Benazir Bhutto's Path to Martyrdom

Born on June 21, 1953 into a wealthy political family, Benazir Bhutto was the firstborn of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Zulfikar Bhutto founded the Pakistan's Peoples Party and rose to prominence leading Pakistan to become the first Muslim nation with nuclear capabilities

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An Atheist In The Woods

Posted By Tony Vega, author unknown.

An atheist was walking through the woods. "What majestic trees"! "What powerful rivers"! "What beautiful animals"! He said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!" Time Stopped.The bear froze.The forest was silent.As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"? The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian"?"Very Well," said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Norovirus Outbreak

On December, 19, 2007, Rudolph Giuliani the Republican presidential candidate spent a night in a Missouri hospital after suffering from flu-like symptoms.

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ASK A TERRORIST!

If you've ever wondered why terrorists get only 72 virgins, or what life is like inside a cave, al Qaeda has opened the floor to questions.

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Congress Knocks Down Border Security Fence

The Security Fence act of 2006, or more aptly titled The Insincere Fence Act of 2006, promised American citizens an 854-mile double layered barrier spanning across the U.S. and Mexico border.

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Celebrate Christmas

By Tony Vega for AssociatedContent.com
December 17, 2007

There are times when I find the commercial start of the Christmas season annoying and burdensome. Many times I have found myself saying, out of frustration, "I can’t stand this holiday." Why? Because of the burden of purchasing gifts, dealing with the crowds, and of course the never ending in your face postings (advertisements) cajoling you to purchase.

Those sentiments, however, are not reflective of the spirit of Christmas.

The commercial aspect, the telemarketers, merchants, and the rest of those exploiting the holiday for commercial gain should draw our ire, not the meaning of Christmas.

As I return from another Christmas party transformed into a “Holiday Party” I reflect on Christmas and wonder about its place in American culture.

In 2006, the Catholic League from New York provided some very interesting data. It was revealed that the United States is 85 percent Christian, which means the U.S. is more Christian than India is Hindu and Israel is Jewish.

Can you imagine traveling to India or Israel and complaining about their religious observations? I didn’t think so. That was a pretty safe proposition. How about traveling to an Islamic nation to criticize their religious observations? I really didn’t think so, unless you want to put your neck on the line-literally.

The attack on Christmas occurs when the secular-progressive(S-P) crowd starts demanding the castration of Christmas. The S-P’s scoff at the notion of a war being fought against Christmas. I can understand that because of the limited numbers of the secular movement-it is tantamount to bringing a rock to a gun fight. The S-P crowd does, however, have power tools as secret weapons. These tools are in the form of the ACLU and media giants like the NY Times. The ACLU is greased by the rich and powerful anti-American George Soros, and when he starts scratching in his multibillion dollar check book, the elite left listens. When that power tool fires up the machine the noise is heard loud and clear. The S-P crowd has a voice. The ACLU has leveled a few court battles against some small school boards in a continuing attempt at revising American traditions and has lost many of these proceedings. The point, however, is quite sharp. Christmas seasons arrive with the threat of more costly court battles that these small towns can’t afford. The various school super intendants and town leaders quake in their boots and “Silent Night” is silenced, Christmas trees are brought to the mill, and Baby Jesus is spirited away.

Let a menorah be a menorah, let a Christmas tree be a Christmas tree, let a zulfiqar(sword of Ali) be a zulfiqar.

The Catholic League brought out a good point regarding exclusion; “Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Black History Month, Gay Pride Parades-they all exclude someone.”

I believe we are strong enough to handle the spirit of all these observations.

America was founded with Judeo-Christian philosophies. Christmas is a large part of an American tradition, with a majority of Americans embracing the holiday.

Why should we pander to these secular groups?

Are we going to allow these culture-arsonists to destroy American tradition and intimidate us away from such a cherished celebration?

Hey, I'm not being overly religious here, but I see nothing wrong with the country I live in embracing a holiday that I happen to believe in. And if I did not believe in it, I certainly can appreciate the liberty of the majority to celebrate en masse in this wonderful land of Freedom.

President Bush Pardons Drug Dealers and Car Thieves

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

On Tuesday, December 11, 2007, President Bush granted 29 pardons that included carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and a violator of election laws. It was rumored that he was going to pardon Cheney pal I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby the former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative. The full pardon for Libby would have been gravy; he already had his two ½-year sentence commuted by Bush over the summer. So much for the “rule of law.”

There are two American heroes, ladies and gentlemen, that sit in prison for securing our borders in Texas, Bush’s hometown, and protecting the sovereignty of our nation from Mexican drug invaders. It is painful to witness this president pardon Thanksgiving turkeys, drug runners, and car thieves. The president refuses to entertain the notion of pardons for former Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, because as the president puts it his “dear friend” Johnny Sutton is a fair guy. This is where justice gets hijacked, folks. You see, Johnny Sutton a Bush appointee is the West Texas U.S. General Attorney, the top lawman in Texas. Sutton has in the past sent Texas law enforcers to prison for their roles in immigration enforcement. Apparently, the message to the lawmen out there is enforce our immigration laws at your own peril. Discouraging the border agents from enforcing our immigration laws creates in essence de facto amnesty.



Sutton will tell you it’s a matter of upholding the “rule of law.” I think most people can accept that. I certainly can. The only problem with these high level Texans is that they are full of horse crap. Sutton’s rule of law justified his office to suppress information regarding a drug runner that testified against the two agents. His rule of law allowed this same drug runner to continue dealing drugs from Mexico to the U.S., and commit perjury. Sutton’s Mexican drug dealer committed crimes that were not covered under his initial immunity deal. Some of those crimes were dealing drugs, perjury, and obstructing justice (lying to federal authorities). The “rule of law” should have prompted an investigation. Nope, not by Sutton. It took other federal agencies to arrest Sutton’s drug dealer for crimes that were being shielded by Sutton.

Sutton creatively managed to secure prison terms of 11 and 12 years for Ramos and Compean respectively, for enforcing our immigration laws. While that travesty took place, let’s take a quick look at a 2005 case involving a corrupt Border Patrol Agent for breaking our immigration laws while in San Diego.

The defendant Ortiz, a criminal illegal Mexican alien duped the U.S. Border Patrol into hiring him. Ortiz once legally armed with a gun and shield continued to smuggle people and drugs into the U.S. He was discovered, subsequently arrested and convicted of the following charges:

Case Number: 05CR1436-JAH
Defendant Oscar Antonio Ortiz
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
False Claim to U.S. Citizenship - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 911
Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens - Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a) (1) (A) (I) and (v) (1)
False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(a) (6) and 924(a) (2)
Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(g) (5) (A) and 924(a) (2).

Defendant Ortiz received a five-year prison sentence.

With in the scope of Sutton’s rule of law, Agents Ramos and Compean received 11 and 12 years in jail for enforcing the law!
As a result of the president’s cronyism and support of de facto amnesty, there is no pardon forthcoming for Agents Ramos and Compean.

Pardons are an end-of-the-year presidential tradition, and Mr. Bush was not expected to issue any more this year.

