Thought for the day: Socialist in denial

If socialism is not a bad thing, why is it that Democrats won't run proudly on being a socialist? Obama spent years studying and looking up to Marxist leaders, scholars and even befriended them. I mean, forget about socialism, we're talking communism here. But when they stand up on the stage, or are put on the spot (which doesn't happen much for Obama with the present media), they run from the word socialist like they are on fire running for a pool to jump in. Here is what kind of answer we might get from someone like Obama if we had a a special "Liberal Propaganda Decoder"-
"Me? Socialist? Oh no, I just want to take money away from hard working people and re-distribute it to people who don't feel like working today- they can't help themselves because they have black skin".

I think I would have more respect for the Democrat party if they stepped out of denial and took on the name that describes them best: "Socialists who want to be Communists"

So if you are ok with turning over your individuality over to the government, along with half or more of your paycheck when you finally get "that job" you have been waiting for, then vote for Obama. Stalin brought Change. Hitler brought change. Castro brought change. In each of these countries where these leaders ruled, millions died just because they disagreed with their government. Change. Hope?

How to beat Obama in November: Video from a Black Voter

Some of you may have seen this already. This gentlemen talks about how to respond to an "Obama Cultist" as he refers to them. Very informing, entertaining, and eye opening.

And the Manipulation Continues

It seems that Obama's trip to the Middle East is as staged as the rest of his campaign has been, and the media still bites.

Liberalism: Bigotry in the Modern World

Oh my how the times have changed. There was a time when someone who referred to themselves as a "liberal", meant that they were free thinkers who listened to the other point of view, willing to learn something new, not judge, and definitely not throw any proverbial stones. Today, this is not the case. In fact, when we look at the definition for "bigot" on the liberal favorite online "Encyclopedia" Wikpedia, we get a definition that would actually fit most liberals today; especially at colleges around the country. Here is their defintion:
A bigot is a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities differing from his or her own, and bigotry is the corresponding state of mind.

Wow. A person who is intolerant of opinions. It takes me back to the many conservative student clubs and organizations who have had a guest speaker interrupted, and eventually stopped due to the liberal students crashing the event. At Columbia University, the student Republican club invited Minuteman Jim Gilchrist to speak. This is the same university that invited Iranian dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak- uninterrupted of course. Now Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a known supporter of terrorism, has a vile history of human rights; in fact, his government imprisons and tortures homosexuals. Where are the liberals when you really need them? So here is some wonderful video of liberals, a.k.a. free thinkers in action. This my friend fits the description of bigot. Here is Columbia University liberals literally crashing the Republican students event:


Here is Jim Gilchrist speaking at an event at Long Beach State University. It was supposed to be a debate, but the other guy didn't want to even do that. But the new liberals of today don't like debate. We have already learned that with Al Gore and his Global Shwarming...


Now this one takes the cake. The pure lunacy of Code Pink, the anti-war woman's group who have created their own version of what peacful protest means. These ladies, and I use this term very loosely, have been know to not only picket the Marine Recruiting Station in Berkely, California , but physically block anyone who chooses to walk through the doors. This goes beyond speech. This video speaks for itself and I will leave it at that. Do we want more of this in our country? These are the people who Obama and his fellow Democrats take money from. Take note of the police officer who allows this idiocy to continue...

The Irony of Liberalism

As a student in college back in the 1990s I had the experience of being a "closet conservative" in an environment where liberals outnumbered me. Now depending on what department a student spent time for their major, could quite possibly have an effect on what that experience could be like. I was in the Visual and Performing Arts program, so you can guess how mine was. For anyone who has taken an art, film, or creative writing course, it doesn't take long for the class to be a platform for students to wear their political beliefs on their chests (sometimes foreheads). This, in itself, is what being a student in college is about; being able to freely express oneself in a safe, educational atmosphere. That's really what being an American is about. I will share with you a little piece of my college experience, and how it prepared me for what is happening today.

