Archive for January 12th, 2009

Unconventional Warfare, winning hearts, minds, and…

January 12, 2009

Unconventional warfare comes in many flavors. But little blue pills? I read this in the Patriot Post, and just started laughing…

Talk about Sua Sponte!

With a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, U.S. intelligence officials have started looking for new ways to sway the hearts and minds of the various tribal chieftains who control large swaths of the country and whose assistance is needed to defeat the Taliban. U.S. operatives say that money or weapons are not necessarily the best choice. A variety of services or other items are used, too, including tools, medicinal treatment for family members, toys or school equipment for children, travel assistance, and, in a brilliant display of outside-the-box thinking, occasional pharmaceutical assistance for aging leaders whose spirit is willing but whose flesh, uh, can’t quite keep up. Enter Viagra, the famous little blue pill that has revolutionized “senior moments” and, now apparently, U.S. intelligence-gathering capabilities as well.

In a country where multiple wives are common, along with the implied but unspoken sexual prowess of tribal chieftains and associated tribal authority which that represents, Viagra is using medical technology in a way that the Taliban simply cannot match. Describing a recent encounter, a U.S. operative gave an Afghan chieftain four blue tablets, then returned a few days later to a grinning chief who gladly offered a treasure trove of information on nearby Taliban movements and supply routes, followed, naturally, by a request for more pills. Other operatives report that they are given free rein of controlled areas after making their delivery. As one operative said, “Whatever it takes to make friends and influence people — whether it’s building a school or handing out Viagra.” Indeed, “make love, not war” may be one of the more memorable catch phrases from the hedonistic, anti-war 1960s, but who would have thought that it could ever describe an effective new military tactic?

Another “Top” list

January 12, 2009

I just knew that there had to be more top (ten) lists. Either for this past year, or for the new year. I found another one, and it is great!

2008 in review: Top questions Barack Obama did not answer

By Mark Alexander

Perhaps you’ve noticed an abundance of “Top Ten” lists in recent weeks. As usual, the mainstream media has churned out a variety of year-in-review pieces of late. Two events vied for top billing on all those lists — the financial meltdown and the presidential election. At present, it isn’t clear which of those debacles presents the greater threat to our nation.

The factors leading up to the economic collapse in the last two quarters are clear (see Economics 101). What is not clear, however, is whether we can limit the damage to a mere recession.

On the other hand, we have learned that Barack Hussein Obama (as he prefers to be named for his oath of office) is a charismatic master of deception and deflection. What we haven’t learned, therefore, are the answers to a plethora of questions about his citizenship, his mentors, his faith, his worldview, and his tragic childhood — a childhood which gave rise to the pathological narcissism that launched his political career and guides him to this day.

Not that many of those questions weren’t asked. Plenty of them were posed in our profiles of Obama but were met with obfuscation, prevarication and equivocation.

Who is this guy?

So, who is this guy?

In one sense he answered that question in his political autobiography, “The Audacity of Hope”: “I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.”

That explains who he is in the glassy eyes of his messianic following, but who is he really? Who is Barack Hussein Obama, the president-elect of the United States of America?

In pursuit of an answer, I have compiled a list of some important questions directed at BHO that he did not answer in 2008.

Where to start … how about the beginning: Are you a natural-born citizen, as constitutionally prescribed in Article II, Section 1 and Amendment XX, Section 3, for the office of president?

When the question of citizenship came up a year ago, I presumed that this issue was a “straw man” — that your strategy was to send some adversaries on a rabbit trail to nowhere, only to release your official birth certificate just prior to the election. But you didn’t do that.

I believe that you were born in Honolulu, but I have been to the hospital where you were, ostensibly, born, and they could not produce any birth records or tell me who the attending OB might have been. Of course, 1961 is many years past.

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has sealed your on-file birth records, making them unavailable for verification. You refuse to request that the documents in question be made available for examination by dispassionate analysts.

To obtain a driver’s license, one has to provide some proof of citizenship — so why did you not comply as a presidential candidate? Surely you can influence the state of Hawaii to release your original birth certificate for public inspection, so this lingering question can be put to rest before your inauguration.

