Monday, January 26, 2009

Abortion Torture – The Audacity of Hypocrisy

Newly elected President Barack Obama has recently issued two very controversial executive orders that have some screaming hypocrisy while others are left jumping for joy.

The first controversial executive order was to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp within a year. While some may argue it isn't controversial on all points, it is what was said that have people in a tizzy. He said they reflected “an understanding that dates back to our Founding Fathers – that we are willing to observe core standards of conduct nut just when it's easy, but also when it's hard.”[1]

This order left human rights advocates hailing the steps taken by Obama, and also when he said, “I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture.”[2]

Garnering a statement like that, left only one option. That is for the endorsing of interrogations to abide by rules that are so eloquently articulated in the Army Field Manual 2-22.3.[3] This Army Manual is laughed at by some, stating that you couldn't get information out of a child by abiding by the manual. In opposition, President Obama said, “We believe that the Army Field Manual reflects the best judgment of our military; that we can abide by a rule that says we don't torture, but that we can still effectively obtain the intelligence that we need.”[4]

The audacity of hypocrisy does not end there, but only begins. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 240 religious groups, said that Mr. Obama's statement “allowed the United States to again find its moral bearing.”[5]

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council shined a glint light on the hypocrisy, saying “Yesterday, President Obama issued executive orders banning the torture of terrorists but today signed an order that exports the torture of unborn children around the world.”[6]

Issuing an executive order offering monetary support to other countries in support of abortion is audacious in and of itself. When the United States is in one of the harshest economic downturns in history, it might be hypocritical of Obama to give money to other nations when he wants to end funding to some government programs.

In order to move this country to a higher level of “moral bearing,” the idea of stopping the interrogation methods of retrieving information by way of “torture,” must not be accompanied by the order to help fund world-wide abortions. This level of hypocrisy is not conducive to the standards and conduct of our Founding Fathers.

Maybe President Barack Obama would understand his hypocrisy if an Al-Qaeda tape of a pregnant female U.S. soldier being tortured for information by violently ripping out the child she carries by way of abortion.

[1][2] http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-guantanamo23-2009jan23,1,7248076.story
[3][4] http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52771
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/politics/23obama.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
[6] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012302814.html?hpid=sec-health

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Presidents BlackBerry A Hackers Delight

President Barack Obama was granted the use of a new BlackBerry that would allow him to remain in contact with select family and personnel, but will also test the will of hackers world-wide.

As a small victory, President Obama is clinging to his new BlackBerry. Presidents in the past, have not been granted this privilege, even not using e-mail for it could be subpoenaed.



However, the true test is the security that has been encrypted into this phone to ensure its super-secure abilities.

Telecom analyst Roger Entner told the International Herald Tribune, "The moment it becomes known that Barack Obama uses his BlackBerry, you know that a significant share of Russia's signal intelligence and China's signal intelligence and cyber intelligence budgets will be targeted to break it."

This will not be limited to nations, friend or foe, but will be sought after by hackers world-wide to get some piece of information from the President.

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

N. Korea May Give Up Nukes in Exchange for Ties With U.S.

With the inauguration of now President Barack Obama, North Korea is now taking a position that it would give up nuclear weapons.

North Korea is taking a different stance on its denuclearization now that they will be working with the Obama Administration. N. Korea says that they would be willing to give up their nuclear weapons, in exchange for diplomatic ties and economic assistance from the United States.

During a Senate confirmation hearing, Hillary Clinton said that one goal would be to end the N. Korean nuclear program.

Differing from the Bush Administration, President Obama favors a more direct approach versus a regime change. A regime that the people of North Korea are quite comfortable with.

N. Korea is still waiting to see the position newly sworn in President Barack Obama will take.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration Video

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Monday, January 19, 2009

N. Korea Talks of 'Confrontational Posture' at S. Korea

After North Korea issued a statement offering “an all-out confrontational posture,” South Korea has placed its military on alert.

