text:
CHICAGO, Ill. (Nov. 26, 2012) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday the retirement of defender Cory Gibbs. The club's 2011 Defender of the Year, Gibbs, a U.S. Men's National Team veteran, brings an end to a 12-year professional soccer career that saw him compete at the top levels in Europe prior to re-joining MLS in 2008.
"We want to thank Cory for everything he has done as a member of the Fire family," said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. "Cory's veteran leadership and the experience that he brought to our locker room was invaluable. We wish him nothing but the best on his future endeavors."
"It was a tough decision," said Gibbs. "After discussing it with the medical staff, my wife and family, it is the right time for me to step away from the playing field. I've done everything in my power to return to the game, however, my latest injury has made it too difficult to play again. It was an honor to represent the United States and the Fire, along with all of the clubs I played with throughout my career. A special thanks goes out to Fire owner Andrew Hauptman, and Javier Leon and Frank Klopas for bringing me to Chicago. I would also like to take this time to thank all of my teammates, coaches, especially Bruce Arena and Michael Noonan, the fans and my family, especially my wife, for all of their support along this journey. It is also important to include a very special thanks to my agent, Richard Motzkin, who has been with me through thick and thin from day-one of my professional career and always served me well. Now coming to terms with my decision to retire, I am truly excited to transition into a new venture in my career. Coaching, working with a club and scouting are my greatest desires. I will be as committed off the pitch as when I was playing."
A four-year standout at Brown University, Gibbs led the Bears to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight his senior season in which he was named the 2000 Ivy League Player of the Year and a First Team All-American. Gibbs was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the Miami Fusion but elected to go abroad and signed with FC St. Pauli of the German Bundesliga.
After three seasons with St. Pauli where he appeared in 60 matches and scored four goals, Gibbs returned to the United States where he was allocated to the then Dallas Burn. During the 2004 season, Gibbs started 21 games for the Burn, registering one assist over 1,850 minutes.
On Jan. 20, 2005 Gibbs transferred to Dutch club Feyenoord. While with the 14-time Eredivisie champions, Gibbs made 15 appearances and scored one goal. Due to injury, he was then loaned to ADO Den Haag Jan. 2006, where he appeared in five matches. In May 2006 Gibbs signed a pre-contract agreement with English Premier League club Charlton Athletic.
Gibbs earned his first international cap for the United States on June 8, 2003 against New Zealand, and went on to play a total of 19 games for the Yanks. Gibbs was named to the roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup but missed the tournament after suffering a knee injury in the tune-up match against Morocco May 23, 2006.
Gibbs returned to MLS in 2008 and was allocated to the Colorado Rapids. In two seasons with the Rapids, Gibbs appeared in 29 matches and was named the club's 2008 Defender of the Year.
Prior to the 2010 season, Gibbs was traded to the New England Revolution where he made 25 appearances and wore the captain's armband in eight matches.
The Fire selected Gibbs in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 15, 2010. In 2011 Gibbs made 26 appearances for the Men in Red, scoring three goals and tallying one assist over 2,203 minutes. Gibbs demonstrated his aerial strength when he headed home a Marco Pappa free kick against Manchester United to give the Fire a 1-0 lead July 23.
Gibbs started the first three matches of the 2012 season at center back before suffering a right meniscus injury in training April 4. He underwent surgery April 10 and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
In his two seasons with the Fire, Gibbs served as a mentor for young defenders Jalil Anibaba, who led the Fire with 32 starts this season, and Austin Berry, who was recently named the 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year.
Fire Defender Cory Gibbs Announces Retirement
CHICAGO, Ill. (Nov. 26, 2012) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday the retirement of defender Cory Gibbs. The club's 2011 Defender of the Year, Gibbs, a U.S. Men's National Team veteran, brings an end to a 12-year professional soccer career that saw him compete at the top levels in Europe prior to re-joining MLS in 2008.


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Hi Classic-castle !
I'm presenting to you, the redesigned version of the classic set 6077 Forestmen's River Fortress (This is my entry into the Classic Set Revisited for the CCCX) :
6077 Forestmen's River Fortress Redux by 74louloute, on Flickr
The whole set includes 5 minifigs (4 forestmen and 1 soldier), 1 raft, 1 fortress with moving drawbridge, 3 animals, and a great playability by the back (click click)!!
More pics here (small pics are links to bigger) :
For those who didn't know the original, here it is :
Hope you will like it.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC
Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates
Attorneys for Plaintiff
26 Harvester Avenue
Batavia, New York 14020
Lydia Bozymowski
Defendant Pro Se
8 Hofstra Drive
Greenlawn, New York 11740-1908
Peter H. Mayer, J.
Upon the reading and filing of the following papers in this matter: (1) Notice of Motion by the plaintiff, dated May 21, 2010, and supporting papers; and (2) prior Order of this Court, dated November 1, 2010; and now
UPON DUE DELIBERATION AND CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT of the foregoing papers, the motion is decided as follows: it is
ORDERED that the plaintiff's application (seq. #001) in this foreclosure action is hereby denied for the reasons set forth herein; and it is further
ORDERED that plaintiff shall appear for a hearing on May 13, 2011, 10:00 a.m., at which time the Court will conduct an inquiry of the plaintiff's witnesses concerning the information and documents submitted by the plaintiff in connection with this foreclosure action, and will determine what, if any, sanction to impose upon the plaintiff and/or the plaintiff's attorney; and it is further
ORDERED that at the time of the hearing, the plaintiff shall produce the following witnesses to provide testimony under oath in response to all inquiries by the Court: (1) Margaret Burke Tarab, Esq., the attorney from plaintiff's counsel's firm who executed the December 13, 2010 attorney affirmation, which is purportedly compliant with the October 20, 2010 Order of the Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York; (2) Karen Griffith, Vice President of plaintiff Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, the individual who executed the February 2, 2010 affidavit in support of plaintiff's application for an order of reference; and (3) Robert D. Repass, plaintiff's Senior Vice President, identified in Ms. Tarab's December 13, 2010 affirmation as the plaintiff's representative with whom she communicated for purposes of executing her said affirmation; and it is further
ORDERED that at the time of the hearing, the plaintiff shall produce for Court inspection all of the documents and records reviewed by plaintiff's counsel and plaintiff's other representatives for purposes of submitting its application for an order of reference, including but not limited to the original note and mortgage, and all documents demonstrating exactly when the plaintiff acquired possession of the note and ownership of the mortgage in this case; and it is further
ORDERED that the plaintiff shall promptly serve, via first class mail, a copy of this Order upon the homeowner-defendant(s) at all known addresses, as well as upon all appearing parties (or upon their attorney[s] if represented by counsel), and shall promptly thereafter file the affidavit(s) of such service with the County Clerk; and it is further
ORDERED that failure to comply with any of the directives set forth herein shall result in [*2]the Court issuing any sanction the Court deems appropriate under the CPLR and/or Court Rules, including but not limited to waiver of any interest, attorneys fees and costs to which the plaintiff claims entitlement, as well as dismissal of the plaintiff's complaint with prejudice.
In this foreclosure action, the plaintiff filed a summons and complaint on January 12, 2010. The complaint essentially alleges that the defendant-homeowner, Lydia Bozymowski, defaulted in payments with regard to the subject mortgage, dated April 22, 2004, in the principal amount of $225,000.00, for the premises located at 8 Hofstra Drive, Greenlawn, New York 11740. The original lender, Florida Bank, N.A. d/b/a Florida Bank Mortgage ("Florida Bank"), is alleged to have had the mortgage assigned to the plaintiff, Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC ("Bayview Loan"), by assignment dated November 25, 2009. The assignment was purportedly executed by Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) as nominee for Florida Bank. In its application (001), the plaintiff requested a default order of reference and amendment of the caption to remove the "Doe" defendants as parties.
By Order dated November 1, 2010, this Court referred the plaintiff's application to a conference with the Court on December 15, 2010. As part of that Order, the plaintiff's counsel was instructed to review the pending application prior to the conference "to determine whether or not such application is fully compliant with all foreclosure-related statutes, case law and Court Rules." If so, counsel was to then "execute and submit to the Court at the conference the requisite attorney affirmation mandated by the October 20, 2010 Administrative Order of the Chief Administrative Judge for the State of New York." With regard to such attorney affirmation, this Court's November 1, 2010 Order stated that, "[i]f plaintiff's counsel is unable for personal or professional reasons to execute the necessary affirmation, the pending application may be withdrawn without prejudice and with leave to resubmit upon proper papers, including the mandatory attorney affirmation." The November 1, 2010 Order also warned counsel that "with regard to any scheduled court conferences or future applications, if the Court determines that such conferences have been attended, or such applications have been submitted, without proper regard for the applicable statutes, case law and Court Rules, or without regard for the required proofs delineated herein, the Court may, in its discretion, strike the non-compliant party's pleadings or deny such applications with prejudice and/or impose sanctions pursuant to 22 NYCRR §130-1, and may deny those costs and attorneys fees attendant with the filing of such future applications."
On December 15, 2010, a conference was held and plaintiff's counsel submitted an attorney affirmation. Initially, the Court notes the plaintiff's failure to submit proof of compliance with RPAPL §1304. For those actions commenced on or after September 1, 2008 and prior to January 14, 2010, RPAPL §1304 requires that, with regard to a "high-cost home loan" (as defined in Banking Law §6-l), or a "subprime home loan" or a "non-traditional home loan" (as defined in RPAPL §1304), at least 90 days before a lender or mortgage loan servicer commences a foreclosure action against the borrower, the lender or mortgage loan servicer must give the borrower a specific, statutorily prescribed notice. In essence, the notice warns the borrower that he or she may lose his or her home because of the loan default, and provides [*3]information regarding available assistance for homeowners who are facing financial difficulty. The specific language and type-size requirements of the notice are set forth in RPAPL §1304(1).
