CIA HOSTS TRAINING
BY MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADER AND HAMAS SUPPORTER
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/10/23/CIA-Hosts-Training-By-Muslim-Brotherhood-Leader-and-Hamas-Supporter
by John Guandolo
Over the last several years, the presence
of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) operatives working inside the federal government
advising our senior leaders has been definitively documented (see articles here,
here
and here).
This penetration of our system is shocking and constitutes an immediate danger
for American citizens. The success of the MB’s influence operation from within
our government is now manifesting itself with national and global implications
for the security of America and its citizens.
In July of this year, the
CIA hosted a 2-day training program at its headquarters in Langley, Virginia
entitled “Countering Violent Extremism Workshop for the National Capitol
Region.”
Present at this conference were local, state, and federal
officials from nearly every law enforcement, military, and intelligence
organization around the Washington Metropolitan area. In addition to the senior
CIA, FBI, and DHS officials conducting the training, members of the Muslim
community moderated and led the training throughout the 2-day program. Notable
among these was Imam Mohammed Magid who participated in speaking about “Building
Communities of Trust: A Local Example of a Partnership between the All Dulles
Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) and Law Enforcement.”
How was Imam Magid
vetted to speak at CIA Headquarters? And who vetted him?
The ADAMS
Center is a Muslim Brotherhood front organization. It was founded by some of the
most senior Muslim Brothers in the United States, to include Ahmed Totanji, who
still resides in Herndon, Virginia. Its website proclaims
“[ADAMS] is a membership organization registered in the State of Virginia as a
non-profit, tax exempt corporation and is affiliated with the Islamic Society of
North America (ISNA).”
Imam Magid is
the Executive Director of the ADAMS Center. He is also the President of the
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the largest Muslim Brotherhood
organization in the U.S. which was found to be a financial
support entity for Hamas in the largest terrorism financing and Hamas trial
in U.S. history (US v Holy Land Foundation, Dallas, 2008). Having Magid advise
and teach U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials can only be aptly
described as insane. According to officials at Langley who were willing to speak
on the condition of anonymity, this is an outrage - but none of the leaders on
the inside seem to understand the gravity of this threat. To say the fox is in
the hen house would be an understatement.
But the insanity does
not end there. Imam Mohammed Magid continues to be a guest in the White House,
works with the National Security Council,
advises the Secretary of State, is on the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Working
Group, and has received an award from the FBI. Magid continues to be treated by
American leaders as if he is a friend, yet he is the leader of the largest MB
front in the U.S. which financially supports the terrorist organization Hamas.
The question must also be asked – who vetted the other “leaders” from
the Muslim community who moderated panels and led the training at CIA
Headquarters? Are any of them Muslim Brothers or sympathetic to the MB cause?
When, over a long period of time, American leadership works side by side
with and are advised by individuals and organizations who are proven to be
hostile to the United States, it is no wonder the shooting at Ft Hood was called
a “crime” by the FBI not an “act of terrorism” and why it was called “workplace
violence” by Pentagon officials writing the after action reports. It is no
wonder DHS and others in our government define the threat as “violent extremism”
(which is actually a meaningless term) instead of calling it what it actually is
– the Muslim Brotherhood’s jihadi movement in the United States which is a
support network for terrorists. And, it is no wonder that a military attack by
Al Qaeda on an American consulate in Libya would be identified by the Obama
Administration as the result of a YouTube video which was “offensive to Muslims”
instead of what it truly was. Sadly, the amazing heroism of the men who
battled over 200 Al Qaeda fighters for 6 hours is getting lost in the
shuffle.
Recently, Counter Terrorism Czar John Brennan scoffed at the idea the
Muslim Brotherhood has penetrated the U.S. government. At what point will Mr.
Brennan be held accountable for willfully failing to perform his duty and uphold
his Oath to the Constitution. When will the other leaders such as the Secretary
of State, the Director of Central Intelligence, the FBI Director, and the
President be held to account for this egregious and treasonous behavior?
The National Security apparatus of the United States is deeply
penetrated and is being dangerously manipulated by a hostile foreign threat.
This necessarily means that significant foreign policy decisions involving the
Islamic world will not only fail to achieve their intended outcome, but they
will serve to advance the cause of our enemies.
One can only hope that a
Romney Administration will take bold and decisive actions to purge the
government of our enemies and those who willfully and unwittingly support
them.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Hymn for Today: 'One Saint at a Time'
One Saint at a Time
God's saving sinners into His kingdom,
He's reaping a harvest of love;
Saving their souls unto salvation,
To call them to heaven above.