We know that you hold constitutional rule of law in contempt, but in the unlikely event that it is revealed sometime after your inauguration that you are not a natural-born citizen, we would be faced with a serious constitutional crisis. When do you plan to release your original birth certificate?

Moving on, given your strange childhood and broken family (similar to that of Bill Clinton, the last unmitigated narcissist to occupy the White House), you indicated that your primary childhood mentor was a communist, Frank Marshall Davis.

How did his mentorship shape your understanding of the role of government and economics?

You claim that you never heard any of the anti-American and black-supremacist rants of your mentoring pastor, Jeremiah Wright. However, you spent 20 years in Wright’s church, he officiated at your marriage and the baptism of your children, and you identified him as a “father” figure.

Is it possible that you have been so steeped in his racist rhetoric and hatred for America that you failed to recognize it for what it was?

You claim that terrorist William Ayers was “just a guy in my neighborhood,” and that you were “just eight years old when he was a terrorist.” However, you were 34 when Ayers used his radical celebrity to launch your political career from his living room. You were 40 when this unrepentant terrorist was featured in a New York Times article (on the morning of September 11, 2001) and quoted in the opening paragraph proclaiming, “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.” Ayers added, “America makes me want to puke.” You were working on your second major “philanthropic” project with Ayers at that time, and when interviewed for your first Senate run, you claimed that your primary qualification for public office was your role with the ultra-Leftist Annenberg Foundation — an appointment that you received from Ayers.

So, what is the real nature of your relationship with Ayers?

Regarding your ties to the Socialist New Party, the ACORN crowd, Rod Blagojevich, Tony Rezko, Saul Alinsky, Father Michael Pfleger, Khalid al-Mansour, Kwame Kilpatrick, Louis Farrakhan, Rashid Khalidi, Raila Odinga and other haters, hard Leftists and convicted felons, are we to assume these were just “guys in your neighborhood”?

If you were a Civil Service Employee, could you pass a background check to receive a basic “Secret” clearance? If not, why should the American people trust you as the steward of their security? (OK, I know the answer. “No.”)

When you turned 18 years of age, did you register with the Selective Service System as required by law?

Regarding your “realtor” friend Rezko, how do the unusual circumstances surrounding the purchase of your Chicago mansion differ from the purchase made by former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) of his California house — a purchase that ended with his arrest and conviction?

George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” All committed Socialists understand this principle. In 100 words or less, can you compare and contrast Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations with Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto? In 50 words or less, can you describe any significant difference between International Communism and National Socialism?

Whom do you hold accountable for the economic fiasco, and what is your plan to ensure it doesn’t recur? What is your plan to halt the imminent inflation resulting from the Fed’s printing of money to fund TARP and all the additional handouts?

Why do you think government can provide better and more efficient health care than the private sector? Keep in mind, yours is the same party that was regulating the housing market when it became the first economic domino to fall.

Can you explain how excessively taxing large corporations (which, in turn, pass these “fees” on to the consumer) provides economic “stimulus,” or how this makes lower- and middle-income Americans wealthier?

The motto of your campaign was “change,” but you have never specified what that change means — change from what to what? Based on the goals you have spoken about, it appears that you (and your handlers) would like to change our country from a democratic republic to a socialist/Marxist one. Would you please disabuse me of this notion?

You campaigned about needing “new blood” in Washington. Given this, how do you explain your selection of so many people from the Clinton and Carter administrations?

Our national debt stands at $10 trillion, and rises at a rate of roughly $75 million per hour each day. Do you see any problem with such large numbers, and if so, do you have a plan to fix it?

What is your plan to rein in congressional spending?

Define “rich.” As in “taxing the rich.” The amount appears to have varied depending upon which speech you and Joe Biden made during the campaign. $250,000? $200,000? $150,000? None of these pre-income tax amounts would qualify anyone as being rich, and yet, you voted to increase taxes on the “rich” at the $40,000 level.

During Bill Clinton’s administration, he raised taxes and government revenue collections decreased. George W. Bush reduced taxes and revenue collections increased. Why?

