Gathering of Eagles III and Andrea Shea King and Environmentalists screw up again and Veteran Care

Last Saturday on Blog Talk Radio was my second of three special Gathering of Eagles episodes on Political Pistachio Radio. Coming up this Wednesday night at 10pm Eastern/7pm Pacific I will be joined by Justin from Right on the Right, Crawfish from Crawfish's Swamp, a Navy man that not only attended GOE III, but also has served aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, and hopefully Kit Lange from Euphoric Reality. Tune in for more interesting experiences by Eagles on Political Pistachio Radio.

Andrea Shea King has asked me to participate on her Monday night Blog Talk Radio show, which airs at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific. Tune in because also her guest will be Chuck Muth from the Conservative Leadership Conference.

I've said before, and I will say it again, we, as a species, should be good stewards of our planet. If there is gunk in the air and water, we should ensure we be careful, and clean what we have damaged. But today's environmentalists are extreme activists that cause more harm than good, sometimes. The money grubbing religion of Global Warming, and the great lies it is spreading regarding "carbon footprints" when the warming and cooling cycles have been proven to be natural occurrences, is a good example. Now, another example of environmentalism not being able to do anything right comes in the form of an attempt to save an endangered species of fish in Colorado. Scientists, in an effort to save the endangered greenback cutthroat trout erroneously stocked the rivers with the wrong fish (the more common Colorado River Cutthroat). This gives them more than a black eye, since it is just another mistake of many committed by those claiming to be there to do the right thing. Ooooops.

I am a partially disabled Veteran, for those that don't know. I have been receiving care from the Veteran's Administration since 1988. I have seen the VA go up and down in care, capabilities, manpower, and overall quality. Today, I read an article in my local paper that indicated that Veterans Affairs falls short, failing to even meet its own standards. From personal experience, the care was adequate until about 1994, at which time the care became shoddy, and manpower low. During the current administration the care at VA has improved drastically, and the manpower appears to be at levels at, or above, the level in the late 80's when I began being treated by VA. According to my experience, the agency maintains a high level of quality treatment when compared to the past. Unfortunately, the press is determined to claim the system falls short, and to somehow place blame on the current administration. Don't get me wrong, mistakes are sometimes made, and sometimes facilities are neglected when they shouldn't be, like in the case of Walter Reed Medical Center. Honestly, Walter Reed was downright despicable. But isolated incidents of poor management of a facility is hardly an indication that the entire VA system is in shambles. Honestly, it is not a perfect world. There is still room for improvement. Like anything, improvement is possible. But when compared to the care I received during the Clinton Administration (coupled with his massive cuts in VA and military funding), what I receive now is awesome. The overall system is not like Walter Reed, thank God. However, the Liberal Left will claim that it is, and that it is all Bush's fault. Granted, I do not agree with everything Bush has done, but under his watch, I have to admit, VA has improved drastically.

And for those of you that missed last Saturday's Political Pistachio Radio, check it out because we also had a surprise caller, John. John is a Cuban Exile. Watch for him to return on a future broadcast to tell his story about living under Castro, and escaping Communism.

Oh, and back to Global Warming, GM Roper has a great post on that.

Gathering of Eagles Takes their positions in Washington D.C.

ANSWER, which in my opinion has the wrong answer, will be marching on Washington D.C. today in a massive anti-war/anti-military/anti-patriotism/anti-America march. They will be waving their black and yellow banners (rather than the red, white and blue of the Star Spangled Banner), and flags of other countries (more often than not the flags of nations the terrorists use as breeding grounds and training locations, as well as those of nations that openly sponsor Islamic Terror).

The Gathering of Eagles will be there to meet them head-on.

The Gathering of Eagles was formed to protect our monuments and memorials. Last January anti-military/anti-American morons from the far left (representing groups like ANSWER) urinated on the memorials in Washington D.C. and spray painted the steps of the Capitol. Last week vandals damaged the Vietnam War Memorial. This will not be tolerated, and the Eagles will be there to make sure these anti-American jerks won't cause more damage as they whine and cry their way through D.C. on their treasonous route.

Unfortunately, they will, as they have in the past, do despicable things like disrespect the American Flag and burn effigies of American Soldiers, but there will be an answer to ANSWER, and they are the Gathering of Eagles.

Kit Lange of Euphoric Reality will be one of those Eagles. She, with tens of thousands of others, will protect our memorials, and stand up for our troops, today in Washington D.C.

Then, she will call live into Political Pistachio Radio today at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific to tell us about the events. A few other Eagles may be calling in as well, such as Paul Couturier (Iraq War Veteran and host of Indepedently Correct Radio), and Justin of Right on the Right. Tune in, you won't want to miss this.

And we may even get to hear some of the rantings of a member or two of ANSWER - wouldn't that be good for a laugh.

Lies, Lies, Lies, get out!

The mainstream media is untruthful (or fail to relay certain parts of information) continuously. Often, libtards accuse me of being a liar (Neurotic Tom, Crudkitty, BlueState idiot, Caday5, & "Ollie" to name a few - you may not know who they are since they are either banned, or trolls that troll around my other political sites, but they know who they are), then often will go to articles put out by the mainstream media to prove that I am a liar. However, what good is calling someone a liar if you are a liar and use lies to prove you're not a liar?

Let me give you an example of the media lies that the lying libtards depend upon so headily.

Charles Sennott, former Middle East bureau chief for the Boston Globe from 1997 to 2001 published a book that became a best seller in the Boston area called "The Body and the Blood: The Middle East's Vanishing Christians and the Possibility for Peace." The book purportedly documents a dramatically diminishing presence of Christianity in the Middle East. It speaks of a "Christian exodus" in the face of war, persecution, and radical Islam. In the prologue of the book he asks, "Is Christianity truly going to die out in the land where it began?"

CNN flashed a headline saying, "Christians Leaving Middle East," Jonathan Mann and Gerald Kessel, April 21, 1992, and the BBC has proclaimed "Christians Quit Christ's Birthplace," Roger Hardy, December 21, 2001. NPR indicated in one story "the dwindling number of Christians in the Middle East" during coverage of the Pope's visit to Syria, Morning Edition May 7, 2001; Denver Post stated in one of their stories that "once significant Christian communities [in the Middle East] have shrunk to a minuscule portion of their former robust selves. . . in fifty years they may well be extinct," Jonathan and Agota Kuperman, "Christian Eclipse in shadow of Radical Islam," op-ed Rocky Mountain News/Denver Post, December 22, 2001. The Guardian newspaper in London, U.K., suggests that Christians in the Middle East are becoming an "endangered species," William Dalrymple, October 30, 2001. In Toronto, Canada's Toronto Sun has claimed that "a time may come. . . when Christian communities of the Middle East no longer exist," Salim Mansur, "A Christian Exodus?", December 23, 2004.

Bloggers, often gathering their data from the media, are reporting the same, such as this post by the Modern Tribalist last year.

Here's the problem with all of these stories. They are not quite accurate.

A spiritual revolution, centering around Christianity, that is completely missed by the mainstream media, is under way throughout the Muslim World. In Cairo, Egypt, scores of Arabs are coming to Christ. On March 15, 2005, the Morocco Times ran an article titled "Why are Moroccans Converting to Christianity?" The newspaper published an article on January 24, 2006 titled "Evangelical Missionaries Back in the Limelight." A concert of contemporary Christian music has made its rounds of the country with large numbers of attendees, and no negative incidents, despite the fact that converts to Christianity generally face social ostracism. Newspapers and magazines estimate 25,000 to 40,000 Muslims have become followers of Christ in recent years, page 208, Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg. The growth of Christianity in Iraq and Iran, as reported by "Behind the Black Veil," Charisma, June 2004, is at an all time high as well as people in those areas search for freedom from the violence of Islam, and find it in the mercy of Christianity.

The point of me writing what you just read above was not to proselytize, but to point out the obvious errors in the reporting of our respected (well, not respected by me, but you know what I mean) mainstream media.