God's saving sinners into His kingdom,
He's reaping a harvest of love;
Saving their souls unto salvation,
To call them to heaven above.
Refrain:
One saint at a time,
One saint at a time,
God's bringing souls into His kingdom
One saint at a time.
Come to the river, when you hear Him call,
The fast-flowing river of love;
You will be cleansed, there in the waters,
Made ready for heaven above.
One saint at a time ...
Once you've been washed then God can use you,
To help reap the harvest of love;
Helping prepare souls for the kingdom,
To lead them to heaven above.
One saint at a time ...
One day we will meet, down by the river,
The fast-flowing river of love;
In clouds of glory Jesus will come ,
To take us to heaven above.
One saint at a time,
One saint at a time,
God's bringing souls into His kingdom
One saint at a time. (x2)
© 2010 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
One saint at a time,
One saint at a time,
God's bringing souls into His kingdom
One saint at a time.
Come to the river, when you hear Him call,
The fast-flowing river of love;
You will be cleansed, there in the waters,
Made ready for heaven above.
One saint at a time ...
Once you've been washed then God can use you,
To help reap the harvest of love;
Helping prepare souls for the kingdom,
To lead them to heaven above.
One saint at a time ...
One day we will meet, down by the river,
The fast-flowing river of love;
In clouds of glory Jesus will come ,
To take us to heaven above.
One saint at a time,
One saint at a time,
God's bringing souls into His kingdom
One saint at a time. (x2)
© 2010 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
“Teacher forces student to do ‘Islamic hand sign’”
BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
TEACHER FORCES STUDENT TO DO 'ISLAMIC HAND SIGN'
Now facing assault after girl left 'dripping with blood'
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/teacher-forces-student-to-do-islamic-hand-sign/
A Chesapeake, Va., teacher is facing a charge of assault for allegedly forcing a student to do an “Islamic hand sign,” leaving the young girl “dripping with blood,” according to a report in The Blaze.
While police have confirmed the incident, school district officials have said the case is a “personnel issue” and they are not allowed to divulge many details. And while the teacher identified by the Blaze as the suspect, Tara Harris, is scheduled to appear in court in a few days, her side of the story remains unclear.
The report said the elementary school teacher, who openly campaigns for Barack Obama in the classroom, was trying to teach students an “Islamic hand sign” when she yanked the arm of the student, the 10-year-old daughter of Stephanie Bennett, and the student was injured.
“When [the student] didn’t get [the hand sign] right, [Harris] went over and yanked her hand out of her desk and my daughter’s hand got hung up on the metal wire on her file folder and the skin got caught on it,” said the mother.
“The other children saw my daughter’s hand dripping with blood after the teacher had gotten so mad that she went to twist my daughter’s hand into an Islamic sign.”
The mother told the Blaze she called police as soon as she learned what had happened. She said the school confirmed the teacher was placed on administrative leave. She said later the school told her the teacher was terminated from the system.
Officer Leo Kosinski in Chesapeake told the Blaze Harris was charged with a misdemeanor and released on a summons.
“It’s still a criminal charge. It happened at the school and it involved a student,” he said.
Bennett, whose daughter attends Butts Road Intermediate School in Chesapeake, said this teacher previously has tried to “indoctrinate” students in Islamic thought.
The incident, on Oct. 2, happened this way, she said: “The teacher was going over Islamic hand signs with the children – she stayed on this issue for two days straight during their reading and math class.”
Her daughter, who suffers a “processing disorder,” was unable to meet the teacher’s demands, and the teacher became frustrated and tried to twist the girl’s fingers into the correct position.
The report said the daughter confirmed the teacher “prays to Allah in Arabic” several times a day and has explained how Islam is superior to other religions.
Another parent, Nita Reddit, told the Blaze the story was confirmed by her son.
The Blaze said the school board met Oct. 8, and the minutes reflect a closed session regarding “personnel.”
TEACHER FORCES STUDENT TO DO 'ISLAMIC HAND SIGN'
Now facing assault after girl left 'dripping with blood'
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/teacher-forces-student-to-do-islamic-hand-sign/
A Chesapeake, Va., teacher is facing a charge of assault for allegedly forcing a student to do an “Islamic hand sign,” leaving the young girl “dripping with blood,” according to a report in The Blaze.
