9
POPSTop 25 Censored Stories for 2009/10 "Project censored is one of the organizations that we should listen to, to be assured that our newspapers and our broadcast outlets are practicing thorough and ethical journalism." — Walter Cronkite
5
POPSJudge tosses Blackwater case, cites gov't missteps
"We're obviously disappointed by the decision," Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said. "We're still in the process of reviewing the opinion and considering our options." Prosecutors can appeal the ruling. Blackwater contractors had been hired to guard U.S. diplomats in Iraq. The guards said insurgents ambushed them in a traffic circle. Prosecutors said the men unleashed an unprovoked attack on civilians using machine guns and grenades. The shooting led to the unraveling of the North Carolina-based company, which since has replaced its management and changed its name to Xe Services. The five guards are Donald Ball, a former Marine from West Valley City, Utah; Dustin Heard, a former Marine from Knoxville, Tenn.; Evan Liberty, a former Marine from Rochester, N.H.; Nick Slatten, a former Army sergeant from Sparta, Tenn., and Paul Slough, an Army veteran from Keller, Texas. Defense attorneys said the guards were thrilled by the ruling after more than two years of scruti
4
POPSHey Buddy, Can You Spare $2 Billion? "The civilian component of what we're doing is critical to success for our country," Gates told U.S. soldiers in Kirkuk, Iraq, earlier this month, echoing a concern he has expressed frequently. "And, unfortunately, the civilian elements of our government -- the State Department, AID and so on -- have been starved of resources for decades." Starved!! .:lol:
7
POPSSecurity Implications **** KATHLEEN SEBELIOUS**** Heard that name before????????????????? That reported plan came after the Obama administration tried first to move the suspected terrorists to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and then to a prison in Michigan. On Jan. 28, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, then the governor of Kansas, wrote Secretary of Defense Gates to protest the transport.
7
POPS The Challenge of Freedom Part II
a murderous totalitarian thug. He visited Copenhagen to receive polite applause from people that gave socialist dictator Hugo Chavez a thunderous ovation for his anti-capitalist ravings. Could anyone in this Administration deliver a heartfelt endorsement of capitalism to the hungry ears of the Iranian protesters? Would any of them even be willing to try? President Obama’s belief that America’s standing in the world would improve with his election, because he’s a “good listener,” is the exact opposite of the truth. Wise people, and nations, are always listening carefully… but the world improves when America speaks with confidence. Obama’s cherished Indonesian childhood, and the travels through the Muslim world he boasts of, have proven to mean nothing to the forces of Islamic fascism. He should have spent more time learning what his American heritage means to the people dying on the streets of Tehran, and those like them around the world. Doctor Zero Blog http://bit.ly/8lUxeb
6
POPSA Cold-Blooded Foreign Policy No despot fears the president, and no demonstrator in Tehran expects him to ride to the rescue. (sobering write up, read in full @ source)
10
POPSTwo Of The Four Plotters Behind The Flight 253 Attack Were Released From Gitmo In 2007 both the Bush administration and the Obama administration. We can argue about the political pressures Bush was under, but the simple truth of the matter is that we should have created a process for dealing with these detainees long ago. The Military Commissions Act was this solution, establishing military commissions to establish the guilt or innocence of these detainees, but it came far too late in Bush’s administration to do any good (and was absurdly deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in yet another decision ignoring the constitution completely). And now our policy toward Guantanamo Bay is a mish-mash of conflicted and largely politically-motivated pap geared more, I think, toward pandering and backside-covering than any national security strategy. Some of the detainees are getting trials in civilian US courts. Some are being shipped off to Pacific islands for continued detention.
8
POPS Putin Urges US To Share Missile Defense Data "We have agreed to continue to discuss the topic of missile defense with Russia in a separate venue," he said. Putin's comments showed that the former Russian president is continuing to shape Russian foreign policy, which under the constitution should be set by his successor, Dmitry Medvedev. He said that the arms control talks were proceeding in a positive way and added that Medvedev and President Barack Obama will eventually decide whether to strike an arms deal. But Putin warned that a missile defense system would give the U.S. an edge and could erode the deterrent value of Russia's nuclear forces. "The problem is that our American partners are developing missile defenses, and we are not," Putin said. "But the issues of missile defense and offensive weapons are closely interconnected. ... There could be a danger that having created an umbrella against offensive strike systems, our partners may come to feel completely safe. After the balance is broken .....
