Posted on 02/19/2010 7:05:17 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
The politics of national security has become more volatile lately.
Republicans are increasingly emphasizing national security in hopes of electoral gains in 2010. Their push has raised fears that existentially important security issues have become too political for the nation's good.
Whether or not that's true, Democrats will have to push back, and liberals are worried that they are struggling.
GOP Splitting Congressional Dems from Obama Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent writes, "Congressional Dems have no message or strategy on national security, and they’re getting badly outworked by the GOP on the issue." Republicans have a "very specific strategy" with talking points and all, but Democrats lack such organization. Sargent says the GOP wants to "drive a wedge" between Congressional Dems and the White House, and it's working. "Republicans are framing the debate on these issues, and more and more Congressional Dems are breaking with the White House on them." Sargent quotes a Dem strategist as saying, "On these issues, Democrats inherently believe no one will believe our arguments."
'Crisis in Confidence' for Diffident Dems Matthew Yglesias thinks the issue "isn't that Democrats are unprincipled. Rather, the issue is that while conservative foreign policy is undergirded by a clear ideological commitment to violence and nationalism, progressive foreign policy tends to be quite muddled. Liberals are actually most comfortable offering national security arguments when they too can be nationalistic." He writes, "the real gap in both convictions and confidence shows itself at a moment of crisis."
Dems Should Be Pushing Hard Spencer Ackerman is dismayed. He asks why Dems never talk about Obama's many high-profile national security successes. "[W]here in the world is the Democratic national security messaging? The Obama administration is racking up wins on the issue like it was a pool hustler." He wonders, "is this going to be yet another unforced Democratic political error, in which the Democrats fold on a winning hand because they don’t have the stomach for the game?"
White House Reticent to Push The New Yorker's Jane Mayer reports that Attorney General Eric Holder's pursuit of Democratic national security policies has concerned the White House about "political fallout." She writes, "Holder’s unpopular positions on terrorism issues have frustrated Obama’s advisers."
[White House Chief of Staff Rahm] Emanuel viewed many of the legal problems that Craig and Holder were immersed in as distractions. “When Guantánamo walked in the door, Rahm walked out,” the informed source said. Holder and Emanuel had been collegial since their Clinton Administration days. Holder’s wife, Sharon Malone, an obstetrician, had delivered one of Emanuel’s children. But Emanuel adamantly opposed a number of Holder’s decisions, including one that widened the scope of a special counsel who had begun investigating the C.I.A.’s interrogation program. Bush had appointed the special counsel, John Durham, to assess whether the C.I.A. had obstructed justice when it destroyed videotapes documenting waterboarding sessions. Holder authorized Durham to determine whether the agency’s abuse of detainees had itself violated laws. Emanuel worried that such investigations would alienate the intelligence community. But Holder, who had studied law at Columbia with Telford Taylor, the chief American prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials, was profoundly upset after seeing classified documents explicitly describing C.I.A. prisoner abuse. The United Nations Convention Against Torture requires the U.S. to investigate credible torture allegations. Holder felt that, as the top law-enforcement officer in the U.S., he had to do something.
Emanuel couldn’t complain directly to Holder without violating strictures against political interference in prosecutorial decisions. But he conveyed his unhappiness to Holder indirectly, two sources said. Emanuel demanded, “Didn’t he get the memo that we’re not re-litigating the past?”
Obamas National Security Strategy was due in July 2009 to congress.
Still no plan published. Everybody involved in national security is winging it.
Ping.
It must be tough to protect America, when you root for the enemy!!
BUMP and thanks for the ping Jet Jaguar.
ping
Our troops are dying in Afghanistan right now because, first, Obama warned the enemy they were coming ahead of time and, second, they aren’t allowed to shoot back at the terrorists who are shooting at them. If they do, they’re liable to be brought up on charges, for being Mean to Muslims.
The spineless Republicans didn’t start this. Obama did it to himself, because he’s a Communist, Muslim traitor.
Excellent graphic.
I only steal the best!
How can 0bama administration ever be credible in national security when they populate the Justice Department with lawyers who worked for the terrorists?
Yep.
Gee, I wonder why?
Holder admits nine Obama Dept. of Justice officials worked for terrorist detainees
The fact is, Ubanga and his administration hate America as much as the Jihadists.
We are being destroyed from the inside, by our own government.
Afghan Rules of engagement. Do no harm to civilians at any cost.