What yardstick will you use to determine when our troops should return home from OIF and/or OEF? How will you measure success? Given that the surge strategy in Iraq has, without question, worked, why is it that you cannot simply admit you were wrong?

What is it about leaders of states who sponsor terrorism and harbor terrorists that makes you believe peace is negotiable with them? What makes you think that Iran, Syria and terrorist entities such as Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah will adhere to anything they might “agree” to in a signed document?

What is your position on amnesty for illegal immigrants? What is your vision for immigration reform, generally?

Vice president-elect Joe Biden said, “Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama. … Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate. And he’s gonna need help. … He’s gonna need you … to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right.”

What in heaven’s name was he ranting about?

In regard to your so-called “National Service Plan” you stated, “We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded [as the military].” That sounds like a force of like-minded socialists, young pioneers, brown shirts, Obama youth, ready to trade brooms for guns.

What were you talking about?

On the subject of guns, you said of the Second Amendment (the palladium of all other rights), “I believe in the Second Amendment. Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear. I said that throughout the campaign. I haven’t indicated anything different during the transition. I think people can take me at my word.” However, your nominee for attorney general, Eric Holder, reaffirmed in the recent Heller case his long-held position that the Second Amendment confers no rights of individual gun possession by private citizens.

Can we still take you at your word?

What is your position on the Enumerated Powers Act (H.R. 1359), which would require all legislation introduced in Congress to “contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority” empowering Congress to enact it?

And on the subject of constitutional authority, on 20 January, you will be taking this constitutionally prescribed oath: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Exactly what Constitution are you swearing to “preserve, protect and defend” — that which was written by our forefathers and defended by the blood of Patriots for generations since, or its vestigial remains, the so-called “Living Constitution” as amended by Leftist judicial diktat? After all, you said you would nominate Supreme Court Justices who met your ideological test rather than those who were impartial jurists.

If the latter, should anyone take your role as commander in chief seriously?

And a final question: At a Florida rally four days before the presidential election, you asserted: “[W]e want to do this, change our tax code (a.k.a. ‘redistribute the wealth’). … John McCain [calls] this socialistic. You know I, I, I don’t know when, when, uh, when they decided they wanted to make a virtue out of selfishness.”

For the record, when you were an adolescent (by your own account, smoking dope and snorting coke) John McCain was a POW in Hanoi. Despite being a Naval Academy graduate and the son of a high-ranking admiral, McCain had requested combat duty and was assigned to the USS Forrestal. He was on the flight deck of the Forrestal during the inferno that killed 134 of his fellow sailors. He was flying his 23rd mission as part of Operation Rolling Thunder over Vietnam when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi. He was subjected to more than five years of horrific torture by the Communist NVA, including two years of solitary confinement.

You claim that John McCain has made “a virtue out of selfishness.” When will you issue a public apology for that odious remark?

source

Boy Scouts win against anti freedom bigots

January 12, 2009

This was a long and bitter fight, and the morons almost won it.

COLORADO: Elbert County Stands-Up for Boy Scouts of America Shooting Center! On Tuesday, January 6 the Elbert County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to finally grant the Boy Scouts of America their Special Use Permit.  This permit will now allow them to relocate the shooting range located at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch, preserving the continuing education of the safe use of rifles, shotguns, handguns, and muzzleloaders.  The Boy Scouts had applied for a Special Use Permit from Elbert County to relocate the shooting range facility, “The Travis Facility,” further into the interior of Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch.  After having conducted extensive and costly testing to ensure that the new site followed all noise, lead, and environmental laws, the new site was chosen to accommodate the few anti-gun neighbors who had filed complaints.  Due to these few anti-gun property owners who live near Peaceful Valley, the County had unfairly delayed approving the Boy Scouts permit request.  This delay had been putting the 2009 shooting programs at risk of being canceled.  Most importantly, without the Travis Facility, the Boy Scout community would have lost an essential firearms safety-training venue and put an end to one of the nations most highly recognized firearms education programs.  Thank you to all who attended the meeting and voiced their support for the Boy Scouts of America who have, and will attend this valuable and important facility.