The presidential pardon list was issued by the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Justice Department (Justice Department -what an oxymoron term that is becoming).
The criteria for Bush to examine prior to granting a pardon are the following:

1. The seriousness of the crime

2. How long ago it was committed

3. The acceptance of responsibility and showing of remorse

4. Post-conviction conduct and contributions to society

5. Any specific compelling need for relief

6. Official recommendations, including from the sentencing judge, the probation officer and the federal prosecutor.

Since President Bush apparently is confusing the seriousness of drug dealing and enforcing our immigration laws a pardon will not be forthcoming for the two agents.

Interestingly on the same day as the presidential pardons and on an unrelated topic Mr. Bush granted a very candid interview with ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz. During this Interview, Mr. Bush talked about overcoming his alcohol addition saying he hasn’t had a drink in over 20 years.

It was rare that the president discussed his addiction so candidly. Perhaps pardoning all of those drug dealers made him nostalgic.

Agents Ramos and Compean's appeal is grinding through the process, with a hopeful hearing that commenced on December 03, 2007.

Please take a moment to contact the White House and express your
outrage over this obvious Presidential oversight!

White House Comments Line: 202-456-1111
White House Fax: 202-456-2461
Email the White House: comments@whitehouse.gov.

Shock and Awe: We Are Winning!

BY Andrew G. Benjamin

Note the date, March 2007. Note the publication. NY Post (a Murdoch/FOX publication.) Note what Murtha, Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy and the others of their opportunistic and disingenuous ilk have said since. Note what ideas and info The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, TIME, Newsweek, CBS, NBC, ABC have pounded into the minds, nay, "pushed" (that is the correct word) on its American voters, readers and listeners. Note the author, a combatant in Iraq.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03202007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/why_its_working_____opedcolumnists_gordon_cucullu.htm?page=0

Note the next author, a recognized award-winning military historian.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmM1Y2I0ZWRhYzkyMTZjYzAzNzlkNDFlYjcwZmE4NmI=&w=MA==

And the next, Ralph Peters, former intel officer interviewed on FOX (no, not on CBS 60 Minutes -- which is, of course, far more "Fair and Balanced", sort of like Dan Rather. They, CBS that is, forgot to mention that Rather is unbalanced in the head.)

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007214&docId=l:701422194&start=8

And now, John Murtha, that phony fat slob. Remember his condemnation and indictment of our troops, some of whom got killed -- and subsequently cleared of ALL charges? And when confronted by the evidence that he was bloviating as usual, shall we say prematurely, he told the reporter to get lost?

MURTHA: "The Surge is Working."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1107/Murthas_comments_on_surge_may_be_a_big_problem_for_House_Democrats.html
For the Democrats, the bad news never stops. They hoodwinked the voters and the world. Their comeuppance is just around the corner. And if not soone enough...eventually.

I remind them of Ronald Reagan's reply before he ran for president when asked about how he'll handle the issues of the Cold War:

"We win; They lose."

Remember Pearl Harbor The Day of Infamy

Forget at our Peril

By Tony Vega for AssociatedContent.com
Saturday, December 08, 2007

Sixty-six years ago on December 08, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his famous speech, in regards to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

December 8, 1941
To the Congress of the United States:
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

The above is an excerpt of FDR’s speech. History is usually interesting and always relevant. The importance of remembering such events is so we don’t allow America to fall asleep again. It is easy to attack a sleeping giant, and Americans forget very quickly. The attacks on September 11, 2001 (9/11) are a glaring example of this intentional forgetfulness. Denial and conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon born from the terror attacks on 9/11. There was widespread conspiracy theories advanced shortly after the Japanese attacked the U.S. and many of those theories are still entertained today, I’m sure sixty-six years from now the same will still hold true. The attack on a civilian target on 9/11 caused more casualties than the attack on Pearl Harbor. At our peril, we forget the lessons that history holds.

The reliability of our national intelligence capabilities is understandably questioned. Logic and evidence, however, should not be ignored. The results of numerous world intelligence reports regarding Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was relied upon as a precursor to the war against Iraq. The failure to recover WMD’s post or pre invasion caused the consternation of many, to say the least. What was forgotten was the ridicule Hans Blix the UN weapon’s inspector suffered, first at the hands of Baghdad with the consistent cat and mouse games employed by the Saddam Hussein regime and then at the UN when he reported the discovery of suspicious equipment and/or activity. It was apparent that it was politically expedient for the inspector and his team to come up empty handed. What was forgotten or ignored by many were the threats by Saddam, the prior use of WMD’s, the aid and succor provided to terror groups. We failed to recognize the threat by the Saddam Regime.

Today, we have a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) produced by the U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC). The latest NIE CYA (cover your posterior) report on Iran reveals that Iran stopped its nuclear endeavors in 2003. I do not doubt this report, just the significance and the political intent. The Irony of the report indicates that President Bush was correct in assessing Iran’s nuke race in 2003. Recently, Hillary Clinton found the courage or political savvy to join President Bush and V.P. Cheney in declaring the Iran Guard a terror outfit.

The NIE is a CYA report due in part to the following excerpt gleaned from sections of the actual report available to the public, and can be found here in its entirety for your perusal: NIE Report.

An excerpt:
This NIE does not assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons. Rather, it examines the intelligence to assess Iran’s capability and intent (or lack thereof) to acquire nuclear weapons, taking full account of Iran’s dual-use uranium fuel cycle and those nuclear activities that are at least partly civil in nature.

This Estimate does not assess how Iran may conduct future negotiations with the West on the nuclear issue [end]. The bold emphasis from original NIE report.

Interestingly, what is consistently ignored is Iran’s desire to “wipe Israel off the map”, remain an enemy of America, and defy UN resolutions in the pursuit of uranium enrichment. The CYA aspect of the report is clear. If Iran does develop nuclear weapons, the NIC can point to its plausible deniability and if Iran does not continue to develop, the NIC can say, “I told you so”

The basic layperson on national intelligence matters can easily grasp the concept of intelligence not being an exact science and will have the luxury of flexibility. With that said, it should be obvious that we need to rely on the totality of evidence at hand. This includes the enemy’s rhetoric, and historical occurrences. History is always relevant. Again, I do not doubt the veracity of the NIE. This layperson made similar estimates as to Iran’s nuclear acquisition in “Our Withdrawal Implications” article previously submitted. That estimate was derived from a simple check with a private intelligence firm. What this writer won’t do is dismiss threats made by foreign leaders or forget history. Knowledge is power. If we continue to bury our heads in the sand regarding our enemies we may soon find the same removed from its host.

Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had lived in the United States, studied at the U.S. War College and at Harvard University, and had served as a naval attaché in Washington, D.C.. Twenty years after his studies in the U.S. Yamamoto planned and executed the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 07, 1941.

Will America show her enemies that we are unwilling to fight for our way of life and that we will continue to bury our heads in the sand regarding the very real threats facing this nation?

I dare say, at the risk of being labeled a jingo, that America despite her internal detractors and revisionists will remain a vanguard for Freedom. In the true spirit of Americanism, we will fight for our way of life by any means necessary and put up with the apologists for our enemies. This is what our present day enemies such as Islamic jihadists, to their peril, do not realize. Freedom will be our salvation.

