The Blaze website reports today (July 31, 2012) that Janet Napolitano -- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary -- told Congress last week that members of terrorist groups that intend to harm the country enter the U.S. through Mexico "from time to time."
During the July 25 hearing, she said that the U.S. is constantly working against different and evolving threats involving various terrorist groups and various ways they may seek to enter the country.
Napolitano added, "The southern border -- the U.S.-Mexico border -- is heavily, heavily staffed at record amounts of manpower, materiel, infrastructure, and the like, and we are constantly making sure we're doing all we can to make that border as safe as possible."
Napolitano's briefing to the Homeland Security Committee of Congress confirms that Mexico is frequently being used by terrorist groups to enter the United States -- a phenomenon that has been going on secretly for the past several years.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Romney's Israeli Superiority View Called Racist; Angers Palestinians Who Say It Promotes Hatred
The Big News Network website reports today (July 31, 2012) that Mitt Romney -- the U.S. Republican presidential contender -- is being accused of racism, after he said that the Israelis were richer than Palestinians because of their cultural and religious superiority.
Romney said that Israel was more prosperous than the Palestinian territories because of its culture and the "hand of Providence," seen by many Palestinians as a reference to God.
While visiting Israel earlier this week, Romney said, "As I come here and I look out over this city (Jerusalem) and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."
Regarding Romney's statements, Saeb Erekat -- the veteran Palestinian negotiator with close ties with the United States -- said, "What this man is doing here is just promoting extremism, violence, and hatred, and this is absolutely unacceptable."
Romney said that Israel was more prosperous than the Palestinian territories because of its culture and the "hand of Providence," seen by many Palestinians as a reference to God.
While visiting Israel earlier this week, Romney said, "As I come here and I look out over this city (Jerusalem) and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."
Regarding Romney's statements, Saeb Erekat -- the veteran Palestinian negotiator with close ties with the United States -- said, "What this man is doing here is just promoting extremism, violence, and hatred, and this is absolutely unacceptable."
Md. Pastor Is Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison; Rev. Freeman Took Millions of $ from Worshipers
The Washington Post website reports today (July 31, 2012) that Robert Freeman -- a Southern Maryland pastor and longtime televangelist -- drove fancy cars and lived in a $1.75 million home in Indian Head on the Potomic River that has five fireplaces, a jet-ski lift, and two four-car garages.
To finance that lifestyle, federal prosecutors said, Freeman turned to his followers to purchase the vehicles and waterfront property. Many, it turned out, could not afford it.
Yesterday (July 30), Freeman, 56 -- who headed Save the Seed ministry in Waldorf, Maryland -- was sentenced to 27 months in prison in a related bankruptcy case. Prosecutors said he hid church assets to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts.
"Freeman lived a life of fraud and deception, using millions of dollars from church members, and fraudulently obtained credit to pay for luxury cars and a mansion, while falsely representing in court that he was indigent," Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said.
To finance that lifestyle, federal prosecutors said, Freeman turned to his followers to purchase the vehicles and waterfront property. Many, it turned out, could not afford it.
Yesterday (July 30), Freeman, 56 -- who headed Save the Seed ministry in Waldorf, Maryland -- was sentenced to 27 months in prison in a related bankruptcy case. Prosecutors said he hid church assets to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts.
"Freeman lived a life of fraud and deception, using millions of dollars from church members, and fraudulently obtained credit to pay for luxury cars and a mansion, while falsely representing in court that he was indigent," Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Life Foundation Blasts FBI for "Gestapo Tactics;" Says FBI Uses Witch Hunt on Critics of Abortion
The California Catholic Daily website reports today (July 30, 2012) that Life Legal Defense Foundation attorney Allison Aranda sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) because they threatened and questioned pro-life advocate Andrew Moore at his home in Dallas, Texas on July 13. The letter demands that the FBI stop the harassment, which it referred to as "Gestapo tactics."
The FBI agents asked Mr. Moore about his employment, how he met his wife, who his friends are, where they attend church, why he has certain political views, and why he engages in particular activities in the community.
"The FBI agents used bullying tactics and intimidated Mr. Moore," said Dana Cody, executive director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation, located in California. "It's deplorable that they want to silence his constitutionally-protected free speech rights."