Pursuant to RPAPL §1304(2), the requisite 90-day notice must be "sent by the lender or mortgage loan servicer to the borrower, by registered or certified mail and also by first-class mail to the last known address of the borrower, and if different, to the residence which is the subject of the mortgage. Notice is considered given as of the date it is mailed." The notice must also contain a list of at least five housing counseling agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or those designated by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, that serve the region where the borrower resides, as well as the counseling agencies' last known addresses and telephone numbers.
This action was commenced on January 12, 2010. Therefore, barring any statutorily stated exceptions, if the subject loan being foreclosed upon qualifies as a "high-cost home loan," a "subprime home loan," or "non-traditional home loan," the pre-commencement notice requirements of RPAPL §1304 will apply. Plaintiff, however, has failed to submit evidentiary proof, including an affidavit from one with personal knowledge, as to whether or not this action involves such a loan and, if so, proof of compliance with the applicable pre-commencement requirements of RPAPL §1304 or, in the alternative, an affidavit sufficient to show why such requirements do not apply. Such failure requires denial of plaintiff's application for an order of reference. The boilerplate language in paragraph 4(c) of the complaint regarding compliance with RPAPL §1304 "if the underlying mortgage qualifies," is ambiguous and is, therefore, insufficient to affirmatively show such compliance, particularly where, as here, the complaint is not verified by the plaintiff.
Plaintiff has also failed to submit a properly sworn affidavit in support of the requested relief. In this regard, CPLR §2309(b) requires that an "oath or affirmation shall be administered in a form calculated to awaken the conscience and impress the mind of the person taking it in accordance with his religious or ethical beliefs." Accordingly, for affidavits to have sufficient validity, a notary public witnessing signatures must take the oaths of the signatories or obtain statements from them as to the truth of the statements to which they subscribe their names (see, Matter of Helfand v Meisser, 22 NY2d 762, 292 NYS2d 467 [1968]; Matter of Imre v Johnson, 54 AD3d 427, 863 NYS2d 473 [2d Dept 2008]; Matter of Leahy v O'Rourke, 307 AD2d 1008, 763 NYS2d 508 [2d Dept 2003]).
In support of its application for an order of reference, the plaintiff submits an affidavit from Karen Griffith, Vice President of plaintiff Bayview Loan; however, there is no showing that the notary who witnessed Ms. Griffith's signature took an oath from Ms. Griffith, and no statement by Ms. Griffith attesting to the truth of the statements contained in her affidavit. Instead, there is a statement disguised to appear as a proper oath. Rather than swearing to the truth of the statements contained in her affidavit, Ms. Griffith merely attests in paragraph 12 to the truth of the contents of "the [plaintiff's] complaint" (emphasis added). Such statement is insufficient to satisfy the form of oath required by CPLR §2309(b) with regard to Ms. Griffith's [*4]affidavit. This is particularly pertinent here because additional submissions by the plaintiff raise questions as to the reliability of Ms. Griffith's affidavit, as well as the plaintiff's standing to bring this action.
A plaintiff has standing to maintain the action only where the plaintiff is the proper assignee of the mortgage and the underlying note at the time the foreclosure action was commenced (U.S. Bank, N.A. v Collymore, 68 AD3d 752, 890 NYS2d 578 [2d Dept 2009]; Federal Natl. Mtge. Assn. v Youkelsone, 303 AD2d 546, 755 NYS2d 730 [2d Dept 2003]; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Marchione, 69 AD3d 204, 887 NYS2d 615 [2d Dept 2009]; First Trust Natl. Assn. v Meisels, 234 AD2d 414, 651 N.Y.S.2d 121 [2d Dept 1996]). It remains settled that foreclosure of a mortgage may not be brought by one who has no title to it and absent transfer of the debt, the assignment of the mortgage is a nullity (U.S. Bank, N.A. v Collymore, supra; Kluge v Fugazy, 145 AD2d 537, 536 NYS2d 92 [2d Dept 1988]). Furthermore, a plaintiff has no foundation in law or fact to foreclose upon a mortgage in which the plaintiff has no legal or equitable interest (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Marchione, supra; Katz v East-Ville Realty Co., 249 AD2d 243, 672 NYS2d 308 [1st Dept 1998]). Either a written assignment of the underlying note or the physical delivery of the note prior to the commencement of the foreclosure action is sufficient to transfer the obligation, and the mortgage passes with the debt as an inseparable incident (U.S. Bank, N.A. v Collymore, supra).
To support its contention that Bayview had proper standing to commence this action, Ms. Griffith's alleges in paragraph 6 of her affidavit that "[t]he loan was acquired by and in the possession of the Plaintiff on April 22, 2004″ (emphasis added). Notably, this is the same date the mortgage documents were executed by the defendant-borrower to the original lender, Florida Bank. Even if this nebulous statement by Ms. Griffith were construed to mean that Bayview was in possession of the "note and mortgage" on April 22, 2004, such statement fails to show that the plaintiff was the holder of the note and mortgage when the action was commenced, nearly six years later (see U.S. Bank, N.A. v Collymore, supra; Federal Natl. Mtge. Assn. v Youkelsone, supra; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v Marchione, supra; First Trust Natl. Assn. v Meisels, supra). On the one hand, Ms. Griffith alleges in paragraph 6 of her affidavit that the loan was in the possession of the plaintiff on April 22, 2004. On the other hand, in the same paragraph of her affidavit she states that the mortgage "instruments were assigned to [the Plaintiff] by [assignment] dated November 25, 2009." Compounding this confusion is the handwritten statement on the assignment, asserting that it was "effective as of: 7/1/09."
Despite these inconsistent statements of fact in support of ownership, there is an additional submission that suggests the true owner is or may be CitiMortgage, Inc. ("CitiMortgage"), a non-party to this action. In this regard, affixed to the last page of the note is an undated indorsement from Florida Bank to CitiMortgage. This indorsement, which was executed by Jacqueline Ring as Florida Bank's Vice President, specifically states, "WITHOUT RECOURSE PAY TO THE ORDER OF CITIMORTGAGE, INC." Thus, the plaintiff's assertion that it possessed "the loan" on the same date it was executed by the borrower, and the inconsistent assertion that plaintiff obtained the mortgage instruments by assignment dated [*5]November 25, 2009, is rebutted by the fact that when the note was indorsed to CitiMortgage, the mortgage passed to CitiMortgage as an inseparable incident (U.S. Bank, N.A. v Collymore, 68 AD3d 752, 890 NYS2d 578 [2d Dept 2009]. Therefore, without the valid transfer of the note to the plaintiff, the assignment of the mortgage to the plaintiff was a nullity (id.; Kluge v Fugazy, 145 AD2d 537, 536 NYS2d 92 [2d Dept 1988]). Curiously, evidence of the indorsement to CitiMortgage by Florida Bank was not in the plaintiff's affidavit or attorney affirmation.
The plaintiff has also failed to comply with this Court's November 1, 2010 Order regarding submission of an attorney affirmation in the form and with the language required by the October 20, 2010 Administrative Order of Hon. Ann Pfau, New York's Chief Administrative Judge. As explained in this Court's November 1, 2010 Order, "[p]ursuant to the Administrative Order of the Chief Administrative Judge for the State of New York, dated and effective October 20, 2010, plaintiff's counsel in foreclosure actions must file with the court in all such actions an affirmation in a form prescribed by the Order." It remains clear from the language of Judge Pfau's October 20, 2010 Order, as well from the language of the official mandatory affirmation and its preamble, that the intent of the new Rule is to assure accountability for and accuracy of all court filings in foreclosure actions.
With the intent of the new Rule in mind, this Court requires that after October 20, 2010, the mandatory affirmation must accompany all applications made at any and all stages of foreclosure proceedings. Obviously, a mere single filing at only one phase of the case would not comport with the intent of Judge Pfau's Order. Indeed, if compliance were sufficient by filing the requisite affirmation at only one phase, improper or untruthful papers could be filed at other phases with virtual impunity. Therefore, plaintiff's failure to submit the official mandatory affirmation in the form and with the language prescribed by Judge Pfau's October 20, 2010 Order must result in denial of the requested relief.
In relevant part, the Court's November 1, 2010 Order also included, with italicized emphasis, the warning set forth in the last sentence of the preamble paragraph of the official mandatory affirmation, which states: "The wrongful filing and prosecution of foreclosure proceedings which are discovered to suffer from these defects may be cause for disciplinary and other sanctions upon participating counsel" (emphasis added). Despite this language required by the official mandatory affirmation, and despite this Court's emphasis of that language in its November 1, 2010 Order, the December 13, 2010 affirmation signed by plaintiff's attorney, Margaret Burke Tarab, Esq., does not include such language. Also, as required by paragraph 3 of the official mandatory affirmation, the plaintiff's attorney must affirm that "[b]ased upon my communication with [plaintiff's representative], as well as upon my own inspection of the papers filed with the Court and other diligent inquiry, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Summons and Complaint and all other documents filed in support of this action for foreclosure are complete and accurate in all relevant respects . . ." (emphasis added). In counsel's December 13, 2010 affirmation, the word "diligent" was omitted and replaced with the word "reasonable." In addition, as required by paragraph 4 of the official mandatory affirmation, the plaintiff's attorney must acknowledge that he or she understands "that [*6]the Court will rely on this Affirmation in considering the [plaintiff's] application." In paragraph 4 of counsel's affirmation, however, she omitted the specific mandatory language and replaced it with a generic acknowledgment, that "I am aware of my obligations under New York Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR Part 1200) and 22 NYCRR Part 130."
Although the Court has heard several attorneys for plaintiff banks informally question Judge Pfau's authority to have issued the October 20, 2010 Order in the first instance, this Court gives full deference to her Honor's Order (see NY Const, art VI, § 28). Counsel for plaintiff banks have also claimed that the attorney affirmation required by Judge Pfau's Order was unofficially amended on November 18, 2010 and posted on the internet in amended form. Counsel, however, has failed to submit an order by Judge Pfau executed after her October 20, 2010 Order, or any other legitimate legal authority, in which the language of the official mandatory affirmation was modified. Therefore, this Court requires counsel to submit an attorney affirmation in the specific form and with the specific language originally mandated by her Honor's Order of October 20, 2010.