Hmmmm. So does that mean that journalists are willing to lie to get their story to say what they wish it to say?

Absolutely.

Now, let's turn to the recent reactions by the mainstream media (and liberal left Dems) to General Petraeus' report on Iraq, and yesterday's speech by George W. Bush. Los Angeles KFI Radio's John and Ken proclaimed, at the end of Bush's speech, that it was time for Bush to be led back to his rubber room. In Wisconsin, they reminded us that they believe, along with the Democrats, that Iraq is a diversion from the War on Terror, rather than a part of the War on Terror (by quoting Sen. Russ Feingold). Chicago scoffed at the plan to bring some of the troops home due to successes in the region, rather than bringing them all home in defeat all at once. AOL News was quick to remind us what Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to say when she slammed Bush's current plans regarding Iraq mainly because, according to Pelosi, the overall plan of the administration is to keep a significant number of troops in Iraq for ten years or more. They forget that even today we have a presence in South Korea, Japan, and Germany. We have only recently removed our presence from the Philippines which began after the Spanish American war in the 1890's! And of course the Huffington Post called General Petraeus Bush's political lackey, asked Petraeus to take off his rose colored glasses, as well as indicating that Petraeus is guilty of Al Qaeda Fearmongering. And finally, Hillary proclaimed on 9/11/07 that Bush and Petraeus were guilty of "the willing suspension of belief," and MoveOn.org decided to proclaim the General as being General BetrayUs, indicating that he is constantly at war with the facts.

However, Paul Couturier, the host of Independently Correct Radio, and regular participant on Political Pistachio Radio, an Iraq War Veteran who still has contact with a number of our troops, Iraq War Veterans I have talked to here in Southern California, General Petraeus, who is the commander of the operations in Iraq, and the President of the United States, all proclaim progress is being made in Iraq and that victory is on the horizon. Perhaps not as soon as The Left would demand, but the progress is such that the surge numbers will no longer be needed within the year. On my post, The General's Report, I explained the security and economic progress in Iraq, much of it based on government reports, and objective reporting outside the mainstream media.

In the beginning of this post I showed you an example how the media misses the obvious, and lies to support their agenda.

Now, when it comes to news regarding progress, or lack thereof, of the War on Terror, including the battlefield in Iraq, who are you going to believe? The liberal left who pays visits to the enemy, Hollyweird who rubs elbows with the enemy, and a mainstream media who has a vested interest in defeat - or the troops speaking on Political Pistachio Radio that have been on the ground in Iraq, the military General in charge of the battlefield in Iraq, and the President of the United States who is receiving much more information regarding the situation in Iraq than we are?

On my last broadcast Phil, a regular listener and participant in the program, made an interesting comment. He said the Left supported the President as long as we were victims. We had been hit by terrorists on 9/11 and that made us victims, and so it united the country. The moment we stopped becoming victims and took charge of the situation and struck back from a position of strength, the Left could no longer support the President of the United States, because they can only operate from the perspective of a victim, not a self-reliant entity.

Another point is this. Democrats and the Libtards seem to be shying away from a military solution of this war, and keep calling for a political end to the war. Their criticisms have been against the politics of Bush, and the weak political structure and lack of strong activities by the Iraq government. They also proclaim that there is not military solution to the war in Iraq, and that there cannot be a military solution to the war in Iraq. Now, let's look back in history. Vietnam was fought from a political point of view, and came to a political end, and was a disaster. Korea came to a political end, and is essentially still being fought. The two world wars, the American Civil War, and the American Revolution were fought purely by the military, and came to a military end by using a military solution. Now, looking back, which of these wars were victories, and which were failures?

We have no choice but to have a military end to Iraq, and using a military solution in the War on Terror. We cannot depart militarily from the region unless we do it from the position of victory and success, not in defeat. To depart in the form of a "cut and run" as the Democratic Party seems to desire will do nothing less than turn Iraq into a seething hive of terror sponsored by al-Qaeda, Iran, Syria, and a host of other "Hamas-like" groups. To finish the job in Iraq in the form of a military victory will leave a democracy in the state of Iraq with good ties to America in an area where it is most needed - and, less people will die in the long run - because a cut and run will simply lead to the wholesale slaughter of any Iraqi citizen that supported the United States' presence in Iraq. I guarantee a sudden departure from Iraq will result in many more deaths to innocent people than there ever will be as a result of our presence in that country.

It is sort of like tying a shoe. When my kids were young they had difficulty, as all children do when faced with a new challenge, tying their shoes. It took time to overcome the obstacles. It took patience to finally reach success and tie their shoes properly. But they stuck with it, determined to finish the job successfully, learning a valuable function that they would need and use throughout life.

I have a feeling libtards see their children struggling tying their shoes and just go out and buy their kids shoes with velcro instead.

Desecration of the Vietnam Memorial Wall

My Tribute to 9/11 on Political Pistachio Radio

September 12th's broadcast began with a tribute to 9/11 you must hear. CLICK HERE to go to the program page for the show. If the media player on the sidebar does not automatically begin playing, scroll down to the segment description of September 12th's episode of Political Pistachio radio and hit the play button so that the broadcast will play on your own media player. Then sit down and listen to the first few minutes of the show. Then hear what I have to say in addition. You will be glad you did.

I Wept Yesterday

To listen to tonight's show, click HERE.

On my way to work a radio program played footage from 9/11 and I found myself weeping. I came home last night and spent time with my wife in silence. I was sent a video by a friend of the Palestinians celebrating after the World Trade Center attack. I watched it in silence.

The ensuing War on Terror has many battle fronts, and one of them is in Iraq.

General Petraeus was correct in his assessment. Any decision to bring American troops home from Iraq must be made from "strength and success, not fear and failure.

Tonight Paul Couturier will join me on Political Pistachio Radio at 7pm Pacific Time, 10 pm Eastern. I will begin my show with audio from 9/11. I will speak on my thoughts regarding that horrendous day. Paul will tell us his thoughts, as well, I am sure, as well as give us a little more insight on how important that battle in Iraq is in this War on Terror. Then we will turn our focus on The Gathering of Eagles Event.

The anti-military crowd, by the way, has struck again against our monuments to our heroes in Washington D.C. They damaged the Vietnam Wall. More wish to do the same on September 15, 2007.

Support The Eagles.

To listen to tonight's show, click HERE.

In Memory of those lost on 9/11

A Moment of Silence.

The General's Report

Report to Congress on the Situation in IraqGeneral David H. PetraeusCommander, Multi-National Force-Iraq10-11 September 2007 (below this report is my take on the report by General Petraeus and how I believe progress is being made in Iraq)

Mr. Chairmen, Ranking Members, Members of the Committees, thank you for the opportunity to provide my assessment of the security situation in Iraq and to discuss the recommendations I recently provided to my chain of command for the way forward.

At the outset, I would like to note that this is my testimony. Although I have briefed my assessment and recommendations to my chain of command, I wrote this testimony myself. It has not been cleared by, nor shared with, anyone in the Pentagon, the White House, or Congress.

As a bottom line up front, the military objectives of the surge are, in large measure, being met. In recent months, in the face of tough enemies and the brutal summer heat of Iraq, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces have achieved progress in the security arena. Though the improvements have been uneven across Iraq, the overall number of security incidents in Iraq has declined in 8 of the past 12 weeks, with the numbers of incidents in the last two weeks at the lowest levels seen since June 2006.

One reason for the decline in incidents is that Coalition and Iraqi forces have dealt significant blows to Al Qaeda-Iraq. Though Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Iraq remain dangerous, we have taken away a number of their sanctuaries and gained the initiative in many areas.We have also disrupted Shia militia extremists, capturing the head and numerous other leaders of the Iranian-supported Special Groups, along with a senior Lebanese Hezbollah operative supporting Iran’s activities in Iraq.

