Peter King: Bush 'Should Get a Medal" for Waterboarding KSM: A Reminder of What We Know

Congressman Peter King (R-NY) said Wednesday former President George W. Bush "should get a medal" for waterboarding Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM). Comforting words for conservatives coming from the man who may be the next Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is calling for further investigations into treatment of terrorists during the GWB administration. Consider this: if we did not have KSM in custody, and did not know what we know today about his part in the September 11, 2001 attacks, where would we be today? What would Americans feel about knowing practically nothing about the day that changed this country forever? I can't imagine being completely in the dark about our attackers. Bring out the medal for George W. Bush.

Peter King

Bush said in his new book, Decision Points, that he ordered the waterboarding of terrorists, including that of KSM. While the news is old now, remember this:

KSM, as intelligence agencies call him, directed the September 11 attacks, which killed 2,978 people and injured at least 7,356. “I am the head of the al-Qaeda military committee,” he told Al Jazeera in April 2002. “And yes, we did it.” KSM wired money to his nephew, Ramzi Yousef, who masterminded the February 1993 World Trade Center blast that killed six and wounded 1,040. KSM and Yousef planned Operation Bojinka, a foiled 1995 scheme to explode 12 American jetliners above the Pacific. While some doubt his claim, KSM reportedly said, “I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew Daniel Pearl in the City of Karachi, Pakistan.”

U.S. and Pakistani authorities captured KSM on March 1, 2003 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. KSM stayed mum for months, often answering questions with Koranic chants. Interrogators eventually waterboarded him — for just 90 seconds.

KSM “didn’t resist,” one CIA veteran said in the August 13 issue of The New Yorker. “He sang right away. He cracked real quick.” Another CIA official told ABC News: “KSM lasted the longest under water-boarding, about a minute and a half, but once he broke, it never had to be used again.”

KSM’s revelations helped authorities identify and incarcerate at least six major terrorists: Read more.

A total of 90 seconds of terror for KSM. Years and years of grief that never goes away for the families and loved ones of those who died when the Towers fell. The site of the World Trade Towers 9/11 attack is in Congressman Nadler's congressional district, but he is not appreciative of the methods used to bring the attackers to justice. King, however, said Bush's actions "saved many, many lives," and he should receive "a medal," for doing what was necessary. If Nadler's loved ones had been in the Towers, would he still be pushing for an investigation of George Bush? There is one thing here that is true: waterboarding is scary - no doubt terrible for the one being waterboarded, but...let's face it, no one dies from waterboarding. Thanks to Weazel Zippers.

Rand Paul Eliot Spitzer: Spitzer Pushes Pay Cut for Medicare Doctors

Client No. 9, also known as Eliot Spitzer, interviewed Kentucky's new Senator-elect, Rand Paul. Paul is a medical doctor and has said physicians pay for treatment of Medicare patients should not be cut unless all federal payrolls are cut. Spitzer thought he had Paul on the end of his pitchfork after showing the trillions spent on medicare, medicaid and social security.  See the video below.

Rand Paul

Paul pointed out that further cuts in physician's pay would be on top of the already-implemented 50% cut. Spitzer wasn't interested and offered no follow-up. Then he tried to broadside Paul by asking what his income was as a physician treating predominately Medicare patients. Paul didn't skip a beat, and suggested if Spitzer wanted to talk about Rand's past, perhaps they might also talk about Spitzer's own (which undoubtedly would include the disgraced Governor of New York State being outed as "Client No. 9" in a prositution scandal which brought his resignation as governor).

Rand Paul will be a conservative voice to be reckoned with when he hits the Senate. It's a good thing.
See how successful Spitzer's recent gig is here. Read additional commentary on this story at FireAndreaMitchell - Stop The Leftist Propaganda Machine

 

Eliot Spitzer and Rand Paul

U.S. Military F-15s Escorting Passenger Jet to NY JFK Airport

Two F-15 military jets are escorting a commercial passenger jet to New York's JFK airport. Fox's Trace Gallagher is reporting that a passenger plane from the United Arab Emirates IS scheduled into JFK from Yemen - ALTHOUGH, he has no confirmation that the flight escorted is a UAE flight from Yemen. Update: Shep Smith at Fox has just confirmed that the escorted flight is the UAE flight from Yemen. Some rumors that a package from Yemen may be on the flight.

Minute-by-minute reporting on suspicious packages investigated in the U.S. day.