In this Court's November 1, 2010 Order, the Court warned of potential sanctions, pursuant to 22 NYCRR §130-1, if a party submits an application "without proper regard for the applicable statutes, case law and Court Rules." Indeed, although the plaintiff's December 13, 2010 attorney affirmation does not include certain language mandated by Judge Pfau's October 2010 Order, the affirmation does, nevertheless, state at paragraph 4 that counsel is "aware of [her] obligations under New York Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR Part 1200) and 22 NYCRR Part 130." With regard to sanctions, 22 NYCRR §130-1.1 states, in pertinent part that:
(a) . . . [T]he court, in its discretion may impose financial sanctions upon any party or attorney in a civil action or proceeding who engages in frivolous conduct as defined in this Part, which shall be payable as provided in section 130-1.3 of this Part. . . .
(b) The court, as appropriate, may . . . impose such financial sanctions against either an attorney or a party to the litigation or against both. Where the . . . sanction is against an attorney, it may be against the attorney personally or upon a partnership, [or] firm . . . that has appeared as attorney of record. The . . . sanctions may be imposed upon any attorney appearing in the action or upon a partnership, firm or corporation with which the attorney is associated.
(c) For purposes of this Part, conduct is frivolous if:
(1) it is completely without merit in law and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law;
(2) it is undertaken primarily to delay or prolong the resolution of the litigation, or to harass or maliciously injure another; or
(3) it asserts material factual statements that are false. [*7]
. . . In determining whether the conduct undertaken was frivolous, the court shall consider, among other issues the circumstances under which the conduct took place, including the time available for investigating the legal or factual basis of the conduct, and whether or not the conduct was continued when its lack of legal or factual basis was apparent, or should have been apparent, or was brought to the attention of counsel or the party.
(d) An . . . imposition of sanctions may be made . . . upon the court's own initiative, after a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The form of the hearing shall depend upon the nature of the conduct and the circumstances of the case.
At the December 15, 2010 conference, plaintiff's counsel represented to the Court that the plaintiff's submitted application was, in fact, fully compliant with all applicable statutes, case law and Court Rules. Counsel then tendered to the Court Ms. Burke Tarab's December 13, 2010 affirmation, which is purported to be compliant with the requirements of Judge Pfau's Order of October 20, 2010. In counsel's affirmation, she identifies Robert D. Repass, plaintiff's Senior Vice President, as the representative with whom she communicated on December 10, 2010 for purposes of executing her affirmation.
According to paragraph 2 of the affirmation, Mr. Repass reportedly informed Ms. Tarab that he "personally reviewed plaintiff's documents and records relating to this case for factual accuracy." He also allegedly "confirmed the factual allegations set forth in the Complaint and any supporting affirmations filed with the court, as well as the accuracy of the notarizations contained in the supporting documents (Plaintiff's Affidavit[s]) filed therewith." Neither the proofs submitted in support of the order of reference, nor the mandatory attorney affirmation are sufficient to grant an order of reference.
Based on the foregoing, the plaintiff's application for an order of reference is denied. The nature of the proofs provided by the plaintiff, from all sources, compels the Court to order hearing in accordance with 22 NYCRR §130-1 to determine if the conduct undertaken by the plaintiff and/or plaintiff's counsel was "frivolous" as defined in 22 NYCRR §130-1.1(c) and what, if any, sanction should be imposed.
This constitutes the Order of the Court.
Dated:February 17, 2011
[ipaper docId=49755154 access_key=key-1nqux6te6r5mleytllbl height=600 width=600 /]© 2010-19 FORECLOSURE FRAUD | by DinSFLA. All rights reserved.


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Ada Programming/Control
- 1 Conditionals
- 2 Unconditionals
- 3 Loops
- 4 See also
Conditional clauses are blocks of code that will only execute if a particular expression (the condition) is true.
The if-else statement is the simplest of the conditional statements. They are also called branches, as when the program arrives at an if statement during its execution, control will "branch" off into one of two or more "directions". An if-else statement is generally in the following form:
if condition then statement; else other statement; end if;
If the original condition is met, then all the code within the first statement is executed. The optional else section specifies an alternative statement that will be executed if the condition is false. Exact syntax will vary between programming languages, but the majority of programming languages (especially procedural and structured languages) will have some form of if-else conditional statement built-in. The if-else statement can usually be extended to the following form:
if condition then statement; elsif condition then other statement; elsif condition then other statement; ... else another statement; end if;
Only one statement in the entire block will be executed. This statement will be the first one with a condition which evaluates to be true. The concept of an if-else-if structure is easier to understand with the aid of an example:
with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO; ... type Degrees is new Float range -273.15 .. Float'Last; ... Temperature : Degrees; ... if Temperature >= 40.0 then Put_Line ("Wow!"); Put_Line ("It's extremely hot"); elsif Temperature >= 30.0 then Put_Line ("It's hot"); elsif Temperature >= 20.0 then Put_Line ("It's warm"); elsif Temperature >= 10.0 then Put_Line ("It's cool"); elsif Temperature >= 0.0 then Put_Line ("It's cold"); else Put_Line ("It's freezing"); end if;
Optimizing hintsEdit
When this program executes, the computer will check all conditions in order until one of them matches its concept of truth. As soon as this occurs, the program will execute the statement immediately following the condition and continue on, without checking any other condition for truth. For this reason, when you are trying to optimize a program, it is a good idea to sort your if-else conditions in descending probability. This will ensure that in the most common scenarios, the computer has to do less work, as it will most likely only have to check one or two "branches" before it finds the statement which it should execute. However, when writing programs for the first time, try not to think about this too much lest you find yourself undertaking premature optimization.
Having said all that, you should be aware that an optimizing compiler might rearrange your if statement at will when the statement in question is free from side effects. Among other techniques optimizing compilers might even apply jump tables and binary searches.
In Ada, conditional statements with more than one conditional do not use short-circuit evaluation by default. In order to mimic C/C++'s short-circuit evaluation, use
and then or
or else between the conditions.
Often it is necessary to compare one specific variable against several constant expressions. For this kind of conditional expression the case statement exists. For example:
case X is when 1 => Walk_The_Dog; when 5 => Launch_Nuke; when 8 | 10 => Sell_All_Stock; when others => Self_Destruct; end case;
The subtype of X must be a discrete type, i.e. an enumeration or integer type.
In Ada, one advantage of the case statement is that the compiler will check the coverage of the choices, that is, all the values of the subtype of variable X must be present or a default branch when others must specify what to do in the remaining cases.
Unconditionals let you change the flow of your program without a condition. You should be careful when using unconditionals. Often they make programs difficult to understand. Read Isn't goto evil? for more information.
End a function and return to the calling procedure or function.
For procedures:
For functions:
return Value;
Goto transfers control to the statement after the label.
goto Label; Dont_Do_Something; <<Label>> ...
Isn't goto evil?Edit
One often hears that goto is evil and one should avoid using goto. But it is often overlooked that any return which is not the last statement inside a procedure or function is also an unconditional statement — a goto in disguise. There is an important difference though: a return is a forward only use of goto. Exceptions are also a type of goto statement; worse, they need not specify where they are going to!
Therefore if you have functions and procedures with more than one return statement you can just as well use goto. In practice, nearly every programmer is familiar with a 'return' statement and its associated behavior; thus, when it comes down to readability the following two samples are almost the same:
procedure Use_Return is begin Do_Something; if Test then return; end if; Do_Something_Else; return; end Use_Return;
procedure Use_Goto is begin Do_Something; if Test then goto Exit_Use_Goto; end if; Do_Something_Else; <<Exit_Use_Goto>> return; end Use_Goto;
Because the use of a goto needs the declaration of a label, the goto is in fact twice as readable than the use of return. So if readability is your concern and not a strict "don't use goto" programming rule then you should rather use goto than multiple returns. Best, of course, is the structured approach where neither goto nor multiple returns are needed:
procedure Use_If is begin Do_Something; if not Test then Do_Something_Else; end if; return; end Use_If;
Loops allow you to have a set of statements repeated over and over again.
Endless LoopEdit
The endless loop is a loop which never ends and the statements inside are repeated forever. The term, endless loop, is a relative term; if the running program is forcibly terminated by some means beyond the control of the program, then an endless loop will indeed end.
Endless_Loop : loop Do_Something; end loop Endless_Loop;
The loop name (in this case, "Endless_Loop") is an optional feature of Ada. Naming loops is nice for readability but not strictly needed. Loop names are useful though if the program should jump out of an inner loop, see below.
Loop with condition at the beginningEdit
This loop has a condition at the beginning. The statements are repeated as long as the condition is met. If the condition is not met at the very beginning then the statements inside the loop are never executed.
While_Loop : while X <= 5 loop X := Calculate_Something; end loop While_Loop;
Loop with condition at the endEdit
This loop has a condition at the end and the statements are repeated until the condition is met. Since the check is at the end the statements are at least executed once.
Until_Loop : loop X := Calculate_Something; exit Until_Loop when X > 5; end loop Until_Loop;
Loop with condition in the middleEdit
Sometimes you need to first make a calculation and exit the loop when a certain criterion is met. However when the criterion is not met there is something else to be done. Hence you need a loop where the exit condition is in the middle.
Exit_Loop : loop X := Calculate_Something; exit Exit_Loop when X > 5; Do_Something (X); end loop Exit_Loop;
In Ada the exit condition can be combined with any other loop statement as well. You can also have more than one exit statement. You can also exit a named outer loop if you have several loops inside each other.
for loopEdit
Quite often one needs a loop where a specific variable is counted from a given start value up or down to a specific end value. You could use the while loop here — but since this is a very common loop there is an easier syntax available.
For_Loop : for I in Integer range 1 .. 10 loop Do_Something (I) end loop For_Loop;
You don't have to declare both subtype and range as seen in the example. If you leave out the subtype then the compiler will determine it by context; if you leave out the range then the loop will iterate over every value of the subtype given.
As always with Ada: when "determine by context" gives two or more possible options then an error will be displayed and then you have to name the type to be used. Ada will only do "guess-works" when it is safe to do so.