Coalition and Iraqi operations have helped reduce ethno-sectarian violence, as well, bringing down the number of ethno-sectarian deaths substantially in Baghdad and across Iraq since the height of the sectarian violence last December. The number of overall civilian deaths has also declined during this period, although the numbers in each area are still at troubling levels.Iraqi Security Forces have also continued to grow and to shoulder more of the load, albeit slowly and amid continuing concerns about the sectarian tendencies of some elements in their ranks. In general, however, Iraqi elements have been standing and fighting and sustaining tough losses, and they have taken the lead in operations in many areas.

Additionally, in what may be the most significant development of the past 8 months, the tribal rejection of Al Qaeda that started in Anbar Province and helped produce such significant change there has now spread to a number of other locations as well.

Based on all this and on the further progress we believe we can achieve over the next few months, I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level of brigade combat teams by next summer without jeopardizing the security gains that we have fought so hard to achieve.

Beyond that, while noting that the situation in Iraq remains complex, difficult, and sometimes downright frustrating, I also believe that it is possible to achieve our objectives in Iraq over time, though doing so will be neither quick nor easy.

Having provided that summary, I would like to review the nature of the conflict in Iraq, recall the situation before the surge, describe the current situation, and explain the recommendations I have provided to my chain of command for the way ahead in Iraq.
The Nature of the Conflict

The fundamental source of the conflict in Iraq is competition among ethnic and sectarian communities for power and resources. This competition will take place, and its resolution is key to producing long-term stability in the new Iraq. The question is whether the competition takes place more – or less – violently. This chart shows the security challenges in Iraq. Foreign and home-grown terrorists, insurgents, militia extremists, and criminals all push the ethno-sectarian competition toward violence. Malign actions by Syria and, especially, by Iran fuel that violence. Lack of adequate governmental capacity, lingering sectarian mistrust, and various forms of corruption add to Iraq’s challenges.

The Situation in December 2006 and the Surge
In our recent efforts to look to the future, we found it useful to revisit the past. In December 2006, during the height of the ethno-sectarian violence that escalated in the wake of the bombing of the Golden Dome Mosque in Samarra, the leaders in Iraq at that time – General George Casey and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad – concluded that the coalition was failing to achieve its objectives. Their review underscored the need to protect the population and reduce sectarian violence, especially in Baghdad. As a result, General Casey requested additional forces to enable the Coalition to accomplish these tasks, and those forces began to flow in January.
In the ensuing months, our forces and our Iraqi counterparts have focused on improving security, especially in Baghdad and the areas around it, wresting sanctuaries from Al Qaeda control, and disrupting the efforts of the Iranian-supported militia extremists. We have employed counterinsurgency practices that underscore the importance of units living among the people they are securing, and accordingly, our forces have established dozens of joint security stations and patrol bases manned by Coalition and Iraqi forces in Baghdad and in other areas across Iraq.

In mid-June, with all the surge brigades in place, we launched a series of offensive operations focused on: expanding the gains achieved in the preceding months in Anbar Province; clearing Baqubah, several key Baghdad neighborhoods, the remaining sanctuaries in Anbar Province, and important areas in the so-called “belts” around Baghdad; and pursuing Al Qaeda in the Diyala River Valley and several other areas.

Throughout this period, as well, we engaged in dialogue with insurgent groups and tribes, and this led to additional elements standing up to oppose Al Qaeda and other extremists. We also continued to emphasize the development of the Iraqi Security Forces and we employed non-kinetic means to exploit the opportunities provided by the conduct of our kinetic operations – aided in this effort by the arrival of additional Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Current Situation and Trends

The progress our forces have achieved with our Iraqi counterparts has, as I noted at the outset, been substantial. While there have been setbacks as well as successes and tough losses along the way, overall, our tactical commanders and I see improvements in the security environment. We do not, however, just rely on gut feel or personal observations; we also conduct considerable data collection and analysis to gauge progress and determine trends. We do this by gathering and refining data from coalition and Iraqi operations centers, using a methodology that has been in place for well over a year and that has benefited over the past seven months from the increased presence of our forces living among the Iraqi people. We endeavor to ensure our analysis of that data is conducted with rigor and consistency, as our ability to achieve a nuanced understanding of the security environment is dependent on collecting and analyzing data in a consistent way over time. Two US intelligence agencies recently reviewed our methodology, and they concluded that the data we produce is the most accurate and authoritative in Iraq.
As I mentioned up front, and as the chart before you reflects, the level of security incidents has decreased significantly since the start of the surge of offensive operations in mid-June, declining in 8 of the past 12 weeks, with the level of incidents in the past two weeks the lowest since June 2006 and with the number of attacks this past week the lowest since April 2006.Civilian deaths of all categories, less natural causes, have also declined considerably, by over 45% Iraq-wide since the height of the sectarian violence in December. This is shown by the top line on this chart, and the decline by some 70% in Baghdad is shown by the bottom line. Periodic mass casualty attacks by Al Qaeda have tragically added to the numbers outside Baghdad, in particular. Even without the sensational attacks, however, the level of civilian deaths is clearly still too high and continues to be of serious concern.

As the next chart shows, the number of ethno-sectarian deaths, an important subset of the overall civilian casualty figures, has also declined significantly since the height of the sectarian violence in December. Iraq-wide, as shown by the top line on this chart, the number of ethno-sectarian deaths has come down by over 55%, and it would have come down much further were it not for the casualties inflicted by barbaric Al Qaeda bombings attempting to reignite sectarian violence. In Baghdad, as the bottom line shows, the number of ethno-sectarian deaths has come down by some 80% since December. This chart also displays the density of sectarian incidents in various Baghdad neighborhoods and it both reflects the progress made in reducing ethno-sectarian violence in the Iraqi capital and identifies the areas that remain the most challenging.
As we have gone on the offensive in former Al Qaeda and insurgent sanctuaries, and as locals have increasingly supported our efforts, we have found a substantially increased number of arms, ammunition, and explosives caches. As this chart shows, we have, so far this year, already found and cleared over 4,400 caches, nearly 1,700 more than we discovered in all of last year. This may be a factor in the reduction in the number of overall improvised explosive device attacks in recent months, which as this chart shows, has declined sharply, by about one-third, since June.

The change in the security situation in Anbar Province has, of course, been particularly dramatic. As this chart shows, monthly attack levels in Anbar have declined from some 1,350 in October 2006 to a bit over 200 in August of this year. This dramatic decrease reflects the significance of the local rejection of Al Qaeda and the newfound willingness of local Anbaris to volunteer to serve in the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police Service. As I noted earlier, we are seeing similar actions in other locations, as well.

To be sure, trends have not been uniformly positive across Iraq, as is shown by this chart depicting violence levels in several key Iraqi provinces. The trend in Ninevah Province, for example, has been much more up and down, until a recent decline, and the same is true in Sala ad Din Province, though recent trends there and in Baghdad have been in the right direction. In any event, the overall trajectory in Iraq – a steady decline of incidents in the past three months – is still quite significant.

The number of car bombings and suicide attacks has also declined in each of the past 5 months, from a high of some 175 in March, as this chart shows, to about 90 this past month. While this trend in recent months has been heartening, the number of high profile attacks is still too high, and we continue to work hard to destroy the networks that carry out these barbaric attacks.
Our operations have, in fact, produced substantial progress against Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Iraq. As this chart shows, in the past 8 months, we have considerably reduced the areas in which Al Qaeda enjoyed sanctuary. We have also neutralized 5 media cells, detained the senior Iraqi leader of Al Qaeda-Iraq, and killed or captured nearly 100 other key leaders and some 2,500 rank-and-file fighters. Al Qaeda is certainly not defeated; however, it is off balance and we are pursuing its leaders and operators aggressively. Of note, as the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq explained, these gains against Al Qaeda are a result of the synergy of actions by: conventional forces to deny the terrorists sanctuary; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to find the enemy; and special operations elements to conduct targeted raids. A combination of these assets is necessary to prevent the creation of a terrorist safe haven in Iraq.