Update 1:05 p.m.
From FBI - no known threat associated with the UAE flight, but perhaps with a package aboard.

Flight is United Arab Emirates Flight 301.

Update 2:20 p.m.
The AP reports that a package confiscated in Dubai today DID contain explosives. Source: Fox News (Shep Smith)

Bomb Found on UPS Flight From Yemen to Chicago: Worldwide Terror Plot Underway?

Fox News has just reported an "ink toner cartridge" converted to a bomb, was found on a UPS flight from Yemen to Chicago, via London and on the ground there. Fox's Rick Levanthall says "investigators are seeking to stop a planned terror plot. Early reports said two UPS cargo flights are on the ground and being checked in New York and Newark, New Jersey. A "suspicious package" was removed from a UPS flight on the ground at Philadelphia's International Airport - the flight number is believed to be 218. A crew member of the Philadelphia flight reported a possible "radiological" package. A UPS truck has been quarantined in Queens, New York. On one of the flights, a pilot reported a package that was possibly "radiological." All the info is fast and incomplete. Continuing updates as they break.

See reporting on United Arab Emirates Flight 201 escorted by F-15's today into JFK airport in New York.

Update: Fox 10:35 AM CDT:
AP report: A package removed from a flight in Birmingham England is now said to be no threat.

Portland, Main - suspicious package (backpack) found outside federal court house. Court house was evacuated. Bomb squad on seen investigating a hazardous device.

SkyNews Heathrow and UK offices of UPS deny reports that any kind of bomb or any suspicious packages found today.

Newark, New Jersey flight has been released and is on its way to Kentucky.

Update Fox: Greg Palcot 10:45am:
UK East Midlands Airport: Police at 3:28 a.m. found a suspicious package in the distribution area of the airport. This is a small airport, and is one of two distribution centers for UPS.

Several suspicious packages removed from Philadelphia and and Newark.

Several suspicious packages originating in Yemen in Philadelphia and Newark. The "ink toner cartridge" converted to a bomb - maybe several.

Update 10:50 a.m.
Chicago's O'Hare Airport is also reported of concern now.
Flights on ground in Philly originated from Paris and Cologne.

Update 11:07 a.m. CDT:
Investigation now in Paris.
Toner cartridges were of clear casing, with white powder inside, in a UPS box.

Fox's John Scott: Off-record report: there was some kink of radiological component aboard a flight in Philadelphia. This report is now believed to be false.

One flight originated in Cologne, Germany.

Suspicious package in Brooklyn.

Update 11:11 a.m. CDT:
John Scott says the off-record report of a radiological component found is false.
UPS has no flight "originating" in Yemen.

Update 11:16 a.m. CDT:
Harris Faulkner is confirming that Portland, Maine officials say a suspicious package was found outside the Federal Courthouse at the corner of Market and Federal street. The Portland airport says have no UPS flights landing there today.

Update 11:50 a.m. CDT:
Trucks in Brooklyn and Queens have both been cleared.
In England the situation has been elevated

AP: Suspicious packages are a "dry run mail bomb plot."

Update 12:02 p.m. CDT:
Fox's Katherine Herridge reports, there is a possible link to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Christmas Day bomber.

Update 12:07 p.m. CDT:
Synagogues under high alert after warning.
Suspicious packages in or from Dubai at a FedEx facility - the first time FedEx has been mentioned.
2:20 p.m. AP reports explosives WERE in a package destined for the U.S., and confiscated in Dubai today (Shep Smith - Fox News)

Update 12:18 p.m. CDT:
UPS with Fox would not confirm that the flights in Philadelphia have been cleared.

All flights from Yemen into U.S. have been stopped.

Update 12:28 p.m. CDT:
Baltimore: a "situation" with a bomb squad in Ann Arundel County - not at the airport.
The Baltimore story is that a woman came into a facility to "return" a package. She was told the facility could not accept a package for "return." The woman became frustrated, left the package on the counter and walked out. Authorities believe this incident will be nothing to do with terrorism, but out of an abundance of caution, it is under investigation.

All shipments from London to U.S. have been "embargoed."

Update 1:00 p.m. CDT:
Homeland Security has just increased security on passenger planes, as well as cargo planes.

Chicago found two 2 suspicious packages addressed to "religious" destinations.

A suspicious package is being investigated in San Francisco.