The loop counter I is a constant implicitly declared and ceases to exist after the body of the loop.
for loop on arraysEdit
Another very common situation is the need for a loop which iterates over every element of an array. The following sample code shows you how to achieve this:
Array_Loop : for I in X'Range loop X (I) := Get_Next_Element; end loop Array_Loop;
With X being an array. Note: This syntax is mostly used on arrays — hence the name — but will also work with other types when a full iteration is needed.
Working DemoEdit
The following Demo shows how to iterate over every element of an integer type.
with Ada.Text_IO; procedure Range_1 is type Range_Type is range -5 .. 10; package T_IO renames Ada.Text_IO; package I_IO is new Ada.Text_IO.Integer_IO (Range_Type); begin for A in Range_Type loop I_IO.Put (Item => A, Width => 3, Base => 10); if A < Range_Type'Last then T_IO.Put (","); else T_IO.New_Line; end if; end loop; end Range_1;


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Anchored by
World Premiere of EPIX Original
Corman's "Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader"
New York, NY (August 8, 2012) - Premium network EPIX brings you a full day of great fun and movies from the original king of the cult film and icon himself, Roger Corman. Leading up to the world premiere of the EPIX Original Movie Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader airing on Saturday, August 25th at 10:00 p.m. ET, EPIX will showcase a daylong marathon of Corman's captivating biker, psychedelic, horror and gangster films beginning at 6:45 a.m. ET, including The Wild Angels, Eat My Dust, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Trip, Bloody Mama and Galaxy of Terror.
EPIX Drive-In - an additional service available to DISH subscribers - will also join the Cormanpalooza celebration, showcasing a Corman film every night at 10 p.m. ET throughout August.
For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com.
Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.
About EPIX
EPIX is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox consoles, first on Android tablets and phones, first on Roku(R) players and is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple(R) iPads(R), iPhones(R), Samsung(R) Smart TVs and Blu-ray(TM) players, more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.
EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.
About EPIX Drive-In
Bringing the fun and excitement of drive-in movies to DISH subscribers, EPIX Drive-In launched January 1st on channel 292 as part of DISH's America's Top 250 package, with select titles also available on demand and online to authenticated DISH subscribers on EpixHD.com and Dishonline.com. Dedicated to celebrating the best in genre films featuring action, comedy, sci-fi and horror movies of the 1970's, 80's, 90's and beyond, EPIX Drive-In presents a lineup of wild, rebellious and edgy movies such as The Terminator, Child's Play, Back To School, Rollerball, Teen Wolf and many others, all uncut and uninterrupted.


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Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League Captures Great Lakes Region Championship, Spot in 67th LLB World Series
Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League Captures Great Lakes Region Championship, Spot in 67th LLB World Series
Chad Lorkowski belted two home runs and struck out 10 to power Michigan's Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League past Jackie Robinson West Little League from Illinois to win the Great Lakes Region Championship game, 10-3, Saturday afternoon at Stokely Field in Indianapolis.
Jackie Robinson West Little League, vying for its first trip to Williamsport in 30 years (1983), was battered early, allowing eight runs in the first two innings.
Chad Lorkowski, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, was dominate for Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League, crushing home runs in consecutive at-bats, while allowing three runs on six hits and owning the strike zone in his five innings of work en route to the mound win. Jimmy Mazzola closed out the game, working a scoreless sixth inning to secure the region title.
Outscoring its opponents 59-13 and winners of five straight games in the region tournament (5-0), Jackie Robinson Little League was held without a hit for three innings. The Illinois state champions collected their first hit and first run in the bottom of the third inning after trailing 9-0.
Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League, losers of two games in Indianapolis, touched up Jackie Robinson West Little League's starting pitcher Jalen Lemons early and often. Through two innings, Lemons surrendered six hits and nine runs on 69 pitches.
Also having a big game at the plate for the Michigan State Champions was Antonio Moceri, who went 2-for-3, with a home run. Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League Little League, the Great Lakes Region Champion, went 4-2 in the tournament defeating West Side Little League from Hamilton, Ohio, 7-6, in the semifinal. This will be 10th time Michigan is represented in the Little League Baseball World Series and the first since 1998 (Jenison, Georgetown Little League). A team from Grosse Pointe, Mich. reached the Little League Baseball World Series in 1979. Learn more about the Great Lakes Region Tournament.
The Great Lakes Region Champion is scheduled to play against the Western Region Champion in the third game of the U.S. bracket at the 2013 Little League Baseball World Series on Friday, Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. on Lamade Stadium. The Western Region Region Champion will be decided on Saturday, Aug. 11 in San Bernardino., at 9 p.m. Learn more about the Western Region Tournament. All games at the Little League Baseball World Series will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, the Watch ESPN app or ABC.
The 67th Little League Baseball World Series begins on Thursday, Aug. 15 in South Williamsport, Pa., with the Championship Game scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25. For more information on the Series and to follow the action live, visit llbws.org.
Click here for complete stats from Great Lakes Region Championship Game.
Ana Mooney, a softball player in the Federal Little League of Hagerstown, MD., and Jack Mooney, a baseball player in Pittsford Little League of Pittsford, NY, were visiting the World of Little League today. They took time to raise the Michigan flag at the Viewing Plaza in celebration of the Great Lakes Region Championship Game.


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The group of more than 80 retired United Methodist ministers is going public about its willingness to perform same-sex weddings. The Reverend Don Fado is a retired pastor in Sacramento. "We've been excluding people because of sexual orientation and we are crying out as loud as we can, 'No'. We are a church of inclusion not exclusion."
Fado says some of his colleagues started presiding over the ceremonies as soon as the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way last month. "We believe that's in keeping with Jesus, that's in keeping with our faith that all people are welcome and that no people are second-class citizens due to sexual orientation."
Fado says the retired ministers are offering their services in case the active minister of any local church isn't comfortable performing same-sex weddings. He says he and his fellow retired pastors could be disciplined by the church, but he doesn't expect that to happen.


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Pesticides (from the Ocean Friendly Gardens – book)
Pesticides, like other residential flotsam, are swept off our properties during periods of rain and over-irrigation. These pesticides pose a threat to aquatic life and ground water supplies. Yet every landscape has pests: unwanted weeds, bugs, and animals. How you perceive and manage these pests determines, in part, the amount of pesticides swept off your property. A gardener practicing CPR may be more lenient with some pests, may seek less toxic alternatives for others, and may change the composition of their landscape to deter particularly destructive and determined pests.
Listed below are a variety of plants that either repel unwanted bugs, or attract beneficial insects, all of which reduces the need for pesticides.
Yarrow, Ornamental Allium, Chives, Angelica, Southernwood, Wormwood, Borage, Coreopsis, Cilantro, Buckwheat, Garlic, Lavender, Lemon balm, Pennyroyal, Spearmint, Rosemary, Blue Elderberry, Santolina, Mexican Marigold, Marigold


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Our men were viciously attacked 47 years ago
and the perpetrators got away with it.
About this site
My account at Twitter:
Tweets by @DirtyHarriet0
03-17-14 - A survivor of the attack on the USS Liberty gave a recent speech describing the attack and the aftermath
Watch the video on the CSpan website
03-16-14 - Today marks the 11-year anniversary of the murder of Rachel Corrie by the IDF
A beautful soul who pursued humanity, liberty and justice was murdered on March 16, 2003 by a member of the IDF. You can read about Rachel's story here.
03-16-14 - Outstanding March 7, 2014 presentation on CSpan by 3 former CIA officials frankly discussing the US-Israel relationship
Watch the video on the CSpan website
01-12-13 - This website is fast approaching its 10 year anniversary
Don't worry, I have not given up on the cause of Justice. I am still around. Check out my Twitter feed below.
Tweets by @DirtyHarriet0
09-03-12 - Israel is still demanding US commitment to Iran war
Here are some of the latest articles having to do with Israel's continued attempts to get the United States to commit to a war with Iran.
Priority is given to the analysis by former CIA officer Philip Giraldi of the latest news regarding Iran/Israel:
Next up is another must read: a recent piece by Gareth Porter who routinely gives analysis on the facts about Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program:
It is becoming abundantly clear that the US is not too keen on going along with Netanyahu's demands. And that is a good thing. I hope top military brass and anyone else in our government protest in the clearest possible terms that our interests must remain in the fore in this ongoing battle with Israel over its insistence that America go along with its plans to attack Iran. Let us keep in mind George Washington's wise words in his Farewell Address which can be found found here.
08-23-12 - Barak's Blunder
A great article by (former CIA) Philip Giraldi about Israel's latest claims regarding Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program and the latest US intelligence reports. Must read. Here is an excerpt:
... Barak was quite possibly misrepresenting a U.S. intelligence-generated report to serve his own purposes, and he was also leaking information that had been given to him in confidence with the understanding that he would only use it to guide internal Israel deliberations, not to discuss it with the media. The CIA was reportedly furious over the leak and, in an unusual move, the White House quickly gave a green light for the National Security Council to actually rebuke Israel, with an NSC spokesman commenting that "We continue to assess that Iran is not on the verge of achieving a nuclear weapon."
Additionally, Patrick J. Buchanan weighs in (as he has done several times in recent weeks) on the same issue in an article entitled 'The Most Dangerous Man in the World'?
Sixteen U.S. intelligence agencies stated unanimously in 2007 and reaffirmed in 2011 their conviction that Iran does not have an active nuclear weapons program. In the Standard piece, John Sawyer, head of the British Intelligence Service MI-6, "flatly stated in July that we have two years left before the Iranians can build a weapon."
Giraldi and Buchanan are of the scant few political commentators in America that dare speak the truth on this issue. God bless 'em.
08-14-12 - Israeli demands from Obama
I'm too pissed off to comment. I'll just leave you with the byline to the article.
Analysis: If US wants to prevent Israeli jets from taking off en route to Iran, it must commit to attack on nuclear sites after elections in case sanctions, talks fail
08-10-12 - War with Iran seems much more likely, Israel is trying its level best to get it
I'd like to see mutiny by top US military brass and CIA over any government support of Israel's coveted war with Iran.