Looking back on my years spent in the the Visual Art department I remember cringing when I would watch as a group of students, sometimes joined by the professor, would pounce on a fellow student as they shared their project with the class. This was critique day, a day where your classmates, along with the professor, would look at your work and give instructive criticism. The key word here is "instructive". The student being being "pounced" on, though not physically, had just shown her art project. It dealt with a pro-life theme. It wasn't judgmental towards people who had abortion, nor did it cast judgment on those who were pro-abortion. This student's belief and opinions should not have been the topic of their critique. A proper critique would have been how she executed her project, the process, the visuals, the way she communicated- not her beliefs. But instead, the majority of students spent most of the critique time casting shame, doubt, and judgment on her as a person based on her beliefs. When the professor jumped in, I felt sick. Here I was in a "liberal arts" program, where students were supposed to be free to express their views without judgment, and these liberals were exhibiting the most close minded behavior I had ever witnessed in my several years in college.

Unfortunately, the experienced I shared was one of many, too many, that I experienced in my years spent working, studying, and living among outspoken liberals in college. The majority of these people not only wore their views on their arms, but they made sure everyone around them knew how they felt, and if anyone expressed anything remotely conservative, they were thrown to their wolves. What became of this environment was that people felt like they were walking on egg shells within this department. The arts department that proudly touted itself as a place for free expression had a little footnote that said, "Except if you disagree with our views".

But their was another ironic thing that would happen, other then their actual close mindedness. There was a hierarchy within the liberal social structure. No one really knew what the structure was, nor who was at the top- because everyone thought "they" were at the top. But when together, one might need a special "politically correct" translator because everyone was afraid of offending eachother. The liberal students would actually self destruct from within. Liberal minded meant putting a gag in their mouths- unless you were a conservative. Then you were open season.

This is happening today in our workplace, schools, and politics. The most close minded groups of people are indeed the people who label themselves as liberal thinkers. Karl Marx was considered a liberal thinker. He helped give birth to one of the most dangerous, and deadly, forms of government that has been responsible for censoring citizens at any cost, even death. Beware of people who claim to be liberal thinkers. Watch them and how they interact with people. See if they really are open to other views, even if they don't agree. Sure, not all liberal people engage in trying to censor conservative people because of their beliefs. But Nancy Pelosi, along with many Democrats are trying to censor talk radio (in the name of "fairness"). This should send chills up the spines of any free thinking American. In the end, I am glad I had the chance to thicken my skin up a bit. My experience in college gave me more faith in my beliefs, and reason to keep up the good fight.

Tony Snow June 1, 1955 – July 12, 2008

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tony Snow's family. It didn't matter what side of the political fence you stood on, he treated all with respect as humans beings first. His smile will be remembered, and sorely missed.

Change- Isn't Always What It's Cracked Up To Be

Change. Obama says we need it. Democrats tell us that "change" is what this country needs, and that's just what they are going to give us. But before some of you Obamaniacs go and pull the lever for "change", you might want to ask yourself what that word, "change", may really mean in a Obama administration.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat goon squad, told the American people that we needed change a couple years back when she, and some other Democrats were running for office. They captured a Democrat majority, and I ask you, the voters, what have they done for you so far? I'm waiting... Since taking over Congress the economy has spiraled, and gas prices are rising like a fever in a July heatwave. Many Democrats have even welcomed the high gas prices, their argument- its good for the environment. Are you listening fellow voters? And in relation to the gas prices, did you know...

...That Al Gore, as Vice President, cast the tie breaking vote to approve the gas tax hike back in the 90s (Federal gas taxes cost consumers 18.4 cents per gallon)?

...The Kyoto Protocol, which would be supported by Obama, could increase gas by 60 cents per gallon?

...Obama, as the Democrat Party as a whole, has been hijacked by far left-wing environ"mental" fear mongers who are expecting Obama's administration to impose many "carbon" taxes. And they will. You think the gas prices are bad? Wait until you have to pay taxes for every time you turn your computer, tv, oven, furnace, air condition, etc, etc. Change? Spare change that is, do you have any?

...the far left-wing environ"mental" movment that has given millions of dollars to Obama's campaign believes WE should pay high gas prices because using gas is evil and bad for the environment. Well, if our cars, trucks, planes, and ships that deliver fruit, vegetables, medicines, and all the other needs to our cities and towns can run on solar panel powered vehicles (and all be replaced in the coming year at their expense) then that is fine and dandy. But we are not, and will not be there for a long, long time. Its gas today, tomorrow, and for a long time buddy. And the Obama isn't going to buy you a new hybrid car either.