"When has it become the business of the government to invade a private citizen's residence to ask him such personal questions?" Cody added. "It is clear that the FBI is not merely seeking to enforce federal law, but is conducting a witch hunt of anyone who is openly critical of the Obama administration's pro-abortion position."
The FBI agents asked Mr. Moore about his employment, how he met his wife, who his friends are, where they attend church, why he has certain political views, and why he engages in particular activities in the community.
"The FBI agents used bullying tactics and intimidated Mr. Moore," said Dana Cody, executive director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation, located in California. "It's deplorable that they want to silence his constitutionally-protected free speech rights."
"When has it become the business of the government to invade a private citizen's residence to ask him such personal questions?" Cody added. "It is clear that the FBI is not merely seeking to enforce federal law, but is conducting a witch hunt of anyone who is openly critical of the Obama administration's pro-abortion position."
Judge OKs AZ's Ban on Abortions from 20th Week; Abortions Must Be before 20th Week of Pregnancy
The One News Now website reports that Arizona's ban on abortions -- starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy -- will take effect this week as scheduled, after a federal judge ruled today (July 30, 2012) that the new law is constitutional.
U.S. District Judge James Teilborg said the statute may prompt a few pregnant women who are considering abortion to make the decision earlier.
But he said the new law is constitutional because it doesn't prohibit any women from making the decision to end their pregnancies.
The judge also wrote that the state provided "substantial and well-documented" evidence that an unborn child has the capacity to feel pain during an abortion by at least 20 weeks.
U.S. District Judge James Teilborg said the statute may prompt a few pregnant women who are considering abortion to make the decision earlier.
But he said the new law is constitutional because it doesn't prohibit any women from making the decision to end their pregnancies.
The judge also wrote that the state provided "substantial and well-documented" evidence that an unborn child has the capacity to feel pain during an abortion by at least 20 weeks.
Female Punk Band Members on Trial in Moscow; "Pussy Riot" Band Sang Punk Prayer in Church
The Reuters website reports that three women -- who protested against Vladimir Putin in a "punk prayer" on the altar of Russia's main cathedral -- went on trial today (July 30, 2012) in a case seen as a test of the longtime Russian leader's treatment of dissent during a new presidential term.
The women from the band "Pussy Riot" face up to seven years in prison for an unsanctioned performance in February in which they entered Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral, ascended to the altar, and called on the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out."
Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were brought by a police van to Moscow's Khamovniki court -- each handcuffed by the wrist to a female officer -- for Russia's highest-profile trial in years.
The band's stunt was designed to highlight the close relationship between the dominant Russian Orthodox Church and former KGB officer Putin, then prime minister, whose campaign to return to the presidency in a March election was backed clearly by the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
The women from the band "Pussy Riot" face up to seven years in prison for an unsanctioned performance in February in which they entered Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral, ascended to the altar, and called on the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out."
Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were brought by a police van to Moscow's Khamovniki court -- each handcuffed by the wrist to a female officer -- for Russia's highest-profile trial in years.
The band's stunt was designed to highlight the close relationship between the dominant Russian Orthodox Church and former KGB officer Putin, then prime minister, whose campaign to return to the presidency in a March election was backed clearly by the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Olympic Comm. Has Video Tribute to UK Victims; Refuses to Honor 11 Jews Killed in 1972 Olympics
The USA Today website reports today (July 29, 2012) that after saying there would be no moment of silence to honor the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) permitted a video tribute to the 52 people who were killed in the suicide bombings in the London transit system the day after the city won the Games in 2005.
As has been the case for 40 years, the IOC recently refused repeated requests from world leaders and families to honor the Israelis, including President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and leaders from several other nations.
They all knew last week that there would once again be no tribute in the Opening Ceremony. The IOC has steadfastly tried to forget the horror of Munich.
Is is almost unheard of for a nation to change Olympic Opening Ceremony protocol, and the IOC often uses that as one of its excuses to deny a moment of silence for the Israelis.
As has been the case for 40 years, the IOC recently refused repeated requests from world leaders and families to honor the Israelis, including President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and leaders from several other nations.
They all knew last week that there would once again be no tribute in the Opening Ceremony. The IOC has steadfastly tried to forget the horror of Munich.
Is is almost unheard of for a nation to change Olympic Opening Ceremony protocol, and the IOC often uses that as one of its excuses to deny a moment of silence for the Israelis.
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