Israel media talk of imminent Iran war push
The front-page report in the biggest-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth came amid mounting speculation - fuelled by media leaks from both the government and its detractors at home and abroad - that war with Iran could be imminent even though it might rupture the bedrock ties between Israel and the United States.
U.S., Israel at odds over Iran nuke program intelligence
On Thursday, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Obama had received a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)—the consensus assessment of the American intelligence community—that "Iran has made surprising, notable progress in the research and development of key components of its military nuclear program." The daily cited unnamed "Western diplomats and Israeli officials."
07-28-12 - US sees Israel, tight Mideast ally, as spy threat
An excellent piece by the Associated Press regarding America's distrust of Israel when it comes to espionage. Frankly, I'm surprised that such content matter made it to print, although I'm sure most American mainstream news media buried it. I archived it at my Neocon Watch blog in case it disappears, as is sometimes the case with related material on Israel.
07-18-12 - Israel finally going to start WW3 ?
"This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading throughout the entire world. Israel will react powerfully against Iranian terror [said Netanyahu]"
Israeli prime minister blames Iran for Bulgaria bomb
Number of US ships in the region have increased recently:
"A U.S. navy ship that had been slated for decommissioning has been sent instead to the Gulf to help mine-clearing operations, the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain said, the latest move in a gradual U.S. build-up as tensions with Iran smoulder."
U.S. beefs up Gulf naval force amid tension with Iran
07-18-12 - Auditor: Billions of American Taxpayer Dollars Wasted in Iraq War
Where is your outrage, my fellow Americans?
06-04-12 - 45 years on, justice still not served.
It has now been ten years since I first learned of Israel's attack on the USS Liberty - I saw a special about it on The History Channel in 2002. Since then, I haven't shut up about it.
Friday June 8 marks the 45th anniversary of the assault. Most Americans know nothing of this attack, nor is it widely commemorated like it is in the case of the USS Cole and other assaults on American servicemen.
In fact, recently John McCain calls a heckler a 'jerk' when he asks McCain about the USS Liberty. McCain (and his father) are noted Israel supporters. The 'Raw Story' news outfit subsequently branded Morris and all those that take the side of the USS Liberty survivors as 'conspiracy theorists'.
Watch this video:
02-26-12 - Israel wants the US to go to war with Iran (and Syria)
The neocon/Israeli plans for the United States to attack Iran (and Syria) have been in place for years.
Some reading:
From 2002:
Attack Iran the Day Iraq War Ends, Demands Israel
From 2003:
Sharon says U.S. should also disarm Iran, Libya and Syria
U.S. official says Syria, Iran will be dealt with after Iraq war
Whose War by Patrick J. Buchanan
From 2004:
No End To War by Patrick J. Buchanan
More can be found in my archives from 2002-2004 at this link
09-25-11 - I am still here, I just had to change servers for the first time in years. It is a very time consuming process to gather up and ftp to the server all of the material. Frankly, many of the older links are broken because I've had this website now for nearly 8.5 years. I am still indexing new content but that too will take a while before I can get that all up on the server. Stay tuned. And to those that think they are going to stop me because they don't like my message: that'll be the day.
07-28-11 - New news links on Palestine and Neocon Watch pages.
07-24-11 - Norwegian gunman Anders Behring Breivik is pro-Israel
07-17-11 - Watch this video of Michelle Bachmann groveling and kowtowing to Israel
For which country is she seeking to serve? Bachmann is dead wrong on Israel and America sharing the same values. America is a nation that affords liberty and justice FOR ALL. Bachmann is also LYING when she said that Americans support her view on Israel. She evidently didn't see these two polls from 2010 which state that only 2/3 of the American people want to take Israel's side in that conflict.
06-07-11 - June 8, 1967 - it's too bad most Americans have no idea of the meaning behind this date
It's when Israel killed 34 Americans in an attack by air and by sea that lasted for 75 minutes.
In honor of the unsung heroism of those aboard the USS Liberty.
06-02-11 - Glenn Beck caught lying about Israel
I happened to catch a few minutes of the Glenn Beck show, a show I never watch, two nights ago. He was discussing Israel and expressing consternation that anyone would dare criticize that nation, particularly when neighboring countries such as Syria shoot their own people (protesters). He then went on to allege that Israel never shoots protesters.
Oh really?
During the first intifada, Israel killed hundreds of children, and maimed 40,000 more.
During the 50's, in a place called Kafr Kassem, Israel had imposed a curfew on the villagers - unbeknownst to them - and then gunned down those in violation thereof - including children, killing 49.
Then there's the time that Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount in 2000. The Israelis killed 13 Arab protesters a few days later.
There are numerous examples of Israel's killing of civilians - protesters or otherwise. For example, Rachel Corrie, an American citizen, was protesting the home demolitions along the Rafah border. An Israeli bulldozer ran her over - twice. No action was taken by the American government.
Glenn Beck - get your facts straight next time you open your mouth. No one at Fox News (owned and operated by Christian Zionist Rupert Murdoch) will correct you, but rest assured, this Republican writer is more than up to the task.
06-02-11 - New news links on Palestine and Neocon Watch pages.
03-31-11 - Several months ago arrests were made in the Kristine Luken murder case. I still don't buy the official story (courtesy of the Israeli officials), nor do I believe the motive allegedly given by the suspects in this case.
01-09-11 - 3 weeks after Kristine Luken's body was discovered, and 2.5 weeks after Israeli police arrested 2 suspects - the media blackout remains and it extends to the mainstream media in America. Not one reporter or member of government seems to question this blackout, nor do they question the identities of the men that Israel arrested.
If these men were Arab, then by now we would know their names, places of origin and all manner of information. Each day that the silence continues reinforces my belief that the men arrested were not Arab.
01-02-11 - Here it is 2 weeks after Israeli police found Kristine Luken's body, and 1.5 weeks after they made an arrest, and according to a search at Google News, the media blackout over the arrests continues.
Of interest is this recent story at Haaretz that further details how Wilson's story was not believed.
12-29-10 - Still no updates or even any mention of the arrests in the US media, this, one week later after alleged arrests by Israeli police of 2 suspects in this case.
The really scary thing here is that no American media outlet even QUESTIONS this continued media blackout of what really happened to Kristine Luken and by whom.
Our media are in complete obedience to Israel. Not one reporter dare ask who are these men that Israel arrested, what are their names, where were they from. None of this information has been made available, seven days after the arrests.
12-27-10 - Update: still no mention of the arrest by Israeli police of the 2 men last Wednesday. The only thing being reported in the Google News index is that Ms. Luken's body was flown back home to the US for burial.
If the men Israel arrested were Arab, we would know that by now, as is usually the case when Arabs commit such a crime: it's headline news here in the US.
Something still stinks about this story.
12-23-10 - Update nearly 24 hours after arrest: The Jerusalem Post completely removed the story I linked to below, and replaced the entire story.
One can still see the original headline and byline in the Google News Index at the time of this writing.
Whoops, sounds like the public wasn't supposed to know about the arrests. The question is : WHY?
- Update - 12 hours later after reporting the arrests made: The gag order must extend to the US press because no American agencies are reporting this, in fact, the silence is (still) deafening.
Here are the results from a Google News search for Kristine Luken
No mention is made whatsoever in the US media, save for a repeat on a Fox News affiliate of what the JP reported last night.
I guess the US media is waiting to hear that in fact it was Arabs before they put it back into the headlines again. They need the OK from Jerusalem...
12-22-10 - Update on the American woman killed in Israel
Breaking from the Jerusalem Post: 2 suspects arrested for Beit Shemesh stabbing attack
Two men allegedly involved in the stabbing of two women, one fatally, near Beit Shemesh on Saturday have been apprehended.
Why are they STILL maintaining a media blackout?
Israeli police have issued a gag order on the case since Sunday. The Israeli police were having trouble believing Kaye Wilson, the survivor of the attack.
Both Kaye Wilson and Kristine Luken worked for Church's Ministry Among Jewish People, "a group that tries to get Jews to accept Christ as their savior.".
This can be a very dangerous thing to do even in Israel. See Bomb raises fear of Jews persecuting Jews .
01-04-11 - New news links on Palestine and Neocon Watch pages.
12-19-10 - Breaking news: American Tourist Killed by Arabs in Israel
Stories at the Israeli Haaretz:
'It was clear they came to kill us', says survivor of Jerusalem stabbing
Body of U.S. tourist found near Jerusalem; police suspect terror attack
Some observations:
The peace talks recently broke down because Netanyahu refuses to stop building settlements in Jerusalem.
This has been widely reported in the US press now for a while.
Now here's where it gets interesting - this story of an American tourist who gets murdered by Arabs as she and her friend were innocently hiking around of all places, Jerusalem.
Americans no longer see Israel as the obstacle to peace, when those pesky Arabs murder one of their own. Israel should Judaize all of Jerusalem as a result.
That would appear to be the moral of this story and why this is headline news in America on a slow news day; this will be rammed down the throats of Americans by the usual suspects in the mainstream media for some time to come, and it will be used as an excuse by Israel to continue to build settlements, and to stall peace talks. After all, how can they make peace with such people?...
12-07-10 - The Special Relationship with Israel: Is It Worth the Costs?
by Scott McConnell, founding editor of The American Conservative. Please read it all, if you can.
12-05-10 - Wikileaks: Israel in the list of countries not clamping down on terror funding
ABC Nightly News just ran a Wikileaks story exposing terror funding during which they showed documents exposing bank transactions from countries not clamping down on this funding. I spied some transactions from Tel Aviv in the list (a few times) of the document but yet no mention of this in the report or any other that I can find in the Google News index.
Stay tuned, maybe an independent agency will pick up this story, as one would expect in any case involving negative publicity for Israel. Our media would be most unlikely to touch it.
11-20-10 - Sarah Palin, Neocon
- a great article out this week by former CIA Philip Giraldi deals with a recent letter Sarah Palin penned to Congress, evidently on behalf of her Neocon puppetmasters.
