Men With Foil Hats

Afghanistan – 450 Bases and It’s Not Over Yet

Fetch — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:22:26 +0000

In late December, the lot was just a big blank: a few burgundy metal shipping containers sitting in an expanse of crushed eggshell-colored gravel inside a razor-wire-topped fence. The American military in Afghanistan doesn’t want to talk about it, but one day soon, it will be a new hub for the American drone war in the Greater Middle East.

Next year, that empty lot will be a two-story concrete intelligence facility for America’s drone war, brightly lit and filled with powerful computers kept in climate-controlled comfort in a country where most of the population has no access to electricity. It will boast almost 7,000 square feet of offices, briefing and conference rooms, and a large “processing, exploitation, and dissemination” operations center — and, of course, it will be built with American tax dollars.

Nor is it an anomaly. Despite all the talk of drawdowns and withdrawals, there has been a years-long building boom in Afghanistan that shows little sign of abating. In early 2010, the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had nearly 400 bases in Afghanistan. Today, Lieutenant Lauren Rago of ISAF public affairs tells TomDispatch, the number tops 450.

The hush-hush, high-tech, super-secure facility at the massive air base in Kandahar is just one of many building projects the U.S. military currently has planned or underway in Afghanistan. While some U.S. bases are indeed closing up shop or being transferred to the Afghan government, and there’s talk of combat operations slowing or ending next year, as well as a withdrawal of American combat forces from Afghanistan by 2014, the U.S. military is still preparing for a much longer haul at mega-bases like Kandahar and Bagram airfields. The same is true even of some smaller camps, forward operating bases (FOBs), and combat outposts (COPs) scattered through the country’s backlands. “Bagram is going through a significant transition during the next year to two years,” Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Gerdes of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Bagram Office recently toldFreedom Builder, a Corps of Engineers publication. “We’re transitioning… into a long-term, five-year, 10-year vision for the base.”

via 450 Bases and It’s Not Over Yet | NationofChange.

A True Picture Of Afghanistan

Fetch — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:27:36 +0000

Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis spent most of last year on his second tour of Afghanistan; he was assigned to the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force. While carrying out his duties the Colonel talked to the troops about their situation in the region. He talked to everyone in any position as well as allies and Afghan security forces. He traveled over 9,000 miles and personally patrolled with ground troops in several provinces. Give credit to Co. Davis he saw the real situation up close and in person. His unclassified report to The Armed Forces Journal exposed that the situation on the ground is the total opposite what has been reported to the American Public.

Revelations

Col. Davis revealed that the situation in Afghanistan was not improving and that the security forces were nowhere near ready to fight against the Taliban. They lacked the will and courage to take the fight to the terrorists. The areas of the country that are not under the direct control of the Americans and theInternational Security Assistance Forces were the territory of the Insurgents and Davis felt they would remain so.

The local Afghan government is inept and the Afghan military have no desire to confront the Taliban Insurgents and in some cases actually collude with the terrorists. Americans in country have little trust, confidence and respect for Afghanis because they lack the resolve to take on the Insurgents that will kill them and their families once the Americans leave.

via A True Picture Of Afghanistan | Western Journalism.com.

Fox drops Judge Napolitano show

Fetch — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:02:16 +0000

WASHINGTON – Judge Andrew Napolitano’s “Freedom Watch” on Fox Business Channel, arguably the most hard-hitting conservative show on TV, is being dropped by the network later this month in a major shakeup of the lineup.

FBC is also dropping shows by David Asman and Eric Bolling. The network will repeat earlier shows, “The Willis Report,” “Cavuto” and “Lou Dobbs Tonight” in their place.

Fox is also developing a new show hosted by Melissa Francis, who recently joined FBN from CNBC, that will air at 5 pm ET.

Bolling and Napolitano will continue their on-air roles at Fox Business and Fox News; Asman will continue to anchor the 4 pm ET show on Fox Business.

“We look forward to Judge Napolitano, David and Eric continuing to make significant contributions to both FOX Business and FOX News,” said FBN Executive Vice President Kevin Magee.

via Fox drops Judge Napolitano show.

