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JANUARY 14,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:59 P.M. ET: 

TRENDIES AT WORK – From Breitbart:  "In a new initiative to promote religious pluralism, Duke University will broadcast the Muslim call to prayer every Friday on campus. The call to prayer—also known as 'adhan'—will be chanted by the Duke Muslim Student Association.  The prayer itself is set to start this Friday at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast and amplified from the Chapel bell tower on campus.  As campuses continue to foster political correctness, they use it as a way to favor religions seemingly at war with Western Civilization and Judeo-Christian beliefs."  Considering the Paris attacks, Duke's timing isn't exactly elegant.  But I wonder if the worthies at Duke are even aware of the Paris attacks.  I also wonder whether "Silent Night" would be approved for broadcast while students prepared for Christmas vacation.  Don't hold your breath.

NUT CASE – From Britain's Daily Mail:  "The President of Turkey has suggested French security forces are to blame for the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last week, since the culprits had recently served prison sentences.  Recep Tayyip Erdo?an accused the West of 'playing games with the Islamic world', warning fellow Muslims to be 'aware'.  Erdogan said Muslims are 'paying the price' for the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish kosher supermarket in Paris last week."  This man heads a country that is in NATO.  Maybe it's time we reconsidered that.  NATO members get classified information.

DAVID COMING – From Financial Times:  "David Cameron will seek Barack Obama’s support this week for a push to improve co-operation between intelligence agencies and technology companies such as Twitter and Facebook, warning the president that public safety is at stake.  The prime minister is traveling to Washington on Thursday for what is intended to be his final overseas trip before the UK general election, hoping that two days of meetings and photo calls with the US president will give him an electoral boost."  It's clear that our main allies have lost confidence in Obama, and feel that he lacks the spine to fight a real war on sacred terror.  Actually, he lacks the interest.

BACK TO REALITY – From Fox:  "An alleged sympathizer of the Islamic State terror group was arrested in Ohio on Wednesday after authorities learned that he was plotting a shooting and bombing attack on the U.S. Capitol.  Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, of Green Township, considered members of Congress as 'enemies' and planned to travel to Washington to kill employees and officers working in and around the U.S. Capitol, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities said he had two semi-automatic rifles and about 600 rounds of ammunition, and planned to build and detonate pipe bombs at and near the U.S. Capitol."  I'm glad we stopped this one.  We won't always be this lucky.

January 14, 2015       Permalink

BULLETIN:  AL QAEDA CLAIMS CREDIT FOR PARIS ATTACKS – AT 8:28 A.M. ET:  Will the White House continue to claim that the term "Islamic terrorism" is "inaccurate"?  From CNN:

(CNN) Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility Wednesday for last week's rampage that killed 12 people at France's Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper.

The attack was years in the making, AQAP claimed.

In a video, the group said the late Anwar al-Awlaki masterminded the attack. The U.S.-born Muslim scholar and cleric was spokesman for AQAP before his death in 2011.

The group did not claim responsibility for Friday's deadly siege at a kosher grocery store in Paris, but praised it.

The claim surfaced as Charlie Hebdo's new issue -- featuring the Prophet Mohammed on the cover -- sold all 3 million copies, in a sign of defiance against the terrorists. More copies are coming, the magazine said.

The claim for the Charlie Hebdo attack came in a video showing AQAP commander Nasr Ibn Ali al-Ansi, with pictures of the two dead Paris gunmen -- brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi -- in the background.

"When the heroes were assigned, they accepted. They promised and fulfilled," al-Ansi said.

He praised the attack, saying it was revenge for Charlie Hebdo's depictions of Mohammed.

Al-Ansi blamed not only Charlie Hebdo, but also France and the United States in his statement.

"It is France that has shared all of America's crimes," al-Ansi added. "It is France that has committed crimes in Mali and the Islamic Maghreb. It is France that supports the annihilation of Muslims in Central Africa in the name of race cleansing." ("Islamic Maghreb" refers to North Africa.)

COMMENT:  France has actually been one of the most pro-Muslim countries in Europe.  But it doesn't matter.  Crazed fanatics have their own view of reality.

We do hope the president of the United States takes time out from the important work of watching football reruns and examines the AQAP video.  The White House can make copies for a small fee.