Neoconservative policies are not in the interests of the AMERICAN people. They in fact endanger us.
None of the 911 hijackers, nor the 911 mastermind Khaled Shaikh Mohammed, and not even OBL himself gave Islam, American freedoms, or the liberation of our women as their motivation for the attack.
Most of them gave US support of Israel as the primary motivation (for KSM and many of the hijackers, it's also one of the main reasons for OBL's 1990's fatwa against the US). See the 911 Commission report, pages 1-80 of The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America by James Bamford, and OBL's fatwa against the US (available online) for more information.
Anyone that tells you that we were attacked because of our freedoms, or because we're infidels or any other such nonsense is either grossly misinformed or a liar.
Does this mean that we should cease support of Israel to appease terrorists? NO.
Israel's wholesale violation of international and humanitarian law is reason enough to stop supporting them.
10-06-10 - The definition of terrorism is expanded recently and the first people in the US to be rounded up
are pro-Palestinian activists
This was highly predictable, and not a surprise given who is holding the reins on Capitol Hill.
09-30-10 - According to a new poll, 2/3 of the American people want to stay neutral, and not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, just about the entire Congress and Senate are squarely behind Israel almost all of the time, often putting Israel's interests AHEAD OF OUR OWN.
They DO NOT REPRESENT US. Do you remember the slogan 'No taxation without representation'? Where are the Tea Partiers on this issue? They are conspicuously SILENT on one of the biggest threats to American democracy this nation has ever seen.
This is unbelievable.
09-30-10 - These 2 new articles by former CIA counterterrorism official Philip Giraldi should make the blood of every true American patriot boil:
Wake Up, America!
A Bipartisan Look at the Israel Lobby
09-20-10 - You know what? My country is America, and it's the only country I've got. I will never salute or kowtow to any other flag. I could never support anyone or group that sells out the interests of America in favor of another country. It just isn't going to happen. That is treason. Our legislators, representatives and any others who kowtow to Israel who would rob my fellow Americans of precious taxpayer dollars in this destitute economic climate in order to continue to arm (as one example) the most rogue nation in the Middle East in terms of human rights violations and international law (look them up), that nation being Israel, are acting like traitors. I can't see how any real American would support that.
08-10-10 - Buchanan writes article last week about Congressional resolution to give Israel the green light to strike Iran. The mainstream media still refuse to give this story any coverage.
08-05-10 - Phil Giraldi writes another article about Congress' probable approval of an Israeli strike on Iran. The mainstream media has still thus far ignored any mention of this story and its grave implications for our troops and missions in the region should Israel indeed attack Iran.
08-04-10 - The mainstream American media refuses to pick up on story that Congress is about to give the green light for war on Iran. Intelligence veterans issue press release today, a week after Phil Giraldi's article in The American Conservative, and the mainstream media still refuses to report on this matter.
08-04-10 - New news links on Palestine and Neocon Watch pages.
07-27-10 - *****Congress, on behalf of Israel, about to declare war on Iran******
According to this report at The American Conservative by former CIA counterrorism officer Phil Giraldi, Israel's representatives (they're certainly not ours) on Capitol Hill are taking us to war again, this time with Iran. How? By OK'ing an Israeli strike on Iran, they are effectively ensuring American participation in said strike, because it would automatically imply American involvement. This puts our troops in the region in grave danger.
While we're on the subject of The American Conservative, please donate if you can. They are in need of your support.
07-05-10 - Long Island Rep. Pete King says House Dems forced to choose between Israel and Obama - NYPOST.com Rep. Pete King says President Obama's weak Mideast policy is forcing House Democrats to make the difficult choice of either supporting Obama or supporting Israel. "I hope they put our relationship with Israel above their relationship with Obama," King (R-LI) said yesterday.
Do Americans fully understand the treason within that statement?
07-02-10 - A friend told me that a week ago today on June 25th, Sean Hannity had a caller on his radio program that brought up the USS Liberty. Sean Hannity evidently went full throttle into 'defend Israel' mode and proceeded to repeat the Israeli propaganda regarding that incident, rather than stick up for the AMERICAN (sailors) that were viciously attacked.
I Googled around and found some forum posts that referred to this Hannity program, but they have since disappeared.
Here is the audio clip and you can decide for yourself.
06-29-10 - The Council for the National Interest had on its radio program USS Liberty survivor Ron Kukal a few weeks ago. You can listen to the archived version of this broadcast : part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.
06-22-10 - It really makes my day to see that Capt. McGonagle is being remembered in this museum exhibit:
General Patton Museum plans veteran tribute Fellow desert veteran Navy Capt. William McGonagle, who earned his medal in 1967 as commanding officer of the USS Liberty, is also recognized in the exhibit.
McGonagle is a graduate of Coachella Valley High School.
06-13-10 - Really, Rep. Peter King(NY)?
New legislation for America to 'stand with Israel'? As if we don't have enough legislation already enacted on behalf of that nation by 'our representatives' on Capitol Hill? As if the United States doesn't have enough problems of ITS OWN such as the budget crisis in New York State, as one example, such that there might be a shutdown of state government as early as tomorrow?
We have to sit around and worry about Israel and any action taken by the UN Human Rights Council with respect to the numerous war crimes Israel has committed in Gaza, and elsewhere?
Just exactly who does Representative King represent here? Ever hear of the saying, 'No taxation without representation', Representative King?
06-09-10 - A Timetable For War by Philip Giraldi
Second, the Israeli government having sold the "existential threat" fiction does want a war, but its options are limited. It knows it can only do temporary damage to Iran and wants the United States to do the heavy lifting. That will require contriving a situation that will bring about US entry into the conflict, otherwise an Israeli attack will have only limited value, possibly slowing down Iran's nuclear program but not stopping it while also guaranteeing that the Mullahs will make the political decision to develop a weapon
A must read for all Americans.
06-07-10 - You can say what you want in this country about Muslims or Christians (recall that feces-splattered painting of the Virgin Mary of some years back as one example), but boy, if you say anything about Israel or Jews, you're done for.
Helen Thomas- one would've thought she had committed an act of terrorism given the response to what she said about the Israeli Jews. It even prompted the president of the 'land of the free' to dress her down, a testament to the power of the Israeli lobby.
Furthermore, Israel-supporters all the time suggest that the Palestinians go live in Jordan, which they believe is the true Palestinian state, and that's not the only thing they say. But nobody utters a word about it, certainly not the president of the United States.
Thomas was forced to resign earlier today from Hearst News Service - as, you can bet Hearst would've bowed to the overwhelming pressure to fire her.
06-06-10 - It was June 8, 1967 when Israel napalmed USS Liberty crewmen in an attack by air and by sea that lasted for 75 minutes leaving 34 dead and 170 wounded.
Like the ships Israel recently attacked, the USS Liberty was in INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Find out the truth (from the survivors) and most importantly, HONOR THEIR HEROISM, for it was their sheer bravery that prevented Israel from sinking that ship and killing ALL ABOARD.
Tell everyone you know about it. These men deserve to be HONORED as the HEROES that they are.
Take a moment to read their website at USSLiberty.org (now redirects).
06-05-10 - Brad Sherman shows his true colors - and they are blue and white (Israeli flag), not red white and blue. Rather than take the side of Americans - some of whom were wounded by the Israelis during an offensive attack in international waters, he's taking the side of Israel. I call this TREASON. Read Pat Buchanan's take on the attack here, and also a short note on the treatment of Ambassador Peck here.
06-02-10 - USS Liberty veteran is back on American soil. For more information, click here.
06-01-10 - One last quick update - Joe Meadors, a survivor of Israel's attack on the USS Liberty was aboard one of the ships destined for Gaza, and may be in Israeli custody. Read on at the bottom of this article by the Associated Press. His former shipmate John Hrankowski is very worried about him - according to this article.
A few key points on the latest information coming out of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and consequently the US mainstream media regarding Israel's attack on the flotilla of ships headed for Gaza:
If I were aboard a ship in international waters and these commandos (or any others like them) came at me like that, I'd defend myself in any way possible as these shipgoers did. They had every right.
They were not in Israeli naval space. They were in INTERNATIONAL WATER.
Another critical piece of information came through the pipeline today as well: there were AMERICANS on board that ship, and some of them were wounded.
Watch the nonreaction by our government in the face of that fact. After all, this is Israel we are talking about here. And we wouldn't want to go against our overlords, the Israeli lobby.
05-31-10 - The Israelis attacked another ship - this time a civilian one - in INTERNATIONAL waters today, killing as many as 10, maybe more. This somewhat resembles the attack on the USS Liberty because this ship too was in international waters, but it was not military (even though the USS Liberty only had four mounted .50 caliber machine guns for protection). For more information, click here.
05-19-10 - A must watch video for my fellow Americans: Extremists rally in NYC for modern day Lebensraum - note that there are a few of our politicians in attendance as well. This is comical and yet sad.
04-13-10 - Palestinian Christians locked out of Jerusalem - Short video from Yahoo News from last week.
03-13-10 - Many Voices Calling for War with Iran - great article detailing who's calling for the US to attack Iran, and why, by former CIA Philip Giraldi.
02-24-10 - The alleged Iranian threat
We gave warnings just before the invasion of Iraq, and when we did so, we were treated as traitors because, 'either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists'. But within one year after the invasion, the rest of America learned that there were no WMDs in Iraq. Nor was there any link between Iraq and 9/11. In short, we were right. And anyone can look back into the pages of this website to bear this out.
For the past several years, the same crowd that got us into Iraq has been beating the war drums for an attack on Iran, and lately, they have been beating ever louder. Here we go again. The results of the gallup poll cited in this article demonstrate that the American people now believe that Iran in fact is a threat to us.
How did that happen? It happened because the politicians and the media are once again pandering to the interests of the Israeli lobby, who have worked tirelessly to make Israel's problems our problems. It's evident in this video(over half way through) depicting Monica Crowley groveling to and along with Mort Zuckerman (a known pro-Israeli) and the AIPAC crowd when she displays her near-hysteric concern over Iran's alleged nuclear program (which, according to our own intelligence officials, is still not off the ground, let alone producing nuclear weapons).