Update 1:11 p.m. CDT:
San Francisco: A passerby noticed a suitcase at the corner of Battery and Market. Police identified it as a suspicious package. The area has been closed to traffic. A bomb robot is on the seen. 1:40 p.m. The San Francisco situation has been cleared.

Chicago's Jewish community was warned of incoming packages. To be aware that harmful packages may be in-coming.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook
Content Scrapers: Until I can figure out what to do about your confiscation of my work for your own website, please be sure to give a link back as shown above.

Maffei Calling Buerkle's Donors in NY-25? Is it Legal...Ethical...Business as Usual?

Karen at The Lonely Conservative has received information, that if true, begs the question: how far is too far for Democrats? She has been energetically working, through her blog, for Ann Marie Buerkle's campaign for Congress in NY-25.

Ann Marie Buerkle

Dan Maffei

Karen received information today that at least two donors to Buerkle's campaign were contacted by Democrat opponent, Dan Maffei, or his "people," asking why they donated to Ann Marie Buerkle.

The Lonely Conservative is asking some questions of her own, and you might be able to answer some of them. Please visit her, and if have you have some pertinent information, or past experiences - wherever you are located, please think about sharing it with her. Is Dan Maffei's Campaign Intimidating Donors?

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook
Content Scrapers: Until I can figure out what to do about you confiscating my work for your own website, please be sure to give a link back as shown above.

Rashid Khalidi Columbia University adds Palestine Studies Center

Rashid Khalidi is the co-director of the new Columbia University Palestine Studies Center where he is the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies. Columbia has had a Middle East Institute for over 50 years, but the new "center" for Palestine Studies is considered "the first of its kind."

Rashid Khalidi

You'll remember Khalidi:

1) recently raising funds for a Free Palestine/Support Hamas terror flotilla, named The Audacity of Hope, (named after Obama's book) in waters where Israel has the right to blockade any movement of weapons into Gaza,

2) has a friendship with White House gatecrasher Tareq Salahi (see the pic of Obama with with Salahi's long before the gatecrashing, and most infamously,

3) celebrated Palestine and the audacity of Israel at a farewell party with Barack Obama and Bill Ayers for Khalidi. There were unconfirmed talks of a "toast" to something considered inappropriate regarding Israel with Obama present. Speculation was that the toast was perhaps to the "toasting"(as in "destruction") of Israel. The Los Angeles Times has the video, and refuses to release it.

 Khalidi is a former advisor to, and spokesman for, Yassar Arafat and a former professor at the University of Chicago. Khalidi's wife Mona was the English language editor for the PLO press agency.

In 1985, Mr. Khalidi published an adulatory book on the PLO in which he personally thanked Yasser Arafat: "Permission to utilize the P.L.O. archives ... was generously given by the Chairman of the P.L.O. Executive Committee, Yasir Arafat. To him and to the dedicated individuals working in the office of the Chairman, the P.L.O. archive and the Palestine News Agency (WAFA), who extended every possible assistance to me on three trips to Tunis, I owe deep thanks."

Today, however, Mr. Khalidi distances himself from his past.

In truth, Mr. Khalidi is still spinning for the Palestinian leadership. For example, although the Palestinian Authority (PA) is ruled at the whim of a despotic Yasser Arafat, Mr. Khalidi argues the PA has an "elected leader." He asserts that Israel's government "refused to negotiate" with the PA when, in reality, Israel has formally negotiated with the PA since 1993.

Moreover, Mr. Khalidi would like us to believe that Israel has "violated every one of the seven agreements it signed with the PLO since that time." This is, of course, a transparent inversion of the truth. Source: Campus Watch

 As Khalidi departed UC to takeover Columbia's Middle East studies, Obama's attendance at a 2003 farewell party, along with Bill Ayers and wife, Bernardine Dorn, and a crowd of mostly Palestinian-Americans is well-documented. According to Los Angeles Times writer Peter Wallsten claimed that the LA Times had a copy of the video. From the National Review:

At Khalidi’s 2003 farewell party, for example, a young Palestinian American recited a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians and sharply criticizing U.S. support of Israel. If Palestinians cannot secure their own land, she said, “then you will never see a day of peace.”

One speaker likened “Zionist settlers on the West Bank” to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been “blinded by ideology.”

The same article says that state Senator Obama took a more measured response, suggesting that we just all get along.