In the past six months we have also targeted Shia militia extremists, capturing a number of senior leaders and fighters, as well as the deputy commander of Lebanese Hezbollah Department 2800, the organization created to support the training, arming, funding, and, in some cases, direction of the militia extremists by the Iranian Republican Guard Corps’ Qods Force. These elements have assassinated and kidnapped Iraqi governmental leaders, killed and wounded our soldiers with advanced explosive devices provided by Iran, and indiscriminately rocketed civilians in the International Zone and elsewhere. It is increasingly apparent to both Coalition and Iraqi leaders that Iran, through the use of the Qods Force, seeks to turn the Iraqi Special Groups into a Hezbollah-like force to serve its interests and fight a proxy war against the Iraqi state and coalition forces in Iraq.

The most significant development in the past six months likely has been the increasing emergence of tribes and local citizens rejecting Al Qaeda and other extremists. This has, of course, been most visible in Anbar Province. A year ago the province was assessed as “lost” politically. Today, it is a model of what happens when local leaders and citizens decide to oppose Al Qaeda and reject its Taliban-like ideology. While Anbar is unique and the model it provides cannot be replicated everywhere in Iraq, it does demonstrate the dramatic change in security that is possible with the support and participation of local citizens. As this chart shows, other tribes have been inspired by the actions of those in Anbar and have volunteered to fight extremists as well. We have, in coordination with the Iraqi government’s National Reconciliation Committee, been engaging these tribes and groups of local citizens who want to oppose extremists and to contribute to local security. Some 20,000 such individuals are already being hired for the Iraqi Police, thousands of others are being assimilated into the Iraqi Army, and thousands more are vying for a spot in Iraq’s Security Forces.

As I noted earlier, Iraqi Security Forces have continued to grow, to develop their capabilities, and to shoulder more of the burden of providing security for their country. Despite concerns about sectarian influence, inadequate logistics and supporting institutions, and an insufficient number of qualified commissioned and non-commissioned officers, Iraqi units are engaged around the country.

As this chart shows, there are now nearly 140 Iraqi Army, National Police, and Special Operations Forces Battalions in the fight, with about 95 of those capable of taking the lead in operations, albeit with some coalition support. Beyond that, all of Iraq’s battalions have been heavily involved in combat operations that often result in the loss of leaders, soldiers, and equipment. These losses are among the shortcomings identified by operational readiness assessments, but we should not take from these assessments the impression that Iraqi forces are not in the fight and contributing. Indeed, despite their shortages, many Iraqi units across Iraq now operate with minimal coalition assistance.

As counterinsurgency operations require substantial numbers of boots on the ground, we are helping the Iraqis expand the size of their security forces. Currently, there are some 445,000 individuals on the payrolls of Iraq’s Interior and Defense Ministries. Based on recent decisions by Prime Minister Maliki, the number of Iraq’s security forces will grow further by the end of this year, possibly by as much as 40,000. Given the security challenges Iraq faces, we support this decision, and we will work with the two security ministries as they continue their efforts to expand their basic training capacity, leader development programs, logistical structures and elements, and various other institutional capabilities to support the substantial growth in Iraqi forces.

Significantly, in 2007, Iraq will, as in 2006, spend more on its security forces than it will receive in security assistance from the United States. In fact, Iraq is becoming one of the United States’ larger foreign military sales customers, committing some $1.6 billion to FMS already, with the possibility of up to $1.8 billion more being committed before the end of this year. And I appreciate the attention that some members of Congress have recently given to speeding up the FMS process for Iraq.

To summarize, the security situation in Iraq is improving, and Iraqis elements are slowly taking on more of the responsibility for protecting their citizens. Innumerable challenges lie ahead; however, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces have made progress toward achieving sustainable security. As a result, the United States will be in a position to reduce its forces in Iraq in the months ahead.

Recommendations

Two weeks ago I provided recommendations for the way ahead in Iraq to the members of my chain of command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The essence of the approach I recommended is captured in its title: “Security While Transitioning: From Leading to Partnering to Overwatch.”
This approach seeks to build on the security improvements our troopers and our Iraqi counterparts have fought so hard to achieve in recent months. It reflects recognition of the importance of securing the population and the imperative of transitioning responsibilities to Iraqi institutions and Iraqi forces as quickly as possible, but without rushing to failure. It includes substantial support for the continuing development of Iraqi Security Forces. It also stresses the need to continue the counterinsurgency strategy that we have been employing, but with Iraqis gradually shouldering more of the load. And it highlights the importance of regional and global diplomatic approaches. Finally, in recognition of the fact that this war is not only being fought on the ground in Iraq but also in cyberspace, it also notes the need to contest the enemy’s growing use of that important medium to spread extremism.

The recommendations I provided were informed by operational and strategic considerations.
The operational considerations include recognition that:

• military aspects of the surge have achieved progress and generated momentum;
• Iraqi Security Forces have continued to grow and have slowly been shouldering more of the security burden in Iraq;
• a mission focus on either population security or transition alone will not be adequate to achieve our objectives;
• success against Al Qaeda-Iraq and Iranian-supported militia extremists requires conventional forces as well as special operations forces; and
• the security and local political situations will enable us to draw down the surge forces.
My recommendations also took into account a number of strategic considerations:
• political progress will take place only if sufficient security exists;
• long-term US ground force viability will benefit from force reductions as the surge runs its course;
• regional, global, and cyberspace initiatives are critical to success; and
• Iraqi leaders understandably want to assume greater sovereignty in their country, although, as they recently announced, they do desire continued presence of coalition forces in Iraq in 2008 under a new UN Security Council Resolution and, following that, they want to negotiate a long term security agreement with the United States and other nations.

Based on these considerations, and having worked the battlefield geometry with Lieutenant General Ray Odierno to ensure that we retain and build on the gains for which our troopers have fought, I have recommended a drawdown of the surge forces from Iraq. In fact, later this month, the Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed as part of the surge will depart Iraq. Beyond that, if my recommendations are approved, that unit’s departure will be followed by the withdrawal of a brigade combat team without replacement in mid-December and the further redeployment without replacement of four other brigade combat teams and the two surge Marine battalions in the first 7 months of 2008, until we reach the pre-surge level of 15 brigade combat teams by mid-July 2008.

I would also like to discuss the period beyond next summer. Force reductions will continue beyond the pre-surge levels of brigade combat teams that we will reach by mid-July 2008; however, in my professional judgment, it would be premature to make recommendations on the pace of such reductions at this time. In fact, our experience in Iraq has repeatedly shown that projecting too far into the future is not just difficult, it can be misleading and even hazardous.
The events of the past six months underscore that point. When I testified in January, for example, no one would have dared to forecast that Anbar Province would have been transformed the way it has in the past 6 months. Nor would anyone have predicted that volunteers in one-time Al Qaeda strongholds like Ghazaliyah in western Baghdad or in Adamiya in eastern Baghdad would seek to join the fight against Al Qaeda. Nor would we have anticipated that a Shia-led government would accept significant numbers of Sunni volunteers into the ranks of the local police force in Abu Ghraib. Beyond that, on a less encouraging note, none of us earlier this year appreciated the extent of Iranian involvement in Iraq, something about which we and Iraq’s leaders all now have greater concern.

In view of this, I do not believe it is reasonable to have an adequate appreciation for the pace of further reductions and mission adjustments beyond the summer of 2008 until about mid-March of next year. We will, no later than that time, consider factors similar to those on which I based the current recommendations, having by then, of course, a better feel for the security situation, the improvements in the capabilities of our Iraqi counterparts, and the enemy situation. I will then, as I did in developing the recommendations I have explained here today, also take into consideration the demands on our Nation’s ground forces, although I believe that that consideration should once again inform, not drive, the recommendations I make.

This chart captures the recommendations I have described, showing the recommended reduction of brigade combat teams as the surge runs its course and illustrating the concept of our units adjusting their missions and transitioning responsibilities to Iraqis, as the situation and Iraqi capabilities permit. It also reflects the no-later-than date for recommendations on force adjustments beyond next summer and provides a possible approach we have considered for the future force structure and mission set in Iraq.