While police have confirmed the incident, school district officials have said the case is a “personnel issue” and they are not allowed to divulge many details. And while the teacher identified by the Blaze as the suspect, Tara Harris, is scheduled to appear in court in a few days, her side of the story remains unclear.
The report said the elementary school teacher, who openly campaigns for Barack Obama in the classroom, was trying to teach students an “Islamic hand sign” when she yanked the arm of the student, the 10-year-old daughter of Stephanie Bennett, and the student was injured.
“When [the student] didn’t get [the hand sign] right, [Harris] went over and yanked her hand out of her desk and my daughter’s hand got hung up on the metal wire on her file folder and the skin got caught on it,” said the mother.
“The other children saw my daughter’s hand dripping with blood after the teacher had gotten so mad that she went to twist my daughter’s hand into an Islamic sign.”
The mother told the Blaze she called police as soon as she learned what had happened. She said the school confirmed the teacher was placed on administrative leave. She said later the school told her the teacher was terminated from the system.
Officer Leo Kosinski in Chesapeake told the Blaze Harris was charged with a misdemeanor and released on a summons.
“It’s still a criminal charge. It happened at the school and it involved a student,” he said.
Bennett, whose daughter attends Butts Road Intermediate School in Chesapeake, said this teacher previously has tried to “indoctrinate” students in Islamic thought.
The incident, on Oct. 2, happened this way, she said: “The teacher was going over Islamic hand signs with the children – she stayed on this issue for two days straight during their reading and math class.”
Her daughter, who suffers a “processing disorder,” was unable to meet the teacher’s demands, and the teacher became frustrated and tried to twist the girl’s fingers into the correct position.
The report said the daughter confirmed the teacher “prays to Allah in Arabic” several times a day and has explained how Islam is superior to other religions.
Another parent, Nita Reddit, told the Blaze the story was confirmed by her son.
The Blaze said the school board met Oct. 8, and the minutes reflect a closed session regarding “personnel.”
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Islamic Schoolyard-Bully
The Islamic
Schoolyard-Bully and Obama’s America
October 18, 2012 By Raymond Ibrahim
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/raymond-ibrahim/the-islamic-schoolyard-bully-and-obamas-america/
In an era of high education and specialty degrees—from psychology to political science—perhaps it was inevitable for simple common sense to fall by the wayside. The embassy attacks across the Muslim world, especially the most savage in Egypt and Libya, are a testimony to this: U.S. policy towards these countries fundamentally exacerbated their wild reactions. To understand all this, one need only turn to the classic “schoolyard bully” paradigm, that any child can understand.
Not especially large or strong, the schoolyard bully—generally a prickly, nasty fellow—picks on two groups: 1) those who are obviously weaker than him and 2) those who, while larger or stronger than him, willingly give in to him—willingly appease. Bullying the first group, the weak, is an easy matter for the bully. As for the second group, whose capacities and responses are unclear, these he must first determine through a few bully trial-runs—to see whether they will fight back, or whether they will give in. He begins small—a shove and harsh word here and there—and takes it from there, always seeing how far he can go.
The bully will receive one of two responses from the second group, those not smaller or weaker than him: either appeasement and giving in, or a punch to the nose. If he receives the former, he continually ups the bullying to see how much more he can get away with: harsh words and shoves become demands for lunch money and stolen jackets. His work becomes complete with the absolute subordination of his victim.
As for the one who does not put up with his bullying—who gives him a swift punch to the nose—not only does the bully leave him be, he even begins to respect if not befriend him.
For centuries, people from all walks of life knew this—from experience if not common sense. Children knew it.
Now consider how the schoolyard bully paradigm helps explain America’s relationship to the Muslim world, especially in the last four years, culminating with the U.S. embassy debacles in the Muslim world.
To set the stage, here are the main characters: the Muslim world represents the bully and the international arena is the schoolyard where his shoves and demands are made; the Muslim world’s religious minorities, Christian and otherwise, represent the weak—they who are bullied incessantly because there is nothing they can do about it, and whose plight is a testimony to the bullying mentality of the Muslim world; the U.S. represents the ostensibly strong figure in the international-schoolyard, whose response to the bully is not wholly known and needs to be tested.
Soon after taking office, Barrack Obama made it clear in numerous ways that he was intent on appeasing the Muslim world—whether by bowing to the Wahabbi King, commanding NASA to make Muslims feel better about themselves, censoring security language deemed insulting to Muslims, or giving terrorist Osama bin Laden an Islamic funeral. No American president has been more appeasing to the Muslim world than Barrack Obama.