As Columbia University begins the new study center, there is little said about the connection to Barack Obama or Bill Ayers or Obama's emotional commitment to the Islamic Palestine. Nevertheless, the L.A. Times article referenced above speaking of the farewell party for Khalidi, makes this argument:

But his presence at such events, as he worked to build a political base in Chicago, has led some Palestinian leaders to believe that he might deal differently with the Middle East than either of his opponents for the White House.

"I am confident that Barack Obama is more sympathetic to the position of ending the occupation than either of the other candidates," said Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow for the American Task Force on Palestine, referring to the Israeli presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that began after the 1967 war. More than his rivals for the White House, Ibish said, Obama sees a "moral imperative" in resolving the conflict and is most likely to apply pressure to both sides to make concessions.

Rashid Khalidi often speaks of the revisionist history that lends support to Israel. Speaking of revisionist history - we haven't seen anything yet, as our college students traverse through the one-way street of Khalidi's Palestinian studies.

Thanks to Weasel Zippers

Posted by Maggie@Maggie's Notebook

Chris Christie Reconsiders Killing Hudson River Tunnel Project

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced this week that his final decision was to kill the Hudson River Tunnel project, because...you know...the state and New Jersey-ites simply cannot afford it at this time. Oh but wait! The feds got to him and now he says he will reconsider, after meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Hudson River Tunnel Project

LaHood put some options on the table, don't cha know. No doubt, none of them assure New Jersey residents there will be no increased costs via the tunnel. Projected cost overruns from $2.3 billion to $5.3 billion are predicted, for the project known as ARC. Still yet, Christie said this:

"The fact that the ARC project is not financially viable and is expected to dramatically exceed its current budget remains unchanged," the governor said in a statement today.

"However, this afternoon Secretary LaHood presented several options to potentially salvage a trans Hudson tunnel project. At the secretary’s request, I’ve agreed to have executive director of NJ Transit Jim Weinstein and members from his team work with U.S. Department of Transportation staff to study those options over the next two weeks.” 

At a news conference this afternoon following the stunning development, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said the governor and the U.S. Department of Transportation will come to the negotiating table to revive the tunnel project.

Apparently, the Hudson River Tunnel will be home to two rail tunnels and will lead to a new train station in New York City, 200 feet below 34th Street between 6th and 8th Avenues.

Tunnel Station Below Penn Station under 34th Street

Increased bridge, tunnel and rail fares are funding the project. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in June 2009.

The feds (taxpayers everywhere, you...me) supplied $3 billion in federal funding earmarks. I do not live in New Jersey, but fellow blogger, Chris at WyBlog does. Read what he had to say about the tunnel cancellation, before this "reconsideration" was announced.

Faisal Shazad Life Sentence: Times Square Bomber Faisal Shahzad Statement

Times Square bomber-wanna-be Faisal Shahzad has received a sentence of Life in Prison and has issued a statement making it clear why any Muslim-militant can NEVER be believed. Shazad is a naturalized American citizen. When asked about his pledge of allegiance to the U.S., Shahzad said "I did swear but I did not mean it." See a video below.

Faisal Shahzad

On May 1st Faisal Shahzad, 31, left a bomb in a 1993 Nissan Pathfiner and parked it in New York's busy Times Square. He walked away and waited for the explosion that never happened beyond a sputter.

He lit the fuse of his crude, homemade bomb, then fled on foot, pausing along the way to listen for the explosion that never came, court papers said.

A street vendor spotted smoke coming from the vehicle and alerted police, who quickly cleared the area. The bomb attempt set off an intense investigation that culminated two days later with investigators plucking Shahzad off a Dubai-bound plane at a New York airport.

Shazhad pleaded guilty, and said he hoped to kill at least forty people with the failed bomb which the FBI duplicated and said the explosion ripped a SUV in half, caused a huge fireball and "shredded" four other vehicles parked in the vicinity.

Unless the U.S. leaves Muslim lands alone, he warned, "we will be attacking U.S., and I plead guilty to that." 

Faisal Shahzad and Huma Asif Mian Shahzad

It is believed Shahzad married Huma Asif Mian in an "arranged" marriage on December 24, 2004. Mian was born in Colorado and recently graduated the University of Colorado with a degree in Accounting. Her father, Mohammad Asif Mian is a petroleum engineer "expert," who "registered Democrat," in Connecticut, will be incarcerated.  Shazhad told the court he believes only in Islamic Shariah law and Muslim "soldiers" will never accept democracy. There are reports that Huma Asif Mian fled to Pakistan.