This can be summarized in 3 words:
Democrats are pussies
Blogs.CBN.com - STAKELBECK ON TERROR: U.S. DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRORIST Sits Down With Stakelbeck on Terror" [SAAD AL-FAQIH] (February 18, 2010, 4:58 pm) (SNIPPET: "As we got up to leave, I asked him how he saw the conflict between the West and the Muslim world playing out over the next few years. "No matter what Muslim leaders do, there will be more friction with the West--regardless of al-Qaeda," he told me. "There will be more confrontation between the West and Muslims, with attacks even bigger than in 2001." I exited al-Faqih's home a bit unnerved by that last comment. And thinking not so much about what he told me that afternoon as what he didn't.") (February 18, 2010) (Read More...)
WORLD TRIBUNE.com (Special from Geostrategy-Direct.com): Washington - "SYRIA CULTIVATING STRATEGIC TIES WITH VENEZUELA" (SNIPPET: "Western intelligence sources said Venezuela has become a key way-station for Iranian weapons deliveries to Hizbullah and Syria.") (February 17, 2010) (Read More...)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch 2810: "CHILD PREACHER DELIVERS A SPEECH ON CHILDREN'S LOVE OF MARYRDOM ON EGYPTIAN TV: 'My Mother Has Presented Me as a Gift to Allah This Year'" (SNIPPET: "In the program, Abd Al-Fattah Marwan -- himself a child -- recounts that the boy smiled in his sleep when he dreamt that he would be martyred the next day.") (February 16, 2010) (Note: Videos included.) (Read More...)
CBS NEWS.com: "TERROR TALK GROWING LOUDER ON THE WEB" (SNIPPET: "On another Jihadist site, a visitor questions security involving 3D scanners at British airports asking: "Can I refuse [to pass through] for religious reasons?" Before long comes this answer: "…advise those who wish to avoid the Heathrow scanners to take the train to Paris... and then board a plane from there."") (February 12, 2010) (Read More...)
THE TIMES OF INDIA: Washington - "MUSLIM-AMERICAN BODY ISSUES FATWA AGAINST AIRPORT BODY SCANNERS" (SNIPPET: "The Figh Council of North America issued the religious ruling this week..." SNIPPET: "The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it endorses the fatwa.") (IANS, February 12, 2010, 12:47 pm IST) (Read More...)
ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "PUSH FOR ISLAMIC COURTS IN KENYA ALARMS CHRISTIANS" (SNIPPET: "The story added that Al-Shabaab-affiliated operatives appear to have targeted Christians in Kenya, according to an Internet threat by a group claiming to align itself with the Islamic extremist militia seeking to topple the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. In an e-mail message entitled, "Fatwa for Infidels" to Christian and governmental leaders in Kenya, a group calling itself the Harakatul-Al-Shabaab-al Mujahidin threatened to kill Muslim converts to Christianity and those who help them.") (February 11, 2010) (Read More...)
LONG WAR JOURNAL.org: "SHABAAB CALLS FOR JIHAD AGAINST KENYA" by Bill Roggio (SNIPPET: "A senior leader of al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia has declared jihad against neighboring Kenya for supporting the weak Somali Transitional Federal Government.") (February 8, 2010, 1:09 pm) (Read More...)
WASHINGTON POST.com (AP): Tehran, Iran - "IRAN MAKES FIRST BATCH OF HIGHER ENRICHED URANIUM" (SNIPPET: "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday told hundreds of thousands of cheering Iranians that Iran was now a "nuclear state" and had produced its first batch of 20 percent enriched uranium.") (February 11, 2010, 3:35 am) (Read More...)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch No. 2743: "IRANIAN ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION HEAD: 'We Have the Right to Enrich Uranium 100%'" (January 11, 2010) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Sources: Al-Jazirah, Saudi Arabia, February 10, 2010; IRIB.ir, Iran, February 9, 2010"): "IRANIAN ATOMIC ENERGY CHIEF: OUR IAEA MEMBERSHIP PERMITS US TO ENRICH URANIUM 100%" (Posted February 10, 2010) (Read More...)
TRUTHUSA.com: A Look at Iran (Read More...)
TREAS.GOV - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY - TG-539: Washington - "TREASURY TARGETS IRAN'S ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS" (February 10, 2010) (Read More...)
LONG WAR JOURNAL.org: "SHABAAB CALLS FOR JIHAD AGAINST KENYA" by Bill Roggio (February 8, 2010, 1:09 pm) (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
JIHAD WATCH.org (CBN): "'Many people love the idea of jihad, you know? And they want to engage in it.'" (Note: Video included.) (February 9, 2010) (Read More...)
CBN.com - CBN News: "LONDON'S ISLAMIC RADICALS SPEAK OUT" by Erick Stakelbeck (February 9, 2010) (Read More...)