Obama says he will bring change. But he will take your change- can you hear the change(those coins and dollars) falling into the hands of those drooling government hounds? He doesn't really have a history of acting on these types of promises. He gives a great speech, but so did Hitler, Stalin, and all the other wonderful dictators of our past. They promised change. Obama and the Democrats will tell us that taxing the big businessman is what needs to be done. Those evil businessman who give us jobs. They don't tell you that by elevating taxes for businesses cuts our pay raises, and future job openings. As someone who helps run a business, I can tell you that money taken out of the company's hands and back to the government is money out of my paycheck, and no money for new workers. Its common sense, but who said the Democrats had any?

So next time you see one of those obnoxious "Change" signs, or hear one of Obama's "change" speeches, you can be sure there will be some changes going on. But you might not be happy with what Obama pulls out of his magic hat...

Obama Dangerous for the U.S.

Obama has already told us he plans to "cut investments in unproven missile defense systems" and "slow our development of future combat systems" (video of speech). Since 9/11/01, Americans have not only lived without terrorist attacks, but had 7 economically successful years under George W. Bush; even during a war. Since Democrats, along with "her majesty" Pelosi, have taken over Congress, the economy has taken a turn, and gas prices, well that's another story.

Did you know that the U.S. has thwarted at least 19 terrorist attacks against America since 9/11/2001? Imagine if the Bush Administration would have followed the lead of people like Pelosi, Obama, and many other of the Democrat goons. But the bigger question is, why don't we hear about these thwarted attacks by the major media outlets? For the same reason we don't hear much about the successful surge in Iraq that John McCain supported, and Barack Obama did not. From my own personal experience working around the "media" business, there are people in editorial positions who make the decision on what gets the front page story, and/or top story of the day on the evening news. They would rather feed you no news, or bad news, rather then the truth, when the truth is positive news, because it just might make George W. Bush, the Republicans, and/or John McCain look like they are doing their job. That job, being protecting the lives of the American people. For your info, here is the list of thwarted terrorist attacks since 9/11/2001. Keep in mind, there are probably thwarted attacks that we will never no about...

Thwarted Attacks
(list originally posted at The Heritage Foundation, November 13, 2007)

Richard Reid, December 2001
A British citizen and self-professed follower of Osama bin Laden, Reid allegedly hid explosives inside his shoes aboard a flight from Paris to Miami and attempted to use a match to light the fuse in his shoe. The explosives were strong enough to cause damage to the plane if detonated. Caught in the act, Reid was apprehended on board the plane by the flight attendants with the assistance of passengers. FBI officials then took Reid into custody after the plane made an emergency landing at Boston's Logan Airport.[2]

Reid was found guilty of charges of terrorism in 2003, and a U.S. federal court sentenced him to life imprisonment.[3]

Jose Padilla, May 2002
U.S. officials arrested Padilla in May 2002 at O'Hare Airport in Chicago as he returned to the United States from Pakistan, initially charging him with being an enemy combatant and planning to use a "dirty bomb" (an explosive laced with radioac­tive material) in an attack against America.[4] Prior to his conviction, Padilla brought a case against the federal government stating that he had been denied the right of habeas corpus (the right of an individual to petition against his or her imprisonment). The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5–4 decision, found that the case had been filed improperly.[5] In 2005, the government officially indicted Padilla for conspiring with Islamic terrorist groups.[6]

In August 2007, Padilla was found guilty by a civilian jury after a three-month trial and a day and a half of deliberations.

Lackawanna Six, September 2002
When the FBI arrested Sahim Alwan, Yahya Goba, Yasein Taher, Faysal Galab, Shafal Mosed, and Mukhtar al-Bakri, the press dubbed them the "Lackawanna Six" (also the "Buffalo Six" or "Buf­falo Cell"). Five of the six had been born and raised in Lackawanna, New York.[7] The six Amer­ican citizens of Yemeni descent were arrested for conspiring with terrorist groups. They had stated that they were going to Pakistan to attend a reli­gious training camp but instead attended an al-Qaeda "jihadist" camp.