Strained talks have plagued the Korean peninsula for many years, and they may now have reached a boiling point. According to Pyongyang, this situation is provoked by Seoul over hard-line policies that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has implemented since taking office last year.

Cheong Seong-chang, senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, said “It really is in a desperate situation right now, and if it goies over the top, it really may try to take some sort of military action, especially with its leader Kim Jong-il getting ready to succeed his throne.”

Some experts believe this is targeted at the incoming Administration to urge Washington to normalize bilateral ties.

This comes as American nuclear experts say that Pyongyang has “weaponized” 67.8 pounds of plutonium. This has the capability to produce up to five warheads, dependent upon the grae of plutonium.

If true, it could put an end to the six-party negotiations that began in 2003. The negotiations, which included South Korean, China, Japan, the U.S. And Russia, have continued to be aimed at ending the nuclear program of North Korea.

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

The Imagination of a Conservative Mind

A conservative mind is always at work, whether in deep intense thought or in great imagination. In a sense, one must understand their intensity of thought by using an imagination.

First, it might help in order to define imagination. Imagination can be defined as a process of forming mental images that are not present at the time. It is a process of thought, that over time, can be allowed to solve problems.

An imagination has helped people in times of need. It has also helped form a nation. That nation being the United States of America. You may ask yourself how that could be.

It was certainly the imagination of our Founding Fathers, as they would not have taken the risk without taking time to imagine a place on Earth that would offer such prosperity and growth. The freedoms this nation has enjoyed since its inception, owe itself to an imagination.

These Fathers imagined what it would be like to live where all would be separate and equal, all endowed with Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Their imagination led to a complete thought process.

The power of an imagination must be harnessed as a conservative. This must lead to a thought process to bring to increase what some refer to as “conservatives in exile.”

Conservatives are not in exile, just consumed with thoughts. Now is the time to express those thoughts.

What are your thoughts?

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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Obama's 'Whistle-Stop' Tour Warns of Challenges

While on his 'Whistle-Stop' tour, Obama addresses people along the same path Abraham Lincoln took, to voice challenges that his administration would face.

Historic in its own right, the path to the inauguration of Barack Obama echoes much the same path and content as that of President Abraham Lincoln. With a train ride to Washington D.C., to the very bible that Lincoln was sworn in on, Obama looks to mimic Lincoln in as many ways as he sees fit. Even to rhetorical quotes of the past, Obama reminds that:

“They were willing to put all they were and all they had on the line – their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor – for a set of ideals that continue to light the world: That we are equal. That our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from our laws, but from our maker. And that a government of, by, and for the people can endure.”


The challenges Obama warns that the people must endure are that we will continue to face a troubled economy, and that we are still fighting two wars – one in Afghanistan, the other in Iraq that he plans to draw down and begin bringing troops home in the masses. As the country faces these huge challenges, the incoming White House press secretary says that all won't be taken care of in week one or even month one. This comes as Obama says while in Philadelphia, “our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not.”

One problem he referenced was the already devastated economy. And, along with Congress, Obama is already working tirelessly on the passing of a gargantuan stimulus package that would cost $825 billion or more.

In a Fox News report, some goals Obama would like to have appear in the bill would include:

-Doubling renewable energy production ($8 billion).

-Making public buildings more energy-efficient ($31 billion).

-Bringing high-speed Internet service to more communities and rural areas ($6 billion).

-Extending health care subsidies for the recently unemployed under the COBRA program, and for former Medicaid recipients under programs such as TMA, or transitional medical assistance ($39 billion).

-Extending supplemental grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ($2.5 billion).

As Obama laid out these goals, incoming White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said “we have got to invest in things that work in a different way.”

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

An International Crisis? - Part 2

During the U.S. election process, Joe Biden made that statement that President-elect Barack Obama would be tested with an international crisis, opening the door for nations to cause strife throughout the world. In time since that comment, Israel was forced to defend themselves against radical terrorists and Russia closed off gas lines that transported vital gas to other countries. However, there have been some – including China, North Korea and Iran – who have not begun their tests.