One man - as was the case back in early '03 with the article Whose War? - stands alone in asserting America's interests- rather America's non-interests- in Israel's wars. Patrick J. Buchanan gets the last and best word about the matter ('Iran is no threat whatsoever to the United States of America') in that video from last weekend's edition of The McLaughlin Group. Buchanan further describes why Iran is not a threat to us in this article.
So, when the bombs start falling on Iran, and the price of gas becomes prohibitively high (jeopardizing an already delicate American economic recovery) , as more Americans become homeless and jobless, don't say we didn't tell you so this time. Take a step back from your American Idol and take a look at what this nation has become; a stoolie for Israel. George Washington is rolling in his grave.
02-11-10 - Palin: Obama should attack Iran for Israel. Similar article found at the American Conservative blog here.
Palin's passion (for America's best interests) is as genuine as her belief in the 'hopey changey' stuff. God bless her for capitalizing on her newfound fame and good looks, she has every right. She should take the ride for as long as she can.
But let's call a spade a spade. Palin is out for #1, and she panders to the usual corners. That's the difference between Palin, and the likes of Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul (and Philip Giraldi, Michael Scheuer, and several others).
And speaking of wars fought on Israel's behalf, you really need to take the time to read this thorough article by one of the author's of the Israeli Lobby, Stephen Walt. The article can be found found here.
02-05-10 - A tale of two articles on the respected Jewish news website, The Forward.
In this article, the author suggests that pro-Israel money only merely 'steers', not drives, US foreign policy. Oh. Ok.
Now read this article. Hmm. We have Abe Foxman (of the ADL - another agent of Israel) gloating about getting the Obama administration to stop putting pressure on Israel. Note the about face by Clinton as well when faced with this influence by the Israeli lobby.
So to respond to the first article. No, the Israeli lobby does not 'steer' US foreign policy. It is planted square in the driver's seat. And the rest of us Americans (the majority having no real vested interest in Israel) are being taken along unwittingly and unwillingly and to our detriment - on a ride that has cost us in more ways than one.
But shhhhh.. this lobby is just a myth... it doesn't really exist, and if it does, it just 'steers'...
01-24-10 - In accordance with Israeli behavior since its inception and even before, Israel demonstrates yet again that it is more interested in keeping piece - as in another piece of Palestine -than it is in any real peace agreement.
And to further the points made in the Scheuer video linked in the next entry, here is yet another example of why 'they hate us' - it has nothing to do with 'our freedoms'.
Former CIA official Ray McGovern also points out the real reason for enmity against the US in this recent article.
Lastly, an article out today in the Israeli Haaretz paper headlines "Bin Laden: Attacks on U.S. to go on as long as it supports Israel".
Anyone that tells us Americans that we are attacked for our freedoms is either grossly misinformed, or a liar.
01-23-10 - If you haven't yet seen it, you can catch former CIA Michael Scheuer on this recent CSpan program on terror threats to America. He gives you the truth that you aren't getting from the politicians or the media. I know it's long but do yourself a favor - watch the whole thing.
In the future, to get the whole truth about our foreign policy in the Middle East, and just how detrimental it can be to the American national interest (thanks to the fruits of the Israeli lobby, and others), here are some excellent starting points:
*Former CIA counterterrorism official Philip Giraldi's articles on the blog at The American Conservative found at this link.
These guys likely learned (perhaps even the hard way) of the truth about Israel both on the job and off. Their views are spot on. Please do yourself a favor, get the facts that you aren't getting from the mainstream media and American politicians (who long ago sold us out to the Israeli lobby). And then, spread the word.
The survival of America depends on it, lest we keep getting bled dry sending billions of dollars overseas and participating in wars based on bogus and cherrypicked intelligence (and those that cooked that intel, the neocons, are part of this Israeli lobby).
Scheuer said it best in the aforementioned CSpan video - support for Israel is not a strategic interest to the United States. To the contrary, our support of Israel is actually a detriment to the American national interest. And this support is largely due to the efforts of the Israeli lobby. This writer does not believe in appeasement of terrorists - that's not what this is all about. We shouldn't be supporting Israel and its policies of apartheid, terrorism and colonialism irrespective of any terrorism against us. These policies do not comport with the ideals upon which this nation was founded - those being liberty and justice for all.
Philip Giraldi, Michael Scheuer and a host of others, myself included, have the interests of the American people at heart - not some other foreign nation or entity. Our interests MUST come first. It's too bad that our politicians in Washington do not take this view - not when it comes to Israel.
No taxation without representation - remember that slogan? Well it pertains now. We are shoveling billions of dollars to the Middle East - in many different ways, some peripheral - in support for Israel and its policies. That money frankly could be better spent at home. It garners us hatred and vitriol in that region and beyond. It is wholly unncessary. Israel needs to learn to get along with its neighbors - stop stealing the land, and occupying the people by denying them freedom - if it wants to survive and flourish. Anyway, it is really not our problem. Our problem is America, and we need to take care of business here at home, and stay out of foreign entanglements that have cost us dearly - in more ways than one.
Heed George Washington's words towards the end of this page, and be warned of the perils of the passionate attachment to a foreign nation, and all of the evils it brings. I'm just trying to look out for America - the ONLY country I've got.
11-27-09 - Threats of war - More US officials doing Israel's bidding - this time, trying to pursuade China to back action on Iran. Israel threatens to attack Iran if China doesn't support forthcoming UN action on Iran.
07-03-09 - America needs another Independence Day - independence from Israel.
07-02-09 - Amnesty International: Israel committed war crimes in Gaza - Israel also committed war crimes against US military - which have gone unpunished for over 40 years.
See also:
Israel used human shields
06-08-09 - 42 years ago today our men were attacked by Israel. 34 were killed, 174 were wounded. Israel and its lobby here in the States have used every means necessary to quash this story and ensure justice is denied to these men and their survivors.
Which mainstream American news agencies reported this anniversary? Any at all? Sadly, almost none.
06-02-09 - Israel wants PIECE not PEACE - as in, another PIECE of Palestine. The only peace Israel wants is the peace with which it can continue to steal Palestinian land (using the 'terrorism' excuse) - and clear Palestinians off of it. American taxpayers pay the price - in more ways than one.
05-31-09 - Spy for Israel receives 'justice' from America - a sick joke. Even if they finally do get prosecuted, these traitors receive a slap on the wrist in the American justice system.
05-02-09 - Feds drop the case against the former AIPAC officials - the Israeli Lobby wins again (and America loses).
See also - Lawyers credit Obama team for dismissing AIPAC case
04-19-09 - Some of the ironies of the Demjanjuk case were raised by Patrick Buchanan in an article entitled 'The True Haters' - an interesting read. Too bad our government doesn't pursue those who have committed war crimes against OUR OWN with the same vigor that it is pursuing the alleged war crimes of this man. One gets a clearer picture of just who pulls the strings in this country when our government is trying to deport sickly, wheelchair-bound 90-year old men for alleged crimes committed 60 years ago in another country against citizens of another country, and they do not go after those who have committed war crimes on June 8, 1967 against AMERICANS.
04-09-09 - New York State is poised to layoff thousands of state workers because that government grossly overspent taxpayer's hard-earned money, and would rather hand out pink slips to hard working people than trim the fat from the budget. One such item of pork the State of New York wasted money on: bonds from the State of Israel, to the tune of 15 million dollars in 2008 alone. "On September 18, 2008, the city and state of New York each announced their intention to purchase $15 million in Israel bonds." Source: Wikipedia.
As Americans struggle to keep their homes, jobs and to put food on the table, taxpayers are being forced (where was the referendum on it? AIPAC-beholden-Congress decided for you.) to shovel billions in taxpayer money to the state of Israel. Some of this money goes to fund illegal settlements (violation of Article 49, Fourth Geneva Conventions) which are built for Jews only - an exercise in supremacism that wouldn't stand the light of day in the good ole USA. See also, Special tax write-offs, US Aid to Israel, More on US Aid to Israel.
04-6-09 - A must read - Stop Arming Israel, by former CIA Philip Giraldi. I conjure you to read it my fellow citizens.
03-22-09 - The Israeli Lobby claims another victim - Charles Freeman, Jr..
But shhhh...this lobby is non-existent, a big conspiracy theory....nothing to see here, move along.
Seriously folks, America would be a much richer place - in more ways than one - if we ceased aiding and abetting the criminal state of Israel - and if we sidelined/jettisoned its minions here in the United States whose support of that nation borders on, if not constitutes (in many cases), treason. Sixty years on, Israel needs to be weaned off the American taxpayer teat (Americans can scarcely afford to put food on the table let alone fund this kingdom built largely on stolen Arab land and which is based on religious supremacy), and to learn to get along with its neighbors which would entail the cessation of the illegal theft and occupation of Arab land. Israel's biggest enemy: Israel. The arrogance far exceeds the intelligence. Shame.
11-06-08 - Let's hope Obama gives Colin Powell a place in his new administration.
11-05-08 - Americans wholeheartedly and categorically rejected the policies of the Bush administration in an election of historical purportions - the vote heard around the world. Let's hope Obama keeps the neocons and their disastrous policies at bay. And fellow Republicans, Obama IS the better choice rather than McCain whose administration would have likely mirrored that of Bush.
11-02-08 - James Bamford has a new book out that has Israel's amen corner all in a tizzy. Hmmm. Very interesting.
11-01-08 - Vote Palin/McCain if you want more of the same Bush administration (neocon) policy.
Israel and Iran
09-18-08 - As I was perusing the most popular stories on Yahoo News just now, I noticed this ad in the upper right corner advising to 'Stop Nuclear Iran'. I went to the website - http://unitedagainstnucleariran.com/ - and also looked up the whois information. The individual who runs the site out of Rockefeller Center in NYC, Henley MacIntyre, is also mentioned in this blog post. You may want to note the neocon/pro-Israel ties that are naturally involved when it comes to groups such as this that want to 'stop Iran'. Be warned - you are being propagandized.