SCI Law Seminar for Hunters

January 12, 2009

ATTENTION HUNTERS:  Please Attend Safari Club International’s Wildlife Law Seminar on Saturday, January 24! For those who are planning to attend Safari Club International’s Annual Convention in Reno, Nevada, at the end of this month, please be advised of a seminar that will be given on Saturday, January 24.  Entitled, “Wildlife Law: Issues and Controversies Regarding Wildlife Management and Use,” this seminar should be of particular relevance to hunters who are interested in the laws affecting the shipment of firearms and trophies across state and international borders, as well as those interested in current issues affecting the management of wildlife.  The seminar will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on Saturday, January 24, at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, located at 3800 S. Virginia Street, in Reno.  Admittance is $129, which includes the seminar, written materials, and single, same day admission to SCI Hunter’s Convention.  Registration will close on Monday, January 12.  For more information and to complete a registration form, please click here.  To learn about SCI membership and their convention, please visit www.safariclub.com.

DOW VOLUNTEER PROGRAM GOING STRONG AFTER 15 YEARS

January 12, 2009

Two articles from DOW on this subject. Stop talking, and start walking! Get out there and give them a hand. Heck! It’s fun too!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Since 1993 people have cleared trails, planted seedlings, banded wild turkeys, spawned trout, mended fences, answered phones, entered data, and counted Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.  What they all have in common is they are volunteers with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW).

Over the past 15 years, more than 4,700 individuals and families have donated their free time, muscle, and brain power to help the DOW accomplish its mission to perpetuate wildlife resources and provide people with the opportunity to enjoy wildlife.

“Rapid development and habitat loss have increased the challenges to Colorado’s wildlife and the DOW is fortunate to have a dedicated group of people willing to get up early on cold mornings or work late nights to help the DOW in multiple ways,” said Jena Sanchez, a Volunteer Coordinator from Colorado Springs.  “Volunteer efforts make a huge impact on helping wildlife.  The value of their donated time is over a million dollars a year.  Volunteers help accomplish important work that might not get done otherwise,” she said.

Sanchez conceded that not all of the jobs volunteers assist with are glamorous, but they all have a positive impact for wildlife.  “Counting bighorn sheep and mountain goats sounds neat.  But it means getting up before dawn to climb mountains in sometimes less than ideal weather.  It can be a grueling experience, but by in large every volunteer who does it comes away with a sense of personal gratification that they are making a difference.”

Sanchez said the agency tries to match people with tasks they are comfortable with.  Not everyone wants to get wet spawning fish, get dirty planting trees, or work with youngsters teaching hunting safety and outdoor ethics.  Some volunteers do light office duty, work in customer service centers, serve as campground hosts, or staff information booths at wildlife festivals and trade shows.

The net effect, she said, is that game wardens and biologists get valuable assistance; and hunters, anglers, bird watchers, and other wildlife enthusiasts see the direct benefits in healthier wildlife populations.

Two of the most popular volunteer programs are the “wildlife transport,” and “bear aware” teams.    Every year, hundreds of orphaned or injured animals are transported by volunteers to licensed rehabilitation centers where, whenever possible, they are nursed back to health and released back into the wild.  Some of those same volunteers serve as liaisons in neighborhoods where bears and people share the same environment.  The bear aware volunteers distribute educational materials and instruct homeowners in ways they can minimize conflicts with bears.

All DOW volunteers are required to complete an application form and participate in an orientation session prior to being assigned to project teams.  Additional training may be required in the event the project involves specialized skills.  For more information about the DOW volunteer program, visit the DOW website at: http://www.wildlifestate.co.us/Volunteer.  Or contact one of the four regional Volunteer Coordinators listed below.

In southeastern Colorado including Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Lamar, contact Jena Sanchez (719) 227-5204, jena.sanchez@state.co.us.

In southwest Colorado including Montrose, Gunnison, Durango, and the San Luis Valley contact Jennifer Kleffner at (970) 375-6704, Jennifer.kleffner@state.co.us.