Pelosi takes on Colbert

Fetch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:17:59 +0000

Washington (CNN) – The Alice in Wonderland state of American politics has just reached a new level.

Nancy Pelosi, the stately, serious former House speaker released a video satire Thursday going after comedian Stephen Colbert for his super PAC.

Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

The must-watch-it-to-believe it video features the House Democratic leader narrating under black and white pictures of Colbert, saying he “used to be my friend. I even signed the poor baby’s cast.”

She then calls him “out of control” for taking money from special interests for his super PAC.

The kicker: with the now infamous picture of Pelosi on the couch with Newt Gingrich, Pelosi says Colbert “even used his super PAC to attack my friend Newt Gingrich.”

At the end of the video, Pelosi gets to her serious point. She is promoting the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which House Democrats are reintroducing Thursday. The DISCLOSE act would among other things require more transparency by super PACs in terms of who their donors are.

via Pelosi takes on Colbert – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs.

Camp Pendleton Marine shot and killed with 2 kids in back seat

Fetch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:18:00 +0000

At that point, Amormino said, something happened that made the deputy fear for his life. What that was, however, was not disclosed.

SAN CLEMENTE – Two young daughters of a Camp Pendleton Marine were in the back seat of an SUV on Tuesday when a sheriff’s deputy fired, fatally wounding the 31-year-old man, officials said Thursday.

On Thursday morning, officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the man as Manuel Levi Loggins and began to release details regarding what led a deputy to shoot him after a traffic stop at San Clemente High School.

Sheriff’s investigators work near a GMC SUV which has a school gate wedged underneath it. The man drove through a gate and into San Clemente High School parking lot early Tuesday and was injured in an officer-involved shooting and later died. By Wednesday afternoon, Camp Pendleton officials confirmed that the man who died in the officer-involved shooting was a Marine stationed at the base, but declined to give the man’s name, rank or time of service.

Officials would not say how close the shooting occurred to the two girls, who they said were 9 and 14 years old, but said the shooting was near the vehicle.

Authorities said Loggins was walking back toward the GMC Yukon when the deputy feared for his life and fired. The two girls were not injured.

Sheriff’s officials said Loggins was spotted speeding and crashing through a gate at the high school along Avenida Pico early Tuesday, prompting a deputy to contact the Marine.

Loggins got out of his SUV and ignored several commands from the deputy, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the department.

As Loggins walked back to the vehicle, the deputy fired, Amormino said.

After the shooting, the deputy’s patrol car could be seen parked a few feet behind Loggins’ SUV.

Sheriff’s officials would not say what made the deputy think his life was in danger or if Loggins had a weapon.

“That is part of the investigation,” Amormino said.

A sheriff’s blotter entry shows that deputies were called for a possible hit-and-run and child endangerment.

Officials from Camp Pendleton identified Loggins as a sergeant and native of Joliet, Ill.

Loggins enlisted in the Marines in October 1998 and was assigned as a transportation management specialist assigned to Headquarters and Support Battalion in Pendleton.

During his service, Loggins received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Navy Unit Commendations, three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Sheriff’s officials said the shooting occurred at about 4:40 a.m. Tuesday morning. The deputy was parked in the high school parking lot doing paperwork when he spotted the white SUV speeding, turning into the school parking lot and crashing through a gate.

Amormino said Loggins got out of the car and walked toward the field, ignoring the deputy’s orders to stop.

“Loggins gets out of his car and is heading toward the field,” Amormino said. “The deputy gives him a set of commands that (Loggins) disobeys.”

Loggins walked back toward the car. At that point, Amormino said, something happened that made the deputy fear for his life. What that was, however, was not disclosed.

via Sheriff: 2 kids in back seat when Marine was shot | deputy, logg – News – The Orange County Register.

Domestic Drone Surveillance Program Poised to Pass with Overwhelming Support of “Conservative Congress”

MWFH's — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:37:20 +0000

Congress Trying to Fast-Track Domestic Drone Use, Sideline Privacy

Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union

Congress is poised to give final passage to legislation that would give a big boost to domestic unmanned aerial surveillance — aka “drones.”