5
POPSMilitary Working Dogs; Saving Lives on the Battlefield “These dogs are important because of the job they do for our military,” said Chirdon, who has been in the Marine Corps for more than six years. “They clear houses, roads and many other areas for our deployed military men and women. “Military working dogs are also very smart and, no matter how good technology is, a dog is always better. They also provide a huge psychological deterrent to enemies and stop many potentially bad situations before they even start. Nobody wants to be bit by a dog,” he said. Chirdon understands that facing ferocious attacks, hammering in constant commands and providing frequent praise will one day pay off with human lives saved on the battlefield. Visit military website at http://bit.ly/587w2L
1
POPSYou're in charge - sort of... Terrorism Self-defense on an airliner is admirable but not something to depend upon for security - neither is requiring full body scans. Why? Think about it? We have had nine years to launch some sort of effective national homeland security system. We still don't have one that can even tell us who is who working at airport, seaports, land border crossings. Several billion have been spent on consultants and tests and - nada. The objective of terrorists is to make themselves appear much more powerful than they are to convince politicians and voters to take actions that will exaggerate the importance of the terrorists. Fully fund and cooperate with Interpol to search out and arrest the infrastructure for illiegal actions they are all involved with.
3
POPSDeath Toll Rises to 10 as Clashes in Iran Intensify of the protests so far. The Shah’s forces never fired on protesters during Ashura, wary of violating the day’s sanctity. Obama Silent as Iranians Die for Freedom Iranian youth no longer chant “death to America.” Now they shout “death to the dictators” as they trample photos of Iran’s Supreme Leader. They also chant “Obama are you with us or with them ?” The reaction from the White House to the latest violence and the calls for recognition of the freedom movement? Silence. Once again, Obama doesn’t want to rock the boat with his hopes for a deal with the mad Mullahs who hold the Iranian people hostage to their warped ideology. Why won’t Obama adopt Reagan’s successful Cold War winning strategy? Because he was raised by a cadre of leftists who despised Reagan and resented the application of U.S. power especially when it was aimed at the Soviet Union with which many of Obama’s mentors and family had great sympathy.
9
POPSStunning Statistics About the War Every American Should Know A year from now, we will likely see more than 220,000 US-funded personnel on the ground in Afghanistan. The US has spent more than $23 billion on contracts in Afghanistan since 2002. By next year, the number of contractors will have doubled since 2008 when taxpayers funded over $8 billion in Afghanistan-related contracts. Despite the massive number of contracts and contractors in Afghanistan, oversight is utterly lacking. “The increase in Afghanistan contracts has not seen a corresponding increase in contract management and oversight,” any USAID staff are “administering huge awards with limited knowledge of or experience with the rules and regulations.” According to one USAID official, the agency is “sending too much money, too fast with too few people looking over how it is spent.” As a result, the agency does not “know … where the money is going.”
10
POPS Let's Roll 2 by Mark Steyn If the facts remain broadly as outlined, this incident has serious implications for airline travel: A man is on the no-fly list but is allowed to board the plane. Everyone flying on an inbound long-haul flight to the United States is forced to hand over excessively large amounts of liquids and gels and put the small amounts permitted into separate plastic bags, yet the no-fly guy's material for bomb-making sails through undetected. This time the last line of defense worked. Next time, the paradise-seeking jihadist might get lucky and find himself sitting next to, say, Charlie Sheen, too immersed in a lengthy treatise on how 9/11 was an inside job to notice the smoldering socks in the next seat; or to the same kind of nothing-to-see-here crowd who thought Major Hasan's e-mails were "consistent with his research interests". (http://bit.ly/6qYzZd)
1
POPSBackdoor Legislation: Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill with Defense Bill How to Pass Unpopular Legislation 101: Attach them to Defense Spending. This is how Bush administration got through REAL ID. This is contrary to the purpose of Congress which should read and debate ONE BILL AT A TIME, instead of this fraudulent manipulation through "must pass" Defense bills. As for the bill itself, while a woman could slap a man for being too forward in a bar now normal men cannot do the same to a pressing homosexual who might "hit on them" without being charged with a new Federal "Hate Crime". Some are just "more equal than others" now and have Special Protection of the Federal government ABOVE all other U.S. citizens.
3
POPSSIG Sauer P-226 Semi-Automatic Handgun The SIG Sauer P226 Handgun has become a top choice of weapon among military and law enforcement personnel, and is becoming one of the most popular semi-automatic pistols on the market among civilian consumers, largely because of its stellar reputation as one of the world's most dependable, reliable, accurate and easy-to-use handguns on the market. The biggest problem with the SIG P226 is the fact that it costs so much. A bare-minimum stock model typically runs at least around $800. Obviously, this is a bit cost-prohibitive for some civilian consumers seeking a weapon for self defense. That said, the SIG Sauer P-226 Stainless is an extremely high-quality weapon that is well worth the cost to one who can afford it. Perhaps the only downfall of this particular model besides the cost would have to be the weight. The P226 is an unusually heavy and bulky gun, which makes it less-than-ideal for self-defense purposes.
