COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Sunday, February 07, 2016

Hats Off to Jersey Fats for Gouging, then Trouncing Rubio

"You weren't even there to vote for it. That's not leadership. That’s truancy.” - Chris Christie





Why Chris Christie’s beatdown of Marco Rubio was the only moment from the GOP debate that mattered

Why Chris Christie's beatdown of Marco Rubio was the only moment from the GOP debate that mattered

The moment when Saturday night’s Republican presidential primary debate was effectively over came long before the seven candidates left the stage at the St. Anselm’s College Institute of Politics in Manchester.

About 30-odd minutes in, ABC’s moderators, the frankly abysmal Martha Radditz and David Muir, turned the klieg lights onto Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Marco Rubio. What transpired next was one of the best pieces of debate-stage political theater in recent memory (which isn’t saying much; although I’d bet guys like Carl Diggler had fun).

And if it’s possible for a moment from a debate to have a lasting impact on a presidential campaign — which recent history suggests is no small question — I’m guessing that the gleeful whooping Christie proceeded to administer to Rubio will be remembered as one such moment. Before I explain why, though, you’ll have to let me set the scene.

Going into the debate, neither Christie nor Rubio were especially likely to come out of next week’s New Hampshire primary with a win. According to the polls, overall, New Hampshire remains what it has been for much of this primary: Trump territory. The real game, then, was over which “establishment” candidate — Rubio, Bush, Christie, or Kasich — would finish second (or conceivably third, if Cruz was the runner-up).

After parlaying a third-place finish into first-place momentum in the Iowa caucuses — with a lot of help from the media, by the way — Rubio was the most likely second-place finisher. Which explains why Christie, who has basically been living in New Hampshire for the past year, started hammering the senator as a novice with no accomplishments; a nice guy, sure, but also a rookie. It explains Bush and Christie’s unofficial, temporary détente, too.

It was bound to be dramatic, therefore, when Christie and Rubio were first pitted against one another. Still, even if we acknowledge that the matchup of these two abnormally telegenic politicians (in the broadest sense of the term) was bound to make for better television than the somnambulant, passive-aggressive, I’m-not-mad-I’m-just-disappointed nonsense Dr. Ben Carson was laying on Sen. Ted Cruz, the results were extraordinary.

Things got started when Rubio was asked to respond to Christie’s allegation that, after experiencing the presidency of Barack Obama, who was elected as a first-term U.S. senator, it would be especially unfortunate if the Republican Party were itself to nominate Marco Rubio, a first term U.S. senator, for the White House. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” Christie had said (bettering his former benefactor, George).

Rubio’s comeback was pretty good, if a little obvious in its intent: He argued that experience was overrated; if it mattered, Vice President Joe Biden would be a good candidate for commander-in-chief. He then argued that an unspoken premise of the criticism — that Obama has failed in part due to his inexperience — is faulty. Obama knows exactly what he’s doing, Rubio said. The president is not a fool; he’s a menace.
Christie wasn’t having it, dismissing Rubio’s Biden straw man and recommitting to his initial attack. Rubio’s a nice guy, a smart guy, Christie said; but the simple fact is that he’s never had to make an important decision. This got a noticeable round of applause from the audience. And perhaps that’s why Rubio then proceeded to self-destruct.

What Rubio’s next five or so minutes such a disaster wasn’t really what he said — but the fact that he had already just said it. Looking mighty flummoxed, Rubio tried to parry Christie’s second attack by pivoting once again to Obama, hoping to bring the crowd around to his side by using generous helpings of ideological red meat to help their tribal identification overwhelm their intellect. It had already failed, but he was doing it again. Worse still, his second answer was almost a verbatim repeat of his first.

Remember: The knock on Rubio has always been, essentially, that he’s a lightweight. He’s young, pretty good-looking, and he exudes the kind of Kennedy-esque earnest, “idealistic” machismo that seems to send a thrill up the legs of the Republican Party’s aged voter base (as well the aging ranks of the elite political press). As they once said of that cherubic whippersnapper Al Gore, Rubio is an older person’s idea of a young person. There may not be much there there, in short.

Well, it’s hard to imagine anything Rubio could have possibly done that would more immediately, and humorously, affirm the caricature. Here he was, really being challenged for the first time  — and by Christie, a world-class bully, no less — and he was wilting. He was like an artificially intelligent robot confronted with a logical question his programming couldn’t handle. I worried for a moment that my stream of the debate had begun to skip.

Whether due to incompetence or pity, the moderators tried to move on. But like a really big, mean, and sadistic shark, Christie was all over it. He mocked Rubio for falling back on his talking points — something all politicians do, but rarely so conspicuously — and continued to shred the senator’s (lack of a) record, as well as tout his own hands-on experience governing New Jersey.

Rubio tried to tu quoque Christie, noting that the governor had only grudgingly returned to the Garden State during a recent snowstorm. Christie all but rolled his eyes and laughed it off while the audience booed — at Rubio. And then, unbelievably, Rubio started to fall back into repeating the talking point (let’s not pretend Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing…) yet again. “There it is!” Christie interjected. The crowd was with him. Rubio’s emasculation was all but complete.

And, I swear to God, about 40 minutes later, he used the same line again.

Now, as I said at the beginning, this was far from the end of the night’s festivities. But I’m guessing that the whole rest of the debate put together won’t matter nearly as much as those five minutes. Because perhaps more than any other single traditional element of a presidential campaign, the response to debates — especially primary debates, and especially primary debates on a Saturday night — is influenced by the media. Sometimes it’s a negative influence, granted. But that’s influence all the same.

And the media, I promise you, is going to be obsessed with this first, most dramatic Christie-Rubio confrontation. Because not only does it make for good television and good copy (here I am, 1100 words in, and you’re still reading), but it’ll make for great late night jokes and “Saturday Night Live” skits, too. That’s thanks, in part, to its already fitting a pre-established narrative. Christie, the bully you like despite yourself; Rubio, the young, handsome and über-ambitious empty suit.

So expect Christie’s dismantling of Rubio to be the part of Saturday night’s debate that people remember — if anyone remembers any of it at all. It does not rank among the United States’ most inspirational moments of civic engagement, admittedly. But if nothing else, it showed that professional bullies like Chris Christie can provide a valuable public service every now and then.

 Elias Isquith
Elias Isquith is a daily columnist at Salon who focuses on politics and inequality. He tweets at @eliasisquith.

136 comments:


  1. The most interesting thing about the debate was the woman that beat Christie and Kasich in Iowa, well, the "Good Old Boys" would not let her on the stage in New Hampshire...

    The Republican "War on Women" manifests itself, once again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When the RNC thought that CNBC did not treat its candidates "fairly" why the RNC walked out on NBC.

      "What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates' policies and ideas," Priebus wrote in a statement shortly after the debate.

      It seems quite clear that the RNC does not think that the American people do not need to understand Ms Fiona's policies or ideas.

      Defending a female's right to be heard, just not in the RNC repertoire

      Delete
    2. It seems quite clear that the RNC does not think that the American people need to understand Ms Fiona's policies or ideas.

      deleted the "do not". It created a double negative that was not the intent ... mea culpa.

      Delete
  2. It would be interesting to watch Jersey Fats and Cruella go at it!

    ReplyDelete

  3. Ken Lawson
    Scottsdale 8 hours ago
    NY Times Comment from Reader


    I've been watching debates since 1960, and I don't think I've ever seen anything as bizarre as Rubio's "glitch", wherein his programming stuck on one soundbite regarding President Obama's intentions.