NIE Report on Iran 2007

Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities
November 2007

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The Director of National Intelligence serves as the head of the Intelligence Community(IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is charged with:
• Integrating the domestic and foreign dimensions of US intelligence so that there are no gaps in our understanding of threats to our national security;
• Bringing more depth and accuracy to intelligence analysis; and
• Ensuring that US intelligence resources generate future capabilities as well as present results.

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL
Since its formation in 1973, the National Intelligence Council(NIC)has served as a bridge between the intelligence and policy communities, a source of deep substantive expertise on critical national security issues, and as a focal point for Intelligence Community collaboration.
The NIC's key goal is to provide policymakers with the best, unvarnished, and unbiased information—regardless of whether analytic judgments conform to US policy. Its primary functions are to:
• Support the DNI in his role as Principal Intelligence Advisor to the President and other senior policymakers.
• Lead the Intelligence Community's effort to produce National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) and other NIC products that address key national security concerns.
• Provide a focal point for policymakers, warfighters, and Congressional leaders to task the Intelligence Community for answers to important questions.
• Reach out to nongovernment experts in academia and the private sector—and use alternative analyses and new analytic tools—to broaden and deepen the Intelligence Community's perspective.

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES AND THE NIE PROCESS
National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) are the Intelligence Community’s (IC) most authoritative written judgments on national security issues and designed to help US civilian and military leaders develop policies to protect US national security interests. NIEs usually provide information on the current state of play but are primarily “estimative”—that is, they make judgments about the likely course of future events and identify the implications for US policy.

The NIEs are typically requested by senior civilian and military policymakers, Congressional leaders and at times are initiated by the National Intelligence Council (NIC). Before a NIE is drafted, the relevant NIO is responsible for producing a concept paper or terms of reference (TOR) and circulates it throughout the Intelligence Community for comment. The TOR defines the key estimative questions, determines drafting responsibilities, and sets the drafting and publication schedule. One or more IC analysts are usually assigned to produce the initial text. The NIC then meets to critique the draft before it is circulated to the broader IC. Representatives from the relevant IC agencies meet to hone and coordinate line-by-line the full text of the NIE. Working with their Agencies, reps also assign the level of confidence they have in each key judgment. IC reps discuss the quality of sources with collectors, and the National Clandestine Service vets the sources used to ensure the draft does not include any that have been recalled or otherwise seriously questioned.

All NIEs are reviewed by National Intelligence Board, which is chaired by the DNI and is composed of the heads of relevant IC agencies. Once approved by the NIB, NIEs are briefed to the President and senior policymakers. The whole process of producing NIEs normally takes at least several months.

The NIC has undertaken a number of steps to improve the NIE process under the DNI. These steps are in accordance with the goals and recommendations set out in the SSCI and WMD Commission reports and the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Prevention of Terrorism Act. Most notably, over the last year and a half, the IC has:
• Created new procedures to integrate formal reviews of source reporting and technical judgments. The Directors of the National Clandestine Service, NSA, NGA, and DIA and the Assistant Secretary/INR are now required to submit formal assessments that highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and overall credibility of their sources used in developing the critical judgments of the NIE.
• Applied more rigorous standards. A textbox is incorporated into all NIEs that explains what we mean by such terms as “we judge” and that clarifies the difference between judgments of likelihood and confidence levels. We have made a concerted effort to not only highlight differences among agencies but to explain the reasons for such differences and to prominently display them in the Key Judgments.

Scope Note
This National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) assesses the status of Iran’s nuclear program, and the program’s outlook over the next 10 years. This time frame is more appropriate for estimating capabilities than intentions and foreign reactions, which are more difficult to estimate over a decade. In presenting the Intelligence Community’s assessment of Iranian nuclear intentions and capabilities, the NIE thoroughly reviews all available information on these questions, examines the range of reasonable scenarios consistent with this information, and describes the key factors we judge would drive or impede nuclear progress in Iran. This NIE is an extensive reexamination of the issues in the May 2005 assessment.

This Estimate focuses on the following key questions:
• What are Iran’s intentions toward developing nuclear weapons?
• What domestic factors affect Iran’s decisionmaking on whether to develop nuclear weapons?
• What external factors affect Iran’s decisionmaking on whether to develop nuclear weapons?
• What is the range of potential Iranian actions concerning the development of nuclear weapons, and the decisive factors that would lead Iran to choose one course of action over another?
• What is Iran’s current and projected capability to develop nuclear weapons? What are our key assumptions, and Iran’s key chokepoints/vulnerabilities?

This NIE does not assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons. Rather, it examines the intelligence to assess Iran’s capability and intent (or lack thereof) to acquire nuclear weapons, taking full account of Iran’s dual-use uranium fuel cycle and those nuclear activities that are at least partly civil in nature.

This Estimate does assume that the strategic goals and basic structure of Iran’s senior leadership and government will remain similar to those that have endured since the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989. We acknowledge the potential for these to change during the time frame of the Estimate, but are unable to confidently predict such changes or their implications. This Estimate does not assess how Iran may conduct future negotiations with the West on the nuclear issue. This Estimate incorporates intelligence reporting available as of 31 October 2007.

What We Mean When We Say: An Explanation of Estimative Language We use phrases such as we judge, we assess, and we estimate—and probabilistic terms such as probably and likely—to convey analytical assessments and judgments. Such statements are not facts, proof, or knowledge. These assessments and judgments generally are based on collected information, which often is incomplete or fragmentary. Some assessments are built on previous judgments. In all cases, assessments and judgments are not intended to imply that we have “proof” that shows something to be a fact or that definitively links two items or issues. In addition to conveying judgments rather than certainty, our estimative language also often conveys 1) our assessed likelihood or probability of an event; and 2) the level of confidence we ascribe to the judgment.

Because analytical judgments are not certain, we use probabilistic language to reflect the Community’s estimates of the likelihood of developments or events. Terms such as probably, likely, very likely, or almost certainly indicate a greater than even chance. The terms unlikely and remote indicate a less then even chance that an event will occur; they do not imply that an event will not occur. Terms such as might or may reflect situations in which we are unable to assess the likelihood, generally because relevant information is unavailable, sketchy, or fragmented. Terms such as we cannot dismiss, we cannot rule out, or we cannot discount reflect an unlikely, improbable, or remote event whose consequences are such that it warrants mentioning.

Our assessments and estimates are supported by information that varies in scope, quality and sourcing. Consequently, we ascribe high, moderate, or low levels of confidence to our assessments, as follows:
• High confidence generally indicates that our judgments are based on high-quality information, and/or that the nature of the issue makes it possible to render a solid judgment. A “high confidence” judgment is not a fact or a certainty, however, and such judgments still carry a risk of being wrong.
• Moderate confidence generally means that the information is credibly sourced and plausible but not of sufficient quality or corroborated sufficiently to warrant a higher level of confidence.
• Low confidence generally means that the information’s credibility and/or plausibility is questionable, or that the information is too fragmented or poorly corroborated to make solid analytic inferences, or that we have significant concerns or problems with the sources.