Justice.gov has a detailed report on the failed bombing and the ten Federal charges. The second video below is believed to be Faisal Shahzad meeting with the nine-lived, celebrated terrorist, Hakimullah Mehsud.


Faisal Shahzad Neighbors (video)
Hakimullah Mehsud nd Faisal Shahzad (video)

Whoopi Goldberg on Ground Zero Mosque Protesters

Whoopi Goldberg, eloquent as usual, tells Grand Zero Mosque Protesters to "kiss" her "butt" Not much of a defense for Iman Rauf's connection to the Holy Land Foundation.

Whoopi Goldberg on Ground Zero Mosque Protesters (video)
h/t Weazel Zippers
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Derek Fenton Koran Burner Fired

Derek Fenton burned pages of the Koran outside the old Burlington Coat Factory location of the proposed Ground Zero mosque. Fenton was fired by the New Jersey Transit, where he has worked for the last eleven years. Please try to vote in the NYDaily News poll below. Conservatives are not winning.

Derek Fenton Koran Burner

Fenton was "ushered" from the Mosque protesters by the police for questioning but was not charged.

He said, 'This is America,'and he wanted to stand up for it, in a Tea Party kind of way," a police source said.

Another police source said Fenton described himself as a "loyal American" exercising his "right to protest."

Several neighbors in Fenton's town stood up for his right to express himself with flames.

"Good for him for burning the Koran," neighbor Jacqui Marquez, 40, said.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinion ... by firing him, they're sending a message that there's no freedom of speech. They're completely wrong for doing this."

"He's a family man," neighbor Randy McConnell, 43, said.

"He loves his kids and he loves trains. I don't agree with what he did, but he shouldn't lose his job over it. That's his right."

If Fenton was fired for burning the Koran while off-duty, his First Amendment rights probably were violated, Chris Dunn of the New York Civil Liberties Union said.

"The Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to burn the flag. As reprehensible as it may be, burning the Koran would be protected as well."

NYDailyNews poll - please visit and voice your outrage that a man can lose his job for expressing his First Amendment rights. Vote in Fanning the Flames. Tell the NJTransit you don't give a fig for Islam's tender sensibilities.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Obama Jobs Scams Includes Poll Workers In Yesterday's Primaries

If you were a poll worker in yesterday's primaries, you are now required to file a tax withholding form for the "first time ever. Got that? The "first time ever."  This is nothing but a scam but to inflate the jobs numbers.

New York Post writer John Crudele asks" if this is a "little Election Eve trick."

The New York City Board of Elections, which uses 30,000 to 36,000 temporary workers for both the primary and general election, said it is being ordered by the Internal Revenue Service to make "employees" out of the very temporary workers who tend the polling sites...

"The Internal Revenue Service has determined that all poll workers are considered employees of the Board of Elections for tax purposes," said a Board memo dated Aug. 2 and signed by Rosanna Kostamoulas Rahmouni, coordinator of Election Day Operations.

"Therefore, the Board is required to have every poll worker complete the following before processing your application for work," her note added, listing tax forms W-4 and IT-2104 as necessary.

"It is imperative that you promptly submit the forms or you will not be paid for your training class or processed to work on Election Day," she said.

Although the note was dated Aug. 2 it apparently wasn't delivered to poll workers until very late in August. Workers get paid only $100 for training and $200 each day for working the primary and general election. So it's unlikely that the main purpose of this order is to collect the measly amount of taxes that would be owed -- mostly by the low-income retirees who man the polling centers -- on such a small amount of wages.

But if the election boards in all 50 states suddenly report an influx of additional government workers, the effect on the monthly employment numbers could be very, very significant.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook 

Ground Zero Mosque Developers Sued by 9/11 First Responders Video

A class-action lawsuit is being filed today by First Responders on 9/11/01, to "unmask the mosque." Video below.

Ground Zero Mosque Sued by First Responders (video)
Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Project 2996: Remembering Laurie Ann Neira

Project 2996 is a tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001. Maggie's Notebook will honor the memories and the lives of some of those lost that terrible day.

2,996 stories...2,996 voices...2,996 remembered.

Laurie Ann Neira was aboard American Airlines Flight 11 departing from Boston to Los Angeles, after a visit with family. The photograph at the right is Laurie in 1997 with her daughter Francisca, known as Frannie, on Frannie's wedding day.