In northwest Colorado including Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Craig, and Steamboat Springs, contact Linda Edwards at (970) 255-6145, linda.edwards@state.co.us.

In northeast Colorado including Denver, Castle Rock, Sterling, and Fort Collins, contact Mary McCormac at (303) 291-7369, mary.mccormac@state.co.us.

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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado is home to some of the most diverse wildlife populations in North America.  Since 1993, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) Volunteer Program has provided people the opportunity to contribute their time and talents to help wildlife.

Over the past 15 years, more than 4,750 volunteers have supported the DOW in unique ways, such as counting bighorn sheep and mountain goats, searching for bats near entrances to inactive mines, teaching children and adults to hunt and fish,  doing light office duty, and much more.

This winter, the DOW is holding new volunteer orientation programs across the state to recruit and prepare people for spring and summer projects.

Typical activities include transporting sick and injured wildlife to rehabilitation centers, helping spawn fish, monitoring nest sites for ospreys and eagles, being tour guides at fish hatcheries, State Wildlife Area clean-ups, and a variety of other hands-on projects.  Projects are seasonal and vary by region of the state.

For people interested in public outreach and education opportunities, the projects include teaching people about black bears in neighborhoods where bears are active, and staffing information booths at festivals and trade shows.

New volunteer orientation meetings will be held on the following dates and locations:
Denver, Jan. 21
Pueblo, Jan.  21.
Colorado Springs, Jan. 22.
Fort Collins, Jan. 28
Grand Junction, Feb. 17

To learn more about these or other opportunities to get involved, contact one of the following DOW volunteer coordinators:

In southeastern Colorado including Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Lamar, contact Jena Sanchez (719) 227-5204, jena.sanchez@state.co.us.

In southwest Colorado including Montrose, Gunnison, Durango, and the San Luis Valley contact Jennifer Kleffner at (970) 375-6704, Jennifer.kleffner@state.co.us.

In northwest Colorado including Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Craig, and Steamboat Springs, contact Linda Edwards at (970) 255-6145, linda.edwards@state.co.us.

In northeast Colorado including Denver, Castle Rock, Sterling, and Fort Collins, contact Mary McCormac at (303) 291-7369, mary.mccormac@state.co.us.

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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

TWO NEW PARCELS ADDED TO SOUTH REPUBLICAN SWA

January 12, 2009

AWESOME!

TWO NEW PARCELS ADDED TO SOUTH REPUBLICAN SWA

Burlington, Colo. – Two more parcels of land have been set aside for wildlife recreation and added to the South Republican State Wildlife Area in eastern Colorado.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife and landowner Rodney Kleweno established a joint land protection agreement on 1,760 acres in Kit Carson and Yuma Counties. The agreement includes public access for sportsmen.

The north parcel, in Yuma Co., is about 660 acres of cottonwood, river bottom, and agricultural crop land.  The South Fork of the South Republican River flows through this parcel and provides excellent waterfowl, turkey, small game, and deer hunting opportunities, as well as wildlife habitat for nongame species.  The south parcel, in Kit Carson Co., is about 1,100 acres.  It is a mixture of shortgrass rangeland and CRP land.  This property will provide pheasant, small game, and deer hunting opportunities.

“The funding for these easements came from money provided by sportsmen who bought Habitat Stamps as part of their hunting and fishing license purchases,” said Shaun Deeney of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.  “These are excellent properties that benefit many wildlife species including deer, turkey, upland game birds, waterfowl, raptors, song birds, and a variety of small game species.”

“This project gave me the opportunity to protect my property from future development.  Knowing this land will be kept in agriculture for my family to continue to farm and ranch is important to me,” said Kleweno.

Since the parcels are in the immediate vicinity of the South Republican State Wildlife Area near Bonny Reservoir, they will be managed under the same regulations as the South Republican SWA.  The parcels will be open to year-round walk-in access to hunters, anglers, or anyone who purchases a Habitat Stamp, but the properties will remain in private ownership.

For directions or more information about hunting or fishing opportunities, call the South Republican SWA at 970-354-7317.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.