Key Judgments
A. We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program 1we also assess with moderate-to-high confidence that Tehran at a minimum is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons. We judge with high confidence that the halt, and Tehran’s announcement of its decision to suspend its declared uranium enrichment program and sign an Additional Protocol to its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement, was directed primarily in response to increasing international scrutiny and pressure resulting from exposure of Iran’s previously undeclared nuclear work.
• We assess with high confidence that until fall 2003, Iranian military entities were working under government direction to develop nuclear weapons.
• We judge with high confidence that the halt lasted at least several years. (Because of intelligence gaps discussed elsewhere in this Estimate, however, DOE and the NIC assess with only moderate confidence that the halt to those activities represents a halt to Iran's entire nuclear weapons program.)
• We assess with moderate confidence Tehran had not restarted its nuclear weapons program as of mid-2007, but we do not know whether it currently intends to develop nuclear weapons.
• We continue to assess with moderate-to-high confidence that Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon.
• Tehran’s decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005. Our assessment that the program probably was halted primarily in response to international pressure suggests Iran may be more vulnerable to influence on the issue than we judged previously.

B. We continue to assess with low confidence that Iran probably has imported at least some weapons-usable fissile material, but still judge with moderate-to-high confidence it has not obtained enough for a nuclear weapon. We cannot rule out that Iran has acquired from abroad—or will acquire in the future—a nuclear weapon or enough fissile material for a weapon. Barring such acquisitions, if Iran wants to have nuclear weapons it would need to produce sufficient amounts of fissile material indigenously—which we judge with high confidence it has not yet done.

C. We assess centrifuge enrichment is how Iran probably could first produce enough fissile material for a weapon, if it decides to do so. Iran resumed its declared centrifuge 1 For the purposes of this Estimate, by “nuclear weapons program” we mean Iran’s nuclear weapon design and weaponization work and covert uranium conversion-related and uranium enrichment-related work; we do not mean Iran’s declared civil work related to uranium conversion and enrichment. enrichment activities in January 2006, despite the continued halt in the nuclear weapons program. Iran made significant progress in 2007 installing centrifuges at Natanz, but we judge with moderate confidence it still faces significant technical problems operating them.
• We judge with moderate confidence that the earliest possible date Iran would be technically capable of producing enough HEU for a weapon is late 2009, but that this is very unlikely.
• We judge with moderate confidence Iran probably would be technically capable of producing enough HEU for a weapon sometime during the 2010-2015 time frame. (INR judges Iran is unlikely to achieve this capability before 2013 because of foreseeable technical and programmatic problems.) All agencies recognize the possibility that this capability may not be attained until after 2015.

D. Iranian entities are continuing to develop a range of technical capabilities that could be applied to producing nuclear weapons, if a decision is made to do so. For example, Iran’s civilian uranium enrichment program is continuing. We also assess with high confidence that since fall 2003, Iran has been conducting research and development projects with commercial and conventional military applications—some of which would also be of limited use for nuclear weapons.

E. We do not have sufficient intelligence to judge confidently whether Tehran is willing to maintain the halt of its nuclear weapons program indefinitely while it weighs its options, or whether it will or already has set specific deadlines or criteria that will prompt it to restart the program.
• Our assessment that Iran halted the program in 2003 primarily in response to international pressure indicates Tehran’s decisions are guided by a cost-benefit approach rather than a rush to a weapon irrespective of the political, economic, and military costs. This, in turn, suggests that some combination of threats of intensified international scrutiny and pressures, along with opportunities for Iran to achieve its security, prestige, and goals for regional influence in other ways, might—if perceived by Iran’s leaders as credible—prompt Tehran to extend the current halt to its nuclear weapons program. It is difficult to specify what such a combination might be.
• We assess with moderate confidence that convincing the Iranian leadership to forgo the eventual development of nuclear weapons will be difficult given the linkage many within the leadership probably see between nuclear weapons development and Iran’s key national security and foreign policy objectives, and given Iran’s considerable effort from at least the late 1980s to 2003 to develop such weapons. In our judgment, only an Iranian political decision to abandon a nuclear weapons objective would plausibly keep Iran from eventually producing nuclear weapons—and such a decision is inherently reversible.

F. We assess with moderate confidence that Iran probably would use covert facilities—rather than its declared nuclear sites—for the production of highly enriched uranium for a weapon. A growing amount of intelligence indicates Iran was engaged in covert uranium conversion and uranium enrichment activity, but we judge that these efforts probably were halted in response to the fall 2003 halt, and that these efforts probably had not been restarted through at least mid-2007.

G. We judge with high confidence that Iran will not be technically capable of producing and reprocessing enough plutonium for a weapon before about 2015.

H. We assess with high confidence that Iran has the scientific, technical and industrial capacity eventually to produce nuclear weapons if it decides to do so.

Key Differences Between the Key Judgments of This Estimate on Iran’s Nuclear
Program and the May 2005 Assessment can be found by reviewing the chart on the NIC website: http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_release.pdf

Agents Ramos and Compean’s Appeal is Heard

By Tony Vega
Monday, December 03, 2007

Today, December 03, 2007 the appeal for former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean was scheduled to be heard at 9:00 am at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The encouraging news is that Judge E. Grady Jolly, one of three Appellate judges stated that federal prosecutors "may have overreacted in their case against" Ramos and Compean. Jolly questioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Steimach saying, "It does seem to me that the government overreacted here."

To the casual observer these agents should have never been arrested in the first place. The Western Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton apparently engaged in some very questionable practices in bringing forth the prosecution. Sutton’s team heavily relied on procedural violations by the agents after the attempted arrest and shooting of the drug smuggler, illegal criminal alien Osvaldo Alrete-Davila. There is precedent, namely United States v. Christo, in which the court held that criminal convictions based upon civil violations constituted plain error. Due process will be challenged. There are other nefarious actions by Sutton and his office, such as withholding details that would have shown Davila was not an innocent migrant humbly trying to enter the U.S. to better his life.

Investigators came into contact with Davila after a phone call generated by his mother to a long time family friend. This friend is the mother-in-law to a questionable Border Agent in Arizona. This agent Rene Sanchez grew up with the drug dealer and remained a contact for him. After the February incident in Texas involving Ramos and Compean, the Arizona agent Sanchez made numerous inquiries about the incident to the Texas station, including computer queries, to yet another agent by the name of Blanchett. Sanchez even went so far as to give agent Blanchett times of future illegal border crossing in his area. Why, did he pass this info on? How did Sanchez get this inside information into the illegalities of smugglers? These questions were never answered because U.S. attorneys refused to put agent Blanchett on the stand and successfully prevented the defense from calling him as a witness. The web becomes more tangled.

