The Punchdrunk President: Obama’s Milquetoast Islamic Extremism Strategy (And Why It’s Doomed To Fail)

By Robert Maginnis – “President Barack Obama’s plan to counter violent extremism is doomed because it puts more importance on protecting Muslim sensitivities than confronting the unvarnished truth about the homegrown jihadist threat.

Last week President Obama unveiled his strategy to counter the problem of violent extremism. The eight-page paper titled ‘Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States’ provides a three-pronged approach that includes community engagement, better training and counter-narratives. But Obama’s plan defies reality by going to great pains to avoid singling out Muslims with what the administration calls a ‘more holistic approach.’

The anti-extremism plan’s ‘holistic approach’ states ‘any solution that focuses on a single, current form of violent extremism, without regard to other threats, will fail to secure our country and community.’ No doubt there are numerous extremist threats, but the dominant threat is Islamic extremism, which deserves most of the administration’s attention.

Specifically, Sunni extremists were identified with about one-half of all terrorist attacks across the world in 2009, according to a 2010 U.S. National Counter Terrorism Center report. Those attacks accounted for 62% of all terrorism-related deaths and the majority of the victims were Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Islamic threat is now spreading to America’s shores as never before.

The incidences of homegrown Islamist terrorism have increased significantly over the past two years, a trend that is expected to continue. Thirty-one American citizens or legal residents were arrested over the past two years in connection with 22 homegrown Islamist terrorism plots, according to the Congressional Research Service. By comparison, there were just 21 plots over the previous eight years.” Read more.

Pennsylvania: Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Terrorism with ‘Bullets, Bombs, and Martyrdom Operations’

‘No peace. But bullets, bombs, and martyrdom operations.’ It seems like week after week more and more within the ‘religion of peace‘ are getting tired of waiting …

By Warren Richey – “A 22-year-old American Muslim from New Bethlehem, Pa., pleaded guilty on Tuesday to using an Internet website to urge Muslim radicals within the US to engage in a wide range of terror attacks.

Emerson Winfield Begolly pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to a single charge of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

The solicitations including urging like-minded individuals in the US to sabotage train tracks; destroy phone lines, power lines, and cell phone towers; start forest fires; and engage in isolated attacks against Americans civilians, police, and military officials.

‘Real terrorism, but on a small scale,’ he wrote in one of his posts. ‘Best as single shot, drive by, hit and run, beat down. Who are the best targets? Off duty police, off duty soldiers, gang member, family members of soldiers, government agents, workers at ammunition factory, white supremacists or black supremacists.’

He added: ‘It is best if targeting soldiers or police that they are off duty and out of uniform simply because [their] investigations will look usually for ‘robbery gone wrong’ or ‘revenge’ [rather than] as act of terrorism [or] revolt.’…

‘Begolly placed a number of postings … encouraging attacks within the United States,’ the indictment says. ‘He suggested the use of firearms, explosives, and propane tanks against targets such as police stations, post offices, synagogues, military facilities, train lines, bridges, cell phone towers, and water plants.’

According to the indictment, he used the forum to express his approval of the 9/11 attacks, the 2004 killing of 334 hostages – including 186 children – in Beslan, Russia by Chechen fighters, the kidnapping and beheading of American businessman Nick Berg in Iraq in 2004, and the kidnapping and beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002.

Begolly suggested militant Muslims in the US should attack civilian aircraft, banks, military installations, Jewish schools, and Jewish and daycare centers, according to the indictment.

‘Peaceful protests do not work,’ he posted in July 2010. ‘The [non-Muslim unbelievers] see war as [the] solution to their problems, so we must see war as the solution to our[s]. No peace. But bullets, bombs, and martyrdom operations.'” Read more.

People Were ‘Weeping and Screaming’: Muslims Attack Village in Upper Egypt and Kill Christian Farmer While Son Watched

“ISTANBUL, August 10 (CDN) — A Coptic Christian was killed and several others were injured in Upper Egypt after Muslims on Sunday (Aug. 7) attacked a predominantly Christian village following an argument between a Muslim and Christian.

The attack at Nazlet Faragallah village in Minya, 218 kilometers (136 miles) south of Cairo, lasted until Monday morning (Aug. 8), Christians said. The attackers raided an unknown number of homes owned by Christian villagers and set eight on fire, area residents said.

The assailants killed Maher Nassif, 46, a civil servant and livestock farmer, when he tried to defend his home. The men burst into Nassif’s house, shot him in the head and slit his throat while his teenage son watched from under a bed where he was hiding, Christian villagers said. The men looted the home and stole Nassif’s livestock as his son escaped into the night, according to villagers who spoke with the boy.

One villager, Melad Thabet, a 25-year-old teacher, said he spent the night of the attack listening to gunfire and the sound of people ‘weeping and screaming in the village.’