All six pled guilty in 2003 to providing support to al-Qaeda. Faysal Galab received a seven-year sen­tence. Sahim Alwan got seven and a half years, while Yesein Taher and Shafal Mosed both received eight-year prison sentences. Mukhtar al-Bakri, the first to plead guilty, received a 10-year sentence, as did Yahya Goba.[8]

Iyman Faris, May 2003
A naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Kash­mir and living in Columbus, Ohio, Iyman Faris was arrested for conspiring to commit a terrorist act. He was suspected of planning to use blowtorches to collapse the Brooklyn Bridge.[9] The New York City Police Department had learned about the plot and increased police surveillance around the bridge. Faced with this additional security, Faris and his superiors decided to cancel the attack.[10]

Faris pled guilty to conspiracy and providing material support to al-Qaeda. During his sentencing trial, he stated that he was innocent and had admit­ted a role in the plot to FBI agents only in order to trick the agents and secure a book deal. Faris was sentenced in Federal District Court to 20 years, the maximum allowed under his plea agreement.[11]

Virginia "Jihad" Network, June 2003
In Alexandria, Virginia, 11 men were arrested for weapons counts and for violating the Neutrality Act, which prohibits U.S. citizens and residents from attacking countries with which the United States is at peace. Of these 11 men, four pled guilty. Upon further investigation, the other seven members of the group were indicted on additional charges of conspiring to support terrorist organizations. They were found to have connections with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and Lashkar-i-Taiba, a terrorist organization that targets the Indian government.[12] The authori­ties stated that the Virginia men had used paintball games as a form of training and preparation for bat­tle.[13] The group had also acquired surveillance and night vision equipment and wireless video cameras.[14]

The spiritual leader of the group, Ali al-Timimi, was found guilty of soliciting individuals to assault the United States and was sentenced to life in prison. Ali Asad Chandia received 15 years for sup­porting Lashkar-i-Taiba but maintains his inno­cence.[15] Randoll Todd Royer, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, Yong Ki Kwon, Khwaja Mahmoud Hasan, Muhammed Aatique, and Donald T. Surratt all pled guilty and were sentenced to prison terms.[16] Masoud Khan, Seifullah Chapman, and Hammad Adur-Raheem were found guilty at trial.[17]

Dhiren Barot, August 2004
A terrorist cell under the leadership of Dhiren Barot was arrested for plotting to attack the New York Stock Exchange and other financial institu­tions in New York, Washington, and Newark, New Jersey, and later accused of planning attacks in England. The plots included a "memorable black day of terror" with the employment of a "dirty bomb."[18] A July 2004 police raid on Barot's house in Pakistan discovered a number of incriminating documents in files on a laptop computer that included instructions for building car bombs.[19]

Dhiren Barot pled guilty and was convicted in the United Kingdom for conspiracy to commit mass murder and sentenced to 40 years.[20]

James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj, August 2004
James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj were arrested for plotting to bomb a subway station near Madison Square Garden in New York City before the Republican National Convention.[21] The New York City Police Departments Intelligence Division helped to conduct an investigation leading to the arrests. An undercover agent infiltrated the group, provided information to authorities, and later testi­fied against Elshafay and Siraj.[22]

Elshafay, a U.S. citizen, pled guilty and received a lighter sentence for testifying against his co-conspir­ator. He received five years. Shawhawar Matin Siraj was sentenced to 30 years in prison.[23]

Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, August 2004
Two leaders of an Albany, New York, mosque were charged with plotting to purchase a shoulder-fired grenade launcher to assassinate a Pakistani diplomat.[24] An investigation by the FBI, the Trea­sury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the local police contributed to the arrest. With the help of an informant, the FBI was able to set up a sting that lured Mohammed Hos­sain into a fake terrorist conspiracy.[25] Hossain brought Yassin Araf, a Kurdish refugee, as a wit­ness. The informant offered details of a fake terror­ist plot, claiming that he needed the missiles to murder a Pakistani diplomat in New York City. Both agreed to help.[26]

Both Aref and Hossain were found guilty of money laundering and conspiracy to conceal mate­rial support for terrorism.

Umer Hayat and Hamid Hayat, June 2005
In Lodi, California, Umer Hayat and Hamid Hayat, a Pakistani immigrant and his American son, were arrested after allegedly lying to the FBI about the son's attendance at an Islamic terrorist training camp in Pakistan.

The son, Hamid Hayat, was found guilty of sup­porting terrorism and was sentenced to 24 years.[27] Umer Hayat's trial ended in a mistrial. He later pled guilty to lying to a Customs agent in his attempt to carry $28,000 into Pakistan.