Of course, much of this may not be naïve appeasement; it may be something much worse. But the Muslim masses interpret it as appeasement.
Obama’s most recent concessions were unprecedented: he betrayed America’s longtime secular allies—whose existence was fundamental to U.S. interests, not to mention the interests of the secular and non-Muslim segments of their societies—to appease the Islamists of the world, those groups that share the same ideology, if not always tactics, of the terrorists who struck the U.S. on 9/11; those groups that are fundamentally hostile to the U.S.; those groups renowned for bullying the weak in their midst.
Of all Middle East nations, it was his policies in Egypt and Libya that were especially appeasing to the Islamists. In Egypt, he threw Hosni Mubarak—a staunch 30-year-ally of the U.S.—under the bus and helped empower the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis; in Libya, he provided military aid to the al-Qaeda-affiliated “rebels” who overthrew Gaddafi.
And what thanks did America receive from Egypt and Libya? More bullying, more demands. Like the proverbial schoolyard bully used to getting what he wants, during the embassy riots and protests across the Muslim world, it was the Islamists of Egypt and Libya—precisely those two groups which Obama did so much for, the al-Qaeda affiliated rebels in Libya and the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis—who went on the most violent sprees, made bolder demands (including the release of the Blind Sheikh or else), stormed and terrorized embassies, burned American flags, and murdered and raped American diplomats.
Thus, as all the talking heads analyze how and why the embassy attacks occurred, the greater lesson is obvious for those with common sense: nothing short of a punch to the nose—or at this very late date, when the image of an appeasing America is so ingrained, several punches—will ever cease the bullying and earn some respect for the United States.
October 18, 2012 By Raymond Ibrahim
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/raymond-ibrahim/the-islamic-schoolyard-bully-and-obamas-america/
In an era of high education and specialty degrees—from psychology to political science—perhaps it was inevitable for simple common sense to fall by the wayside. The embassy attacks across the Muslim world, especially the most savage in Egypt and Libya, are a testimony to this: U.S. policy towards these countries fundamentally exacerbated their wild reactions. To understand all this, one need only turn to the classic “schoolyard bully” paradigm, that any child can understand.
Not especially large or strong, the schoolyard bully—generally a prickly, nasty fellow—picks on two groups: 1) those who are obviously weaker than him and 2) those who, while larger or stronger than him, willingly give in to him—willingly appease. Bullying the first group, the weak, is an easy matter for the bully. As for the second group, whose capacities and responses are unclear, these he must first determine through a few bully trial-runs—to see whether they will fight back, or whether they will give in. He begins small—a shove and harsh word here and there—and takes it from there, always seeing how far he can go.
The bully will receive one of two responses from the second group, those not smaller or weaker than him: either appeasement and giving in, or a punch to the nose. If he receives the former, he continually ups the bullying to see how much more he can get away with: harsh words and shoves become demands for lunch money and stolen jackets. His work becomes complete with the absolute subordination of his victim.
As for the one who does not put up with his bullying—who gives him a swift punch to the nose—not only does the bully leave him be, he even begins to respect if not befriend him.
For centuries, people from all walks of life knew this—from experience if not common sense. Children knew it.
Now consider how the schoolyard bully paradigm helps explain America’s relationship to the Muslim world, especially in the last four years, culminating with the U.S. embassy debacles in the Muslim world.
To set the stage, here are the main characters: the Muslim world represents the bully and the international arena is the schoolyard where his shoves and demands are made; the Muslim world’s religious minorities, Christian and otherwise, represent the weak—they who are bullied incessantly because there is nothing they can do about it, and whose plight is a testimony to the bullying mentality of the Muslim world; the U.S. represents the ostensibly strong figure in the international-schoolyard, whose response to the bully is not wholly known and needs to be tested.
Soon after taking office, Barrack Obama made it clear in numerous ways that he was intent on appeasing the Muslim world—whether by bowing to the Wahabbi King, commanding NASA to make Muslims feel better about themselves, censoring security language deemed insulting to Muslims, or giving terrorist Osama bin Laden an Islamic funeral. No American president has been more appeasing to the Muslim world than Barrack Obama.
Of course, much of this may not be naïve appeasement; it may be something much worse. But the Muslim masses interpret it as appeasement.