‘Any [Christian-owned] house close to a Muslim house was looted and attacked,’ Thabet told Compass. ‘And if someone had stood up to them, they would have killed them as they did with Maher.'” Read more.

The Mark of the Beast? New Electronic Skin Tattoo Has Medical, Gaming, Spy Uses

Is this the Mark of the Beast?  No, it isn’t.  But even if everyone were ‘encouraged’ to get chipped in the left arm or sternum center that wouldn’t stop a lot of ‘teachers and preachers’ from calling it precisely that.  If you really want a Biblical examination of the Mark of the Beast, read this article instead …

“A hair-thin electronic patch that adheres to the skin like a temporary tattoo could transform medical sensing, computer gaming and even spy operations, according to a US study published Thursday.

The micro-electronics technology, called an epidermal electronic system (EES), was developed by an international team of researchers from the United States, China and Singapore, and is described in the journal Science.

‘It’s a technology that blurs the distinction between electronics and biology,’ said co-author John Rogers, a professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

‘Our goal was to develop an electronic technology that could integrate with the skin in a way that is mechanically and physiologically invisible to the user.’

The patch could be used instead of bulky electrodes to monitor brain, heart and muscle tissue activity and when placed on the throat it allowed users to operate a voice-activated video game with better than 90 percent accuracy.

‘This type of device might provide utility for those who suffer from certain diseases of the larynx,’ said Rogers. ‘It could also form the basis of a sub-vocal communication capability, suitable for covert or other uses.’

The wireless device is nearly weightless and requires so little power it can fuel itself with miniature solar collectors or by picking up stray or transmitted electromagnetic radiation, the study said.

Less than 50-microns thick — slightly thinner than a human hair — the devices are able to adhere to the skin without glue or sticky material.” Read more.

Obama: Islam ‘Known for its Diversity and a Commitment to Justice and the Dignity of All Human Beings’

Well said, Mr. Spencer.  Not only does the stock market drop in one accord with the Ignoramus-In-Chief’s jawbone, now President Barack Oblunder extends the distance between the mandible and maxilla only to prove yet again that he still has no idea what he’s really talking about …

By Robert Spencer – “I wonder if any of the Qur’an verses below came to the minds of any of the Muslims present as Obama was saying these things. ‘Islam has always been part of our American family: Obama,’ from Indian Express, August 11 (thanks to Weasel Zippers):

Welcoming guests at the annual White House Iftaar party, US President Barack Obama said, Islam has always been part of the American family and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country in all walks of life.Attended by some 100 special invited guests including ambassadors of mostly Muslim countries and eminent Muslim academicians and community leaders, Akram Syed of the National Association of Indian Muslims was among the few Indian-Americans to attend the high-profile annual event at the White House.

Other special guests included families of Muslim victims of the 9/11 attacks, as well as Muslim members of the US Armed Services.

Obama said the annual Ramadan dinner, a tradition that President Clinton began and President George W Bush continued, is quintessentially American.

‘No matter who we are or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God,’ he said.

‘The Jews and Christians say: We are sons of Allah and His loved ones. Say: Why then doth He chastise you for your sins? Nay, ye are but mortals of His creating. He forgiveth whom He will, and chastiseth whom He will. Allah’s is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and unto Him is the journeying.’ — Qur’an 5:18

‘To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more – the more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion,’ Obama said in his brief remarks.’It’s an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings. So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem,’ he said.

Justice and dignity of all human beings:

‘The indemnity for the death or injury of a woman is one-half the indemnity paid for a man. The indemnity paid for a Jew or Christian is one-third the indemnity paid for a Muslim. The indemnity paid for a Zoroastrian is one-fifteenth that of a Muslim.’ — ‘Umdat al-Salik, o4.9

‘Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.’ — Qur’an 98:6

‘Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.’ — Qur’an 9:29

‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves.’ — Qur’an 48:29

‘This evening reminds us of both the timeless teachings of a great religion and the enduring strengths of a great nation.Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life. This has been especially true over the past 10 years,’ Obama said….

Yes, consider all that Muslim Americans have contributed to the strength and character of our country over the last ten years. The innovations in airport security! The poisoning of the public discourse with “hate” invective against anyone who opposes them! The assault on the freedom of speech! The numerous jihad plots and attacks, from Fort Hood to Times Square to Portland, Oregon to North Carolina! The ever-increasing demands for special accommodation in businesses and schools! The spurious claims of victimhood! And so much more!” – Jihad Watch.

Businesses and Consumers Should Brace for Years of Global Economic Uncertainty and Turmoil

By Eric Johnston – “BUSINESS and consumers should brace for years of global economic uncertainty, with sharemarket routs of the past week likely to recur, Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ralph Norris has cautioned.

The outgoing boss of the nation’s biggest bank also issued a parting shot at credit rating agencies, saying they ‘haven’t covered themselves in glory’ in the lead-up to the global financial crisis.