Levar Haley Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson, Hammad Riaz Samana, and Kevin James, August 2005
Arrested in Los Angeles, California, the mem­bers of the group were charged with conspiring to attack Los Angeles National Guard facilities, syna­gogues, and other targets in the Orange County area.[28] Kevin James allegedly founded a radical Islamic prison group and converted Levar Wash­ington and others to the group, which was known as JIS, short for Jamiyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh.[29] The JIS allegedly planned to finance their operations by robbing gas stations. After Washington and Patter­son were arrested for robberies, police and federal agents began a terrorist investigation when a search of Washington's apartment revealed a suspicious target list.[30]

All of the defendants pled not guilty and cur­rently await trial.

Michael C. Reynolds, December 5, 2005
Michael C. Reynolds was arrested by the FBI and charged with being involved in a plot to blow up a Wyoming natural gas refinery; the Transcontinental Pipeline, a natural-gas pipeline stretching from the Gulf Coast to New York and New Jersey; and a New Jersey Standard Oil refinery.[31] He was arrested while trying to pick up the $40,000 owed to him for planning the attack.[32] His purported contact, Shan­nen Rossmiller, was a Montana judge who was working with the FBI.[33] The FBI later found explo­sives in a locker in his home town, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[34] Reynolds claimed that he was working as a private citizen to find terrorists.[35]

Reynolds was convicted of providing material support to terrorists, soliciting a crime of violence, unlawful distribution of explosives, and unlawful possession of a hand grenade and sentenced to 30 years in prison.[36]

Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi, Zand Wassim Mazloum, February 2006
In Toledo, Ohio, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Mar­wan Othman El-Hindi, and Wassim Mazloum were arrested for "conspiring to kill or injure people in the Middle East" and providing material support to terrorist organizations. They allegedly intended to build bombs to be used in Iraq.[37] The investigation was begun through the help of an informant who was approached to help train the group.[38]

All defendants have pled not guilty.

Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, April 2006
Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee from Atlanta, Georgia, were accused of conspiracy, having discussed terrorist targets with alleged ter­rorist organizations.[39] They allegedly met with Islamic extremists and received training and in­struction in how to gather videotape surveillance of potential targets in the Washington area. They videotaped places such as the U.S. Capitol and the World Bank headquarters as potential targets and sent the videos to a London extremist group.[40]

They were indicted for providing material support to terrorist organizations and have pled not guilty.

Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyglenson Lemorin, and Rotschild Augstine, June 2006
Seven men were arrested in Miami and Atlanta for allegedly being in the early stages of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago, as well as the FBI offices and other buildings. The arrests resulted from an investigation involving an FBI informant. It is alleged that Narsearl Batiste was the leader of the group and first suggested attacking the Sears Tower in December 2005.[41]

All individuals have pled not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Assem Hammoud, July 2006
Conducting on-line surveillance of chat rooms, the FBI discovered a plot to attack underground transit links with New Jersey.[42] Eight suspects, including Assem Hammoud, an al-Qaeda loyalist living in Lebanon, were arrested for plotting to bomb the New York City train tunnels.[43] Ham­moud was a self-proclaimed operative for al-Qaeda and admitted to the plot.[44] He is currently in cus­tody in Lebanon, and his case is pending. Two other suspects are in custody in other locations, and investigators continue to hunt down the other five suspects.

Liquid Explosives Plot, August 2006
British law enforcement was able to stop a terror­ist plot to load 10 commercial airliners headed to the United States with liquid explosives.[45] The areas said to be targeted were New York, Washington, D.C., and California.[46] Approximately 24 British persons were arrested in the London area. The style of the plot has raised speculation that al-Qaeda was behind it, but no concrete evidence has proven this.

The United Kingdom has charged 15 of the 24 arrested individuals, and trials are expected to begin in 2008.[47] The charges vary from conspiring to com­mit murder to planning to commit terrorist acts.[48]

Fort Dix Plot, May 2007
Six men were arrested in a plot against Fort Dix, a U.S. Army base in New Jersey. The plan included attacking and killing soldiers using assault rifles and grenades.[49] Five of the alleged conspirators had conducted training missions in the nearby Pocono Mountains. The sixth helped to obtain weapons. The arrests were made after a 16-month FBI opera­tion that included infiltrating the group. The inves­tigation began after a store clerk alerted authorities when he discovered a video file of the group firing weapons and calling for "jihad." As far as is known, the group had no direct connections to any world terrorist organization.[50]

Five of the defendants have been charged with conspiracy to kill military personnel. The sixth is facing weapons charges.