January 14, 2015       Permalink

HILLARY GETTING STARTED? – AT 8:15 A.M. ET:  Jay Leno last week said that Hillary Clinton looked old and slow.  Pretty devastating stuff, even coming from a comic.  But there are signs that the Democratic Party's great hope for 2016 is starting to move.  From Fox: 

Counselor to the President John Podesta will take on a senior role in Hillary Clinton's as yet undeclared Presidential campaign when he departs the White House next month, according to a published report.

The Wall Street Journal, citing three people with the matter, reported that Podesta has sat in on informal meetings of Clinton aides that have have discussed a potential presidential campaign in 2016. The former secretary of state and senator from New York has not yet formally announced her candidacy. However, the Journal reports that Podesta's planned move is seen as the clearest sign yet that she will run.

It is.  Podesta is a political heavyweight.  It's unlikely he'd give up a White House job, with free use of the gym, unless Hillary is definitely running.

It remains unclear what role Podesta would play in a presumptive Clinton campaign, the Journal reported that he would likely become campaign chairman.

Podesta served as White House chief of staff for the final 27 months of former President Bill Clinton's second term in office. He became Counselor to President Barack Obama at the beginning of 2014, and has played a key role in advising the president on energy policy.

Podesta initially told Reuters last week that he would depart the White House "in early February," a few weeks after Obama delivers the State of the Union address Jan. 20. When discussing a possible role in a Clinton campaign, he said, "If she decides to run, I told her I'd do anything I can to help her."

COMMENT:   The next six months should make clear whether Hillary will be seriously challenged for the nomination, and whether her general lead in the polls holds up.  If her lead starts to dwindle, I'd expect some kind of challenge, whether it's a candidate coming forward or the start of a "draft Elizabeth Warren" campaign. 

January 14, 2015       Permalink

DISGRACEFUL, DISHONEST – AT 8:05 A.M. ET:  The White House is doubling down on its refusal to call last week's attacks in Paris "Islamic terrorism."  Apparently, there are rumors that the attacks were carried out by penguins.  Radical penguins.  From Gateway Pundit:   

Last week the Obama White House refused to call the slaughter at Charlie Hebdo newspaper an act of terrorism. The Obama administration was “waiting for an investigation.”

Today White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said it was “inaccurate” to use the phrase “radical Islam.”

“I’m describing a reason why we have not chosen to use that label because it doesn’t seem to accurately describe what had happened.”

COMMENT:  This comes right from the top, from Barack Hussein Obama Jr.  For the first time in American history, the United States Government will not permit accurate identification of an enemy that has already killed thousands.

I can understand separating the Islamists from the mass of Muslims.  But it's absurd to suggest that the Islamic world bears no responsibility for the rise of sacred terror. 

Gee, when Obama and Holder went after cops recently, they called them cops, not "misguided uniformed individuals."  I wonder what the Obama crowd will say after France completes the "investigation" the White House is awaiting.

January 14, 2015       Permalink

EUROPE ON THE EDGE – AT 7:53 A.M. ET:  The more we learn, the more frightening the European condition is.  From Reuters: 

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The head of Europe's police organization Europol said on Tuesday the continent was facing its greatest security threat in more than a decade, with as many as 5,000 Europeans who have joined fighting in Syria posing a risk to their homelands.

Please note the great concern on the part of European leftists.  They're still hating Ronald Reagan.

Europol Director Rob Wainwright also echoed warnings from spy chiefs and some political leaders in the wake of last week's deadly attacks by Islamist militants in Paris that European security agencies faced a "capability gap" which could leave their countries at risk.

"It is certainly the most serious terrorist threat Europe has faced since 9/11," Wainwright told a British parliamentary committee, referring to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Many European countries are on high alert following last week's attack by Islamist gunmen on a satirical journal and a kosher supermarket in Paris which killed 17, with France planning to deploy 10,000 soldiers.

European security officials have long warned that radicalized fighters returning from Syria pose a threat and Wainright said 3,000-5,000 EU nationals could come back with the intent to carry out operations similar to the Paris attacks.

COMMENT:  That 5,000 number is staggering.  How do you trace that number of people, especially when they're trying to disappear?  Look what a handful of operatives did last week? 

And still, our government seems not to exhibit a high sense of urgency.

January 14,  2015     Permalink

JANUARY 13,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

BAFFLING – Chris Christie may or may not have dropped a hint today about his 2016 aspirations, or lack of them.  From the Washington Times:  "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed Tuesday in his annual State of the State Address that he would still be 'standing here in one year' — a promise sure to raise questions about his presidential aspirations in 2016.  Speaking in Trenton, Mr. Christie called for a renewal in New Jersey and across the nation, before tweaking his prepared remarks.  'So that when we stand here in one year — by the way, I will be standing here in one year,' Mr. Christie said. 'For some reason, I see less applause on this side of the room. I will be here in one year.'  The race for the GOP presidential nomination is expected to be cranking into high gear a year from now."  Some assume he was signaling that he's not running.  I'm not so sure.  He talks a great deal.