The comments came as CBA delivered a 12 per cent increase in full-year cash profit to a record $6.84 billion but Mr Norris said financial volatility could again push up borrowing costs.

‘I don’t think the global financial crisis is actually finished,’ Mr Norris said yesterday. ‘For Europe in particular, this is going to be a many-year workout, so we shouldn’t be surprised that as we [head] down the next few years there might be all sorts of volatile situations as has occurred over the last week or so or the last several months.'” Read more.

Faber: Brace for a Global ‘Reboot’ and a War, World Economy is Rolling Towards Total Collapse – “Markets could rebound after Thursday’s global market sell-off, but investors should see any bounce as a selling opportunity, as the world economy rolls towards total collapse, Mark Faber, editor and publisher of the Boom, Doom and Gloom Report, told CNBC Friday. A mooted third round of quantitative easing in the U.S. and more money printing elsewhere is merely deferring a crisis that will be bigger and could end in war, Faber said.” Read more.

Afghanistan: Ongoing Drought Now Forcing Nine Million to Face Food Shortages This Autumn

“Ongoing drought in northern, northeastern and western Afghanistan is likely to push 1.5-2 million more people into food insecurity this autumn, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

This is in addition to the seven million country-wide already facing food shortages.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is reporting a failure of the rain-fed wheat crop, which accounts for about 55 percent of the total domestic wheat yield.

Irrigated wheat, which tends to yield more per hectare, has also been affected by the drought. The average wheat yield (without fertilizers) on irrigated land is about 2.7 tons per hectare (3.5 tons with fertilizer), versus only 1.1 tons on rain-fed land, according to MAIL.

In a normal year Afghanistan produces 4.5 million tons of wheat and around one million tons are imported. The shortfall of 1.9 million tons of wheat this year means more will either have to be imported or secured from other sources.

‘Satellite derived rainfall estimates indicate that most of Afghanistan had an untimely and inadequate rain and snow season this year. As a result, there will be heavy losses in rain-fed wheat crops, underperforming irrigated wheat crops, poor pasture conditions, and low income earning opportunities in northern Afghanistan and the central highlands this year,’ said the US Agency for International Development’s FEWSNET.” Read more.

Israel: IDF Concerned UN Vote on Palestinian State May Lead to Tensions with Syria

By Anshel Pfeffer – “The Israel Defense Forces is readying for possible engagement with the Syrian military in September, should the latter involve itself in new attempts by Palestinians in Syria to storm the border with the Golan Heights in connection with a UN vote on recognizing a Palestinian state.

The IDF acknowledges it may be necessary to deal with Syrian military intervention in such a scenario, which could occur if Syria tried to deflect world attention from the ongoing demonstrations in that country – and their bloody suppression – by creating an incident on the border.

If such a mass infiltration results in the IDF having to shoot at the protesters, the Syrian army may send units to ‘defend Syrian citizens.’

Thus, for the first time since the Yom Kippur War, there could be a military confrontation, with the IDF being compelled to send forces to confront Syrian battalions.

Until now, the IDF assessment had been that Syrian President Bashar Assad was interested in maintaining quiet along the border.

But Assad’s domestic troubles, coupled with evidence that he had previously – in May and in June – encouraged hundreds of Palestinians to storm the border, has changed that assessment.” Read more.

Louisiana: Fish Kills in Bayou Black and Thibodaux, ‘There’s Got to be Something Wrong with the Bayou’

By Chas Guidry – “Hundreds of dead fish spotted Tuesday in Bayou Black and Thibodaux died because of low-oxygen levels in the water, scientists said.

About 1,000 were discovered in Bayou Black, and an estimated 100 dead fish floated atop Bayou Lafourche in downtown Thibodaux, officials said.

‘There’s got to be something wrong with the bayou,’ said Mike Tardo, owner of Tardo Hair Designs, 601 W. Second St. in Thibodaux.

In Thibodaux, the dead fish were first reported to the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District Monday afternoon, Director Archie Chaisson said. More people called Tuesday.

In Bayou Black, reports came in about the same time, said Robert Breaux, environmental scientist with the state Department of Environmental Quality.” Read more.

Iowa: Nearly 30,000 Fish Found Dead on the South Skunk River Near the Hamilton and Story County Line

“DES MOINES – A fish kill on the South Skunk River near the Hamilton and Story County line last week affected five miles of stream and killed an estimated 27,456 fish valued at $38,056.

According to Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials, the fish kill was traced back to a leaking outdoor concrete manure holding structure at a hog confinement northwest of Randall near Little Wall Lake and owned by Merlyn Hegland of Ellsworth.

More than half the fish killed were smaller minnow species, but more than 1,000 dead smallmouth bass were also included, according to officials. Other species included channel catfish, bullhead, bluegill and sunfish.

DNR officials said the agency has the authority to seek restitution for the cost of the fish killed and take additional enforcement action. The incident is still under investigation by the DNR.” Read more.