09/07/08 - There are those that defend Israel's stance that Iran must not have nukes, and should therefore be attacked by the US since they are allegedly building a nuclear weapons program. For one reason, these folks claim, it's because Iran has threatened to 'wipe Israel off the map' and thus may use these alleged nuclear weapons on Israel. First off, there is no evidence that Iran at present possesses nuclear weapons (paragraph 3). And when presented with the fact that Israel itself has nukes and unlike Iran, has refused to sign on to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, the Israel-defenders then claim that Israel does not threaten to wipe anyone off the map. Let us assume for a moment that Iran in fact has threatened to wipe Israel off the map, which is a matter of contention. That is correct, Israel does not ~threaten~ to wipe anyone off the map - Israel JUST DOES IT.
If one looks at a map from a hundred plus years ago (1870 to be exact), there was no Israel. In its place was a nation-state or region (or whatever you want to call it - the Israel-defenders will bog you down with the semantics of this) called Palestine. Where is it now? Why is it gone? In its place, there is now a nation called Israel. How did it come to be? What happened to all the people that were living there at the time? Between 1947-1948, Jewish forces seized the land and expelled 700K+ Palestinian Arabs from the areas. The Arab villages were then bulldozed, and renamed. The Arab refugees, despite UN resolution 194 (section 11), were never allowed to return to their homes/villages, nor were they compensated thereof. Palestine was wiped off the map in 1948 when Israel declared nationhood in its place, leaving a few remaining territories that Egypt and Jordan managed to get a grip on back then (Israel in 1967 then grabbed these territories in the Six Day War and has been building more Israeli settlements therein ever since). The newest maps of Israel prove without a shadow of a doubt that not only are the surrounding Arab nations not even remotely 'pushing the Jews into the sea', -or realistically threatening to (another myth) - but that Israel itself has pushed the remaining Palestinians further and further into ever-shrinking enclaves.
Exhibit B is the damage Israel inflicted during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war whereby Israel destroyed Lebanon's civilian infrastructure, nearly taking down the country, as a response to the abduction of two IDF soldiers by Hezbollah. The carnage was so grave it prompted this response from Pat Buchanan at the very end of this you tube video on MSNBC's Chris Matthews show, and it also prompted neocon Michael Savage to severely chastise Israel - and that's saying something. For, Savage's true nature is slowly being revealed as a stoolie for the neocons (Israel's amen corner). Israel, fired off thousands of cluster bombs into Lebanese civilian areas three days prior to a ceasefire which they knew was coming. They have since refused to provide the UN with maps pinpointing the areas (paragraph 7) into which they fired. People are still dying from the million cluster bomblets that were rained down upon agricultural areas and neighborhoods. Why did Israel refuse to provide the maps? Because it would likely prove without a doubt that they deliberately fired into civilian areas. That doesn't begin to describe the damage to roads, bridges, schools and civilian life that Israel inflicted upon Lebanon during that conflict.
So, when the Israel-firsters come at you with some of these myths, and there are many, and I have some pretty good responses to most of them, let the facts be known. Israel wiped Palestine off the map, and, for all intents and purposes, damn near wiped Lebanon off the map in 2006. This is a nation in violation of more UN resolutions than Iraq under Saddam Hussein ever was (blatant hypocrisy), and one that continues to violate several UN resolutions almost daily by continuing to build civilian housing in occupied Palestinian territory, and overflying Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no love for Iran. Frankly, I don't give a damn. My concern is for the ONLY COUNTRY I'VE GOT - America, and the fact that Israel and its minions here in the US want to drag my nation into war with Iran. Such a move is not in the best interests of America, a fact that Gates, Mullen and others at the Pentagon already know. Frankly, I don't give a damn about Israel either or any threats she faces. My country isn't doing so hot right now, and any policy that benefits another nation to the detriment of this one is not something I'll ever support. I pledge allegiance to America and no other. And I won't apologize for it. My country - and the interests of the majority therein - must come first.
Several years ago, when I started this website, I only had a few prominent folks on my side (Pat Buchanan as one example) - who thought what I thought (on foreign policy) and who wrote it down for all to see. Now, there are so many others speaking out. In particular, several former CIA (see a few paragraphs down). I encourage any and all officials - both in office and out - to come forward and speak out against Israel and its overwhelming influence in the United States by way of its powerful lobby. It may literally save this country. And a big thanks to those that HAVE spoken out. I consider you all right on par with the founding fathers of this nation. It takes a lot of courage to do so. The lobby will try to tear you right down for doing so - its latest victim Philip Giraldi, one of my favorites. Please don't let it deter you. Soldier on.
09/04/08 - Behold the Treason on Capitol Hill
08/16/08 - This week two former CIA officials - Philip Giraldi and Michael Scheuer - described the efforts of Israel's lobby to get America to attack Iran.
07-09-08 Buchanan weighs in on today's Iranian missile test and Israel's desire for us to attack that nation on Joe Scarborough's MSNBC show :
6-19-08 We lost one of the good guys - Capt. Ward Boston. RIP.
10/2007 - The Israeli lobby is scattering in all directions lately. It's palpable. We are making a difference. But it takes more than just a few people; there is strength in numbers. If you care about this country, you'll speak up sooner, rather than later. The good guys are winning, but we can't rest or stop now. It is up to us ordinary citizens to act since our government fails or refuses to do so. 'Why me?' Well why not you? Imagine if our 'rebels' took that attitude in 1776 (and if you need to get jazzed, buy that video), we may still be kowtowing to the British crown.... Soldier on.
The influence of the Israeli lobby on the US Congress and particularly on the current administration (via the neocons in the office of vice president) has had adverse effects on the American national interest.
Our foreign policy is being crafted and pushed forward by a foreign interest.
The Israeli lobby deems such claims as the furtherance of 'anti-Semitic canards'. But in the pages of the most respected Jewish news outfits, this influence is admitted and openly discussed.
The power of the Israeli lobby is manifest in the lack of action with regard to the case of the USS Liberty. And more recently, the case of Rachel Corrie. No action was taken by the US government with regard to either case. Israel's version of events was accepted as fact. Eyewitnesses, some US (military), were dismissed outright.
For years, most Americans, including American politicians, have been cowed into silence and have refrained from criticizing this lobby. However, recently, things are starting to change. Jimmy Carter's book Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, and a report by two well-respected professors, have gained the attention of the lobby who are now seeking to double their efforts to counter these condemnations.
I will attempt to make the case that not only does this lobby exist, but that the fruits of its labor has endangered the security of America. Much of this case was made in the paper by Walt and Mearsheimer. They have a book out this September that evidently offers more details on this topic.
There is also a book entitled They Dare to Speak Out which was written in the early eighties by former Republican Congressman Paul Findley.
George Washington warned of the perils of foreign entanglements in his Farewell Address. He had remarkable foresight. For, we are in that very situation right now. The invasion of Iraq was put forth and the case thereof was propounded by another part of the Israeli lobby: the neoconservatives. These neocons are evidently not done yet.
The first incident to research is the case of the USS Liberty. You can buy this DVD from the History Channel. There is also this clip from the BBC's "Dead in the Water" (lower right of the page). This article by the Chicago Tribune of 10-02-07 finally puts to rest the lie that this attack was an accident. In fact, it was Israel's intention to sink that ship, killing all aboard. That our government does nothing in the face of the continual pleas for justice by these sailors is a testament to the power of the Israeli lobby.
If I were in government (and elsewhere) and I saw folks that were forsaking the national security of THIS country for that of another, I would leak it to the press, I would come forward, I would not shut up about it. Ask yourself: what would Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, etc, do if in that position? Those that have already come forward have earned the same respect and honor afforded to the latter, as far as I'm concerned.
Latest news on Palestine | Latest news on Neocon front
Old Palestine News blog | Old Neocon Watch Blog
Motivation behind this website:
On any given day, any one of the above might outweigh the others.
On this day, this is the motivating force - a very powerful piece of imagery. Either you get it or you don't; an entire group of people punished, dehumanized, humiliated, and reduced to paupers - thanks in (large) part to our support of Israel - they couldn't do it without us. For 5+ years now, this is my cause: liberty and justice, and perhaps some hope of the return of dignity to a once self-sufficient and proud people who have been made to pay for the sins of another.
|It's up to us ordinary citizens to do what our government fails or refuses to do: to uphold the ideals that were envisioned by our founding fathers - to stand up for justice. It is never wise to underestimate the power of the American spirit. Somebody did that once. ONCE.


text:
On Wednesday July 27th, a packed Shubin Theater witnessed the dawning of a new era – Jim Grammond's "Reasonable Discourse with Jerks". For the unlucky ones who weren't able to secure a ticket, here is what the host and his four panelists were wearing:
Jim Grammond – An orange, black, yellow, green plaid collared shirt with short sleeves, 5 buttons buttoned, one button left undone at the top showing a white under shirt, blue jeans, grey and white sneakers with a large "N" on both sides of each.
John Kensil – Grey button down short sleeved shirt, 5 buttons buttoned, one undone at the top, no undershirt, a necklace with a cross, blue jeans, white sneakers with some black, wrist watch on left wrist.
Blake Wexler – White soccer jersey 3 buttons unbuttoned, with an embroidered small red diamond inside of a larger red diamond over the right breast, a patch on the left breast with 3 blue lions and 10 red "O" shapes under a small white star, a grey undershirt, brown shorts, white ankle-high socks with 3 black bars on each, orange/red, black and white sneakers with the letter "N" on both side of each shoe.
Mary Radzinski – A black blouse with wide arms and a neckline that went to the shoulders, silver feather pendant on a silver chain necklace, silver slippers, dark blue jeans, red bracelet on the left wrist.
Mike Rainey – Black t shirt with a white Philadelphia Flyers logo, with the word "FRESH" in all capital letters underneath also in white type, light blue jeans, black, grey and white sneakers with a grey wavy line on the side.
by Joe Moore