IOWA POLL – From Gravis Marketing:  "The 2012 Republican nominee for president holds a leads a broad field of GOP potential contenders in the Townhall/Gravis poll conducted Jan. 5-7 among 404 registered Republican voters queried. Note: the polls were conducted using IVR technology and weighted by historical voting demographics.  Former Massachusetts governor W. Mitt Romney has never left the hearts and minds of Republican voters and he will hold the dominant position in the race for the 2016 presidential nomination until the other candidates spin up their own campaigns, said Doug Kaplan, the managing partner of Gravis Marketing, a Florida-based pollster and call center that executed the poll. The poll carries an error rate of 3 percent.  'Romney’s name recognition and the loyalty Republicans have for their last nominee give him a opportunity that no one else has,' Kaplan said. 'The question is whether he will use or let the chance pass to others.'  After two years of dampening expectations, Romney—spooked by Bush’s momentum—is now working to the phones in order to put the band together for one more national tour.  While Romney decides what to do, the GOP race revolves around former Florida governor John E. 'Jeb' Bush, the choice of 14 percent, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott K. Walker, polling at 10 percent."  Watch Walker carefully.  The guy has a way of winning, and he's a fresh face nationally.  That's not a prediction, but Walker is relentless.

THE TRUTH OOZES OUT – From Fox:  "WASHINGTON – While the White House points to security concerns as the chief reason why President Obama skipped the anti-terrorism rally in Paris over the weekend, some suggest the Secret Service and his advance team could have made it happen -- if they really tried.  Instead, critics say the security explanation is being used as an 'excuse.' Brad Blakeman, who served on the advance team for George W. Bush’s campaign, said the Secret Service is the 'scapegoat' here.  'The president can go wherever he wants to go,' Blakeman said.  To be sure, presidential travel is a herculean task – particularly for an outdoor, international rally just days after a major terror attack – but it appears little effort was made to explore the possibility of Obama attending the show of unity in Paris, attended by more than 40 world leaders.  A Secret Service official told Fox News that they were not asked or notified about a possible trip to Paris. This coincides with reports that White House aides were caught off guard by the size of the march and didn’t ask the president if he wanted to attend."  Small timers in charge.

January 13, 2015       Permalink

A SUDDEN LOVE OF OIL – AT 1:30 P.M. ET:  Democrats have had a sudden vision, filled with the glory of oil.  Did I say oil?  And Democrats?  From Fox: 

Back when gas topped $4 a gallon, Republicans chanted "drill, baby, drill" at rallies across the country -- arguing more domestic drilling would increase supplies, reduce dependence on foreign oil and boost the U.S. economy.

Democrats, almost universally, mocked the GOP plan. In 2012, President Obama called it "a slogan, a gimmick, and a bumper sticker ... not a strategy."

"They were waving their three-point plans for $2-a-gallon gas," Obama told a laughing audience during an energy speech in Washington. "You remember that? Drill, baby, drill. We were going through all that. And none of it was really going to do anything to solve the problem."

"'Drill, baby, drill' won't lower gas prices today or tomorrow," Rep. Janice Hahn, D-Calif., echoed on the floor of Congress in 2012. "But it will fuel our addiction to fossil fuel."

Today, Democrats are singing a different tune, as increased domestic drilling has led to a record supply of domestic crude, put some $100 billion into the pockets of U.S. consumers and sent world oil prices tumbling.

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline on Monday was $2.13 nationwide, and below $2 in 18 states.

"Of course [Obama] was wrong. We've seen oil prices fall internationally now by half since last June," said American Enterprise Institute economist Ben Zycher. "The U.S. is now the biggest oil and gas producer in the world, or almost that, and the effect has been to drive prices down as we've seen."

COMMENT:  Obama also took credit for the effect of sanctions on Iran that he had vigorously opposed. No class.

January 13,  2015     Permalink

JUST WHAT WE NEED – AT 11:31 A.M. ET:   We present this as an example of awful timing.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

Muslim leaders from across America will gather in Texas this weekend to hold the annual Stand With the Prophet in Honor and Respect conference, a weekend forum that is being billed as a “movement to defend Prophet Muhammad, his person, and his message,” according to event information.