One may argue that the best way to speed the process in Iraq is to change the MNF-I mission from one that emphasizes population security, counter-terrorism, and transition, to one that is strictly focused on transition and counter-terrorism. Making that change now would, in our view, be premature. We have learned before that there is a real danger in handing over tasks to the Iraqi Security Forces before their capacity and local conditions warrant. In fact, the drafters of the recently released National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq recognized this danger when they wrote, and I quote, “We assess that changing the mission of Coalition forces from a primarily counterinsurgency and stabilization role to a primary combat support role for Iraqi forces and counterterrorist operations to prevent AQI from establishing a safe haven would erode security gains achieved thus far.”

In describing the recommendations I have made, I should note again that, like Ambassador Crocker, I believe Iraq’s problems will require a long-term effort. There are no easy answers or quick solutions. And though we both believe this effort can succeed, it will take time. Our assessments underscore, in fact, the importance of recognizing that a premature drawdown of
our forces would likely have devastating consequences.

That assessment is supported by the findings of a 16 August Defense Intelligence Agency report on the implications of a rapid withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. Summarizing it in an unclassified fashion, it concludes that a rapid withdrawal would result in the further release of the strong centrifugal forces in Iraq and produce a number of dangerous results, including a high risk of disintegration of the Iraqi Security Forces; rapid deterioration of local security initiatives; Al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground and freedom of maneuver; a marked increase in violence and further ethno-sectarian displacement and refugee flows; alliances of convenience by Iraqi groups with internal and external forces to gain advantages over their rivals; and exacerbation of already challenging regional dynamics, especially with respect to Iran.Lieutenant General Odierno and I share this assessment and believe that the best way to secure our national interests and avoid an unfavorable outcome in Iraq is to continue to focus our operations on securing the Iraqi people while targeting terrorist groups and militia extremists and, as quickly as conditions are met, transitioning security tasks to Iraqi elements.

Closing Comments

Before closing, I want to thank you and your colleagues for your support of our men and women in uniform in Iraq. The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen with whom I’m honored to serve are the best equipped and, very likely, the most professional force in our nation’s history. Impressively, despite all that has been asked of them in recent years, they continue to raise their right hands and volunteer to stay in uniform. With three weeks to go in this fiscal year, in fact, the Army elements in Iraq, for example, have achieved well over 130% of the reenlistment goals in the initial term and careerist categories and nearly 115% in the mid-career category. All of us appreciate what you have done to ensure that these great troopers have had what they’ve needed to accomplish their mission, just as we appreciate what you have done to take care of their families, as they, too, have made significant sacrifices in recent years.
The advances you have underwritten in weapons systems and individual equipment; in munitions; in command, control, and communications systems; in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities; in vehicles and counter-IED systems and programs; and in manned and unmanned aircraft have proven invaluable in Iraq. The capabilities that you have funded most recently – especially the vehicles that will provide greater protection against improvised explosive devices – are also of enormous importance. Additionally, your funding of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program has given our leaders a critical tool with which to prosecute the counterinsurgency campaign. Finally, we appreciate as well your funding of our new detention programs and rule of law initiatives in Iraq.

In closing, it remains an enormous privilege to soldier again in Iraq with America’s new “Greatest Generation.” Our country’s men and women in uniform have done a magnificent job in the most complex and challenging environment imaginable. All Americans should be very proud of their sons and daughters serving in Iraq today.

Thank you very much.
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Thank you to Captain Ed over at Heading Right for the text of General Petraeus' Speech.

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And as for those Pink Freakoes, or whatever they call themselves, have a little respect. Video on Political Pistachio Videos will blow your mind regarding these people.

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The Left was calling General Petraeus a liar before he even gave the report. They loathe good news. The report indicates that we have achieved progress in Iraq, that the level of violent incidents has dropped since the surge was put into place, that al-Qaeda ignited violence is down, civilian deaths has dropped, and the violence in Baghdad is down a good bit more.

This is good news. Doesn't the left wish for good news? Shouldn't they be happy that the region is more stable than it was last year?

But let's take this explanation a step farther.

Iraq is on her way to forming a strong, stable, and decisive central government. Iraq is going to have a well trained, well equipped, and increasingly effective military and internal security force. As the situation slowly stabilizes, Iraqi roads and airports are beginning to function safer, and eventually the people will be able to move freely about their country. In the near future I believe that the stability of Iraq will draw tourists to visit Iraq's many ancient archeological sites and national treasures. Business leaders are beginning to pour into the country, and many more will come, as will foreign investors, particularly interested in getting Iraq's oil fields and refineries up to modern standards. And Iraq will emerge as an oil superpower that rivals today's Saudi Arabia.

The people out there writing Iraq off to failure can't even dream possible what is in store for Iraq. Note, these will be the same people who proclaimed the Berlin Wall would never fall, the Soviet Union could not be defeated, and that we had nothing to worry about when it came to Islamic Terrorists.

How can I make such claims about Iraq becoming stable? Why am I so convinced that Iraq will rise gloriously out of the Middle East?

As I stated in a previous post, Islamic Coalition, with Russian Support, is ready to launch an assault against Israel, I firmly believe that Iran, Syria, Russia, and a few other key players, are going to launch an attack against Israel in the effort to wipe her off the map, and the coalition will lose badly. Oil and gas exports from those Islamic countries involved will slow to a crawl because of the destruction they will suffer when Israel responds to their attack. Iraq, in the meantime, too occupied with their fledgling democracy, will not be a part of that attack, and will be left intact, and the most stable in the region, thanks to American assistance.

And how will this happen with all the violence in Iraq?

Ah, my doubting friends, the Left paints an inaccurate picture of the region. First of all, they fail to recognize General Petraeus' points as being fact. They can't accept them as fact. Good news out of Iraq could not possibly be true in the eyes of the far left liberal.

When American and coalition forces liberated Baghdad on April 9, 2003 the Iraqis cheered in the streets. They sang and danced and wept while they tore down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Fardus Square. Despite the threat of violence, each new round of elections has drawn more Iraqis to the polls than the one before. According to the "Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq", February 2006, report to Congress, in January 2005, 8.5 million Iraqis voted (58% of those elibible). October of 2005 turnout was 9.8 million Iraqi citizens (63% of eligible voters). By December of 2005 more than 12 million Iraqis came to the polls (77%), and in 2006 and 2007 the numbers have continued to rise. And this turnout has even increased in provinces racked by violence.

In Iraq, during Saddam's reign, thousands of people would be killed and dropped into mass graves and nobody would know. Now, if a few dozen people are killed the news is all over the local newspapers, television, and radio. Everyone speaks about the deaths, and people in Iraq are becoming weary of the insurgents.

According to "Epicenter" by Joel Rosenberg (page 180) Iraq's new economy has nearly doubled since liberation and is already beginning to attract large companies in the world that are recognizing that Iraq has a prosperous future.

Iraq is being restructured in an atmosphere of violence, growing during the crisis. She is making a transition from a war economy to a peace economy; from a dictatorship to a democracy. Imagine the enormous economic growth Iraq will be capable of once the violence settles down.

Fact is, even if the invasion of Israel by Iraq's neighbors does not take place any time soon, Iraq is making real progress. However, building a democracy takes time.

Time is what it will take to allow the increasingly battle-hardened Iraqi security force to mature, as well. In time, Iraq will be able to take charge of their own security and allow American and coalition forces to come home. All it takes is patience.

But none of this can be achieved if we drop our weapons and come home, leaving Iraq under-prepared to deal with hostile neighbors like Syria and Iran. The highest levels of Iraqi government wish to become the nation I have described they are becoming, but like myself, they realize that they are not ready to carry the torch without our assistance.

American presence must remain. Otherwise, rather than a stable democracy, Iraq will become a bloody killing field, and training ground for the next terrorists that will attack Israel, and launch the next 9/11 against the United States of America and any other nation of the West that dares refuse to convert to Islam.