U.S. attorney Johnny Sutton has claimed there was no evidence at the scene capable of identifying Davila as the perpetrator. An independent review of court testimony available to the public reveals that two agents testified that Davila’s cell phone was recovered from his van, the same van containing 743 lbs of marijuana. This was not a scant mention of a phone, but a detailed account of where the phone was recovered and codes in the phone, commonly used by drug dealers. Johnny Sutton gave Davila immunity, so testimony about the cell phone and drugs in essence was pointless. It did, however, reveal more of Sutton’s deceptive ways and the need for a special prosecutor to look into this mess.

Agents Ramos and Compean could not catch a break; it seems they were caught up in a perfect storm of prosecutorial and investigative malfeasance. High level investigators from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was lying about Ramos and Compean when they reported the agents were “rouge agents looking to shoot a Mexican”, so admitted DHS Inspector General Skinner. Congress is calling for the firing of these investigators. Meanwhile agents Ramos and Compean sit in prison. There is no indication when the Appellate decision will be rendered.



Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org Alliance who has championed the cause of the two agents has requested the grassroots to respond-and keep respondinguntil this tragic wrong is righted and Ramos and Compean are freedto spend Christmas with their loved ones! Part of that effort is to blanket the nation with yellow ribbons for Ramos and Compean. After ordering yours, forward this message to your friends urging them to do the same by clicking here: http://www.grassfire.org/8142/offer.asp?rid=14953742

U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean Need Our Support

By Tony Vega
Wednesday, November 28, 2007


Former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are serving 11 and 12-year prison terms, respectively. This miscarriage of justice resulted from an attempted arrest of a criminal illegal alien smuggling drugs into the U.S.

My intention is not to retry the court case on these pages, but to illuminate the cause and further the grass root efforts endeavoring to right this terrible wrong by securing a presidential pardon.

Background
On February 17, 2005, at approximately 1:15 pm, the agents were attempting to apprehend a criminal illegal alien that smuggled drugs into the U.S. and assaulted agent Compean. The agents fired their weapons in self-defense at the perpetrator, later identified as Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, striking him once on the left side of his buttocks. The drug smuggler sustained a non-life threatening injury and continued across the Texas border into Mexico evading arrest. His van loaded with 743 pounds of marijuana was secured and recovered on the U.S. side of the border. It was another valiant effort by the agents. (Agent Ramos has taken part in more than 100 drug busts and has never hurt anyone, despite having been assaulted and fired upon many times.)

Next, a series of egregious missteps took place by the agents and supervisors. In what I can only, describe as ineptitude on the behalf of supervision. There are conflicting reports claiming the boss on the scene was not happy about the failure to apprehend the perpetrator and was complicit in not preparing the voluminous paperwork. Due to the misconception that the suspect would not be captured, the arduous task of “paperwork” was a seemingly pointless effort. This miscalculation would serve as one of the weapons Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton would use to place into the backs of justice and steal away the freedom of the two agents. I bet the agents never thought in a million years that their own country would be the perpetrator’s strongest advocate. The administrative incompetence is inexcusable. The penalty for this glaring snafu is 5 days suspension without pay. This should not translate into 11 and 12-years of imprisonment!

Davila was enjoying his freedom in Mexico, albeit not so well due to sub par medical treatment he received while on his home turf. After a series of phone calls emanating from the Mexican side of the border apparently originating from Davila‘s mother, U.S. authorities went into Mexico and encouraged an uncooperative Davila to return. With promises of a visa, free medical, and immunity from all assault and/or drug related charges, Davila happily returned to the land of opportunity. Once in the U.S., as per the agreement, Davila testified against agents Ramos and Compean. The claims that Davila was shot in the back was disproved by the governments own witness- the doctor that removed the bullet fragment from Davila. The government’s medical expert testified, "The smuggler was not shot from behind". "He was in a running position, (bladed position) and pointing back with his left arm and hand when the bullet hit his left side of his left buttock and traveled to his right groin. This scientific evidence supports the agent’s account. The theory that Davila was not armed is also preposterous. Does any reasonable person believe that an established drug smuggler would hold onto his illegally possessed firearm when showing up for an interview with U.S. authorities? Of course he didn’t have a gun on him a month after the fact. Johnny Sutton goes so far to say he believes the drug dealer, because if the drug dealer had a gun he would have displayed it at the original stop by Compean, not during the subsequent mad dash across the border. Huh? All such nonsensical theories and the benefit of the doubt was advanced and granted to the smuggler by the U.S. Attorney’s office. It was also revealed that prior to Davila‘s excellent medical care by the hands of the U.S. Army doctor, Davila arranged another drug shipment into the U.S. Why not take advantage of the free trip and make some side cash courtesy of the U.S.A.?

The agents were convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and for violating the drug smuggler's 4th amendment civil rights. The drug smuggler is suing U.S. taxpayers for 5 million dollars.


Logic, justice, and loyalty were hijacked in Texas. The agents are sitting in prison awaiting the snail pace process of an appeal. They are in need of a presidential pardon now!




Petition President Bush Today!
Please join the hundreds of thousands of concerned Americans and the bipartisan efforts of many congressional members in the campaign to garner a pardon for the agents. Follow the National Petition link below to sign the online petition.
National Petition And Media Campaign To Pardon AgentsRamos And Compean!
Total signers: 381,787
Your Sponsor: Mr. Tony Vega

The Original Homeland Security

Ask the Indians what happens when you don't control immigration.

Thanksgiving

By Tony Vega
Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving should remind us of the many things we are thankful for, such as freedom and the men and women past and present that have sacrificed and are continuing to sacrifice for our freedom. Thanks to our troops, I am free to post this.

Among my many blessings, I am grateful that I am American. I say this with pride and no apologies.

I acknowledge the sins of this young country’s beginning, such as slavery and the much earlier decimation of Native Americans. This abomination will forever serve as blight on America’s history. I am thankful that we as a people and nation were able to rise above that. In line with our Judeo-Christian values we are able to face our sins, swear to never repeat such atrocities, and embrace equality and freedom as the basic tenets of our civilization.

Each and every American citizen should be proud of this great nation and stand fast against tyranny, and remain stalwart for freedom and justice.

On December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkley Hundred in Virginia. The group's charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a "day of thanksgiving" to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving. Here is the section of the Charter of Berkeley Hundred, which specifies the thanksgiving service:

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."-source: wikipedia.

In the spirit of the first Thanksgiving, I would proclaim to be forever thankful to God, for family and country.

May you and yours have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Amy Bruce: Make-A-Wish Foundation

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Monday, November 19, 2007

Recently, I've received a chain letter via email describing the plight of a 7-year-old girl with cancer named Amy Bruce. The letter goes on to claim if forwarded the Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7 cents every time the message is sent on. The heart wrenching claim is that the young girl is suffering from lung cancer derived from second hand smoke and a brain tumor from repeated beatings. One variation of this is included:

Hi, my name is Amy Bruce. I am 7 years old, and I have a large tumor on my brain and severe lung cancer. The doctors say I will die soon if this isn't fixed, and my family can't pay the bills. "The Make A Wish Foundation" has agreed to donate 7 cents for every time this message is sent on. For those of you who send this along, I thank you so much. But for those who don't send it, I will still pray for you. Please,i f you are a kind person, have a heart. Please, please,
PLEASE HIT THE FORWARD BUTTON.
Amy Bruce

This is a Hoax, clear and simple. First, there has to be software established in order to track the millions of emails forwarded and received in order for the Foundation to send Amy money. Secondly, the Make-A-Wish Foundation doesn't operate in that manner. The Make-A-Wish Foundation Does Not Participate In Chain Letter Or Other Direct Solicitation Wishes.