14
POPSFALSE FLAGS What foreign threat did they envisage as the United States’ most deadly enemy? Actually, the founding fathers believed one of our biggest enemies would rise from within: apathetic ignorance. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” One hundred and forty-five years later, President Eisenhower echoed Jefferson’s fear when he left office in 1961: In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and
7
POPSBoo Hoo for mass murderer Hasan Let's keep all the families and friends of the victims of the Fort Hood massacre in our prayers this Christmas, their first one without their loved ones :(
5
POPSOfficials in Southern California Prepare For Inevitable Nuclear Attack, Thanks to SmartPower™ "Hollywood is raising awareness about the aftermath of a mega disaster and what needs to be done to survive," Kondo said. Experts are especially concerned about the possibility that Iran one day could launch ship-based nuclear missiles, said Brian Kennedy, president of The Claremont Institute's Ballistic Missile Defense Project. "The West Coast of the U.S. has limited missile defense against a North Korean missile," Kennedy said. "And, unfortunately, we're almost completely vulnerable to a ship-launched ballistic missile attack." Kennedy is also concerned a ship-launched nuclear missile detonated at a high altitude would create an electromagnetic pulse, possibly destroying electronic equipment and knocking out the nation's power grid - leaving the country with little or no communications and no ability to provide food and water to potentially hundreds of millions of people. http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/0DE6BA09-9CE6-4770-9518-2CF80C3C9054/
4
POPSIsrael develops 'Kosher bomb' to counter Iranian threat 'It is lawful to use pork chops and bacon if it is for the defense of home and country', said Rabbi Menahan of the Orthodox sect. 'Of course, this can only be considered Kosher in the most dire of circumstances -- which we now have.' Some doubted that this Kosher bomb would be effective, but Nathan was certain it would serve as a deterrent. 'In Islam, anything made from the flesh of a pig is considered to be haram (wrongful, forbidden). If this super-weapon were deployed against Iran, the entire country would become haram, and all those who believe in Allah would be required to drop everything and flee.' In Iran, Ayatollah Wannabe was enraged by the news. 'Now that we know how the Kosher bomb works, we will develop our own counter-deterrent', he said. 'We will develop a 'haram-bomb' based on pork roasts and cutlets, and render Israel uninhabitable for the Jews.'
4
POPS What The Russian Papers Say ..... into its project for a new world order. To do so, it wants to transform the alliance. Though NATO's role is still to defend Europe from Russia, its other function is gradually coming to the fore - that of being an instrument to use force outside Europe. The U.S. and Europe consider Russia "harmless" and weak and believe NATO can refocus on supporting American policy outside Europe. In exchange, Russia is offered the West's recognition of the status quo in Europe and postponement of admission to NATO of Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. Russia has been recognized as a regional power, but only to a certain extent and only in exchange for its help. These arrangements will stand as long as the U.S. is interested in cooperation with Moscow on specific issues. The current session of cooperation with NATO is unlikely to bring Moscow long-term military and political dividends - particularly in the face of growing risks from further involvement in Afghanistan.
4
POPSCrucial foreign policy and security issues facing the Obama Some of the most notable of the day's speakers were General David Petraeus, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of Defense William Perry, General Tony Zinni, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General Lakhdar Brahimi, and Chairman of the Institute for State Effectiveness Ashraf Ghani.
6
POPSMorning Must Reads -- Chinese Won't Bow to Obama that Democrats haven’t reached a deal. The Senate is moving on to a year-end defense appropriations bill until Saturday as Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to whip his caucus into shape. We don’t know who is objecting behind closed doors, but Nebraska’s Ben Nelson, who opposes abortion and some tax increases, is the most public of the skeptics right now. Reid is trying to spur action by imposing a hideous, around-the-clock schedule on the Senate through Christmas, but few believe right now that Reid can make his year-end deadline. “With Mr. Nelson's vote in doubt, President Barack Obama met with Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, the lone Republican to show interest in supporting the package, to see if she would back the bill. Sen. Snowe is an abortion-rights supporter. ‘He'd prefer to get this moving,’ Sen. Snowe said. She added that she urged the president to postpone action and use ‘part of January’ to deal with her concerns, which include a proposal to establish a new long-term
8
POPSTeenage Gitmo Detainee Goes Free After 7 Years The Young Afghani may have been only 12 years old at time of capture. More below: "While in U.S. custody, Jawad was held in solitary confinement and subjected to Guantánamo’s infamous "frequent flyer" sleep deprivation program. He attempted suicide in December 2003 by repeatedly slamming his head against his cell wall. Two judges -- first his military commission judge, then a federal court judge -- ruled that evidence gleaned through Jawad’s torture and coercion was inadmissible. Despite all this, there’s hope for Jawad’s future, as his habeas co-counsel, Air Force Maj. David Frakt, told us in May
6
POPSLeonard Peltier: Parole Denied and despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, the Parole Commission today informed Mr. Peltier that his “release on parole would depreciate the seriousness of your offenses and would promote disrespect for the law” and set a reconsideration hearing in July 2024.
1
POPStechnology innovation technology- always makes me think of the "new and improved" line just cuz it is new? doesn't necessarily mean it is improved.............oh well- we all love life's little conveniences - etc.......
2
Pops
Newest Clips
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Print
Save
Turn on live update