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And. . .if you missed the last broadcast of Political Pistachio Radio with Andrea Shea King as my guest, you missed a dandy of a program. Listen to it now! Not only was Andrea Shea King, host on Sunday nights on WDBO AM 580 on the Space Coast in Florida and fellow BTR host during the week, on her best game, but we also had on the air an Iraq War Veteran who will also be on Political Pistachio Radio this coming Wednesday to kick off my trio of Gathering of Eagles broadcasts.

September 12, the day after the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Political Pistachio Radio will welcome Paul Couturier, Iraq War Veteran, to the program to discuss the post 9/11 world and his expectations of attending the Gathering of Eagles event coming up on September 15, 2007 in Washington D.C.

On the day of Gathering of Eagles III Kit Lange, a coordinator for GOE, as well as fellow BTR host, will be reporting live on Political Pistachio Radio beginning at 5pm Pacific Time, 8pm Eastern. And, she has promised me to have a number of Eagles report on the show, as well as a few crazies from the left! You gotta tune in to hear it!

Then, to wind out our GOE III trilogy, Justin from www.rightontheright.com will give us his post-event report (and don’t be surprised if a few other Eagles call in as well). That will be on September 19th at 7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern on Political Pistachio Radio.

So don’t miss the next three installments of Political Pistachio Radio - your official Gathering of Eagles Blog Talk Radio Program!

Cary Cartter's Monday Campaign Notes

Some readers may not have realized that I have actually been running a word-of-mouth campaign since January 6, 2007. There have been some recent entries into the race for President, and there have been a lot of developments since then. I though it might be a good idea to go over some of the reasons I am running for President.Other readers, having been with me and supporting me from the beginning, may recognize these words, since they were in my original post declaring my candidacy.I can hear you wondering, "Cary, what do you know about running the country?"I know enough not to let armed invaders get away without some ventilated clothing.I know enough not to let non-citizens claim rights under our constitution.I know enough not to allow illegal immigrants to benefit from the hard work of the American citizens and legal immigrants.I know enough to actually assign jobs to people trained in the area, and then get the h3ll out of their way while they do the job to the best of their ability.I know enough that unless this country gets a leader with the intestinal fortitude to actually lead this country instead of letting other country's public opinion dictate the leaders' actions, this country won't exist for very long.I promise to look after THIS country's best interests first. Yes, there will be some hard rows ahead, but what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.Now, this is not a full listing of my stand. I have many entries over the last few months (for example, here, here, here, here, and most of all here)As I said, this is a word-of-mouth campaign. I need everyone who reads this to help me get the word out. Tell everyone you know to “Write In Cary Cartter for President in 2008!”But, this campaign needs help. Lots of help. Each state where I will be a write-in candidate needs me to file with them the names of electors from that state. The electors will travel to the electoral college after the November 2008 election, and cast their vote for me as the candidate. Travel is reimbursed, if that makes a difference. Then there are the states that don't accept write-in candidates for the office of President. My name needs to appear on the ballot on those states. I will need, besides electors, people willing to circulate and file petitions for my name to appear on the ballot.All of these positions would be on a volunteer basis. As mentioned, travel to the electoral college would be reimbursed.This campaign is running on word of mouth and no expenditures - and no contributions are being solicited. If enough volunteers can get together and cause a grass-roots swelling happen, then Cary Cartter can be elected President of the United States in November 2008.If you feel you are Out of Voting Choices, then choose to Make a Difference - write in Cary Cartter for President in November 2008. Please help me get the word out.Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
Labels: Monday, warriors for innocence, wear red on fridays, write in Cary Cartter for President 2008

My Memories of 9/11/2001

A couple days ago, coupled with Paul Couturier's article "Where Were You That Day", I asked folks on Political Pistachio about their memories of 9/11. The response was fantastic. However, on that day, I did not relay my story about my own memories of 9/11.

In this post tonight I was considering writing about my anger regarding the U Visa, and how it is just another loophole to be taken advantage of by the criminals that jump our borders. The intention is noble, but the ramifications will be disastrous.

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I also considered writing about an article titled "Operation Phantom Strike" that goes over, a lot, about the surge and the successes associated with current operations (successes the leftwing media, of course, will never tell you about).

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John Stossel taking on Michael Moore regarding socialized medicine, and the disaster that would ensue in regards to our health system if socialized medicine were implemented, also buzzed around in my mind as a possible topic for tonight's post.

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Chuck Schumer's remarks about the inability of American soldiers has had me pretty mad of late, so I thought about talking about that as well, tonight. Chuck's remarks were brought up last Saturday on my Political Pistachio Radio Show, by the way, by my guest, Andrea Shea King. One of my callers was Paul Couturier, an Iraq War Veteran, and his input added to an already tense conversation. Hugh Hewitt asked Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman about Chuck's remarks, and the exchange was interesting, indeed.

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The ex-ACLU chief getting seven years for child porn was an option to write about, as was the Colorado man who is at risk for losing his job for these words: "Lawn Services Done With Pride! By an English Speaking American!" and how his battle is still raging on over a year after his troubles began.

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A man in South Florida being ordered to remove his business from a particular location because he speaks English rather than Spanish, the recent Osama bin Ladin video, Al Qaeda expanding into North Africa, the Mexican Truckers on our roads, Move America Forward's road tour, Updates on the New York Islamic Academy (paid for with taxpayer funds), Hillary's ability to block release of a DVD that may hurt her campaign (well, the ability of those trying to protect her candidacy, should I say), a symbol of the coming Global One-World Government (or at least the North American Union, which will lead us in that direction) appearing on North Carolina Driver's Licenses, and a host of numerous other stories also caught my attention and cried out for me to write a nice long post about them.

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Instead, I decided to share my experiences regarding the attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.

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As many of you who have been longtime readers of Political Pistachio may know, I am a United States Navy veteran, the son of a United States Marine, and currently labor in the construction industry while I wait for my writing to blossom into more than my blogs. Don't get me wrong, I value my blogs greatly. However, sometime in the future, I am hoping to branch out into the printed word.

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A few days prior to September 11th, 2001 my work truck was involved in an auto accident. I wasn't in the truck, I was driving a big rig, and one of my co-workers was following in my work truck. As a result, on the morning of 9/11, I was driving a rental truck, rather than my work truck, which at that moment was in pieces somewhere in some auto-body shop. The rental truck had a CD player in it, so rather than listen to my usual mix of either talk-radio, or Christian Music Radio, I chose to bring some CDs. So, when the tragedy of 9/11 occurred, I was not aware of it.

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Here on the West Coast we are disconnected from the east. It's a different world out here, and anything that happens back in New York and its vicinity is normally just something that sometimes pops up on the nightly news broadcast. So, even after we arrived on the job site that morning, word of the attack did not reach us.

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A couple hours into the morning my trenching machine encountered a particularly nasty vein of rock, and I snapped an axle. I called into the office and the mechanic from "the yard" was dispatched with the appropriate parts for repair. A little while later, the yard dog arrived, and as he brought me the new axle, he says, "Hey, did you hear about what happened in New York

City?"

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"No," I replied. "What happened?"

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"I guess an airplane flew into some tall buildings, there. Something called the World Trade Center."

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I was vaguely familiar with the World Trade Center, as it had been attacked by terrorists in 1993 under President Clinton's watch, after which he did nothing but proclaim the attack to be nothing more than a criminal act by radicals. But the idea of terrorists being the ones that flew the plane into the tower never occurred to me. I figured it was a horrible airline screw-up.

During my lunchtime I was in the rental truck listening to news reports to find out more. I don't recall the details of the reports at that time, but later while on my way home I remember learning that there was a second plane that flew into the World Trade Center as well, and that it was most likely a terrorist attack by Islamic terrorists.

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I couldn't believe it. Why would anyone do such a thing? Was this an act of war like I was beginning to believe? What would President Bush do in response?