A quick check with snopes.com revealed that a variation of the Amy Bruce email has been circulating around the net since 1999, which would make "Amy" 15 years-old today.

The pranksters exploit the well intentioned nature of decent people in order to further their hoax, and nothing strums the heart strings like a young child with cancer.

Unfortunately, this serves as a distraction of the fantastic work done by the Foundation and the need for assistance for actual sick children. However, we can turn this into a positive by recognizing the Make-A-Wish Foundation and learning about the true mission of this wonderful Foundation. The Mission: "[To] grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions [and] to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy."

The Foundation is not in the practice of procuring donations via chain letters for medical assistance.

The Beginning:

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 144,000 children around the world.

So, what to do when you receive a hoax email? Don't forward it and perpetuate the hoax, delete it. Better yet:

Refer the sender and all recipients to this page.

Refer senders to ways they can help the Foundation

To learn more about the Foundation, Chris' story, and many others visit the Make-A-Wish Foundation web site, and maybe you can join me and help make a wish come true. http://www.wish.org/

Keep the Hutto Detention Center Open!

By Tony Vega for AssociatedContent.com
Friday, November 09, 2007

A family that illegally crosses the border together stays together. America has only two detention centers to house families that illegally enter the country. One facility is the Berk Facility in Pennsylvania and the second one is the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility opened in May 2006 in Taylor, Texas. We must make sure these facilities remain open, while we lobby for the creation of more centers to keep families together and safe from smugglers that exploit these vulnerable and desperate families. While we endeavor to find locations for additional centers, we must make sure it does not burden an American neighborhood already stressed by existing illegal immigrants. American interests and American families should be first and foremost. Let us not pile onto families that send their children to schools or hospitals that are overcrowded, resulting in less than premium care that American children deserve.

A family recently moved next door to me. They relocated from my “old” neighborhood, it was nice to catch up and reminisce with them. I recall the local elementary school in the old neighborhood being a decent one-not the best, but adequate. Most of the staff and students spoke fluent English and enjoyed large outdoor rec. areas. Now back to the future some 15 years later that school is now overcrowded, English is the foreign language, and the outside play areas are being encroached. My newly acquired neighbors relocated approximately 7 miles south from that area into a community that is very diverse and progressive. The difference between the more diverse “new” neighborhood and the “old” one is that it’s representative of American values. A majority of the families legally arrived from varying countries such as Afghanistan, China, India, Israel, the Philippines, and others. The families complemented and assimilated into a functioning American system. This success story is not fiction; it is an example of a process that values laws and diversity, enabling the pursuit of freedom to be achieved. This system fails when our laws are subverted and the violators are coddled and unchallenged. When immigrants break the law to enter the country, they are beginning their new lives on the wrong foot. If captured, they are introduced to a chaotic bureaucracy such as detention facilities, immigration hearings, not to mention the angst over possible deportation.

A quick check of the numbers reported by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveal that approximately 400 million people enter the U.S. through legal checkpoints each year. The GAO found that officers turned away over 200,000 people attempting to enter via some of the 326 legal air, sea, and land entry points during the 2006 fiscal year. There is an unverifiable estimate that approximately 21,000 illegal immigrants slipped through these border-crossing points between October 2005 and September 2006. This estimate does not explore the number of illegal entries via non-conventional points. The numbers are staggering. The Hutto center is a 512 bed facility, a drop in the bucket for the tidal wave of illegal entries.
America’s former immigrant enforcement “catch and release” policy was rife with problems. Pursuant to that policy adult members of detained migrant families were sent to separate facilities than their children, often in lieu of this, the alien families would be released and issued a Notice to Appear. What do you think happened? If you believe these law abiding folks appeared as per their return date then you’re not paying attention. This catch and release policy was very attractive to smugglers and they exploited it. Smugglers would bring unrelated children across the border with smuggled adult strangers fabricating family units. This aided the smugglers in avoiding detention if captured. There have been noted instances where these fabricated families would “volunteer” to be caught in order to expedite their release into the American populace. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came under congressional criticism for this inept policy. The Hutto facility was established to help in the new “catch and hold” policy, which will aid officials in keeping families together pursuant to a new congressional mandate. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will manage the facility

The Hutto facility, not yet the Hilton, appears to be a reasonable alternative and a well- needed addition to the Berk facility. It appears the emergence from the traditional policy of catch and release to the new “catch and hold” policy raised the ire of the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children. The Women’s Commission along with the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the powerful ACLU are trying to close the Hutto facility citing among other things that it was a former prison and remains too “prison” like. These advocate groups have many supporters, such as ShutHuttoDown.org, and Hutto has seen its share of protestors.

(Image on the left is of the photo intake area)

In February 2007, the Women’s Commission toured the facility and reported the results on their website. On the front page of the site is an image of a note “slipped” to them by a young detainee, reading “ Help us, and ask us questions” The picture is overlapping another black and white image of a playground within a large fenced in area. The fence is equipped with barbed wire. A subsequent interview of Gary Meade the Assistant Director of ICE by Dallas channel 8 news revealed the director saying Hutto is a work in progress and there are plans to remove the wire. The barbed wire was removed at a later date.

The anti-Hutto site, Shutdownhutto.org, hosts a series of benign videos attempting to publicize the plight. The first video aptly titled “Children Detained” displays a text graphic declaring some of the children along with their families were “confined” for a little over 3 months. Listen, children should not be held responsible for the violations perpetrated by their parents, but unfortunately, it’s an unpleasant fact that when adult caretakers accompanied by their minor charges are apprehended the children are stuck in the middle. It should always be of paramount concern and order that local or federal officials make sure the children are placed in a safe and secure environment pending appropriate custodial placement. The children in these anti-Hutto videos all appear healthy and housed in a clean, safe, well lit establishment, and best of all in the company of their parents, the same parents that put them in this predicament. How magnanimous of U.S. officials. The worst atrocity described was “having a small window where we could see the sky, but can’t enjoy it” These are the poster families of the gulag?

The second video features a Palestinian family interviewed by CBS, not FOX, after immigration officials allowed the film crew in following the complaints of another Palestinian family held at Hutto for 3 months. As the camera is rolling, the reporter is walking the viewers through the facility and reports “it looks more like a day care center, not a detention center, but another Palestinian family has a different story.” The interview followed with Nazmieh Juma and her 11-year-old son Mohammed. They were held for 3 months and she wonders aloud what she did wrong. How about entering the country illegally? The video report continued and audibly and visually established that there was no abuse, but the family complained the facility was more like a prison instead of the family friendly center depicted by ICE.

The third video shows more of the same, including the same pregnant woman and her two small daughters in the first video that complained about “not being able to enjoy the sky.” Thank goodness, those small girls did not fall prey to the smugglers.