JFK Plot, June 2007
Four men plotted to blow up a jet fuel artery that runs through residential neighborhoods at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. It is alleged that they believed this would create more destruction than September 11. Authorities stated that the attack would have caused major damage.[51]

Russell Defreitas, the leader of the group was arrested in Brooklyn. One of the men was a former airport worker, and two other individuals had links to Islamic extremists in South America and the Car­ibbean.[52] Two others, Abdul Kadir and Kareem Ibrahim, are being held in Trinidad. Kadir was an imam in Guyana, former member of parliament, and mayor of the town of Linden, Guyana. Ibrahim is a Trinidadian citizen. The fourth suspect—Abdel Nur, a Guyanese citizen—remains at large.[53]

Cases are pending.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, March 2007
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, captured in 2003, is alleged to have been involved in a number of terrorist plots and is among the most senior of Osama bin Laden’s operatives to have been captured. He is currently held at the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Mohammed admitted in March 2007 to helping to plan, organize, and run the September 11 attacks and also claimed responsibility for the first bombing at the World Trade Center and the bombings of nightclubs in Bali in 2002 and a Kenyan hotel. He has stated that he decapitated American journalist Daniel Pearl and took responsibility for helping to plan the failed attack by Richard Reid, along with plots at Heathrow Airport, Canary Wharf, and Big Ben, as well as targets in Israel and the Panama Canal. He also helped to develop plots surrounding Los Angeles, Chicago, and the Empire State Building as well as U.S. nuclear power stations. He also had plotted to assassinate Pope John Paul II and former President Bill Clinton.

The U.S. government intends to try him before a military commission authorized by Congress.

Staying Vigilant
The list of publicly known arrests demonstrates conclusively that the lack of another major terrorist attack is not a sign that organizations have relin­quished their essential goals. A number of plots conducted by individuals have been prevented as a result of the increase in effective counterterrorism investigations by the United States in cooperation with friendly and allied governments. Continuing these operations, which include sound, effective, and lawful intelligence, surveillance, and investiga­tions, is one of the best weapons in America's arse­nal for the long war.

James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., is Assistant Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for Intenational Studies and a Senior Research Fellow in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of the Davis Institute, at The Heritage Foundation. Pamela Siegel, an independent researcher, contributed to the writing of this paper.

---

[1] For analysis contending that the United States remains vulnerable, see Clark Kent Ervin, Open Target: Where America Is Vulnerable to Attack (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006). For a study claiming that the transnational threat is far less than is commonly assumed, see John Mueller, "Is There Still a Terrorist Threat? The Myth of the Omnipresent Enemy," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 5 (September/October 2006), at www.foreignaffairs.org/20060901facomment85501/
john-mueller/is-there-still-a-terrorist-threat.html (November 7, 2007).

[2] Pam Belluck, "Crew Grabs Man: Explosive Feared," The New York Times, December 23, 2001, at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=9F00E5DB1731F930A15751C1A9679C8B63&n=Top/Reference/
Times%20Topics/People/R/ Reid,%20Richard%20C (November 7, 2007).

[3] Associated Press News and Information Research Center, "List of Foiled Terror Plots," Newsday, June 2, 2007, at www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/am-foiledplots0603
,0,7211531.story?coll=ny-main-breakingnewslinks (October 19, 2007).

[4] "Profile: Jose Padilla," BBC News, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2037444.stm (October 19, 2007).

[5] Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426 (2004).

[6] Ibid.

[7] Michael Powell, "No Choice but Guilty," The Washington Post, July 29, 2003, p. A1, at www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?
pagename=article&contentId=A59245-2003Jul28&notFound=true (November 7, 2007).

[8] Roya Aziz and Monica Lam, "Profiles: the Lackawanna Cell," PBS, at www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sleeper/inside/profiles.html (October 19, 2007).

[9] Eric Lichtblau and Monica Davey, "Threats and Responses: Terror; Suspect in Plot on Bridge Drew Interest Earlier," The New York Times, June 21, 2003, at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=980DE0D9163BF932A15755C0A9659C8B63&n
=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/B/Brooklyn%20Bridge%20 (NYC) (October 19, 2007).

[10] Eric Lichtblau, "Trucker Sentenced to 20 Years in Plot Against Brooklyn Bridge," The New York Times, October 29, 2003, at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?
res=9801E6DD1630F93AA15753C1A9659C8B63&n=
Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/B/Brooklyn%20Bridge%20 (NYC) (October 19, 2007).