    At first it seemed as if it must be a transmission reverse cut in ABC's broadcast. But, then he said it again and again and again. The complete lack of self-awareness on Rubio's part was profound and frightening.

    I'm not a Christie fan but I was cheering him on for attempting to expose this Cylon running for the highest office. One can only hope he wasn’t programmed in Manchuria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. One can only hope he wasn’t programmed in Manchuria.


      Havana would be the better bet.

      Delete
  4. We must show some sympathy for the Israeli - Firsters and the respect the sorrow of the Neocons as their prize filly stumbled out of the gate and came up lame.

    After much consideration, the Review-Journal is endorsing Sen. Marco Rubio for Nevada's first-in-the-West Republican caucus on Feb. 23. The RJ met with Sen. Rubio on Oct. 9, two months before the announcement of the newspaper's sale to the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. The Adelsons have detached themselves from our endorsement process, and our endorsement of Sen. Rubio does not represent the support of the family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rubio, a full bird in the GOP Likuds Force, may be taking an early out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mike chimes in:

    mike
    manhattan
    7 hours ago

    I’m not a fan of Chris Christie, but tonight he did the country a service.
    He exposed Marco Rubio not just as an empty suit, but as simply empty headed. Marco Rubio is a moron. He is nothing more than a creation of his handlers and political image makers. By repeating the same canned line 4 times in less than 2 minutes he showed not just that he is robotic, but that he is not even aware of it and that he could not think of anything else to say. This was much worse than the water bottle incident after the State of the Union. That was at least funny, but it's truly scary that people are voting for him and think he is capable and qualified.

    TV commentators were generous by not saying flatly that the Rubio is genuinely stupid. They attributed the repetition to "being rattled", and I agree, he looked genuinely frightened. However, if that is how this inexperienced, professionally unchallenged and untested man responds to simple yet expected criticism from Christie, how will Rubio handle Putin, Xi Jingpin, or Khamenei of Iran. Will he sit and continue reading "My Pet Goat" when, God forbid, the country is under attack? Rubio talks tough and tries to wear the Commander-in-Chief label, but tonight the schoolyard bully took his lunch money. And Rubio was impotent.

    I hope that tonight puts to rest the notion that Marco Rubio is qualified to be president.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Under fire, Marco Rubio crashes and burns

    MANCHESTER, N.H. — A malfunctioning Marco Rubio crashed as he was overloaded by attacks last night from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who tried to portray the Florida U.S. senator as a Washington robot pre-programmed by political consultants during a high-stakes Republican debate.

    “See, Marco — Marco — the thing is this,” Christie said, “when you’re president of the United States … the memorized 30-second speech where you talk about how great America is at the end of it doesn’t solve one problem for one person.”

    Rubio’s glitchy debate performance could be a game-changer just as independents make up their minds two days before the crucial first-in-the-nation primary. The first-term senator’s rivals have raised concerns he’s too inexperienced — just like, they say, President Obama was — and isn’t ready for prime time.

    Four different times — often word-for-word and at awkward non-sequiturs — Rubio claimed Obama intentionally wants to make America like the rest of the world.

    “Here’s the bottom line. This notion that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing is just not true. He knows exactly what he’s doing,” said Rubio, repeating the line for a third time in a matter of minutes.

    “There it is. There it is,” pounced Christie. “The memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody.”

    Expectations were rising for Rubio, who had been hitting the ground hard to ever-growing Granite-State crowds. But critics have argued “Marco-mentum” is nothing more than media-created hype, polishing up an otherwise lackluster third-place Iowa finish.

    “It’s 100 percent based off the media’s perception of exceeding expectations,” said unaligned GOP strategist Dave Carney, a former political director for President George H.W. Bush. “There’s nothing he’s done to generate that.”

    Rubio fired back at Christie, accusing him of neglecting New Jersey to campaign during last month’s blizzard, saying the state had to “shame him into going back.”

    “It gets very unruly when he gets off his talking points,” responded Christie.

    Earlier, Christie tried to discount one of Rubio’s self-proclaimed accomplishments by pointing out his poor Senate attendance record.

    “The fact when you talk about the Hezbollah Sanctions Act … as one of your accomplishments ... you weren’t even there to vote for it,” said Christie. “That’s not leadership, that’s truancy.”

    (...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. {...}

      http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2016/02/under_fire_marco_rubio_crashes_and_burns

      Delete
  8. Carly didn't get on the stage because she comes across, whatever the value of her ideas, as a metallic mechanical robot.

    No support for that.

    Republicans like women that are women, like, say, Sarah, or Joni Ernst, or Mia Love, or Nikki Haley, ladies like that who show more than a mechanical brain.

    ABC had to ax her for lack of support.

    Got to be fair.

    Be it noted, none of the ladies mentioned above are Criminals, like Hillary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our resident misogynist now denies that Carly Fiona is a woman.

      What a cad Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson proves himself to be.

      Delete
    2. The woman beat both Christie and Kasich in Iowa, that is the only real poll that has been held.

      The RNC would not stand up for her, because, lke Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson, there is no respect for women in the Republican establishment.

      Delete
  9. Is it too late for Joe Biden ?

    That's what many democrats are wondering these days.

    Can Hard Drinkin' Joe come in and save the day ?

    Doubtful.

    Probably too late.

    And he polled at about 2% last time, and before that had to drop out for plagiarism.

    After the FBI report comes out, and everybody resigns - Saturday Night Massacre - over no indictment.....well, the dems may look to be in one large shit pot of well deserved trouble....no matter who the Republican nominee may be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr Murdock has tweeted that John Kerry would be the likely replacement for Mrs Clinton.

      Jerry Brown would be a better choice for the Dems to make, if he was willing to leave California. Don't know if he would, California is really nice, except for the ongoing drought.

      Delete
  10. Our two Hispanic political Friars, Rubio and Cruz, are both down a tick already this morning on RCP's rolling poll....The Donald seems to have stopped his bleeding...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another morning and Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson has forgotten how to sign in to his Google account.

      It must be "Groundhog Day".

      Delete
    2. You have forgotten I explained all that yesterday, Stalker.

      And please do not post in my name again, as you did shortly ago.

      You might knock off the stalking too.

      Delete
  11. My Niece asked me yesterday if The Donald hated all foreigners, like the Germans do.

    I said no no no, he is just concerned about moslem terrorists.

    She could well understand this.

    Well, the F-16's will be in the air, a 30 mile no fly drone zone is in effect, heavily armed police will be everywhere about the Super Bowl.

    And all this is necessary and reasonable.

    The moslems are twisting the fabric of our country.

    It was not thus back in Joe Namath's day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wrong, again, Robert

      It is the neocons and the Israeli Firsters that have twisted the fabric of our country.
      They are the ones that control the mass media in the US, the Muslims only have Fox News.

      Delete
    2. The ones, like "O"rdure, who are constantly afraid of any opinion that are not in line with their own.

      It is paranoia that is running rampant in the US, not Muslims.

      Delete
    3. 24 Americans have been killed by Islamic terrorism in the US in the last decade, while 280,024 Americans were killed by guns.

      http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/05/viral-image/fact-checking-comparison-gun-deaths-and-terrorism-/

      Delete
    4. Quit stalking me.

      You're totally full of shit on everything, everyone knows it, and I don't want anything to do with you.

      Delete
    5. If you do not want the facts, Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson, go over to "O"rdure's blog and post to your heart's content

      But if you continue to post here, rest assured I will continue to respond to your drivel.

      Delete
    6. Glad to see Jack "I am a self confessed killer of civilians in Central America" Hawkins that you can't go a day without thinking about me...