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When I parked the truck in front of my house I grabbed my stuff and rushed to the front door. It was a hot day, so my wife had the front door open. I stood in the doorway and caught an image on the television on the opposite side of my living room. The image was of the second plane striking the tower.

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Immediately tears formed in my eyes, and I wasn't even sure why. My fingers released my lunchbox, and it fell to the porch, dumping its innards across the concrete. I stepped into my house and looked over at my wife as she watched the television. She wasn't crying. She had a confused look on her face, as if the information was not processing, and she didn't know what to think.

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"They think it was terrorists," she said to me.

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"I know," I replied.

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As news unfolded, and I learned about the attack on the Pentagon and United 93, my anger became fear. What was next? Was Los Angeles next on the list?

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A year later my wife and I visited the northeast United States. Thirteen months after the attack I stood on the edge of ground-zero gazing through a hole in the green tarp covering a chain linked fence over the big hole that was once the base of the World Trade Center. I never got to see the towers. I didn't understand how important they were to the New York City skyline. And as I stood there a man came to stand beside me, glancing through the hole as I was.

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Down below the subway tracks were still twisted. Crews were working trying to eliminate the debris. The man says, more to himself than to anyone else I think, "I used to work there."

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"In the towers?" I asked.

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"Yes."

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"You weren't there when the attacks happened?"

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"I should have been," he said. "I was late to work. Watched the attack from the roadway in my car. I haven't been back since that day. This is my first time to return to this place since the attack. I lost a lot of friends that day. Friends and co-workers."

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"I never saw the towers before the attack," I said.

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"They were so tall. The skyline isn't right without them. The towers dominated the skyline. They were the tallest by quite a bit. Without them New York isn't the same. I'm not the same. New York will never forget what those bastards did."

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I said, "America will never forget."

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Unfortunately, it seems like many Americans have forgotten. They don't understand that when we invaded Afghanistan, and then later Iraq, we weren't attacking those countries individually, just like we weren't attacking the Germans during World War II. We were attacking Nazism back then, and we were going after the sponsors of those that attacked us on 9/11 when we moved into Iraq.

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They forget that Islam is not simply a religion. And it is hardly the religion of peace. Bush was wrong when he called Islam that. Islam is an ideology designed for world domination, not much differently than Nazism was. But Islam learned from the past. They have realized that violence alone is not enough to defeat and convert their enemies. Now they are using our freedoms against us as well. Europe is falling. Britain is under attack right now as the hardline radicals of Islam is slowly taking over British mosques. America is next. And what are we doing to protect ourselves from this slow takeover by Islamism? We open our borders to them, we allow activist judges to diminish the all important Patriot Act, and our Hollywood elitists rub elbows with dictators that hate America and support Islamo-fascism. The American mainstream media ignores reports that support reports such as that Bin Laden had al-Qaeda camps in Iraq under Saddam's Regime, proof of WMD in Iraq, and news of Mexico supporting the illegal crossings of their people into the United States.

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Honestly, when it comes down to it, the Moral Retardation of the Left and the rise of Islam seriously stumps me. I cannot understand how anybody, when faced with an enemy that tells us straight out that they wish to destroy Israel, America, and the Western Culture as a whole, calls us the enemy because America has taken action to protect her National Security.

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Insane.

Andrea Shea King on Political Pistachio Radio

Today, live at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern. Tune in live HERE.

The Approach of the Sixth Anniversary of 9/11

Like myself, I am sure you remember exactly where you were when September 11, 2001 became a day of infamy. I remember who I was with, where I was, and what I was doing when I first heard the news. I remember my position in the doorway as I stepped into my house and saw on the television that first image of an airliner flying into one of the Twin Towers. I wasn't sure what the World Trade Center was before that day, but the WTC Towers became all too clear to me thereafter. Paul Couturier remembers all too well where he was as well, so he wrote an article about it, and it was published in The Sun Chronicle.

Where were you on 9/11?

A matter of National Security

Protests along the border crossings in Texas and California commenced today over the idiotic pilot program allowing Mexican trucking companies to transport cargo into the U.S. without checking the cargo as efficiently as before, based on issued permits allowing these trucks swift passage into the United States.

Syria fired upon Israeli Defense Force aircraft today, stating that the Israeli planes violated Syrian airspace. This coming while Syria and Israel continue their "technical" state of war, which primarily consists of a war of words.

A Muslim woman in Orange County, California, an suburban area just south of Los Angeles, is suing the Orange County Sheriff's Department for making her remove her head scarf while locked up in jail for eight hours. The Sheriff's Department stated that they required her to remove the scarf because of the chance that it could be used as a weapon.

And finally, Fred Thompson has finally entered the race for president. But, like the entertainer he is, he chose the Tonight Show to make the announcement, and did not attend last night's debate (of which I believe Huckabee was the big winner). Fred will bring a lot to the table, as his claims seem to be more conservative than his fellow candidate's. We'll see how it goes. What do you think? Should he have done this differently? How should he have made his announcement? Should he have participated in the debate?

Kit Lange/Gathering of Eagles on Political Pistachio Radio

Tonight Political Pistachio Radio starts at 7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern - CLICK HERE to listen live!

if you tried to tune in at 5pm Pacific, I apologize, slight error on my part.

Islamic Coalition, with Russian Support, is Ready to Launch an Assault Against Israel

History shows that when dictators make outrageous threats, often they are planning to act upon such threats.

Adolf Hitler thought himself to be some kind of secular messiah. Hitler explicitly rejected the idea that there may be a God in the heavens, rejected biblical principles and authority. In short, he hated Christianity, and even hated more so the Jewish people. In addition to this hate for anyone that claimed allegiance to God, he also garnered an unappeasable appetite for controlling humanity. During the 1930's his constant rhetoric was warnings of his intentions, and he was explicit about his intentions, as is Ahmadinejad of Iran. Neville Chamberlain was sent to visit Hitler during the 1930's, and even made a deal with him (dripping with appeasement), and Hitler broke the deal, and then proceeded to lead the world (with the help of Japan and Italy) into the worse war in history. Churchill wrote later, "There never was a war in all history easier to prevent by timely action." Notice the word "action", not negotiations. Ronald Reagan chose to learn from history when he confronted the Soviet Union and brought the Cold War to an end.

Some wonder if the Cold War actually ended, with Russia's sudden determination to build an empire once again, complete with alliances with Iran and a number of other Islamic States.

One of Joesph Stalin's most famous quotes was, "A person, a problem; no person - no problem." So, essentially, millions of people became non-persons. And like Hitler, he had a hatred toward Christianity, and an even stronger hatred for Soviet Jews. During Stalin's reign of terror, tens of millions of Russians died from purges, wars, and famines. Many of these were Jews, at least a million of whom were deported from Moscow in 1953 and sent to slave-labor camps in Siberia, never to be heard from again.

A murderous, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian dictator has risen in Iran, and his rhetoric is even more explicit than his historical counterparts. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the complete destruction of the Jewish state of Israel, saying that "Israel must be wiped off the map." He is feverishly seeking nuclear weapons, has indicated that he doesn't fear using such weapons against Israel and the United States for complete annihilation of those nations, and he believes that he has been placed into the position of President of Iran in order to bring about chaos, war, bloodshed, and pestilence so that he may usher in the return of the 12th Imam. Oh, and did I mention? He wishes to launch a global jihad against the Jews and Christians, believing this is one of the important steps of bringing about judgment day and the return of the Islamic Mahdi to launch his final revolution.

Now, about now the Left (as they have before) will begin laughing and say, "Do you really think that Islamic Terrorists can actually just do everything that Ahmadinejad is threatening? Hardly the real world."

Well, to answer your question: Perhaps. However, what if they had a little help?