Laurie worked for Your Office Genie, and a look around the Internet finds many workers remembering her fondly. Some knew her personally, and others recognized her as a co-worker they had not yet met.

One of Laurie's best friends as a teenager in Rowley, Massachusetts, Debbie Madruga Richards, wrote fond memories of their earlier friendship, when they moved to 'The Big Apple' together at age 18.

Laurie was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts. She met her future husband, Gilberto (Gil) in New York City. In 1975 the family, now consisting of Mom, Dad and Francisca moved to Los Angeles. Later, Frannie's brother Christopher was born. Each year after the move, the family returned to their Massachusetts roots for a visit.

Frannie and Laurie were in Boston on their annual trip, but were flying back to L.A. separately.

From Frannie:

"We had the best time together. Then, on 9/11/01 we went to the airport together. The car rental shuttle dropped [Laurie] off at her terminal first, she going on American, and me going on Delta. 

My last words to her were, see you back home."

American Airlines Flight 11 was taken over by hijackers after about 15 minutes after takeoff. Frannie's Delta flight made an emergency landing in Ohio. That is how she learned of her mother's fate.  All flights were grounded, and she was left alone there for three days. 

Frannie says her mother was the glue that held the family together. 

"She was the most loving and caring person I have ever known. She was a loving and devoted Wife and Mother to me and my brother Christopher. She was also a doting Grandmother to my daughter Amanda - she couldn't wait to be a Grandma! She was taken from our family too soon and left a void that will never be filled again."

Note to family: If you find this tribute and would like to add any information about Laurie Ann Neira, please let me know. My email is about half-way down the page on the right side, or leave a comment.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

9/11 Tribute We Will Never Forget - Nine Years Later

In honor of all who died, and all who survived and are suffering today, 9 years later, we have not forgotten and we will never forget.

In honor of all who served and died in New York City and on the battlefield, we have not forgotten and we will never forget.

When our children and grandchildren are old enough to bear the pain, they will see how Americans died on September 11, 2001 and they will never forget.

If any American leader attempts to create an environment of forgetfulness, do not fear, we will never forget.

If any of America's enemies use fear as a weapon to move us to ignore what we cannot forget, we will never forget.

Update: My friend at Holger Awakens is in New York City for Pam Geller's Remember Rally  Washington D.C. for the 912 Rally. He left this note here today:

"I’d like to share this: Last night, about 100 or so of us were down at the entrance of Walter Reed Army Medical Center with our “Support the Troops” signs and American flags…there were 3 Code Pinkers. We were on all four corners of the entrance on Georgia Avenue.

About 8:30 p.m., a young soldier, dressed in civvies, appeared at the one corner across the street from me – he was shaking hands with our guys over there. He then proceeded to walk across Georgia Ave to a thunderous round of applause and the car horns blaring from dozens and dozens of cars that stopped as he crossed the street, it took some time as I believe he was fairly new to his prosthetic leg. He met us on our corner, I shook his hand, I told him “thank you for your service, soldier, you have no idea how proud of you I am.” 

He walked across the street two more times as he shook every hand of every person there – his words were simple and heartfelt. 

He said to each of us:

“Thank you for doing this. You just can’t know how much it means to us to see you out here.”

This soldier was 19 or 20 years old.

The fact that this young soldier thanked US, is beyond comprehension.  These are the young Americans who deserve our honor, this day."

Please read Holger Awakens report from Washington, D.C..

Please view a tribute to Laurie Ann Neira who died aboard American Airlines Flight 11.



September 11, 2001 (video)

The following are tributes from my blogging friends.

Amusing Bunni's Musings

Chicago Ray's Regime Report 

Holger Awakens

Monkey in the Middle

The Lonely Conservative
The Reaganite Republican
No Sheeples Here
Conservative Hideout 2.0
Adrienne's Corner
Radarsite
Mind-Numbed Robot
The Daley Gator
Stop the ACLU
Always on Watch
Social Sense
geeeeeZ
American Perspective
teresamerica
Patriot's Corner
An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
The Current
Randy's Roundtable
Right Truth
The Camp of the Saints
Atlas Shrugs announcing Remembrance Rally at Ground Zero September 11, 2010
Bloviating Zeppelin
Caught Him with a Corndog
The Conservative Lady
Proof Positive
Saucy American in NZ
Ruby Slippers
Doug Ross
Conservative Perspective
Drive By Thinking
Feed Your ADHD
GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD
The Jawa Report
Western Hero
Ms Sparky
Obi's Sister
Potluck
Praesidium Respublicae
The Conservative Pup
Pundit and Pundette
The Amboy Times
Woman Honor Thyself
Conservative Blogs Central
Pirate's Cove
The Right Guy
America's Watchtower
Wake up America
Refugee Resettlement Watch
Wyblog
TOTUS
Political Realities
Third World County
Right in a Left World
GM's Place
North Face Search
My apologies to all whom I've forgotten. It was not intentional. God Bless America.