      Under your skin

      You dance like a puppet on a string.

      Delete

    7. Just want Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson to know he has other outlets for his drivel.
      Outlets where no one will challenge his racist and misogynist remarks.

      Delete
    8. Wow that's deep...

      After all coming from you, a Jew hating, Israel bashing, Zionist trashing, terrorist supporting, self confessed criminal troll that you are!

      Amazing.

      Delete
    9. Jack, still banned from public transport?

      Delete

  12. Why drought could be the new normal for the US Southwest

    A new study suggests the storms that bring water to the Southwest are coming less frequently, prompting concerns that California's drought regime will be the new normal for the Southwest.



    http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0206/Why-drought-could-be-the-new-normal-for-the-US-Southwest

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. The study, based on broad storm patterns rather than day-to-day rainfall, suggests the Southwest's rain and snow comes primarily from low-pressure storms in the North Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington.
      Test your knowledge Climate change: Is your opinion informed by science? Take our quiz!
      In Pictures Dry Land: Drought in the US
      Photos of the Day Photos of the weekend

      During the years between 1979 and 2014, such wintertime storms formed less and less frequently.

      "The weather types that are becoming more rare are the ones that bring a lot of rain to the southwestern United States," explained Dr. Prein in a press release. "Because only a few weather patterns bring precipitation to the Southwest, those changes have a dramatic impact.

      Delete
  13. To be precise, she's said the Germans were much nicer in Hamburg and Frankfurt than in Dresden.

    That the 'West Germans' were much more pleasant than those in 'East Germany'.

    Her comment that the Germans like no one but themselves applies to those in Dresen, I believe.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Donald Trump’s Iowa legacy: more Latino caucus goers than ever

    MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Last Monday, a group dedicated to boosting Iowa’s Latino voter turnout scored a victory far more certain than Hillary Clinton’s win over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More than 10,000 Latinos caucused, up from roughly 1,000 eight years ago. And the group, The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa, has Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration to thank.

    The overwhelming majority of Latinos caucused as Democrats, but it was that notorious Republican who motivated many of them to caucus at all.

    “I decided to caucus, because I don’t want Donald Trump to become the president,” said Tania Fonseca, 23, a Mexican American who caucused in Marshall County, a swing county in central Iowa that voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 and President Obama in 2008 and 2012. “I want to learn a lot more about what the presidential timeline looks like.”

    Fonseca, like many Mexican Americans, has voted in general elections, but caucusing always sounded a bit intimidating, especially for registered Democrats. The Democratic caucuses require everyone to publicly announce their choices, while the Republican votes are private.

    However, Fonseca could not resist the lobbying calls from Latino community leaders to caucus, thanks largely to a Trump rally at Marshalltown High School, located about 50 miles northeast of Des Moines.

    It was just one week before the caucus that school officials closed the school early to make room for Trump and his supporters. Fonseca helped organize and advise the student protests that greeted Trump when he arrived. Every Latino voter I spoke to in Marshalltown mentioned the rally and the fear it created among Latinos in this small town of 27,727.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. “To me, it’s terrifying but not surprising, because I feel like the tension has always been there,” says Veronica Guevara, 24, who grew up in Marshalltown but moved to Des Moines months ago to serve as director of Latino Outreach for the Iowa Coalition on Domestic Violence. “I feel like now, the more front and center it becomes, the more chances we have of actually confronting these issues straight on.”

      When Tasnia and her husband, Erich, entered the cafeteria at Fisher Elementary School in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Monday night, they felt like they were . . . . .

      Increased Ten Freakin' Times, eh? Way to go you racist motherfucker

      Delete
    2. Turns out, the racist son of a bitch is Great for Democracy.

      Who'd a thunk it? :)

      Delete
    3. It may not mean all that much in Iowa, but what about Nevada, Florida, and Colorado?

      Delete
    4. I'll tell you what it does. It puts Florida, Colorado, and Nevada out of reach.

      Thanks, asshole

      Delete


    5. Wednesday, January 20
      Florida: Trump vs. Clinton - Florida Atlantic University - Trump 47, Clinton 44 - Trump +3
      Florida: Trump vs. Sanders - Florida Atlantic University - Trump 47, Sanders 42 - Trump +5

      http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/#


      Florida Republican Presidential Primary ... 1/15 - 1/21

      Trump - 40.0

      Cruz - 19.0

      Rubio - 13.7

      Bush - 9.0

      Carson - 5.0

      Christie - 3.0

      Kasich - 2.3

      Fiorina - 2.3

      Paul (out of race) - 2.3 1.7

      Huckabee (out of race) - 1.7

      Santorum

      Delete
    6. Trump over Clinton in Florida?

      You could probably get a bet down, Rat. :)

      Delete
    7. That's Real Clear Politics reporting ... I have not been to Florida in the past thirty years, so I have no personal knowledge of what is happening, there.

      The folks at Florida Atlantic University may or may not know how to gather accurate data sets. I would not claim they did, but ... I don't claim that they don't, either.

      Delete
    8. :), yeah, I don't either.

      Florida is the swingiest state of all. Of all the states to bet on, that one would be the silliest. :)

      Delete
    9. It is interesting that Trump beats Rubio and Bush ... even when their numbers are combined.

      Delete
    10. Everything about Trump is "interesting." :)

      Delete
    11. But, if you go

      HERE

      and put in a 55% turnout rate for Latinos, and give the Dems 74% of their vote, which seems reasonable against Trump,

      the Dem advantage in Florida goes from 2.2% to 47%.

      Not a small thing.

      I think. :)

      Delete
    12. Of course, if "I Promise To Raise Your Taxes" Sanders gets nominated, ALL bets are off. :)

      Delete
    13. The Huffpolster Average is showing Hillary 6.2% ahead of de donald,

      which is exactly where Nate Silver says it should be if the Pub is getting 24% of the Latino/Hispanic Vote.

      Huffpolster

      Delete
  15. Quirk used the word 'nit' to describe terrorists attacks in the USA compared to the situation in the mideast. I objected saying that if one turned up dead one wouldn't consider it a 'nit', if one could consider anything at all, and promised to point out some USA 'nits' as we go along, naming them "Q"nits.

    Here is one that was, thankfully, stopped, an aborted "Q"nit - and in Michigan, too -


    Dearborn: Muslim plotted Islamic State mass murder attacks on church

    February 6, 2016 11:58 am By Robert Spencer 26 Comments

    “I tried to shoot up a church one day. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s close to my job. It’s one of the biggest ones in Detroit. Ya, I had it planned out. I bought a bunch of bullets. I practice a lot with it. I practice reloading and unloading. But my dad searched my car one day and he found everything. He found the gun and the bullets and a mask.” Why a church? “It’s easy and a lot of people go there. Plus people are not allowed to carry guns in church. Plus, it would make the news. Everyone would’ve heard. Honestly, I regret not doing it. If I can’t do jihad in the Middle East, I would do my jihad over here.'”

    Did Free Press “journalist” Niraj Warikoo, who has done so much to defame and smear foes of jihad terror, feel a twinge of regret as he wrote this story? Did it dawn on him what he has been enabling? Probably not.

    Khalil Abu-Rayyan

    “FBI: Dearborn Hgts. man plotted ISIS attacks on church,” by Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, February 6, 2016:

    A 21-year-old Dearborn Heights man threatened terror attacks in support of ISIS with targets including police and a Detroit church with up to 6,000 members, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.