The fourth video shows a family from Iran, previously deported from Canada. The family was sneaking back into the Canada via Guyana with phony passports. They came to the attention of U.S. authorities after the plane they were on made an unscheduled landing. Kudos to ICE, it shows they’re on the job. Remember many of the 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S. with phony passports. This Iranian family was discovered and detained at the Hutto facility along with their 9 yr old son Kevin Yourdkhani. While at Hutto, Kevin wrote a letter, in crayon, to the Canadian prime minister (PM) asking for help. Kevin was born in Canada in 1997 after his parents went there seeking refugee status, the family was eventually denied and deported back to Iran. It is reported that while in Iran they were imprisoned (an actual prison) and tortured, after an unexplained release the family attempted to illegally return to Canada. The PM received Kevin’s letter and responded with temporary Canadian residency permits for the family. After a few weeks in Hutto, the Yourdkhani’s were provided air transport to Canada. During a subsequent interview in which you can hear the prompting from the background, Kevin complained, not about his family’s ordeal in Iran, but the lack of education he was granted during the few weeks at Hutto, sick children, and the food.

The last and fifth video shows a group of protestors shouting about children being educated behind barbed wire. That’s right “educated.” Wow, the great Satan America. I can show you some American schools with locked doors, no AC, no gym, no library, metal detectors, and armed public servants. Many of the parents are thankful for the opportunity their children are getting to elevate themselves from their current station.

A look at the various websites, including the ACLU site, wishing Hutto closed reveals more of the same. The ACLU site boasts of the landmark settlement with immigration officials in August 2007. The first bullet point reveals that 13-year-old children, at the behest of the ACLU, are allowed to move free abut the facility. Would you want 13-year- old boys and girls moving freely about a “prison”?

After scouring the anti-Hutto sites, one will not find any dark or foreboding images, or any detainees wearing “prison garb.”

A check of the fact sheet for Hotel Hutto at ice.gov reveals the following amenities:

A medical area, which includes a mental health staff

A chaplain

Adult classes in parenting, ESL, vocational, and more

Unlocked doors (very “prison” like)

Central air conditioning throughout entire 7,500 sq. ft. facility

A general library containing over 2000 books

A law library

Three outdoor shaded pavilions and play areas

A gym, baseball, basketball, hand ball, ping pong, and soccer

There are many more amenities, in place prior to the “landmark” decision. What, no football-how dare them!?

Please allow me to digress a moment. Take a walk with me back to my neighborhood. This community is a functioning mosaic that would make any legitimate civil liberties activist proud. Unfortunately, racial arsonists and perverse secular progressives have hijacked mainstream organizations such as the NAACP and the Anti-American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU goes so far to champion causes of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), they are also an active force behind a Main school board dispensing birth control pills to 11-year-old-girls. When groups such as the ACLU are litigating to shutdown family facilities, in the interest of children, one should be very suspicious.

It appears the cry to shut down Hutto is an ideological one, rather than a pragmatic solution to a complex issue.

There is an active 20-year-old court order preventing the deportation of migrants from El Salvador. DHS is unable to expeditiously remove people from El Salvador due to an order created when there was a civil war 20 years ago. Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff has acknowledged that the civil war is over and the restrictions have long since disappeared. Secretary Chertoff is appealing to Congress for relief. This common sense approach will help alleviate some of the burden. You see, this is where the blind ideologues get in the way- it wouldn’t be in furtherance of the true agenda. That agenda is to allow the tide of illegal immigration to continue to flow unimpeded. This unfettered chaos will promote anarchy and expedite the devaluation of America. If you think the ACLU or these other anti-Hutto outfits are looking out for the children, think again. If they were, Kevin Yourdkhani would have been prompted not to complain about Hutto, but to talk about his ordeal in Iran. One of the basic protections for a refugee seeking asylum, is not to be returned to a State where they would be persecuted. Complaining about the education curriculum at Hutto after a brief layover does not help the Yourdkhanis.

Another practical view into this issue would reveal the need for additional facilities, in order to keep the migrant families together and safe, safe from the unscrupulous smugglers. Lastly, it shows the outstanding performance by ICE and the tremendous task our government faces to keep America secure.

Jeff Dunham Presents: Achmed the Dead Terrorist

For the laugh track. Enjoy this 10 minute clip. Jeff Dunham Presents Achmed the Dead Terrorist.......

Pirate Coast: Book Review

By Tony Vega for AssociatedContent.com
Thursday, November 14, 2007

The Pirate Coast is a very interesting historical account of how a handful of Marines along with General William Eaton embarked on America's first overseas covert op. They trekked across the brutal and unforgiving Sahara desert in an endeavor to free American soldiers that were captured and enslaved by Barbary pirates (Moslems). It's an interesting chronicle of how Moslems enslaved Christians, Americans & Europeans dating as far back as the 1700's.

In the opening chapter, Zacks detailed how Barbary pirates swept up more than 1,000 Italian villagers and sold them into slavery. The highest price was for a 12-year-old girl.

Click here for complete review and author's website for more photos:
to the shores of Tripoli

Veterans Day 2007

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Sunday 11 November 2007

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”

Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.

Armistice Day Changed To Honor All Veterans

The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day," which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11, then designated Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Reagan in November 1982. Weeks' local parade and ceremonies are now an annual event celebrated nationwide. -source VA

Present day 2007, our military are engaged in an unprecedented military action across the globe in a war against terror. As in most conflicts past or present, Americans express their views pro or con in a variety of ways. You may do so in a boisterous, mild, or indifferent manner, just remember it is our veterans that are valiantly protecting your right to do just that.

Perhaps on Veterans Day, we can cease the rhetoric long enough to take pause and honor the men and women in uniform that are serving and have served, not only those that died- but the living soldiers as well. That’s what Veterans Day is about, to thank our veterans, to show our gratitude without prejudice for their honorable service in keeping America free.

-----------------------------

If you’re reading this thank a teacher, if you’re reading this in English thank a soldier.

Happy Birthday to the United States Marines

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blog.spot.com
Saturday, 10 November 2007

Today is the 232nd birthday of the United States Marines. Formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps began on 10 November 1921. That particular date was chosen because on that day the Second Continental Congressional resolved in 1775 to raise two continental battallions of Marines. On 01 November 1921, General Lejune, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued Marine Corps Order NO. 47, series 1921. The order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps, and directed that it be read to every command on 10 November each subsequent year in honor of the birthday of the Marine Corps. This order has been duly carried out. - source U.S. Marines

The Marines’ Hymn is the oldest official song in the United States Armed Forces, and probably the most recognized the world ‘round. The third verse is also used as a toast during events important to the Corps such as the Marine Corps birthday. Note the line "Here's health to you and to our Corps.” Traditionally the hymn is sung while at attention as a gesture of respect. The lyrics are included for your enjoyment. So maggots stand at ATTENTION and sound off !

Marines’ Hymn
From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli,
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurl'd to every breeze
From the dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And have never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

--------
Semper Fi!

Right vs Wrong

-author unknown


A woman in a hot air balloon realizes she is lost. She lowers her altitude and spots a man fishing from a boat below.