The Saturday event, which seeks to combat “Islamophobes in America” who have turned the Islamic Prophet Muhammad “into an object of hate,” according to organizers, comes just a week after radicalized Islamists in France killed 17 people.

The victims died in events that began with the shooting attack on French newspaper Charlie Hebdo for its satirical cartoons that skewered the prophet.

Organizers of the event place the blame for Islam’s bad reputation on the media and so-called American Islamophobes who have “invested at least $160 million dollars to attack our Prophet and Islam,” according to the conference web page.

Keynote speakers at the event will include Georgetown University professor John Esposito, founding director of the school’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, which has come under fire for, among other things, hosting 9/11 Truthers and a member of Egypt’s Nazi Party.

Also scheduled to attend the forum is controversial New York-based Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings trial. Wahhaj has called the FBI and CIA the “real terrorists” and expressed a desire for all Americans to become Muslim, according to the New York Post.

COMMENT:  How to win friends and influence people.  I don't think these people have a clue to gaining respect.  This isn't going to make them any more popular.

January 13, 2015       Permalink

OBAMA AND TERROR – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:30 A.M. ET:  There is still general dismay over the way Town Councilman Obama botched America's response to the vast anti-terror rally in Paris.  Byron York nails it, at the Washington Examiner: 

The White House reaction to the attacks in France, going back to the first reports of shots fired at Charlie Hebdo, has been noticeably subdued. Obama had scheduled last week as a time to roll out some upcoming State of the Union proposals in trips to Michigan, Arizona and Tennessee. When world events intruded, the president stubbornly stuck to his schedule, mentioning France only briefly before introducing his plan for free tuition at community colleges.

Then came the unity march. No, it was not essential that Obama himself attend. But there's no doubt he should have sent Vice President Joe Biden — why is there a VP, if not to go to big foreign events? — or at least Secretary of State John Kerry.

Even as the march wound its way through Paris, the White House sent out yet another sign of its unseriousness. On Sunday morning, the press office announced the president will host a "Summit on Countering Violent Extremism" on Feb. 18. The plan is to bring together "social service providers, including education administrators, mental health professionals, and religious leaders, with law enforcement agencies to address violent extremism as part of the broader mandate of community safety and crime prevention."

As the world watched images of black-clad, AK-47-wielding terrorists killing Parisians, Obama proposed to meet the threat with social service providers.

So when the president chose not to attend the Paris march, nor to send the Vice President or Secretary of State, the problem wasn't a tin-ear sense of public relations. It was Obama's actual attitude toward the terror threat facing not only Europe but the United States. We've dealt with the big stuff, Obama has declared, now let's move on.

It sounded good — until the bullets started flying.

COMMENT:  Yup.  That's it.  Obama isn't the "pragmatist" we were sold in 2008.  He isn't even a liberal.  He's a leftist, but the conventions of liberal journalism make it impossible for the mainstream media to admit it.  I suspect that, while world leaders were marching on Monday, Obama was watching a football game.  All that terror stuff is beneath him.  It's so, so BUSH!

What struck me was that even Obama's own partisans wouldn't back him in his blunder, his indifference to events in Paris.  Now the White House admits that not sending a major figure to the march was a mistake.  I'd like to know how that conclusion was reached.  Did a grown-up sit down with Obama and explain reality to him?  Or did a pollster intervene while Valerie Jarrett was out of the room?

January 13, 2015       Permalink

GERMANY WARNED – AT 8:56 A.M. ET:  There is a general belief that other countries, especially in Western Europe, are in line to be hit by terror attacks.  Germany is one of them.  From Gatestone:

German police have evidence "that key European cities could be attacked at any time." — Der Spiegel.

"This is a serious situation." — German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.

"You will pay the price as you walk on your streets, turning right and left, fearing the Muslims. We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah." — Jihadist video threatening Italy.

"The Islamists... showed France that they are incapable of democracy and rather look to violence and death as an answer! Our politicians want us to believe the opposite. Must such a tragedy happen here in Germany first???" — Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West [PEGIDA].

COMMENT:  Americans also have reason to be on guard.  John Miller, who is in charge of counterterrorism for the NYPD, said yesterday that New York City, while vulnerable, also has many layers of protection.  Other cities might not.  Targets outside cities certainly do not.  And I fear for schools. 

January 13,  2015     Permalink