    Khalil Abu-Rayyan, 21, has not been charged with any terrorism crime. In an affidavit filed in a criminal complaint on a weapons and marijuana charge, he’s described as being an ISIS supporter who talked about committing violent acts of terrorism, including shootings and beheadings.

    In his affidavit, FBI Special Agent Alan Southard said that Abu-Rayyan had been investigated by the FBI since May.

    “Since May of 2015, the FBI has been conducting an investigation of Khalil Abu-Rayyan regarding increasingly violent threats he has made to others about committing acts of terror and martydom — including brutal acts against police officers, churchgoers and others — on behalf of the foreign terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraqi and Levant.”…

    The FBI had been tracking Abu-Rayyan through social media, phone conversations, and surveillance. He had two Twitter accounts on which he expressed support for ISIS, the FBI said in the complaint.

    According to the affidavit in the complaint, an undercover FBI employee was communicating with Abu-Rayyan. In December, the undercover FBI employee and Abu-Rayyan had “daily conversations” that took place “over the course of several weeks,” said the affidavit.

    “During these conversations, Abu-Rayyan consistently expressed support for ISIL and repeatedly expressed his desire to commit a martyrdom operation.”

    According to the affidavit, Abu-Rayyan also told the undercover FBI employee: “I tried to shoot up a church one day. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s close to my job. It’s one of the biggest ones in Detroit. Ya, I had it planned out. I bought a bunch of bullets. I practice a lot with it. I practice reloading and unloading. But my dad searched my car one day and he found everything. He found the gun and the bullets and a mask.”

    “Abu-Rayyan said he targeted a church because, ‘it’s easy and a lot of people go there. Plus people are not allowed to carry guns in church. Plus, it would make the news. Everyone would’ve heard. Honestly, I regret not doing it. If I can’t do jihad in the Middle East, I would do my jihad over here.'”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The FBI said a church that has up to 6,000 members and fits the description given by Abu-Ryyan is about half a mile from where he works.

      Abu-Ryyan said he didn’t carry out the shooting because a gun he bought in October “only held six shots and he would have to keep on reloading.”

      Abu-Ryyan also took photos of himself at gun ranges firing an AK-47-type and AR-15-type rifles. He “captioned one of the photos, ‘Sawhat hunting,’ ” said the affidavit.

      “Sawhat is a term for Iraqis who oppose ISIL,” said the affidavit.

      On Oct. 7, Detroit Police had pulled over Abu-Ryyan for speeding, finding marijuana on him and a pistol. He told police he didn’t have a concealed pistol license.

      On Nov. 17, Wayne County prosecutors issued a warrant charging him with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a controlled substance, marijuana.

      On Jan. 15, he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana. He faces a trial on Feb. 16 on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

      On Jan. 21, he told the undercover FBI employee that “he wanted to kill the officer who arrested him in October.”

      He told the undercover FBI employee that his trial had been delayed because the officer who arrested him was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack.

      “Abu-Rayyan explained he wanted to do a martyrdom operation in the hospital, killing the police officer in the process,” said the affidavit.

      On Jan. 22, he talked about having a large sword or knife in case he gets into a fight.

      “Abu-Rayyan also said hearing about shootings and death makes him excited. He continued, ‘I would gladly behead people if I needed to…It is my dream to behead someone.”

      Dearborn attorney Majed Moughni, who often deals with Arab-American issues, said that what Abu-Rayyan was planning to do was “terrifying …Clearly terrorism is not a joking matter. … Muslim Americans are working with law enforcement to stamp out threats to our community.”

      As in other cases tied to ISIS, Abu-Rayyan used social media to communicate support for the group.

      The FBI said in the affidavit that Abu-Rayyan had been using a Twitter account since at least November 2014 to retweet, like and comment “on ISIL propaganda.” The propaganda included videos of a Jordanian pilot burned alive, Christians being beheaded, and men being thrown from buildings in executions.

      In his Twitter profile, Abu-Rayyan described himself as Palestinian and Muslim, according to Tweet Tunnel, which captures images of old tweets and Twitter accounts.

      In November 2015, Abu-Rayyan got another Twitter account, using the same Twitter profile photo in his previous account: a photo of him standing in the driveway of his residence, his right hand raised with his index finger pointing upward.

      “Raising a single index finger is a gesture commonly found in images of ISIL supporters,” the FBI said in the affidavit….

      Here are some Muslim students at Brooklyn College making that gesture in April 2015. Are they being investigated? Probably not.

      Brooklyn Collegeonefinger

      Here is a woman making the same signal at the Noor Islamic Center in Michigan in October 2015, even as she was supposedly being kind to an “Islamophobe.” Is she being investigated? Probably not.

      http://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/02/dearborn-muslim-plotted-islamic-state-mass-murder-attacks-on-church

      Delete
    2. So, Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson, you are telling US that Mr Obama's FBI is doing a great job.

      Will wonders never cease.

      “Raising a single index finger is a gesture commonly found in images of ISIL supporters,”

      It is also found in images of fans of Major League Baseball. There are even foam cutouts of raised index fingers sold in the baseball stadiums, all across the USA.

      https://www.google.com/search?q=mlb+raised+fingers&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRzIG4mObKAhVJ42MKHWn8CzcQ_AUICSgD&biw=1093&bih=550#tbm=isch&q=mlb+foam+fingers

      Delete
    3. While your selective sympathy for the the victims of violence is, really, not surprising

      24 Americans have been killed by Islamic terrorism in the US in the last decade, while 280,024 Americans were killed by guns.

      http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/05/viral-image/fact-checking-comparison-gun-deaths-and-terrorism-/

      Delete
    4. You have mental problems.

      Most here have agreed that you have serious mental problems.

      Fungus.

      That is a word that comes to mind to describe you.

      Kindly stop the stalking.

      Delete
    5. Wow.... 3.19662100456621 Americans per hour DIED from guns in the last decade!!!!

      Every day, every hour for over 10 solid years, 3.19 people DIED from GUNS in America.

      Wow that just is amazing...

      280,024 Americans killed by GUNS in ten years..

      How many palestinians have been killed in 10 years by Israel?

      Delete
    6. the following numbers are drawn from UN sources and the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem in order to place the conflict in context:

      94% — Percentage of Palestine inhabited by Palestinians in 1946.

      15% — Percentage of Palestine inhabited by Palestinians today.

      5 million — Number of Palestinians currently living in foreign refugee camps.
      _________

      8,701 — Number of Palestinians killed by Israelis since 2000.

      1,138 — Number of Israelis killed by Palestinians since 2000.

      8:1 — Ratio of Palestinian-Israeli deaths since 2000.
      _________

      1,772 — Number of Palestinian children killed by Israelis since 2000.

      93 — Number of Israeli children killed by Palestinians since 2000.

      19:1 — Ratio of Palestinian-Israeli child deaths since 2000.
      _________

      $3 billion — Average annual US aid to Israel over the past 20 years.

      25% — Percentage of the entire annual US foreign aid budget that goes to Israel.

      Delete
    7. ah got you working on posting meaningless drivel...

      Cool

      tick tock, your life is wasting away...

      Delete
    8. August 8, 2014

      Israel-Palestine: By the Numbers
      By Garry Leech

      It is no coincidence that the greatest number of people who support Israel reside in the United States and Canada.

      After all, the governments of those two nations are Israel’s most ardent backers and the mainstream media in North America has consistently distorted the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

      In stark contrast, most of the rest of the world’s population openly sympathizes with the plight of the Palestinians.


      http://garryleech.com/2014/08/08/israel-palestine-by-the-numbers/

      Delete
    9. but to be fair, I will respond..

      8,701 — Number of Palestinians killed by Israelis since 2000.