INVESTORS.com - IBD Editorials: "ENEMY NO. 1: ANWAR THE AMERICAN" (Posted February 8, 2010, 06:54 pm ET) (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
THREATS WATCH.org - blog: "NEW WTC PHOTOS & TERRORIST TRIALS" by Jay Fraser (February 10, 2010, 8:41 pm) (Read More...)
TRUTHUSA.com: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 [Research Links & Memorial Site] (Read More...)
CLUELESS IN DC - blog: "Can Misplaced Priorities Be Considered a National Security Threat?" (February 8, 2010) (Read More...)
JARRET BRACHMAN.net - blog: "ABU MUSAB AL-SURI STILL MATTERS ONLINE" (SNIPPET: "Al-Suri's work is still running rampant through the forums... Remember, al-Suri's whole thing was that al-Qaida needed to transcend the organization down to the individual level: so that each jihadi could become an Al-Qaida Army of One...") (February 6, 2010) (Read More...)Link (Read More...)
DEFENSE.gov (AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE): Paris - "GATES: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM PUTS MIDDLE EAST IN DANGER" by Fred W. Baker III (February 8, 2010) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Source: Al-'Aalam, ISNA, Iran, February 8, 2010"): "IRANIAN ATOMIC ENERGY CHIEF: We'll Begin Enriching Uranium to 20%" (Posted February 8, 2010) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Source: Fars, ILNA (Iran), February 7, 2010"): "AHMADINEJAD: I Have Ordered to Start Enriching Uranium to 20%" (Posted February 7, 2010) (Read More...)
FOX NEWS.com (AP): Tehran, Iran - "AHMADINEJAD ORDERS HIGHER ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM" (SNIPPET: "...20 percent enrichment...") (February 7, 2010) (Read More...)
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE.org - PolicyWatch #1626: "SERIOUS PLAY: WAR GAMES EXPLORE OPTIONS ON IRAN" by Jeffrey White and Loring White (SNIPPET: "Conclusions" ... SNIPPET: "Time is running out.") (February 4, 2010) (Read More...)
LONG WAR JOURNAL.org: "IRANIAN-BACKED SHIA TERROR GROUP KIDNAPS U.S. CIVILIAN IN BAGHDAD" by Bill Roggio (SNIPPET: "The Asaib al Haq, or the League of the Righteous, kidnapped Issa T. Salomi, a US civilian contractor...) (February 6, 2010, 10:43 am) (Read More...)DEFENSE.gov - No. 099-10: "DOD ANNOUNCES ARMY CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AS EXCUSED ABSENCE WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN" (SNIPPET: "Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif. ...") (February 5, 2010) (Read More...)
THE TIMES OF INDIA: "FICA SWEATS AS IPL3 FACES TERROR THREAT FROM TALIBAN" (February, 7, 2010) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Sources: Mehr, Press TV, Iran, February 5, 2010"): "IRAN'S RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: RUSSIA GUARANTEES DELIVERY OF S-300 MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM" (February 5, 2010) (Read More...)
JIHAD WATCH.org (PAK TRIBUNE.com): "TALIBAN TO MURDER AMERICAN SOLDIER UNLESS MIT-TRAINED JIHADIST IS RELEASED" (February 5, 2010 (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW YORK TIMES.com): "MIT-TRAINED FEMALE JIHADIST GUILTY OF MURDER" (SNIPPET: "A Pakistani neuroscientist was convicted on Wednesday of attempted murder for trying to kill American soldiers and F.B.I. agents in Afghanistan. Federal prosecutors said the neuroscientist, Aafia Siddiqui, 37, grabbed an M4 rifle in a police station in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan, on July 18, 2008, and fired on American officers and federal agents. After slightly more than two days of deliberations, a jury in Federal District Court in Manhattan found her guilty.") (February 3, 2010) (Read More...)
INVESTORS.com - IBD Editorials: "LOOSE LIPS" (February 5, 2010, 07:16 pm ET) (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
DEFENSE.gov (AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE): Washington - "CYBERSECURITY SEIZES MORE ATTENTION, BUDGET DOLLARS" by John J. Kruzel (SNIPPET: "U.S. military and corporate concern about cyber security was proved warranted by an alleged attack allegedly conducted by Chinese hackers on Google's networks that reportedly came in a wave of intrusions beginning in December, and which the search engine company publicly revealed last month.") (February 4, 2010) (Read More...)Link (Read More...)