Obama’s most recent concessions were unprecedented: he betrayed America’s longtime secular allies—whose existence was fundamental to U.S. interests, not to mention the interests of the secular and non-Muslim segments of their societies—to appease the Islamists of the world, those groups that share the same ideology, if not always tactics, of the terrorists who struck the U.S. on 9/11; those groups that are fundamentally hostile to the U.S.; those groups renowned for bullying the weak in their midst.
Of all Middle East nations, it was his policies in Egypt and Libya that were especially appeasing to the Islamists. In Egypt, he threw Hosni Mubarak—a staunch 30-year-ally of the U.S.—under the bus and helped empower the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis; in Libya, he provided military aid to the al-Qaeda-affiliated “rebels” who overthrew Gaddafi.
And what thanks did America receive from Egypt and Libya? More bullying, more demands. Like the proverbial schoolyard bully used to getting what he wants, during the embassy riots and protests across the Muslim world, it was the Islamists of Egypt and Libya—precisely those two groups which Obama did so much for, the al-Qaeda affiliated rebels in Libya and the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis—who went on the most violent sprees, made bolder demands (including the release of the Blind Sheikh or else), stormed and terrorized embassies, burned American flags, and murdered and raped American diplomats.
Thus, as all the talking heads analyze how and why the embassy attacks occurred, the greater lesson is obvious for those with common sense: nothing short of a punch to the nose—or at this very late date, when the image of an appeasing America is so ingrained, several punches—will ever cease the bullying and earn some respect for the United States.
Monday, October 22, 2012
More Great Christian Quotes by Leonard Ravenhill
Phone Interviewer: "Say you were asked, Leonard, to speak for the annual
convention of the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Lord directed you
to accept that invitation, what message might you bring to that
group?"
Ravenhill: "I believe I´d preach on hell."
"As long as we are content to live without revival, we will."
"The attitude of the average Christian today is relax and be raptured.But He is coming... and when God gets angry you´ve no idea what it is. Like a thousand volcanoes exploding. He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world and the poor blind world doesn´t know much about it and the poor blind church doesn´t think much about it now."
"One who is intimate with God will not be intimidated by men."
"With all your getting get unction."
"We live in a day of itching ears but I have no commission from God to scratch them."
"Is what you're living for worth Christ's dying for?"
- Epitaph of Leonard Ravenhill
Ravenhill: "I believe I´d preach on hell."
"As long as we are content to live without revival, we will."
"The attitude of the average Christian today is relax and be raptured.But He is coming... and when God gets angry you´ve no idea what it is. Like a thousand volcanoes exploding. He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world and the poor blind world doesn´t know much about it and the poor blind church doesn´t think much about it now."
"One who is intimate with God will not be intimidated by men."
"With all your getting get unction."
"We live in a day of itching ears but I have no commission from God to scratch them."
"Is what you're living for worth Christ's dying for?"
- Epitaph of Leonard Ravenhill
Friday, October 19, 2012
Hymns by Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Majestic Mountains of Wales
On my recent vacation in the wonderful land of Wales I visited Capel Curig and Llanberis in North Wales, where I was in awe of the scenery. Check it out for yourself to see how beautiful it is.
Hymn for Today: 'Let Us Magnify'
Let us Magnify
Let us glorify the name of Jesus,
Let’s sing our praises to the Lord on high,
Let us magnify His name,
Praise and glorify the same,
Let’s worship in the Spirit of our God.
Let us worship Him,
Let us worship Him,
Let us worship in the Spirit of our God.
© 2006 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Voice Christian News & Views
Full of interesting articles and reports by leading Christians, this is a great magazine to dip into.
A Hymn for Advent: 'Christmas Lullaby
Christmas Lullaby 8787
TUNE: Stuttgart
Picture Jesus in the manger,
Dream of love and royal birth.
Children sleeping in their cradles,
All is silent on the earth.
All await the coming morning,
And the joy that it will bring;
They will open up their presents,
And remember Christ the King.
He is gentle, just a baby,
Softly sleeping in the hay;
Kings and shepherds, beasts and wise men,
Worship Christ in manger lay.
Children waking, joyful singing,
Greets this special holy day;
Concert voices raised together,
As we praise our Lord today.
© 2012 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Libya Debacle ----Why not tell the TRUTH, Mr President?
The Libya Debacle
The more we learn, the more Benghazi looks like a gross security failure.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444180004578018534242887950.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
In his United Nations speech on Tuesday, President Obama talked about the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and declared that "there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice." What he didn't say is how relentless he'll be in tracking down the security lapses and intelligence failures that contributed to the murders. Let's say there's some doubt about that.