      1,138 — Number of Israelis killed by Palestinians since 2000.

      8:1 — Ratio of Palestinian-Israeli deaths since 2000.
      _________


      Now Hamas & Hezbollah say a Jew is worth 1000 times the value of an arab or palestinian.


      Sounds like Israel has some work to do...

      :)

      Delete
    10. Assad, Iran and Hezbollah have killed over 10,000 palestinians in the last 36 months.... (of course not counting the regular worthless arabs in syria and iraq)

      They should get a medal

      Delete
    11. In stark contrast, most of the rest of the world’s population openly sympathizes with the plight of the Palestinians.



      LOL


      And so what?

      Delete
    12. $3 billion — Average annual US aid to Israel over the past 20 years.

      25% — Percentage of the entire annual US foreign aid budget that goes to Israel.



      Come on Jack you can do better!

      Let' face it, 3 billion a year on overpriced stuff?

      Heck, we were PRINTING 80 BILLION a month when quantitative easing was going strong...

      We spent 1000 BILLION in Iraq alone...

      LOL

      3 billion, what a joke

      In america we spend 50 billion a year on cigs and booze.

      Delete
    13. Fact are facts and your emotional paranoia is certainly entertaining, "O"rdure.

      It is good to know that the group using your sign-on is no longer afraid of me.

      If Israel does not need the loot they receive from the US, they should turn it down, but then the Zionists would not have the "Iron Dome", would they?

      The Ben-Gurion airport would be closed for longer than a couple of days, and Bibi would be in greater despair than he was, the last time it got shut down because of bottle rockets landing near by.

      It's all about the colonial economy, the Palestinians have finally figured that out.
      They will make the "Occupation" very costly.

      The popcorn is fresh and there is an unlimited supply.

      I do believe your concerns about how I spend my time are, in a word, disingenuous.

      {;-)

      Delete
  16. And here is a short video showing how racial relations have (cough) improved under O'bozo -


    February 7, 2016
    Vicious 'knockout game' racial hate crime captured on camera
    By Thomas Lifson

    The rhetoric of victimization has progressed to the point where young black people apparently think they are free to assault other races, record the act, and post the videos to social media, with no consequences to follow. The fact that they are mistaken in that belief, and often apprehended, is cold comfort to the victims, singled out for attack because of race. The so-called knockout game (aka, polar-bearing, polar bear hunting, point ‘em out, and others) is a sign of our times.

    The video below was taken in Paterson, NJ:



    The videographer can be heard egging on the attacker. It is clear that both of them think that it is fun to hurt people and feel no hint of empathy. Complete dehumanization of “the other” (a favorite concept that the left uses to disparage white people).

    Once the video became public, the local police vowed action and according to NJ.com:

    A city teen faces charges and another teenager was being sought for their roles in unprovoked attack that was recorded in a video widely shared on social media, authorities said Saturday night. (snip)

    The attacker faces charges of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim, the police director said. He was at large.

    The other boy, a 16-year-old, recorded the brutal attack and was heard on the video egging on the attacker, [Paterson Police Director] Speziale added.

    #blacklivesmatter is committed to the view that blacks are victims, period, and the media largely reinforce this view. But the crime statistics indicate that for inter-racial violence, blacks are overwhelmingly in the role of perpetrators compared to the role of victims.

    http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/02/vicious_knockout_game_racial_hate_crime_captured_on_camera.html

    ReplyDelete
  17. .

    .

    Rubio, a full bird in the GOP Likuds Force, may be taking an early out.

    Wishful thinking I'm afraid.

    IMO, he will be there for the long run.

    Of course, now that Christie has finally broken through this chink in his armor, it will be exploited and attacked relentlessly by the other candidates. Even his former mentor, Jeb Bush, as called him scripted.

    However, my problem is not with the talking point about Obama that was in his infinite loop from last night but with another talking point that I see mentioned almost every time I see him talk. It is the term 'New American Century'. He even has a campaign add with this title.

    The term grates against my nerves like others such as 'new world order' or 'homeland'. It is intentionally designed to resurface memories of PNAC, The Project for a New American Century that helped provide the philosophical road map for our disastrous interventions in the ME. And lest there be any questions about his intent in using the term, he uses another scripted continuous loop every time he provides a word for word explanation of what he means.

    He offers a deju vu vision of a world dominated by the US. He offers up his 'solutions' to our 'problems', build up and maintain the strongest military in the world, unquestioning support for Israel, aggressively defend democracy around the world, do this and GOD will assure our victory [and protect our homeland and deliver a new world order].

    It is a blatant appeal to his neocon base, the Israeli lobby, a certain percentage of the Republican base, and his chief doner.

    Rubio is the choice of the GOP establishment and he panders to the GOP base. However, he may have miscalculated where that base is at the moment.

    At any rate, Christie's hit job was amusing and I agree it will be duplicated next Saturday on SNL (unless something even funnier happens in New Hampshire this week).

    .

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lone caucusgoer voted Bernie -- BUT Hillary won precinct...Drudge

    Heh

    :):)

    The Criminal strikes again. Nothing too large nor too small for The Criminal. Not even the White House silver service is safe.

    My wife says we are turning into a third world country.

    ReplyDelete
  19. .

    I objected saying that if one turned up dead one wouldn't consider it a 'nit',

    This shows your fuzzy thinking. If one ended up dead, they obviously wouldn't consider it anything at all.

    ...and promised to point out some USA 'nits' as we go along, naming them "Q"nits.

    Right, what was that about a month ago?

    There have already been over 14,000 murders in the US this year.

    http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/il/chicago-heights/crime/

    A nit? You are the only nit around here.

    The FBI has been tracking this guy since 2014. This reminds me of those 'terrorists' we heard about around the time of 9/11. These guys shared a house in Florida and were wandering around the streets in camo. It didn't take too much to see these guys might be a little suspicious.

    If you read the article, it's obvious this guy is a nut and if you want his motivation it is right here

    ...Plus, it would make the news. Everyone would’ve heard...

    Sorry, Farmer Bob

    Nice try but no cigar.

    .

    ReplyDelete
  20. Russia’s Defense Ministry has slammed NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, labeling as ‘nonsense’ his comments that the Russian air operation in Syria is causing tensions and undermining the peace process in the country.

    The NATO Secretary General made the controversial statement on Friday when he arrived at the EU defense ministers meeting in Amsterdam.

    The intense Russia air strikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict… also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace,” Stoltenberg said.

    The comments that the Russia air operation is the source of tensions in Syria is “nonsense,” Major General Igor Konashenkov, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, said on Sunday.

    “If anybody in Syria is ‘tense’ today because of the actions of the Russian Air-Space Forces in Syria, it’s the terrorists,”
    he stressed.

    “As for, why the NATO countries feel as ‘tense’ as the terrorists – it’s a question to be addressed to Stoltenberg himself,” he added.

    The spokesman reminded of the openness with which the Russian air operation in Syria is being carried out, including daily briefings and release of video and photos.

    “We would like to remind Mr Stoltenberg that it’s not the Russian Air-Space Forces operation, which are source of the crisis in Syria, but the reckless actions of NATO that plunged the whole Middle Eastern region into chaos,” Konashenkov said.

    According to the spokesman, the possibility of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition wasn’t even discussed in the West before Moscow sent its warplanes to the country.

    “Only the deadline for the complete destruction of the country (Syria), in accordance with the Libyan scenario where NATO countries have been freely establishing Western-style ‘democracy,’ was specified,” he said.