OSAC.gov - Consular Affairs Bulletins - Report - Mexico: "Warden Message: "MONTEREY, MEXICO CARJACKING INCREASE" (February 3, 2010) (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
Online.WSJ.com - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL - Capital Journal: "DEFICIT BALLOONS INTO NATIONAL-SECURITY THREAT" by Gerald F. Seib (SNIPPET: "The federal budget deficit has long since graduated from nuisance to headache to pressing national concern. Now, however, it has become so large and persistent that it is time to start thinking of it as something else entirely: a national-security threat.") (February 2, 2010) (Read More...)
!@#$% (February 2, 2010)
MyThompsonGitmo.com: "THE CONFESSION OF KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED - 'From A to Z'" (Widescreen - Best option for viewing.) (Watch Here.
MyThompsonGitmo.com: "THE CONFESSION OF KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED - 'From A to Z'" (Regular sized screen) (Watch Here.
DEFENSE.gov - Unclassified: "VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL HEARING FOR ISN 10024" (redacted) (pdf) (Read More...)
Audio (redacted) (mp3) (Listen Here.)
MyThompsonGitmo.com (Read More...)
*
WHDH.com: Boston - "GOV. PATRICK ON YEMEN LNG TANKERS IN BOSTON HARBOR" (SNIPPET: "The Coast Guard's decision to allow LNG tankers from Yemen into Boston Harbor comes despite concerns about the country supporting terrorists. "I've spoken with the senior-most people at homeland security, and they have taken it all the way up the chain to the White House national security advisors. I think that everything that can be done has been done. They have taken a whole host of new and more intrusive security measures, and that is what all of us are looking for," said Gov. Patrick. Yet Boston Mayor Thomas Menino blasted the Coast Guard's decision.") (February 3, 2010, 2:50 pm) (Read More...)
INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT.org - For The Record - blog: "AWLAKI: U.S. Civilians Are Legitimate Targets Because Americans Elect 'Criminal' Leaders" by IPT News (February 3, 2010, 7:51 pm) (Read More...)
CNS NEWS.com: "AMERICAN EX-CONS WHO CONVERTED TO ISLAM AND MOVED TO YEMEN PUT U.S. ON 'HEIGHTENED ALERT,' SAYS SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT" by Fred Lucas (SNIPPET: "U.S. officials say a "significant threat" could come from American citizens, some of them ex-convicts, who traveled to Yemen. The threat has put federal law enforcement on "heightened alert." "Most worrisome is a group of as many as three dozen former criminals who converted to Islam in prison, were released at the end of their sentences, and moved to Yemen, ostensibly to study Arabic," said a Jan. 21, 2010 report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.") (February 3, 2010) (Read More...)NY DAILY NEWS.com: "AL QAEDA POISED TO TRY MAJOR ATTACK IN UNITED STATES WITHIN 3-6 MONTHS, INTELLIGENCE CHIEF WARNS" by John Marzulli and James Gordon Meek (February 3, 2010, 4:00 am) (Read More...)
DEFENSE.gov (AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE): Washington - "EXTREMIST THREAT TO U.S. 'EVOLVING,' INTEL LEADERS SAY" by Jim Garamone (February 3, 2010) (Read More...)
Link (pdf) (Read More...)
Link (pdf) (Read More...)
YNET NEWS.com: "SECURITY SOURCES: THREAT TO OCEAN FACILITIES GROWING" by Hanan Greenberg, Ali Waked (SNIPPET: "Security source said Monday night that the explosives which drifted onto Israel's southern shoreline, and were later claimed by Palestinian groups, indicated their growing motivation to launch terror attacks against Israeli targets.") (Latest update February 2, 2010, 00:39/Israel News) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org: "CALL TO AL-QAEDA MEMBERS: INFILTRATE GAZA WITH AID CONVOYS" (SNIPPET: "A writer on a jihadist forum has urged all all monotheistic mujahideen (i.e. those affiliated with the salafi-jihadis, with which Al-Qaeda is identified) who wish to get into Gaza...") (Posted February 1, 2010) (Read More...)TERRORISM-INFO.org.il: "Hamas continues initiating anti-Israeli activities in Europe: Muhammad Kazem Sawalha is a Hamas activist living in Britain who in the past was involved in operational activities in Judea and Samaria. He is personally involved in preparations to dispatch another aid convoy to the Gaza Strip by sea to confront Israel") (January 29, 2010) (Read More...)
WHDH.com: "REPORT: TERRORISTS PLANNING BREAST IMPLANT BOMBS" (Posted February 11, 10:40 pm EST) (Read More...)