For many years, Iran has been wanting to be a part of the elite who are armed with a nuclear arsenal. With holding a high level of influence in the Middle East, it would come as no surprise that a nuclear armed Iran would quiet the numerous tensions in the area. So, one would then ask how could they quiet tensions.

At YaleGlobal, Arch Roberts Jr. offers an answer in saying[1]:

The model Iran may follow is China, which pursues a policy best described by Jeffrey Lewis and others as “minimum deterrence.” Apart from fielding the largest army in the world, China maintains perhaps 200 nuclear weapons and declares a no-first-use policy. China enjoys a level of respect and consideration Iran's leaders have never enjoyed, but to which the logically aspire.


Certainly this concept of “minimum deterrence” could be Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's agenda for his country. As proud and as ancient the nation of Iran is, they have continued to be a subject of Western meddling.[2] In so much that, during the election process, Obama made clear he would be willing to negotiate without preconditions with the Iranian government over its nuclear ambitions.[3] Certainly, this communication would be an understanding that a nuclear possessing Iran would be to avoid conflict through deterrence.

As far as communication to this point, Iran has been able to communicate one thing: They are within 6 months to a year from obtaining enough enriched uranium for nuclear weaponry.[4]

How has Iran obtained fuel for their uranium enrichment program?

Mr. Roberts at YaleGlobal says[5]:

The fuel for its first nuclear reactor at Bushehr [was] provided by Russia, with a requirement that spent fuel, full of weapons-usable plutonium, will be returned to Russia. Plans for future reactor construction are well in the distance. So the non-bomb uranium Iran has produced to date has no purpose besides that of a nuclear “breakout” option: kick out the inspectors, run the uranium through the centrifuges several more times, work on missiles and other delivery means, and finish up with a couple of bombs.


With Iran diligently working toward acquiring enough enriched uranium, and a newly elected Barack Obama, communication lines seem more important than ever before. As Iran looks to be the most important problem the Administration faces, the people of Iran are communicating one thing: They want international integration rather than isolation.[6]

As the culture of Iran feels threatened by globalization, one way to open talks with Iran would be to provide external assistance to drive reform internally.[7] Diplomatically speaking, this approach would put much needed pressure on Iran from within. As Reagan was influential in bringing down the wall, Obama could bring a voice to the people of Iran that they have never experienced before. Iranians need greater opportunity to interact with the international community, as history has shown that people-to-people exchanges have served as the backbone of the promotion of democracy.[8]

If Iran was to adopt a more democratic society, its influential stance in the Middle East would be heightened beyond measure and would be on a more equal playing field with larger nations such as Russia, China and the United States. These nations have gained super status, not by making unattainable sanctions, but by taking a step-by-step approach. By attaining a higher position, Iran must also adopt a give-and-take approach.

In a give-and-take step-by-step take on things, this is not by any means an answer to all the problems that Iran and the U.S. may encounter, but a more diplomatic way of things. Far too many people forget that the people of Iran are the ones affected. A major level of success for the incoming Administration, like the Reagan Administration, must take firm but diplomatic approach.


[1][2][5] http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=11793
[3][4]
http://www.securityaffairs.org/issues/2008/15/berman.php
[6][8]
http://www.securityaffairs.org/issues/2008/15/denehy.php
[7]
http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2009/0105_middle_east_memo.aspx

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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Style of Attack in Mumbai Mob-like

As the phone transcripts of the attacks in Mumbai are released, it offers grim reality of a mob-like movie hit as instructions ring loud on both ends.

The Pakistani-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, directed the mob-like attack that left some 164 dead in the wake of their attack. Lasting nearly 3 days, the attackers used several mobile phones, including those that belonged to hostages, to stay in contact with their “handler.”