    The Russian involvement made the Syrians “start believing that it’s still possible to fight and eliminate international terrorism in their country.”


    https://www.rt.com/news/331657-nato-russia-syria-tensions/

    ReplyDelete
  21. .

    Who Are the True Heirs of Zionism?


    The article linked above points out the current struggle going on in Israel today between the traditional secularists and the religious ultra-orthodox and settler groups. It is basically a fight between the hard right and the hardest right.

    However, not emphasized in the article but true is the fact that the trend and the demographics favor the religious and the settlers. It's been estimated that by 2050, given the current trends and demographics, the ultra-orthodox and the Arabs will constitute the majority of the Israeli population. And whereas in this country there is a growing polarization along religious lines, in Israel there is the same polarization along tribal or if you like sectarian lines.

    The result is obvious as Bibi and the Likudniks are relentlessly being pushed to the right. And in the face of criticism, Israel is becoming more defensive, insular, and some would say isolated. In response to Brazil rejecting Israel's proposed envoy because of his background on settlements, Bibi has declared he won't propose a different envoy. Proposed laws in the Knesset include those prohibiting visas to officials from countries supporting the BDS movement, requiring NGO's that support the peace process and a Palestinian state not only to report their contribution list but to 'wear badges' when on the floor of the Knesset, the condemnation of 'Breaking the Silence' and moves to prevent them from speaking to the military or schoolchildren, the banning of books (even novels) that touch on subjects such as Jewish/Arab marriage, and the list goes on.

    The trends are clear and it is the left in Israel that is fading and not the right. Given the trends and demographics, there is a snow ball's chance in hell of there being a negotiated peace settlement. The only way possible is if it were forced by the outside.

    .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The trend is clear.

      The Palestinians will have to join their brothers from Syria and Iraq and move to Europe.

      Delete
    2. The solution is to move all the Arabstinians and Syrians to Sweden, and have all the Swedes move to the new Swedestan.

      Peace breaks out all over.

      Except that soon the mooselims would be fighting among themselves in Scandinavia, but at least the Swedes could finally get a good tan.

      Delete
  22. Now this is a classic case of "projection"

    Jack HawkinsSun Feb 07, 02:32:00 PM EST
    Fact are facts and your emotional paranoia is certainly entertaining, "O"rdure.

    It is good to know that the group using your sign-on is no longer afraid of me.


    Facts are facts Jack, there is no "group", it has always been me, and only me...

    Talk about paranoid.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jack HawkinsSun Feb 07, 02:32:00 PM EST
    If Israel does not need the loot they receive from the US, they should turn it down, but then the Zionists would not have the "Iron Dome", would they?

    Only a fool turns down "free money" Jack.

    But the USA BOUGHT INTO the Iron Dome project so it could get it's hands on the technology and limit WHO Israel could sell it to....

    You really need to get briefed better about these things....
    Not to worry Jack, Israel has America's back and will l not allow it to fall behind of the others out there.

    :)

    Say a thank you to Israel for helping you stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jack states:

    It's all about the colonial economy, the Palestinians have finally figured that out.
    They will make the "Occupation" very costly.

    The popcorn is fresh and there is an unlimited supply.

    I do believe your concerns about how I spend my time are, in a word, disingenuous.


    Sure Jack that's why I believe the palestinians in syria, lebanon and other places in the arab world are being exiled (again) to europe.

    There is no 2 state solution with the savages.

    Nor is there a one state solution.

    Better to encourage them to move to Sweden.


    Meanwhile I must inquire, how do you eat popcorn with those dentures?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey Jack, how many Syrian refugees have you let on your 350 acres?

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heh

      Thousands
      Thousands
      Tens of thousands


      Just like his cattle

      Delete

    2. Spending quite a bit of time thinking about me, aye "O"rdure?

      Time management, you ought to look into it, could have saved your candy store if your understanding of both time and business management were better honed.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  26. Repetition ?

    Rubio ?

    Make America Great Again
    Make America Great Again
    Make America Great Again


    Jesus
    Jesus
    Jesus

    Experience
    Experience
    Experience

    New Ideas
    New Ideas
    New Ideas

    Defeat ISIS
    Defeat ISIS
    Defeat ISIS

    Even the commentators repeat themselves, endlessly.

    Everyone has to repeat themselves, there isn't that much to say.

    And we can't have silence in a political campaign.

    Because that would be


    Heaven
    Heaven
    Heaven

    and we sure as

    Hell
    Hell
    Hell

    can't have that.

    ReplyDelete
  27. We do have ISIS to thank for one cultural advance.

    With all this blowing up of archaeological sites, some new tablets containing passages from The Epic of Gilgamesh have been unearthed, filling in missing sections.

    If the bombing of archaeological sites continues apace, we may soon have the entire Epic for the first time ever.

    I seem to have lost this article but if I find it again I will post it. It was quite interesting.

    ReplyDelete

  28. Three murdered, then a suicide, Islam not a factor.


    McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Authorities say a Texas teenager killed his mother and two neighbors before killing himself.

    Uvalde County Sheriff Charlie Mendeke said Sunday that 19-year-old Dylan Westerburg gunned down his mother Friday in their home near Uvalde, about 85 miles west of San Antonio. He then went and killed two brothers who lived next door.



    http://kdhnews.com/news/nation/sheriff-texas-teen-kills-mom-neighbors-then-himself/article_12733550-f8a1-5109-bb27-8e614630b728.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL

      Now you spend your time search for non-islamic violence and crime....

      how pathetic.

      Delete
    2. Just reminding Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson where the real threat is, in the United States.

      It is not from radical Muslims, they have only killed 24 people in the past decade in the US.

      In your homeland, the count is higher, but the casualty count in Israel makes no difference to the security of the US. The kid in Texas, he killed an entire years worth, in an afternoon.

      Delete
  29. Dozens of ISIS elements killed in Iraqi air raid west of Ramadi

    (IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – Media officials with the Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday the killing of dozens of ISIS elements in an aerial strike by the Iraqi Army Aviaition west of the city of Ramadi.

    The officials said in a brief statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “The Iraqi Aviation Force conducted an aerial strike on a training camp for ISIS elements based on intelligence by the National Security Agency,” adding that, “The strike resulted in destructing the camp and killing tens among them including leaders, in addition to destroying weaponry and equipment northeast of the area of Heet.”

    Iraqinews

    ReplyDelete
  30. .

    ISIS fighters in Libya surge as group suffers setbacks in Syria, Iraq

    .

    Washington (CNN)The U.S. assesses that ISIS is ramping up the numbers of militants in Libya and that it has become harder for the group's fighters to enter Syria.

    The U.S. estimate of ISIS militants in Libya has doubled as it has become harder for them to enter Syria, according to U.S. intelligence assessments.

    There may now be up to 6,500 ISIS fighters in Libya, twice the number previously thought, according to several U.S. intelligence officials.

    They attributed the increase to the U.S. analysis that ISIS is diverting more fighters to Libya from Syria -- and from Turkey when they cannot get into Syria.

    "ISIS is investing heavily in Libya," one U.S. official said.

    While the estimate of up to 6,500 is the most recent from military intelligence sources, others in the intelligence community don't agree and believe the number could be half that...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Congress would authorize the use of military force against ISIS in Libya, perhaps the President would take action.

      But until the Republican controlled Congress does so, the President would be stretching his Constitutional authority to do then he has.

      Delete
  31. ISIS is like a water balloon.

    Squeeze it one place, it bulges another.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Time for Gloria to cash it in -- ?