As we explained in our recent report, drone technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, and there is a lot of pent-up demand for them within the law enforcement community. But, domestic deployment of unmanned aircraft for surveillance purposes has largely been blocked so far by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is rightly concerned about the safety effects of filling our skies with flying robots (which crash significantly more often than manned aircraft).

As we also explained in our report, the FAA is under pressure to loosen the reins and permit broader deployment of drones by government agencies.

One result of that pressure is this legislation (H.R. 658 — see conference report for more details), which authorizes appropriations for the FAA through fiscal 2014. Unfortunately, nothing in the bill would address the very serious privacy issues raised by drone aircraft. This bill would push the nation willy-nilly toward an era of aerial surveillance without any steps to protect the traditional privacy that Americans have always enjoyed and expected.

Congress — and to the extent possible, the FAA — need to impose some rules (such as those we proposed in our report) to protect Americans’ privacy from the inevitable invasions that this technology will otherwise lead to. We don’t want to wonder, every time we step out our front door, whether some eye in the sky is watching our every move.

On Friday, the House gave final passage to the legislation. House approval came on a quite partisan vote, with most Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposing. The Senate is scheduled to take up the bill later today.

via Congress Trying to Fast-Track Domestic Drone Use, Sideline Privacy » Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Ties That Bind | Soros, Gingrich May Have Secret Pact

MWFH's — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:05:15 +0000

Uh Oh! George Soros Paid for Ad Featuring Newt and Nancy Pelosi Shilling For Al Gore’s Global Warming Scam

Newt And Nancy’s TV Ad Was Launched By Al Gore’s Alliance For Climate Protection.

Well, looks like Big Government “progessive” Newt Gingrich has stepped in it again folks. As his fellow traveler Barack Obama would say, he’s “acted stupidly,” with his latest freaky attack on Mitt Romney.

You see, a bit back George Soros made a comment that there was little difference between Mitt and Obama. Now Soros isn’t stupid. He knew exactly how that would play with Conservatives.

Folks like Rush Limbaugh constantly say you can tell who the left fears the most by who the attack the hardest. According to a study done by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, Mitt Romney is getting by far the most negative press of the GOP field. Unless there is some sort of unwritten rule that exempts Mitt, or, God forbid, Rush is wrong, it sure looks like the left is more concerned about Mitt than anyone else. You certainly do not see the left attacking Newt Gingrich.

The problem with Newt’s attack is while Soros was running his head to Reuters, it’s hard to find any direct ties between Soros and Romney, though Newt sure would like you to think there is.

There actually IS a direct link between George Soros and Newt Gingrich though.

We all remember this betrayal of Conservatism and the American people by Newt. [one of many]

via Uh Oh! George Soros Paid for Ad Featuring Newt and Nancy Pelosi Shilling For Al Gore’s Global Warming Scam | A Time For Choosing.

California to get Lion’s Share of Fed Mortgage Settlement

MWFH's — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:33:17 +0000

Feds, states, banks agree to $26 billion mortgage settlement

Five major mortgage servicers agreed to a $26 billion settlement with state and federal officials in a deal that is being called historic, but which critics are likely to say doesn’t go far enough.

The deal could grow to $30 billion if nine more servicers sign on, and it’s expected to cover almost all 50 states, a White House official said Thursday.

The settlement would be the biggest involving a single industry since a 1998 multistate tobacco deal.

A monitor will be appointed to see that it is carried out.

The five servicers involved so far —Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Ally Financial and Wells Fargo— will provide $17 billion in mortgage relief to more than 1 million homeowners. Another $1 billion will go to the federal government; $3 billion will help the servicers refinance borrowers into lower-interest rate loans.

Hundreds of thousands of borrowers are also expected to receive restitution, averaging $1500 to $2000, if they lost homes to foreclosure from 2008 to the end of 2011.

The relief must be extended within three years or servicers would have to pay any remaining part of the settlement in cash. To encourage servicers to do more work sooner rather than later, given the ongoing foreclosure crisis, they’ll get more credit for modifying and refinancing loans in the first year of the deal.

The settlement, which has been a year in the making, will create the largest effort by servicers so far to write down the amount homeowners owe on underwater mortgages, where the homeowners owe more than the house is now worth. Falling property values have put many homeowners under water.

via Feds, states, banks agree to $26 billion mortgage settlement – USATODAY.com.