[11] Ibid.

[12] Jerry Markon and Mary Beth Sheridan, "Indictment Expands 'Va. Jihad' Charges," The Washington Post, September 26, 2003, p. B1, at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2730-2003Sep25.html (November 7, 2007).

[13] Ibid.

[14] Jerry Markon, "Teacher Sentenced for Aiding Terrorists," The Washington Post, August 26, 2006, p. B1, at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2006/08/25/AR2006082500460.html (November 7, 2007).

[15] Ibid.

[16] Markon and Sheridan, "Indictment Expands 'Va. Jihad' Charges."

[17] Associated Press, "Two 'Paintball' Terrorists Sentenced Friday," Fox News, April 9, 2004, at www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,116729,00.html (October 19, 2007).

[18] "Al-Qaeda Plotter Jailed for Life," BBC News, November 7, 2006, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6123236.stm (October 19, 2007).

[19] "Bomb Scare Has Echoes of Earlier Plots," CNN International, June 30, 2007, at http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe
/06/29/uk.plots/index.html (November 7, 2007).

[20] "Al-Qaeda Plotter Jailed for Life."

[21] Press release, "Matin Siraj Convicted of Conspiring to Place Explosives at the 34th Street Subway Station: Faces a Maximum Sentence of Life Imprisonment," May 24, 2006, at http://newyork.FBI.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel06/siraj052406.htm (November 7, 2007).

[22] Ibid.

[23] "Convicted Subway Terror Plotter Gets 5 Years," CBS, March 2, 2007, at http://wcbstv.com/local/subway.terrorist.sentence.2.242570.html (November 8, 2007).

[24] "Restaurant Holds a Slice of Life," The Times Union, no date, at http://timesunion.com/specialreports/centralave/voices/1hossain.asp (October 19, 2007).

[25] Brendon Lyons, "Mosque Welcomed in Informant [sic]," August 8, 2004, at http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?
storyID=273922&category=MOSQUEARREST&
BCCode=&newsdate=1/5/2006 (November 8, 2007).

[26] Ibid.

[27] Carolyn Marshall, "24-Year Term for Californian in Terrorism Training Case," The New York Times, September 11, 2007, at www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/us/11lodi.html (November 8, 2007).

[28] "Four Charged with Hatching Prison Terror Plot: California Inmates Allegedly Created Extremist Muslim Gang Behind Bars," MSNBC, August 31, 2005, at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9148467(November 8, 2007).

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.

[31] Associated Press, "US Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Plot to Blow Up Pipelines," International Herald Tribune, November 6, 2007, at www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/06/america
/NA-GEN-US-Terror-Sting.php (November 11, 2007).

[32] Jeremy Grad, "Reynolds Gets 30 Years in Terror Plot," Times Leader, November 7, 2007, at www.timesleader.com/news/20071107_07_reynolds_ART.html (November 9, 2007).

[33] Associated Press, "US Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Plot to Blow Up Pipelines."

[34] Grad, "Reynolds Gets 30 Years in Terror Plot."

[35] Associated Press, "US Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Plot to Blow Up Pipelines."

[36] Ibid.

[37] Mike Wilkinson and Christina Hall, "Plan to Wage Holy War," Toledo Blade, February 22, 2006, at www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID
=/20060222/NEWS03/60222005 (November 8, 2007).

[38] Ibid.

[39] Associated Press, "U.S. Judge Schedules Closed Hearing to Discuss Classified Information in Terrorism Case," International Herald Tribune, September 1, 2006, at www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/01/america/
NA_GEN_US_Terrorism_Closed_Hearing.php (November 8, 2007).

[40] Ibid.

[41] "Indictment: Suspects Wanted to 'Kill All the Devils We Can,'" CNN, June 24, 2006, at http://unv.net/2006/US/06/23/miami.raids/index.html (November 8, 2007).

[42] "FBI Busts 'Real Deal' Terror Plot Aimed at NYC–NJ Underground Transit Link Friday," Fox News, July 7, 2006, at www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202518,00.html (November 8, 2007).

[43] Ibid.

[44] Ibid.

[45] Rachel Martin, "U.K. Uncovers 'Advanced' Bomb Plot; U.S. Targeted," NPR, August 10, 2006, at www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5632570 (November 8, 2007).

[46] Ibid.