    Gloria Steinem Slammed for Suggesting Young Women Support Bernie Sanders to Chase Boys

    Culture | By Thom Geier on February 6, 2016 @ 3:38 pm

    The feminist icon is drawing hackles online for comments made Friday on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher“

    Feminist icon Gloria Steinem has drawn the wrath of the Twitterverse for suggesting that young women supporting Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign are doing so to gain the attention of men.

    “When you’re young, you’re thinking, ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie,'” Steinem told Bill Maher Friday night on the comic’s HBO show “Real Time.”

    Maher leapt right on her comment. “Now if I said that, ‘Yeah, they’re for Bernie because that’s where the boys are,’ you’d slap me,” he said.



    Also Read: Bill Maher Endorses Bernie Sanders: 'F-ck Yeah' (Video)


    “No, I wouldn’t,” she replied.

    Maher had been pressing the 81-year-old feminist about why polls suggest that young American women are backing the Vermont senator over Steinem’s preferred Democratic candidate, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

    “Women are more for [Clinton] than men are,” Steinem said. But when asked why millennials seem to support Sanders more, Steinem explained, “Women get more radical as we get older…. I don’t mean to overgeneralize, I’m sure that you got more radical, but men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age and women get more radical because they lose power as they age.”



    Also Read: Bernie Sanders to Appear on 'Saturday Night Live'


    Plenty of people online seemed willing to slap Steinem for implying that millennial women are fickle (or hormonal) for choosing to support Sanders instead of Clinton.

    http://www.thewrap.com/gloria-steinem-slammed-for-suggesting-young-women-support-bernie-sanders-to-chase-boys/

    ReplyDelete
  33. Military Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq

    SOUTHWEST ASIA, February 7, 2016 — U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

    Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

    Strikes in Syria

    Attack and fighter aircraft conducted seven strikes in Syria:

    -- Near Ayn Isa, two strikes destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL anti-air artillery position.

    -- Near Mar’a, four strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions.

    -- Near Manbij, one strike destroyed three ISIL buildings.

    Strikes in Iraq

    Attack and fighter aircraft, and ground attacks, resulted in 10 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

    -- Near Kirkuk, one strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun, two ISIL vehicles, and eight ISIL fighting positions.

    -- Near Mosul, three strikes destroyed four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL command and control node, two ISIL weapons caches, and suppressed an ISIL fighting position.

    -- Near Qayyarah, one strike destroyed seven ISIL assembly areas.

    -- Near Ramadi, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL recoilless rifle, an ISIL vehicle borne bomb, an IED cluster, an ISIL staging area, two ISIL bed down locations, and an ISIL weapons cache.

    -- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

    DOD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How many babies did we blow up today?

      Delete

    2. You Israelis are still averaging one every three days

      Delete
    3. Jack, did you try to make a funny?

      I am a born American. Most likely MORE American than you.

      As for your Israeli blowing up babies, could you show us any examples, on a daily basis, that would make your assertion valid?

      Delete

    4. No, you are not an American, "O"rdure.
      You are an Israeli, we all know it.

      "O"riginal was a American, but he is long gone.
      After the Chocolate Emporium folded, well, your team arrived

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete

    6. Do you think that all caps represents power, "O"rdure?

      It really just illustrates your acute paranoia.

      Delete
  34. Now what is interesting how folks at this blog have no issues with America bombing "terrorists" 8000 miles away from our border but have issues with israel RESPONDING to rocket attack by hamas or Hezbollah 5 miles away.

    Yeah I hear you think israel has no right to be, they are "occupiers" but the fact is they are a nation, recognized by the world now just because you don't like Israel has no legal, moral bearing on the subject

    ReplyDelete
  35. Jack HawkinsSun Feb 07, 07:54:00 PM EST
    Just reminding Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson where the real threat is, in the United States.

    It is not from radical Muslims, they have only killed 24 people in the past decade in the US.



    Well you are a threat to the security of the US, you are the one on the no fly list...

    You are the self confessed pot smoking, gun seller in AZ...

    you make excuses for every islamic terrorist action, domestic or foreign.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I have never sold a gun, "O"rdure.
      You are fantasizing, again.

      Delete
    2. Thereby admitting he is a pot smoker.

      Delete
    3. Jack "I was a black op merc" Hawkins is getting scared of his actual history getting out..

      Delete
    4. Pot smoking is legal, dimwits.

      Delete
    5. Let us see where I excused a Muslim terrorist act in the US, or anywhere, "O"rdure.

      You cannot do it.

      {;-)

      Delete
    6. Jack "I support Hamas" Hawkins.

      You support Hamas.

      Case Closed.

      In the eyes of the US government and Law enforcement supporting Hamas is a crime.

      You are guilty of the crime of supporting terrorism, regardless of whether a court finds you of it.

      You know it and I know it..

      You are a Hamas supporter.

      thus, you are a terrorist supporter.

      As President Bush would say...

      You are part of the Axis of Evil.

      Delete
    7. Jack HawkinsSun Feb 07, 10:03:00 PM EST
      Pot smoking is legal, dimwits.


      Not if you own firearms

      DIMWIT.

      If you are a medical marijuana patient in one of the 16 states (plus the District of Columbia) that allow for it, you’ve got reason to believe lately that the government has it in for you.

      You’ve got federal raids on the places where you can conveniently buy your medicine, the governor of Arizona trying to overturn in court her citizens’ choice to institute a medical marijuana system, and Michigan’s attorney general trying to make life as hard as he can for those using the system his state’s voters approved by 63 percent in 2008. And while it isn’t directly the government’s fault, doctors are taking people off liver transplant waiting lists for using medical pot.

      It isn’t just that the government on both the federal and state level doesn’t want you to be able to legally and conveniently obtain your medicine, if that medicine is pot. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) insists you inherently lose a key constitutional right merely by letting your state know you might want to take pot medicinally.

      Merely having a state medical marijuana card, BATFE insists, means that you fall afoul of Sect. 922(g) of the federal criminal code (from the 1968 federal Gun Control Act), which says that anyone “who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” is basically barred from possessing or receiving guns or ammo (with the bogus assertion that such possession implicates interstate commerce, which courts will pretty much always claim it does).



      I guess you have not purchased a firearm and had a background check?

      It's a no no NITWIT

      Delete
    8. Still own those .50 sniper rifles???

      and you are a pot smoker who brags he trains Law Enforcement on horse back riding...

      Delete
  36. I have trouble believing that there hasn't been a punt run back for a touchdown in all Super Bowl history, but that's what they said a couple times.

    Cam Newton certainly throws a fast pass...

    Beyoncé up.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somehow this Super Bowl doesn't seem very exciting and the announcers are lousy.

      Delete
    2. The ads have been terrible.

      Gaga's been the best part of it...

      Delete
  37. Great News...

    Another jew hating brit, hamas supporting ISIS turd gone forever..

    British national who defected to Islamic State and became one of the jihadist organization’s most notorious henchmen traveled to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as part of an aid convoy organized by far-left politician George Galloway, media outlets in the United Kingdom reported on Sunday.

    Allexanda Kotey, a former west London resident of Greek Cypriot and Ghanaian extraction, is one of four Brits who have been dubbed with the moniker “ISIS Beatles.”

    The four British nationals traveled to Syria and took part in beheadings and executions of Western prisoners, according to reports.

    In 2009, Kotey traveled with an aid convoy to Gaza organized by Galloway. The initiative, which came to be known as Viva Palestine, delivered humanitarian aid to the Hamas-ruled territory through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

    Kotey was reported to have lived not far from Mohammed Emwazi, the terrorist who was widely known in Western media as “Jihadi John.”

