/site/newsweek/page/0/

Iraq is a drain on our resources, both military and financial. That is what Al Qaeda finds joy in. The Bushies played directly into their hands when the war on terror was stolen for Neocon goals in Iraq. As a consequence Al Qaeda has grown in strength, membership, and territory. This is what has left our national interests vulnerable both at home and abroad.This is just one of the many reasons for impeaching Bush/Cheney.

Bush: Insurgents in Iraq same as 9/11 attackers
Nick JulianoPublished: Thursday July 12, 2007
President Bush, defending his troop surge in Iraq, insisted Thursday that the insurgents attacking US troops in Iraq "are the same ones who attacked us on Sept. 11."
Bush was speaking at a White House press conference on the same day an interim progress report on his troop surge in Iraq was released. Asked for proof of the connection between insurgents in Iraq and the 9/11 hijackers, Bush said both had pledged their allegiance to Osama bin Laden. More at …
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Insurgents_in_Iraq_same_as_0712.html

Bush Neocons lied us into this war and they haven’t stopped since as the above story illustrates. Impeachment should just be the beginning for these guys many in his administration are guilty of serious crimes war crimes included.

I worry about this powerful and arrogant man being in such a weak position politically. All the issues were arguing about, the corruption investigations, bringing the troops home from Iraq and even his very low approval rating will all be on the back burner once he decides to attack Iran. I truly hope he’s facing strong pentagon resistance but he has managed to squeeze two carrier groups in the Persian Gulf.

Please read…
path to dictatorship

Totalitarians all hate liberals

"Today, students should shout at the president and ask why liberal and secular university lecturers are present in the universities,"
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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“What I’ve set out to do is to try to restore the educational principles that were in place before the generation of sixties leftists infiltrated the university and corrupted it by transforming it into an ideological platform.”
David Horowitz
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"When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that John Walker is not getting the death penalty. We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too. Otherwise, they will turn out to be outright traitors."
Ann Coulter
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State Universities are breeding grounds, quite literally, for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), homosexual behavior, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, alcoholism, and drug abuse.
James Dobson
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“Why, particularly in time of war, should we entrust the education of our children to people who loathe and ravage so many of out core values and traditions?"
Sean Hannity
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“I suspect that the picture of the woman soldier with a noose around the Iraqi man’s neck will soon show up on the bulletin boards of women’s studies centers and feminist college professors. That picture is the radical feminists’ ultimate fantasy of how they dream of treating men.”
Phyllis Schlafly etc....etc....etc....etc....etc.
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Totalitarians all hate liberals, their love for free speech, public assembly, and openness are always an impediment to their selfish desires. Some totalitarians are Nazis, some are communists, some are from whatever dominate local ideology, most are opportunistic gangster type ‘warlords’ and some are Neocons with grand desires on the US and their PNAC desires for the world. (To be the envy of Rome)
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The citizens (moms and dads, sisters and brothers, neighbors and townsfolk) are always the worst for it because no matter what, the powerful old manipulators of men residing in comfortable rooms decide, they are always screwed.
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Of course it hurts you’re being screwed by an elephant
not original--but everyone should swipe it; don't ya think

Angry Mother Nature

Hear we go again with another hurricane season with its eventual spawning of a monstrous beast. Wherever this thing hits it is going to be another sad disastrous mess. And once again this will be another message from a very angry Mother Nature highlighting the misplaced priorities of the human race. We spend too much time and money in an attempt to protect ourselves from those who are different. Too many resources or wasted on selfish needs while those in dire straights are ignored or worse yet used for our own purposes.

Sometimes we get together for short periods of time to make ourselves feel better and look better by giving what is in most cases inadequate aid to those in the worst situations. At the same time though we’re using the third world as a plaything for our own economic and political needs. The developed nations have all played a role.

It wasn’t long ago when Kashmir and the surrounding region were suffering greatly from a severe earthquake. I find it interesting that this place was worth risking nuclear war over. Millions were spent by two impoverished countries willing to wage war to the point of enveloping each other in a nuclear fireball over land coveted by both.

The greatest menace to the area ended up coming from an ‘act of God’. Nooooo, though it’s a tempting avenue of explanation and exploitation I’m not blaming the Lord. This has always been a seismically active region. What I am blaming is a human weakness for power, fear, hate and violence.

I know if there were perfect love and lions and sheep were cohabiting all over the place this disaster still would have happened. But what could have been different was the way the world would have been able to react. Far too much effort is expended on military preparations and adventurism around the world. In the United States our glowing example of this was when our response to hurricane Katrina was greatly hampered by the war in Iraq.

If we spent a lot more time trying to understand each other rather than feeding our fear, power lust and greed we would all be more prepared to react to these repeated scenes of desperation. The international communications within the United Nations is still the best avenue for keeping this hope alive. The conservatives within the US in their foolish arrogance would love to not only withdraw from this institution but would love to see it die.

The gluttonous arms industry, which fuels so many conflicts in the third world, also needs to be decimated and what little piece of it that is left must be highly regulated by strict international oversight. It’s true we can all do a lot better with how we react to each other in the world. It all depends on what we allow to dwell in our hearts.

God’s anger with the United States must be great since He hears the cry of the poor and oppressed. We waste billions flooding the world with immoral misadventures. The wealthiest nation in the world could do much to alleviate suffering but instead we choose to use our military might and money to make the world safe for big business. The neoconservative dominated Republican Party has infected us with a little dream centered on our own selfish desires while having the gall to claim we are the greatest Christian nation doing the work of God. Our irrational fear and popular culture driven wanton ignorance has caused half our populace to shamefully follow blindly behind.

We can do better if we really embrace the love God wants us to have for each other. These natural disasters have illustrated just how inadequate our love for each other really is.

Happy Birthday

The whole world and history are looking at us now. If we are strong, if the faith we have in our nation is strong, if what we have always told ourselves what we believed about the endurance of our constitution is strong; then we should move forward with guts.

What image do we want to leave the world and our children’s, children’s, children’s children? That of weak complacency in the unraveling of 200 years of liberty or steadfast support for what our founding fathers created and our ancestors as well as ourselves swore allegiance to.

The eyes of history are upon us and the weight of our own consciences. Will we fail at this moment of history and allow ourselves to slip ever so much more closely into an authoritarian existence. An existence we all once talked so bravely about never allowing on our shores. Or will we have the courage equal to the challenge that this moment of history has thrown upon us?