According to Indian authorities, they began to intercept calls that came from not only inside the hotel, but also inside the Jewish center where six Jewish persons were outed. Some interception was done via the Internet, as it was one way the handler routed their calls.

The following are reports of conversation between the gunmen and the handler(s) as reported by The AP:

“There are three ministers and one secretary of the cabinet in your hotel. We don't know in which room,” the handler told a gunman inside the Taj Mahal hotel at 3:10 am on the first night of the attack.

“Oh! That is good news. It is icing on the cake!” the gunman said.


While in the Jewish center, as directed by the handler, the message was “If you are still threatened, then don't saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them.”

As the handlers seemed to spur more attacks, citing to “be strong in the name of Allah,” they later instructed them to keep fighting as it “is a matter of prestige of Islam.”

However, the most disturbing realization the attackers were not acting alone was when the handler said during the attacks, “Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.”

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Israel Pressured To Stop Assault by U.N.

As civilian deaths rise by Israeli attacks on Hamas, the United Nations continues to put pressure on Israel to halt further attacks and reach ceasefire agreement.

Foreign ministers are still continuing to call for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the escalating 11-day attack on Hamas.

As drafts are proposed, and criticized, nations are still hard pressed to resolve this war. Most notably is a proposal by Egypt that is currently backed by France and various European powers. This proposal would offer and immediate ceasefire and put talks on the table that would cause Hamas to stop their rocket attacks and put an end to the tunnel-smuggling of more weapons.

Reuters reports:

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy made the move at a joint news conference. [However] There was no immediate response from Israel or from Hamas.


This comes as the fourth day of a ground assault, now making 11 days of fighting, has deaths reaching over 600 and those wounded to more than 2,700.

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Monday, January 5, 2009

Hub of Hollywood Conservatives Now Have Outlet

It is well known that most of those in Hollywood are more Liberal leaning than they are Conservative, but with the introduction of a new hub may start to change how Hollywood is viewed.

Andrew Breitbart, founder of Breitbart.com, is no stranger to Internet surfing conservatives looking for news, and thanks to Andrew do they now have a new message to be introduced to.

This new endeavor by Breitbart will be introduced on Jan. 6. “Big Hollywood” will be a place for conservative celebrities and industry-insiders can voice their view on Hollywood politics. Offering discussion on various topics including reviews to politics, this is certainly to shed some light on the other side of the lawn.

Breitbart says, “Our goal is to create an atmosphere of tolerance – something that does not exist in this town.”

Fox News reports:

Breitbart has invited a number of conservative politicians, commentators and journalists to write regularly about the cult of celebrity, liberalism in popular culture, and politics.

But Breitbart says the goal of Big Hollywood is not to “out” conservative celebrities, and he will not pressure celebrities to jump into the fray. He says conservative celebs who aren't comfortable will full transparency will be allowed to write under and alias.


As Big Hollywood launches, there is somewhat a level of fear and trepidation among conservative celebrities. Also, some are worried that there will be a literal blacklist and pressure will increase in order for them to stay quiet.

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Thursday, January 1, 2009

Military Only Inaugural Ball To Be Hosted By Obama

With numerous events and parties planned for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, one inaugural ball will be held only for military personnel.

In a statement released by the vacationing Obama in Hawaii, he said “It is a privilege to honor our men and women in uniform during our inaugural festivities by continuing the tradition of he Commander in Chief's Ball. Our troops represent the best America has to offer, and without their dedication and sacrifice we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms that we are coming together to celebrate on Jan. 20.”

The event will be held at the National Building Museum in Washington, and officials say that the offered tickets will be free.

Of those who will be in attendance will be mostly enlisted personnel and junior officers accompanied by their spouses. Others will be those active with the National Guard and National Guard Reserve members, along with a guest list of those injured in combat actions and families of those killed in combat.

This ball is one of 10 official balls Obama and Michelle are scheduled to attend.

President George W. Bush was the first to host such an event to honor specifically those in uniform.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing the world a Happy New Year!

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