None of the initial explanations offered by the White House and State Department since the assault on the Benghazi consulate has held up. First the Administration blamed protests provoked by an amateurish anti-Islam clip posted on YouTube. Cue Susan Rice, the U.N. Ambassador and leading candidate for Secretary of State in a second Obama term: "What happened initially was that it was a spontaneous reaction . . . as a consequence of the video, that people gathered outside the embassy and then it grew very violent."
ABACAUSA.COM The attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 12, 2012.
Administration officials also maintained that the diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt, the site of the first attacks this September 11, were properly defended and that the U.S. had no reason to prepare for any attack. "The office of the director of National Intelligence has said we have no actionable intelligence that an attack on our post in Benghazi was planned or imminent," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week, calling the security measures in place there "robust."
Cell phone video footage and witness testimony from Benghazi soon undercut the Administration trope of an angry march "hijacked" by a few bad people. As it turned out, the assault was well-coordinated, with fighters armed with guns, RPGs and diesel canisters, which were used to set the buildings on fire. Ambassador Chris Stevens died of smoke inhalation. Briefing Congress, the Administration changed its story and said the attacks were pre-planned and linked to al Qaeda.
You'd think this admission would focus attention on why the compound was so vulnerable to begin with. But the Administration wants to avoid this conversation. The removal of all staff from Benghazi, including a large component of intelligence officers, would also seem to hinder their ability to investigate the attacks and bring the killers to justice.
Journalists have stayed on the case, however, and their reporting is filling in the Administration's holes. On Friday, our WSJ colleagues showed that starting in spring, U.S. intelligence had been worried about radical militias in eastern Libya. These armed groups helped topple Moammar Ghadhafi last year but weren't demobilized as a new government has slowly found its legs. As we've noted since last winter, the waning of American and European interest in Libya could have dangerous consequences.
Deteriorating security was no secret. On April 10, for example, an explosive device was thrown at a convoy carrying U.N. envoy Ian Martin. On June 6, an improvised explosive device exploded outside the U.S. consulate. In late August, State warned American citizens who were planning to travel to Libya about the threat of assassinations and car bombings.
Despite all this, U.S. diplomatic missions had minimal security. Officials told the Journal that the Administration put too much faith in weak Libyan police and military forces. The night of the Benghazi attack, four lightly armed Libyans and five American security officers were on duty. The complex lacked smoke-protection masks and fire extinguishers. Neither the consulate in Benghazi nor the embassy in Tripoli were guarded by U.S. Marines, whose deployment to Libya wasn't a priority.
Rummaging through the Benghazi compound, a CNN reporter found a seven-page notebook belonging to Ambassador Stevens. According to the network, the diary said he was concerned about the "never-ending" security threats in Benghazi and wrote that he was on an al Qaeda hit list. In deference to the family's wishes, CNN didn't quote directly from the diary and didn't divulge any private information in it.
His worries are newsworthy, however, and can inform America's response. But Mrs. Clinton's long-time and closest media adviser chose to attack CNN. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Reines called the network's conduct "disgusting." He then deployed words not fit for a family newspaper in an exchange with a reporter for the Web site BuzzFeed. Mr. Reines may wish to protect his boss's legacy for her 2016 Presidential run, but that won't be enhanced by the appearance of a cover-up.
Imagine the uproar if, barely a month before Election Day, the Bush Administration had responded to a terrorist strike—on Sept. 11 no less—in this fashion. Obfuscating about what happened. Refusing to acknowledge that clear security warnings were apparently ignored. Then trying to shoot the messengers who bring these inconvenient truths to light in order to talk about anything but a stunning and deadly attack on U.S. sovereign territory.
Four Americans lost their lives in Benghazi in a terrorist attack that evidence suggests should have been anticipated and might have been stopped. Rather than accept responsibility, the Administration has tried to stonewall and blame others. Congress should call hearings to hold someone accountable for this debacle.
The more we learn, the more Benghazi looks like a gross security failure.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444180004578018534242887950.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
In his United Nations speech on Tuesday, President Obama talked about the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and declared that "there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice." What he didn't say is how relentless he'll be in tracking down the security lapses and intelligence failures that contributed to the murders. Let's say there's some doubt about that.