[47] "UK Bomb Suspects 'Radicalised Quickly,'" The Age, January 25, 2007, at www.theage.com.au/news/World/UK-bomb-suspects-
radicalised-quickly/2007/01/25/1169594404433.html (November 8, 2007).

[48] Ibid.

[49] Dale Russakoff and Dan Eggen, "Six Charged in Plot to Attack Fort Dix: 'Jihadists' Said to Have No Ties to Al-Qaeda," The Washington Post, May 9, 2007, p. A1, at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800465.html (November 6, 2007).

[50]Ibid.

[51]Anthony Faiola and Steven Mufson, "N.Y. Airport Target of Plot: Officials Say 3 Held in Alleged Plan to Bomb JFK," The Washington Post, June 3, 2007, p. A1, at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/06/02/AR2007060200606.html (November 8, 2007).

[52]Ibid.

[53]"JFK Terror Plot Foiled in Planning Stages," WNBC.com, at www.wnbc.com/news/13431721/detail.html?dl=mainclick.

Happy Independence Day!

While we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, the legal separation from Great Britain occured July 2, 1776. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4, 1776.

On July 3, 1776, John Adams writes to his wife:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more"

No Car = No Gas Use...Not.

Has anyone else come across one those hip, cool, and "totally aware" people who live in a loft in the "SOHO" district of "Any City, USA" who turns their noses up at anyone who has to drive a car to work? These are usually well educated people who grew up in the suburbs, parents drove them to soccer practice every week, bought them their first car (so they could drive themselves to the city before they actually moved downtown). We're talking people who had a good life growing up. Now they have a well paying job downtown, ride the bus to work, eat out at trendy restaurants, and hang out at the most exclusive night spots. I overheard a woman talking to someone about how they chose to not own a car, and that even though they would like to live in a rural part of the country, they wouldn't dare put themselves in a position to own a car. There was a sense of pride, as if they could claim no guilt over anything related to the "evils" of oil or gasoline.

If you know someone who fits this profile, or maybe you have caught yourself thinking this way, I challenge your way of thinking. In fact, I might even say that the mother of three who lives in "Small Town, USA" may, in fact, be responsible for less use of oil and gasoline then the hip, young, bus rider living in the art district of the city. Let us look at a day in the life of a young, liberal, college grad, living in any metropolitan city in American. Here we go...

7:30 AM- Alarm goes off, (with electricity powered by coal)
7:45 AM- Takes hot shower (heated by electricity powered by coal)
8:00 AM- Takes bus to work (powered by gasoline)
- Listens to iPod that was delivered to store, or shipped via truck (gasonline)
8:30 AM- gets off bus and steps into Starbucks (powered by electricity) and buys a Mocha Java (coffee shipped using gasonline- too many stops to name from many coffee producing countries in world)
9:00 AM- 12:00 pm- Arrive at work, turns on computer (yes, you guessed- electricity) Spends half the day using computer, office equipment, supplies, and more coffee (all delivered to office and/or store via gasoline powered trucks)
12:00 PM- lunch at local organic deli (all vegatables farmed with gasoline powered farm equipment, delivered to city with gas powered trucks)
1:00 PM - 5:30 PM- computer and office use (once again delivered to city office via gas powered trucks, electricity use too)
6:00 PM- happy hour at local pub featuring beers from around the world (delivered via gas powered trucks, pub uses electricity)
7:00 PM- dinner w/friends at sushi cafe (fish caught on gas powered boats, shipped via gas powered planes and trucks)
9:00 PM- go to see film at local art house theater- (all made available both in production and delivery using gasoline powered trucks and planes)

Ok, I'll stop there. You get the picture. Now I know the average American doesn't have issue with this, but there is a growing segment of the population who think that just because they don't drive a car, they are somehow not effected, nor should they feel any responsibility toward being a consumer of gas. These people don't seem to feel guilty for consuming all the wonderful available services, both food and entertainment, provided to them in their stylish and hip section of downtown they live in; not even giving a thought to how these pleasures are delivered to them. As if the "Organic Cafe" that serves up their veggie burritos and green tea ice-cream has a garden in the alley behind the shop where veggies, soy beans, and tea are harvested.

My next entry will show how the day in the life of a mother of three living in rural America may be using less fossil fuels then our hip, young liberal, living downtown. The truth can be "inconvenient" Mr. Gore.