She shouts to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man consults his portable GPS and replies, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.”

She rolls her eyes and says, "You must be a Republican!"

"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answers the balloonist, "everything you tell me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you're not much help to me."

The man smiles and responds, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replies the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well," says the man, "You don't know where you are or where you're going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault."

Hillary's Slip Shows

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 04, 2007

The latest Democratic Debate took place on October, 30, 2007 at Drexel U., Philadelphia. This was so close to Halloween, I was going to offer some common comparisons to witches, ghouls, but I decided against that because there is nothing scarier than a Liberal from New York.

A peek under Shrillary's mask did not reveal a pretty sight. Ladies, and gentlemen you're gonna need a lot of syrup for this waffle. The illustrious Senator from NY was quoted, while in New Hampshire, as claiming Eliot Spitzer’s absurd plan to allow illegal immigrants to have a driver’s license as “making sense.” Fast forward to Philadelphia’s Drexel University where Tim Russert one of the debate’s moderators asked her “why does it make sense”? Let the waffling begin. Hillary Clinton blamed the Bush Administration for the reason Spitzer drafted this plan, explaining he is “trying to fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration.” Huh? Is it possible for the Democrats to sincerely answer a question? It appears that whenever the going gets tough the Liberals cop out with the all too familiar lament of “it’s President Bush’s fault.” Enough already. Answer a question on the merits, take a stand, you are endeavoring to be the leader of the free world, show some courage, and stop trying to play it safe by hovering the politically safe middle ground. You know, the only thing in the middle of the road is yellow stripes and dead animals.



She refers to illegal immigrants as “undocumented workers.” Well Hillary, what do you call an “undocumented worker” that doesn’t work? Man, the elite left are so out of touch. That’s how she got into hot water in the first place; Slowly coming to the realization that most New Yorkers, including the Democrats in her own party, aren’t in favor of the NY Governor’s plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, whether they “work” or not. Tim Russert addressed the entire panel of seven Democrats and asked, “Does anyone here believe that illegal immigrants should not have a driver’s license”? Chris Dodd from Connecticut immediately raised his hand. I believe there was one stall tactic where a Dem. partially repeated the question, feigning misunderstanding. Obama and Richardson glanced over at Dodd and with a weak wrist gesture joined him by raising their own hand. Chris Dodd made a sensible comment, reminding the panelists and viewers that having a driver’s license is a privilege not a right, and without equivocation he made his position clear that he is not in favor if Spitzer’s plan. Hillary, obviously rattled, attempted to save herself after Dodd’s remarks. She pretty much sputtered and claimed her comments didn’t mean she was for the plan, and then she was for the plan, the plan made sense, and just in case there were a few viewers that did not catch her earlier finger pointing, she blamed George Bush again. Right, I was confused typing that. Hillary, here’s some advise from this American blogger: A closed mouth gathers no foot.

Bloomberg Dishonors 9/11 Hero

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Thursday, November 01, 2007

James Zadroga and daughter Tylerann

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg decidedly cherry picked medical findings and declared that James Zadroga, a retired NYC police detective, is not a hero. Detective Zadroga responded to Ground Zero after the Twin Towers collapsed because of terror attacks on September 11, 2001. James Zadroga’s story is unique amongst the rest of America’s citizens, in which so many respond in the opposite direction of terror. James Zadroga, with selfless courage, responded to the scene and honorably engaged in rescue/recovery work in a toxic cloud for nearly 500 hours.

Detective Zadroga was not trapped in the buildings on that fateful day, he was not killed because of falling debris, or any other means that claimed the lives of too many of our citizens, fire fighters, and police officers. He was killed, nonetheless, by the murderous acts committed by terrorists on 9/11. Detective Zadroga finished his tours of duty at Ground Zero, and after spending hundreds of hours inhaling toxic dust from the air surrounding the site he became very ill. Detective Zadroga retired with a disability pension due to his impairment contracted in the performance of duty, so ruled a medical board. James lived the remaining years of his life in New Jersey with his loving parents, succumbing to the deadly respiratory ailment in January 2006. According to New Jersey’s medical examiner Dr. Breton, James Zadroga died from inhaling toxic dust from Ground Zero. The Zadroga family wanted to add James’ name to the official list of 9/11 victims, so they contacted the New York City medical examiner’s office to review the case.

New York City’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Charles Hirsch, concluded that the lung disease that detective Zadroga had was a result of injecting prescription drugs. The family sought a third opinion from Dr. Michael Baden the New York State Police chief forensic pathologist. Dr. Baden agreed with the original finding of New Jersey’s medical examiner and reported that James Zadroga’s lung disease was a result of inhaling poisons from Ground Zero. Dr. Baden further reports that James suffered from a “black lung” ailment caused by inhaling particulate matter “You can’t get that from injecting drugs.” He also detected the presence of glass fibers via an examination of microscope slides. Dr. Baden further stated, “You can’t make a basis of intravenous injections of ground down pills based on these slides.” Also noted was the absence of needle marks and scarring associated with intravenous drug use. Numerous doctors that treated detective Zadroga concluded his illness was a direct result of inhaling toxic fumes from the site. The United States Social Security Administration also agreed and declared that James Zadroga was disabled.

Can a large American bureaucracy and a host of reputable medical doctors all be wrong? Yes, it‘s possible. If Dr. Hirsch’ sole conclusion emerges as the accurate one, it doesn’t matter in the regard of detective Zadroga‘s character. The medical wrangling are mere semantics. You see there is incontrovertible proof that detective Zadroga served NYC well, risking his life for the citizenry. Detective Zadroga made the ultimate sacrifice, and it was this that mattered, it was how the man lived his life, not how he perished, that made him a hero.

Perhaps it matters to Mayor Bloomberg because of pending litigation. There have been discussions regarding a pending settlement with thousands of sick Ground Zero workers. The Mayor’s medical examiners denial of the 9/11 link will prevent certain inclusions the Zadroga family may have in regard to a 9/11 victim status. The Mayor states, “Science decided” that detective Zadroga is not a hero. No Mayor, YOU decided that. Science, morality, and anyone without an economic agenda have determined that detective Zadroga was a hero. Rep. Caroline Maloney (D- Manhattan, Queens) referring to Dr. Hirsch’s report stated, “Nothing in his report changes the fact that Detective Zadroga would be alive today if not for his heroic service at Ground Zero.”

On September 11, 2001, a group of Islamic terrorists attacked our nation and killed thousands of people in this city. That death toll is still rising as individuals, such as Detective Zadroga, fall to an insidious weapon released during the aftermath of those attacks- the poisonous dust cloud that shrouded the area and permeated into the lungs of so many American heroes. The deaths of these subsequent victims are on the hands of those soulless terrorists. For New York’s Mayor to deny that the results of their actions were not the cause of Detective Zadroga’s death is unconscionable to say the least. All for what Mr. Mayor, to save a few bucks? How dare you? You sir, may have aided and abetted the enemy in this homicide by your deniability, but you will not and cannot tarnish the legacy of Detective Zadroga.