None of the initial explanations offered by the White House and State Department since the assault on the Benghazi consulate has held up. First the Administration blamed protests provoked by an amateurish anti-Islam clip posted on YouTube. Cue Susan Rice, the U.N. Ambassador and leading candidate for Secretary of State in a second Obama term: "What happened initially was that it was a spontaneous reaction . . . as a consequence of the video, that people gathered outside the embassy and then it grew very violent."
ABACAUSA.COM The attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 12, 2012.
Administration officials also maintained that the diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt, the site of the first attacks this September 11, were properly defended and that the U.S. had no reason to prepare for any attack. "The office of the director of National Intelligence has said we have no actionable intelligence that an attack on our post in Benghazi was planned or imminent," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week, calling the security measures in place there "robust."
Cell phone video footage and witness testimony from Benghazi soon undercut the Administration trope of an angry march "hijacked" by a few bad people. As it turned out, the assault was well-coordinated, with fighters armed with guns, RPGs and diesel canisters, which were used to set the buildings on fire. Ambassador Chris Stevens died of smoke inhalation. Briefing Congress, the Administration changed its story and said the attacks were pre-planned and linked to al Qaeda.
You'd think this admission would focus attention on why the compound was so vulnerable to begin with. But the Administration wants to avoid this conversation. The removal of all staff from Benghazi, including a large component of intelligence officers, would also seem to hinder their ability to investigate the attacks and bring the killers to justice.
Journalists have stayed on the case, however, and their reporting is filling in the Administration's holes. On Friday, our WSJ colleagues showed that starting in spring, U.S. intelligence had been worried about radical militias in eastern Libya. These armed groups helped topple Moammar Ghadhafi last year but weren't demobilized as a new government has slowly found its legs. As we've noted since last winter, the waning of American and European interest in Libya could have dangerous consequences.
Deteriorating security was no secret. On April 10, for example, an explosive device was thrown at a convoy carrying U.N. envoy Ian Martin. On June 6, an improvised explosive device exploded outside the U.S. consulate. In late August, State warned American citizens who were planning to travel to Libya about the threat of assassinations and car bombings.
Despite all this, U.S. diplomatic missions had minimal security. Officials told the Journal that the Administration put too much faith in weak Libyan police and military forces. The night of the Benghazi attack, four lightly armed Libyans and five American security officers were on duty. The complex lacked smoke-protection masks and fire extinguishers. Neither the consulate in Benghazi nor the embassy in Tripoli were guarded by U.S. Marines, whose deployment to Libya wasn't a priority.
Rummaging through the Benghazi compound, a CNN reporter found a seven-page notebook belonging to Ambassador Stevens. According to the network, the diary said he was concerned about the "never-ending" security threats in Benghazi and wrote that he was on an al Qaeda hit list. In deference to the family's wishes, CNN didn't quote directly from the diary and didn't divulge any private information in it.
His worries are newsworthy, however, and can inform America's response. But Mrs. Clinton's long-time and closest media adviser chose to attack CNN. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Reines called the network's conduct "disgusting." He then deployed words not fit for a family newspaper in an exchange with a reporter for the Web site BuzzFeed. Mr. Reines may wish to protect his boss's legacy for her 2016 Presidential run, but that won't be enhanced by the appearance of a cover-up.
Imagine the uproar if, barely a month before Election Day, the Bush Administration had responded to a terrorist strike—on Sept. 11 no less—in this fashion. Obfuscating about what happened. Refusing to acknowledge that clear security warnings were apparently ignored. Then trying to shoot the messengers who bring these inconvenient truths to light in order to talk about anything but a stunning and deadly attack on U.S. sovereign territory.
Four Americans lost their lives in Benghazi in a terrorist attack that evidence suggests should have been anticipated and might have been stopped. Rather than accept responsibility, the Administration has tried to stonewall and blame others. Congress should call hearings to hold someone accountable for this debacle.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Hymn for Today: 'All for Jesus, Great Redeemer'
Here is my choice for the 'Hymn for Today' which I hope you will sing at your worship services.
All for Jesus, Great Redeemer 87 87
TUNE: Beecher
All for Jesus, great Redeemer,
I surrender heart and soul;
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
He’s restored me, made me whole.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
I am His throughout my days;
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
I will live a life of praise.
All for Jesus, gracious Saviour,
Till I meet Him face to face;
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
Stand restored by divine grace.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
Voice and hands to Him I raise;
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
I will sing eternal praise!
© 2011 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
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