First of all, we were essentially blindsided by 9/11. Yes, there was intelligence that suggested that what happened on September 11, 2001 was possible, but the notion was never taken serious, nor was the exact style of attack (flying airliners into the World Trade Center) fully expected. Essentially, we were attacked because of many factors, including our complete lack of taking action and dealing with the terrorists during Clinton's administration while they were attacking our embassies and other targets (including the WTC at on point) which drove Islam to move up to the next level of an attack, and also because of the failure of imagination at the highest levels of government that such an attack could happen in such a manner, or that the enemy would even be willing to do such a thing. In fact, the attack surprised most Defense Department officials, just as Iraq's attack on Kuwait did (because they were unwilling to look at the signs).

During all of this our focus has departed from Russia. The Cold War ended. Right?

Extraordinary changes have been underway in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The evil system in place could not survive. Communism is really in direct opposition of human nature and behavior. Freedom is a right that was endowed by our Creator, as the U.S. Constitution states. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness cannot be contained.

The evil empire did in fact collapse. The Soviet flag was lowered over the Kremlin for the last time on Christmas Day, 1991. Atheism died with it in that country, for a large part, and Bibles and Christian books flooded into Russia. Vladimir Putin was not too thrilled about that.

Vladimir Putin was trained by the KGB, and at one time was Russia's top spy. Now, as Russia's current president, he is not secretive regarding his long-term goals for Russia. One of his goals is clear. He plans to rebuild Russia's military, and he endeavors to reach this goal through alliances with Islamic States in the Middle East and Africa.

Putin's mission, as relayed in First Person by himself and three Russian journalists, is to stop the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, be harsh and brutal to his enemies, return Russia to a truly supercentralized state, and to send all of his critics to Hell (if there was such a place). In a speech in 2005 he indicated that the fall of the Soviet Union was the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century." I suppose the 20 million deaths by the hand of Stalin's reign of terror, or the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust under Adolf Hitler, or the 3 million deaths in the killing fields of Cambodia under Pol Pot, or the millions to die by the hand of Communist China, aren't nearly as tragic, according to Vladimir Putin.

His fondness for murder and cruelty is even more chilling when you consider he is the leader of Russia, a nation which possesses 10,000 warheads, and currently has expansionist ambitions which includes alliances with Islamic nations that have shown a history of aiding and sponsoring terrorism. And now, as I write this, Russia's Vladimir Putin is seeking out an alliance with Iran.

Iran declared war on the United States in 1979 during the Islamic revolution in that country which resulted in the overthrow and expulsion of the Shah as well as taking American Embassy personnel hostage for 444 days. Ironically, it was Saddam Hussein that first forced Iran to begin forming ties with the Communists in the Soviet Union. After years of war with Iraq, Iran was suffering economically and militarily, and Russia seemed to be their preference and most receptive neighbor. And even though Clinton pressured the Russians to sign an agreement in 1995 to stop selling arms to Iran, according to Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg, by 2000 the Russian arms sales to Iran reached over $4 billion.

Iran's nuclear ambitions began long ago, but Russia has been assisting along the way. Then, Ahmadinejad became president of Iran in 2005, and immediately he began proclaiming that his goal was a world without America and Israel, and he was willing to enlist Russia's help to make it so.

Russia has assisted Iran in building their nuclear facilities, and are negotiating with Iran to build twenty more nuclear power plants. Ahmadinejad claims the plants are for non-military reasons, but only a fool would believe that. Iran is sitting on an ocean of oil and natural gas, and I have difficulty believing they are suffering from a lack of energy supplies.

Russian diplomats have repeatedly stalled U.S. and European sanctions on Iran for its activities, and Putin is knee-deep in Russian assistance to Iran, despite (and maybe because of) Ahmadinejad's promise to annihilate Israel.

Back to that question I asked earlier from a liberal point of view.

"Do you really think that Islamic Terrorists can actually just do everything that Ahmadinejad is threatening?"

Absolutely, unless we do something to stop it.

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I also wrote a post about another crazy dictator, Hugo Chavez, over at MyPointRadio.net.

Tonight, before my interview of Kit Lange from EuphoricReality (and a representative of The Gathering of Eagles) at 7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern time on Political Pistachio Radio, the Halls of Valhalla have my guest from last Wednesday, Walid Shoebat (Muslim who converted to Christianity), with a twist added. He will have a second guest on at the same time, but this guest is a Christian that converted to Muslim!

Happy Labor Day

Liberals, Socialists, Islam in Canada, Communists, Mexican Truckers, Globalists, World War II, and a Princess

Hillary Clinton made news recently, and it had nothing to do with her anti-military, everything is Bush's fault, platform. Apparently, Hillary Clinton accepted tainted money for her campaign.

"No, Doug, say it isn't so. Hillary couldn't possibly be crooked!"

There is so much tainted cash in her campaign that it's starting to look like Bill's campaign.

Marathon Pundit wrote a great post on this.

John Edwards has made it loud and clear that Universal Health Care should be the law of the land (grab your ankles taxpayers/and expect the best medical care in the world to become third rate if he has his way) AND he says that since socialistic/communistic medicine requires we all be covered, you can't decide to go to the doctor once every twenty years. In other words, he is supporting Mandatory Preventive Care. One question. What if I don't wish to go to the doctor? Will the Gestapo or the KGB arrest me and force me to go to the doctor's office? More on this at Right Truth.

Bombs in Toronto? Atlas Shrugs has the details.

Apparently the Communists in North Korea has decided to put a stop to their nuclear program so that they can have a little food. Prediction: After lying about their intentions, and being fed and given loads of money, they will continue with the program. When will our officials realize that North Korea cannot be trusted?

The socialists that call themselves Democrats are calling for a government bailout for the homeowners and banking institutions that are suffering from their bad decisions regarding all of the junk loans. Colossal bad idea. How about paying the consequences for your actions instead of screwing the taxpayers, folks? And since when has the government ever done anything right when they try to come to the rescue like this? Sheeeeesh!

I've said before and I will say it again - I agree with Bush on only a few things, but he is no true conservative. Conservatives believe in a strong national defense, which is a moot point when everybody and their sister is crossing the border. But now, we are welcoming them by the truckload! Who knows what will be crossing the border now! Bush, you are losing the last of your supporters with bonehead moves like this. But we should have expected this. After all, Mr. George W. Bush, you are a globalist just like your dad. Can you say, "New World Order?"

Today the mainstream media did little to remind us that 62 years ago, to this day, World War II officially came to an end. Of course the Left would rather us forget this date - they'd rather you not remember the successes of war. Remember, folks, war has never solved anything - aside from ending slavery, fascism, Nazism, and communism! Third Wave Dave has a great post about September 2, 1945(and a video too!), and the articles of surrender signed by the Japanese on board the USS Missouri (the Mighty MO) in Tokyo Bay.

Princess Diana was more than a Princess in the United Kingdom. The world embraced her for her caring and loving nature. She was a lady in every sense of the word. Video Here for Princess Diana Remembered. Friday, August 31st, was the tenth anniversary of her death.

If you missed Walid Shoebat on Political Pistachio Radio. . .

The archive is available HERE

Walid Shoebat is today's guest on Political Pistachio Radio

Tune in to Political Pistachio Radio today, it will be worth it. Walid Shoebat is our guest. He is a former Islamic terrorist born within the culture of terrorism. As a young man he became a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and participated in acts of terror and violence against Israel. He was later imprisoned in the Russian Compound, Jerusalem's central prison for incitement and violence against Israel. He later entered the U.S. as a counselor for the Arab Student Organization at Loop College in Chicago and continued his anti-Israel activities and as a recruiter for Islam. He believed the PLO was too moderate at that time and chose to join the Muslim Brotherhood (forerunner of Hamas), and was training for Jihad in America. In 1993 Walid realized he was on the wrong side, and became an advocate for Israel, and against terrorism.

He will be on my program to discuss the dangers of Islamism, how we can fight back as a nation, and explain zip-lock virgins as first mentioned on Dr. Blogstein's radio program on August 14.

And as always, I encourage listener participation. Call in at (646) 652-2940, or Yahoo Instant Messenger me (ID: douglasvgibbs) to get in on the conversation while we are on live beginning at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern at Blog Talk Radio!

Click the above pic to go to the broadcast!