Dove Koran Burning Back On: Koran Burning Protestor Dead in Afghanistan

Dove's Pastor Jones says his Koran-burning event is back on. A Muslim man in Afghanistan was shot dead by Nato troops during a protest of the U.S. Koran-burning, which has not yet happened.

 Terry Jones - Koran-Burning Back On

Thousands poured into the streets from mosques, after prayers, with as many as many as 10,000, hurling rocks. Yeah, well, we haven't burned any Korans so far, but these moderate, mosque-going Muslims got off their knees after prayer and attacked anyway. Were any of them praying for peace? Were any of them praying for peace for the U.S.? Were any of them praying for a peaceful countenance for their fellow extremists? Were any of them praying for the attraction of jihad to leave the Muslim communities world-wide? Were any of them praying for those who died on September 11, 2001? I don't think so.

In London thousands of people gathered at the Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque, in Morden, to hear Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the world head of the community, denounce the US pastor.

"Religious extremism, be it Christian extremism, Muslim extremism, or any other kind is never a true reflection of the religion" he said.

Demonstrations against the desecration of Islam's holy book prompted threats of attacks on US bases elsewhere in Afghanistan. Protests were held in Kabul and near the Pakistan border.

"If they do this, we will attack American bases and close the highway used by convoys supplying American troops," a cleric called Zahidullah told the Reuters news agency.

Pastor Terry Jones said yesterday he has cancelled the book burning, believing the Ground Zero mosque developers promised they would move the mosque. That turned out to be untrue, so now Jones, who apparently has protested the funerals of our Military with the vile Westboro Baptist Church, says he is rethinking the situation and for now, the burning is back on his calendar.

Speaking outside his Dove World Outreach Centre church in Gainesville, Jones said: "As of right now, we are not cancelling the event, but we are suspending it." 

By the way, Jones has been dismissed from the board of a church he founded in Germany, not for the threat of burning Korans, but for "mistreating his followers." And they want no part of the Koran burning. This reminds me of Jim Jones of the People's Temple in Guyana who convinced more than 900 members of his church in exile to drink poisoned Kool-Aid, which they did, and they all died.

Westboro Baptist Church will Burn Korans if Florida Church Does Not

The vile Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka says if Florida's Dove World Outreach Center calls off the Koran burnings, they will pick up and slack and do it themselves. Dove's Pastor Terry Jones has just announced they will not burn Korans, and Jones believes he has worked a deal with the mosque developers to move the mosque away from the present location of Park 51, two blocks from Ground Zero. Does anyone really believe that?

Terry Jones

Dove has apparently joined with Westboro Baptist (did I mention it is a vile church) in the past to protest at military funerals across the country. This puts Dove in the same "vile" category.

If you have not seen the video of the imam of the planned Ground Zero mosque lay out the threats the U.S.  will face if the mosque is not built, you can view it here. American's understand that we are threatened by Islam every minute of every day anyway. We must ask, how much uglier can this get?

Koran Burning Halted: Mosque Stays at Park 51

Florida Pastor Jones will halt the burning of Korans on Saturday and the Pastor says he will fly to New York City instead, to meet with the mosque developers. Jones seems to believe the mosque will not be built at its current planned location at Park 51. Rauf and the developers say there are no plans to move the project. What do you want to bet that Jones has been duped? The mosque will not be moved.

Feisal Rauf Mosque Controversy Bigger Than Danish Cartoon

The Ground Zero mosque imam Feisal Rauf speaks of the "radical discourse" coming from those in opposition to the mosque being built, yet threatens us with the "very dangerous" retaliation we can expect from the radicals in the Muslim world, and says this can be "bigger than the Danish cartoon crisis. See videos below.