Shhhhhhh… Don’t tell the Drive By Media – Ron Paul Secretly Won the Caucuses

Fetch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:41:08 +0000

They all laughed at Ron Paul. They all laughed when he took a stage in Minnesota, having come in a solid second place, and reminded the faithful of a “little thing called delegates!”

They were serious about it. Paul’s people believe that they understand the delegate process, and that the media does not. There is truth here: The delegate process is confusing, and I assume that Paul supporters have used their four years of organizing and studying in a fruitful manner. In an e-mail to supporters, they try to get granular about what’s occuring.

We are confident in gaining a much larger share of delegates than even our impressive showing yesterday indicates. As an example of our campaign’s delegate strength, take a look at what has occurred in Colorado:

- In one precinct in Larimer County, the straw poll vote was 23 for Santorum, 13 for Paul, 5 for Romney, 2 for Gingrich. There were 13 delegate slots, and Ron Paul got ALL 13.

- In a precinct in Delta County the vote was 22 for Santorum, 12 for Romney, 8 for Paul, 7 for Gingrich. There were 5 delegate slots, and ALL 5 went to Ron Paul.

- In a Pueblo County precinct, the vote was 16 for Santorum, 11 for Romney, 3 for Gingrich and 2 for Paul. There were 2 delegate slots filled, and both were filled by Ron Paul supporters.

- We are also seeing the same trends in Minnesota, Nevada, and Iowa, and in Missouri as well.

For this to stick, Paul’s activists have to show up at the next votes — small affairs, not much media, happening in March — and control the delegate process. Then they have to show up at conventions and repeat it. This is actually doable.

via www.slate.com.

26 Things Non-Paul Voters Are Basically Saying

Fetch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:18:57 +0000

I am trying to understand the thinking behind the great many Americans who have decided to vote for a mainstream politician in 2012.

Now before you read the below and send me an angry email telling me I should be nice, that I should try to persuade them through love, etc., let me note that I have generally done that. My video appeal to Iowa radio host Steve Deace was a friendly, reasoned discussion of Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. My videos about Rick Santorum have been straight forward examinations of the facts. See my video on Santorum’s view that we need inflation in order to prosper, and my video on why Catholics should instead vote for Ron Paul. But once in a while you just can’t take it anymore, and you have to let loose. So, whether they realize it or not, here are 26 things non-Paul supporters appear to be saying.

1 The American political establishment has done a super job keeping our country prosperous and our liberties protected, so I’m sure whatever candidate they push on me is probably a good one.

2 Our country is basically bankrupt. Unfunded entitlement liabilities are in excess of twice world GDP. Therefore, it’s a good idea to vote for someone who offers no specific spending cuts of any kind.

3 Vague promises to cut spending are good enough for me, even though they have always resulted in higher spending in the past.

4 I prefer a candidate who plays to the crowd, instead of having the courage to tell his audience things they may not want to hear.

5 I am deeply concerned about spending. Therefore, I would like to vote for someone who supported Medicare Part D, thereby adding $7 trillion to Medicare’s unfunded liabilities.

6 I am opposed to bailouts. Therefore, I will vote for a candidate who supported TARP.

7 The federal government is much too involved in education, where it has no constitutional role. Therefore, I will vote for a candidate who supported expanding the Department of Education and favored the No Child Left Behind Act.

8 Even though practically everyone was caught by surprise in the 2008 financial crisis, which we are still reeling from, it’s a good idea not to vote for the one man in politics who predicted exactly what was bound to unfold, all the way back in 2001.

9 I am not impressed by a candidate who inspires people, especially young ones, to read the great economists and political philosophers.

10 I am concerned about taxes. Therefore, I will not vote for the one candidate who has never supported a tax increase.

11 I believe it is conservative to support bringing the Enlightenment to Afghanistan.

12 Even though I lost half my retirement portfolio when the economy crashed from the sugar high the Federal Reserve’s artificially low interest rates put it on, I would like to vote for someone who is not really interested in the Federal Reserve.

via Read the rest here @ Tom Woods tomwoods.com.

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