    Earlier this year, a media outlet associated with Islamic State released a eulogy for "Jihadi John", a member of the militant group who won global notoriety for his filmed executions of hostages, the monitoring organisation SITE reported.

    Emwazi, a British citizen of Arab origin, was described in Islamic State's Dabiq magazine by his nickname in the group of "Abu Muharib al-Muhajir."

    The US military said in November it was "reasonably certain" it had killed him in a drone strike.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/Briton-who-became-ISIS-beheader-traveled-to-Gaza-with-Galloway-convoy-444191

      Delete
  38. Replies

    1. You thought I was Rocco Wachman, dimwit.

      {;-)

      Delete
    2. But in your famous type, I will say....

      PROVE IT

      LOL

      Bet ya can't...

      Delete
    3. No rat, (no cap) I KNOW you and your 1/2 dozen names.

      Your a legend in your own mind..

      Delete
    4. It was funny that you stalked the WRONG jew for couple of YEARS...

      I called them to warn them about you... SPECIFICALLY.

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  39. so tonight we great, we got rat to admit he a pot smoker and still owns guns. A crime.

    he also thought he was OUTING ME by mentioning Chocolate Emporium, with intent, is still a cyber crime, even if he was incorrect that i have never had any connection to them.

    He also can't wrap his mind around that there is no "group" with my logon...

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Owning guns and smoking pot is not a crime in either Colorado or Arizona, dimwit.

      Certainly there is a group, our it would not have stated that "we" are no longer afraid of me

      Delete
    2. What is "Occupation"Sat Feb 06, 04:15:00 PM EST
      ...

      We are no longer afraid of your threats, stalking and illegal behaviors.

      ...

      We means more than one of you, O"rdure.

      Delete
  40. Newman, a Solon resident who is a member of Solon Chabad, said she is looking for a buyer to continue the business.

    “Where will people go?” she asked. “There’s New York and Chicago, and that’s it (for kosher, dairy-free chocolate). We do about six shiva (period of mourning) trays a week, so I don’t know what people are going to do. There will be a big void in the community until someone starts up a business.”

    Now, "O"rdure, allen said that you had the only kosher candy in Ohio, you said it as well, are you telling us that Ellie is a liar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. And then you found a buyer ...

      Transferred the rights to the name "Chocolate Emporium".
      It is in the public record ...
      Deny it if you want, makes no difference to me.

      Delete
    2. Then at the old location you opened a Waffles, Smoothies and Sweets store.

      Rocco Wachman told me all about it.

      Delete
  41. Back to the business at hand ...

    Israel funding the Islamic State through the purchase of the oil smuggled through Turkey.


    Israel is the Main Purchaser of ISIS Oil
    By Enrico Braun
    Global Research, December 05, 2015

    Multiple reports claim that Israel is the top purchaser of smuggled ISIS oil

    ISIS oil is transported to Israel via Turkey, according to reports

    Citing multiple sources, the Israeli business press are now reporting that Israel is the main recipient of ISIS oil:

    Kurdish and Turkish smugglers are transporting oil from ISIS controlled territory in Syria and Iraq and selling it to Israel, according to several reports in the Arab and Russian media. An estimated 20,000-40,000 barrels of oil are produced daily in ISIS controlled territory generating $1-1.5 million daily profit for the terrorist organization.

    The oil is extracted from Dir A-Zur in Syria and two fields in Iraq and transported to the Kurdish city of Zakhu in a triangle of land near the borders of Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

    Israeli and Turkish mediators come to the city and when prices are agreed, the oil is smuggled to the Turkish city of Silop marked as originating from Kurdish regions of Iraq and sold for $15-18 per barrel (WTI and Brent Crude currently sell for $41 and $45 per barrel) to the Israeli mediator, a man in his 50s with dual Greek-Israeli citizenship known as Dr. Farid. He transports the oil via several Turkish ports and then onto other ports, with Israel among the main destinations.


    http://www.globalresearch.ca/israel-is-the-main-purchaser-of-isis-oil/5493738

    ReplyDelete
  42. "Rubio’s bill was supported by every single Senate Democrat, every single liberal house lawmaker, every progressive politician and group in the country, Nancy Pelosi, Luis Gutierrez, Harry Reid, La Raza, Center for American Progress, George Soros, and on and on. Of course the White House was the biggest champion."

    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/02/breaking-phyllis-schlafly-issues-15-page-rubio-betrayal-memo/
    http://www.eagleforum.org/immigration/rubio-record.html

    ReplyDelete


  43. How ISIS Oil Flows Through Turkey And Israel On Its Way To Europe

    December 9, 2015

    Representatives of Daesh insist that they aren’t deliberately selling oil to Israel, but the “black gold” ends up there nonetheless, while millions continue to line the terrorist group’s pockets.



    Al-Araby’s sources reported that from Turkey the oil flows through three ports — Mersin, Dortyol and Ceyhan — into Israel. And from Israel, the oil seeps into Europe:

    “According to a European official at an international oil company who met with al-Araby in a Gulf capital, Israel refines the oil only ‘once or twice’ because it does not have advanced refineries. It exports the oil to Mediterranean countries – where the oil “gains a semi-legitimate status” – for $30 to $35 a barrel.”
    ...
    In his analysis of the flow of oil, Shadowproof’s Dan Wright noted that Daesh seems “embarrassed” by the reports of oil sales to Israel. Al-Araby reported that “someone close to [Daesh]” reported via Skype:

    ‘To be fair, the organisation sells oil from caliphate territories but does not aim to sell it to Israel or any other country,’ he said. ‘It produces and sells it via mediators, then companies, who decide whom to sell it to.’”


    http://www.mintpressnews.com/211910-2/211910/

    ReplyDelete

  44. Syria’s Kurds to open first European office in Moscow



    MOSCOW, Russia - The Kurdish administration in northeastern Syria will open its first foreign office in the Russian capital, Moscow, Kurdish representatives said Saturday.

    The office will be inaugurated this Wednesday, in a ceremony to be attended by Russian foreign ministry officials as well as representatives from several other countries, according to Abdulsalam Ali, the Syrian Kurdish envoy in Moscow.

    “Our ambition is to rally support behind our Kurdish enclave in Syria through this office,” said Ali, who is also a member of the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), the main political organization in Syria’s Kurdish administrated areas.

    PYD’s decision to search for international support in Moscow, rather than other capitals in Western Europe, came as no surprise, according to Russian political analyst Stanslav Inanov, who has followed the Kurdish case for years.

    “This means that Russia believes the crises in both Syria and Iraq will not lead to a solution without Kurdish participation,” Stanslav told Rudaw.

    Moscow has tried to gain the Kurdish trust in Syria by providing areal support in clash zones where Kurdish forces battle ISIS militants for territory, particularly in the bordering regions of Azez.

    Earlier this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said talks on reconciliation would fail to produce a sustainable agreement if the Kurds were left out of discussions.

    The PYD was not invited to the intra-Syrian reconciliation talks in Geneva last week despite Russia’s support, mainly due to Turkey’s opposition to the Kurdish group.

    Ankara has accused the PYD of links with Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and fears Kurdish influence in Syria could strengthen the PKK in neighboring Turkey.

    Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu publically criticized Russia and the US in October last year for supporting PYD’s military wing, known as the YPG forces inside Syria.

    In stark contrast to the US and most of the EU member states, Russia has not put the PKK in its black list. In October 2015, Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, said his country did not regard the group as a terrorist organization.


    - See more at: http://rudaw.net/mobile/english/middleeast/syria/070220161

    ReplyDelete