Imam Feisal Rauf

Ironic, he wants Americans to talk about the 9/11 attacks - at the "community center, so that we can "heal," and yet we have had virtually no Muslims wanting to dialog up to this point. "The moderates must take over the conversation, he says" Ha! Where are those moderates among Muslims? There are plenty of American moderates. It's the moderate non-Muslims who think building this mosque is a good idea.

 As I've said over and over before, if you think this mosque will not be filled with the most radical imam's in the U.S. and from around the world you are not thinking. If you think this spot two blocks from the World Trade Center site will not become an American Mecca, in the worst sense, you are not thinking. And if I am wrong, you at least must concede that this might happen. I say it is likely to happen.

"If we move from that location..."

The danger from the radicals in the Muslims around the world to our national security...The concern for Americans who live and work and travel overseas will increasingly be compromised, if the rads are strengthen and if we do move it will strength their ability to recruit and their increasing aggression and violence around the country.

In the second video, Rauf says he plans to build a Muslim Y[MCA], so that Muslims can bond with the other New Yorkers. "Anger in the Muslim world will explode," he says, and if he had known how heated the opposition would become, he would not have planned to build on this spot, but now he must:

"If this is not handled correctly, this crisis could become much bigger than the Danish cartoon crisis, which resulted in attacks on Danish embassies in various parts of the Muslim world," Rauf said later. ".... If we don't handle this crisis correctly it could become something which could really become very, very, very dangerous indeed."

For all the talk about a "Y," remember that news of the "community center" came only after outrage about the mosque. Don't forget that the mosque itself will be capable of holding 1,000 worshippers.



Iman Feisal Rauf


Feisal Rauf (video)

Obamas Cairo Speech Taken From Imam Feisal Raufs Book: Feisal Rauf Courted Mayor Bloomberg

Iman Feisal Rauf said Barack Obama used a chapter of his book to write his Arab-lauded Cairo speech. Rauf said "entire parts" of his book were transferred to Obama's speech by "one of those who participated in writing the speech." The speech writer is not named. Rauf made this admission speaking in Arabic. He also said he "courted" New York City Michael Bloomberg. Jihad is alive and well in New York City and the Oval Office. Rauf's book has one self-admitted goal in mind - getting the West to accept Muslim countries with their jihad and their Shariah law. Note below that Rauf expects the West, including our Government, our teachers and our press to make the way for Islam.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

According to the imam, his book outlines what the Christian community, Jewish community, educators, the media and THE U.S. GOVERNMENT must do for Muslim countries to have "good relations with America."

From Web Today quoting Feisal Adbud Rauf (find a link to the audio at Web Today):

"For example, in my book in the Arabic version page 293, what did I write? What are the things that the United States Needs to do. If you examine this chapter you will find that the Obama speech in Cairo was all taken from this section [Section 6]..."

The clue was revealed while Rauf was answering a question regarding President Barack Obama's speech in which Rauf replied:

"The speech was wonderful and wise in this choice of words, the Prime Minister of Malaysia after the speech disclosed to me that it is now easy for any president of a Muslim country to establish good relations with America, and I am not going to hide from you that one of those who participated in writing the speech, transferred entire parts of my book 'A new Vision for Muslims and the West, which he referred to U.S. interests being compatible with top interests of the Muslim world."

Rauf speaks of courting Bloomberg and the Jewish community. This article written by Walid Shoebat reminds us that Imam Rauf speaks in a very moderate and peaceful tone when speaking to Western audiences, but that tone changes when speaking to Arabic speakers "exposing him as a direct supporter of terrorism, both financially and verbally." Walid Shoebat is a former terrorist and the author of Why I Left Jihad, Why We Want to Kill You, and God's War on Terror. He is an American citizen and lives in the U.S.

Ground Zero Mosque Tax Exempt Public Funding Avoids Usury? Shariah Law Comes to NYC

The Retuers headline: "Ground Zero Muslim Center may get public financing," even though the project developer says the facility will hold "1,000 worshippers." Developers are hoping to raise $70 million in tax-exempt debt and the city of New York is considering tax-exempts bonds. Shariah law requires the mosque to built with no funds repaid with interest. How does all this come together? Will New Yorkers provide Shariah Compliant Financing for their Muslim residents, not for a mosque, but for a community center? Shariah finance succeeds where terrorism fails?

Graphic courtesy of Infidel Blogger's Alliance

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Linked by Larwyn's Linx and Doug Ross - Thank you Larwyn!