WORLDNETDAILY.com: "BOSOM BOMBERS: WOMEN HAVE EXPLOSIVE BREAST IMPLANTS Authorities alarmed by possibility of surgically place explosives" (SNIPPET: "Similar surgery has been performed on male suicide bombers. In their cases, the explosives are inserted in the appendix area or in a buttock.") (February 1, 2010) (Read More...)JIHAD WATCH.org (DAILY MAIL.co.uk, January 30, 2010): "JIHADISTS PLAN ATTACK WITH BOMBS INSIDE THEIR BODIES, TO FOIL NEW AIRPORT SCANNERS" (Posted January 31, 2010) (Read More...)
Link (Read More...)
EXPRESS INDIA.com: "ISI, LET GETTING INDIAN JIHADIS TOGETHER IN KARACHI FOR ATTACK'" by Shishir Gupta (Posted February 1, 2010, 0349 hrs IST) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Source: Press TV, Iran, February 1, 2010"): "AHMADINEJAD: 'Iran Will Deliver Telling Blow to Global Powers on February 11'" (Posted February 1, 2010) (Read More...)
WHITEHOUSE.gov: "Briefing Room" (Read More...)
WHITEHOUSE.gov: "Issues" (Read More...)
WHITEHOUSE.gov: "Presidential Actions" (Note: Includes Executive Orders, Proclamations, & Memos) (Read More...)
Have you seen this one yet, courtesy of NAFBPO.
Farmers, ranchers urged to be aware of agroterrorism
Published 19 February 2010
South Dakota’s U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says all aspects of agriculture can be targets of terrorists, but Johnson said meat production is the most vulnerable; “Livestock are the number one target for terrorists attacking the agriculture system…. If you want to get a bunch of cattle sick at once, it’s not rocket science on how to do it”
The message U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson delivered during the 95th Annual State Convention of the South Dakota Farmers Union Farmers and Ranchers was straightforward: South Dakota faces a real threat of agro-terrorism not only from foreign terrorists but domestic terrorists as well. “There are threats in South Dakota, the threat is very real,” Johnson said. Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota. One attack could shut down the economy of this entire state, so we need to be vigilant about this. We need to make people aware of the real potential of an attack.”
All aspects of agriculture can be targets of terrorists, but Johnson said meat production is the most vulnerable. “Livestock are the number one target for terrorists attacking the agriculture system,” Johnson said. “If you want to get a bunch of cattle sick at once, it’s not rocket science on how to do it.”
Marshall County Journal writes that Johnson said foot and mouth disease is a tool that terrorists may use to attack the nation’s food supply. It is the disease that is most frequently mentioned because it could spread rapidly, is easily introduced, and would do damage quickly. “By the time it was detected, the amount of damage that would be done not only to the animals or the crops but also our economy would be enormous,” Johnson said. “If you have people scared to eat meat or thinking it’s not safe to eat corn, it would cripple our state, it would cripple our economy. That brings home the point that this would be an effective attack on our country.”
Johnson added:
Often we’re so reactive when it comes to our national security, and my fear is that with agro-terrorism we’ll do the same thing. We won’t get really serious about protecting livestock and crops until after something happens. So what we’re trying to do in South Dakota is take the lead in that area.
We need to anticipate that it’ll be well planned, and well thought out, and very difficult to prepare ourselves for. It’s not going to be just one state it’s going to be more than one state to maximize the impact to put the whole country in fear.”
The Journal reports that Johnson sits on the Terrorism and National Security Committee put together by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. It is a committee of 8 U.S. attorneys from across the country which advises the attorney general on issues relating to terrorism.
“One of the issues that I raise with the (Terrorism and National Security Committee) at each meeting is the national security of our prairie states, of our rural communities because I believe it’s a real concern,” Johnson said. South Dakota also has an “Agro-Terrorism Working Group,” a consortium of people involved in the agriculture industry who serve as an advisory group to state and federal officials. It’s made up of experts from South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, the State Veterinarian, and other leaders who would be activated immediately in case of an agro-terrorism attack.
Johnson highlighted the dangers of domestic terrorism as well. “There are people who want to shut down the livestock industry in our country who live right here in the United States,” Johnson said. “The FBI has reported over 1,000 attacks and over $100 million in damage since 1996 to meat processors research facilities logging operations and production farming operations.”
http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/farmers-ranchers-urged-be-aware-agroterrorism
I do know that even before 9/11; it was know that AQ was interested in animal/crop terrorism -- including experimentation.
After 9/11 their interest continued (as noted on online forums, etc).
http://www.google.com/search?&rls=en&q=AGRO-TERRORISM&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
STEPPING BACK IN TIME...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1172462/posts
“Seeds of agro-terror”
Washington Times ^ | Friday, July 16, 2004 | By Austin Bay
Posted on July 16, 2004 12:20:54 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
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