Detalis of The Surge as Proposed By The President

Now begins the Battle for the Soul of the Fourth World War:

"From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists – or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?"
--President George W. Bush, January 10, 2007

Text of President's Address

Fact Sheet, reproduced in Full Below:

---

The President's New Iraq Strategy Is Rooted In Six Fundamental Elements:

1. Let the Iraqis lead;
2. Help Iraqis protect the population;
3. Isolate extremists;
4. Create space for political progress;
5. Diversify political and economic efforts; and
6. Situate the strategy in a regional approach.

• Iraq Could Not Be Graver – The War On Terror Cannot Be Won If We Fail In Iraq. Our enemies throughout the Middle East are trying to defeat us in Iraq. If we step back now, the problems in Iraq will become more lethal, and make our troops fight an uglier battle than we are seeing today.

Key Elements Of The New Approach: Security

Iraqi:

• Publicly acknowledge all parties are responsible for quelling sectarian violence.
• Work with additional Coalition help to regain control of the capital and protect the Iraqi population.
• Deliver necessary Iraqi forces for Baghdad and protect those forces from political interference.
• Commit to intensify efforts to build balanced security forces throughout the nation that provide security even-handedly for all Iraqis.
• Plan and fund eventual demobilization program for militias.

Coalition:

• Agree that helping Iraqis to provide population security is necessary to enable accelerated transition and political progress.
• Provide additional military and civilian resources to accomplish this mission.
• Increase efforts to support tribes willing to help Iraqis fight Al Qaeda in Anbar.
• Accelerate and expand the embed program while minimizing risk to participants.

Both Coalition And Iraqi:

• Continue counter-terror operations against Al Qaeda and insurgent organizations.
• Take more vigorous action against death squad networks.
• Accelerate transition to Iraqi responsibility and increase Iraqi ownership.
• Increase Iraqi security force capacity – both size and effectiveness – from 10 to 13 Army divisions, 36 to 41 Army Brigades, and 112 to 132 Army Battalions.
  • Establish a National Operations Center, National Counterterrorism Force, and National Strike Force.
  • Reform the Ministry of Interior to increase transparency and accountability and transform the National Police.

Key Elements Of The New Approach: Political

Iraqi:

• The Government of Iraq commits to:
  • Reform its cabinet to provide even-handed service delivery.
  • Act on promised reconciliation initiatives (oil law, de-Baathification law, Provincial elections).
  • Give Coalition and ISF authority to pursue ALL extremists.

• All Iraqi leaders support reconciliation.
• Moderate coalition emerges as strong base of support for unity government.

Coalition:

• Support political moderates so they can take on the extremists.
  • Build and sustain strategic partnerships with moderate Shi'a, Sunnis, and Kurds.
• Support the national compact and key elements of reconciliation with Iraqis in the lead.
• Diversify U.S. efforts to foster political accommodation outside Baghdad (more flexibility for local commanders and civilian leaders).
  • Expand and increase the flexibility of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) footprint.
  • Focus U.S. political, security, and economic resources at local level to open space for moderates, with initial priority to Baghdad and Anbar.

Both Coalition And Iraqi:

• Partnership between Prime Minister Maliki, Iraqi moderates, and the United States where all parties are clear on expectations and responsibilities.
• Strengthen the rule of law and combat corruption.
• Build on security gains to foster local and national political accommodations.
• Make Iraqi institutions even-handed, serving all of Iraq's communities on an impartial basis.

Key Elements Of The New Approach: Economic

Iraqi:

• Deliver economic resources and provide essential services to all areas and communities.
• Enact hydrocarbons law to promote investment, national unity, and reconciliation.
• Capitalize and execute jobs-producing programs.
• Match U.S. efforts to create jobs with longer term sustainable Iraqi programs.
• Focus more economic effort on relatively secure areas as a magnet for employment and growth.

Coalition:

• Refocus efforts to help Iraqis build capacity in areas vital to success of the government (e.g. budget execution, key ministries).
• Decentralize efforts to build Iraqi capacities outside the Green Zone.
  • Double the number of PRTs and civilians serving outside the Green Zone.
  • Establish PRT-capability within maneuver Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs).

• Greater integration of economic strategy with military effort.
  • Joint civil-military plans devised by PRT and BCT.
  • Remove legal and bureaucratic barriers to maximize cooperation and flexibility.

Key Elements Of The New Approach: Regional

Iraqi:

• Vigorously engage Arab states.
• Take the lead in establishing a regional forum to give support and help from the neighborhood.
• Counter negative foreign activity in Iraq.
• Increase efforts to counter PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party).

Coalition:

• Intensify efforts to counter Iranian and Syrian influence inside Iraq.
• Increase military presence in the region.
• Strengthen defense ties with partner states in the region.
• Encourage Arab state support to Government of Iraq.
• Continue efforts to help manage relations between Iraq and Turkey.
• Continue to seek the region's full support in the War on Terror.

Both Coalition And Iraqi:

• Focus on the International Compact.
• Retain active U.N. engagement in Iraq – particularly for election support and constitutional review.
  

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More on the Snow

The first real snow of the season fell yesterday in Maggie Valley. A little over an inch fell in about an hour, and since we work outside, we left at noon.
The other guys were amazed at how quickly the snow extinguished their brush piles they had burning, much faster than a rain. I wish I had a picture of that, but I was working around the ridge felling and cutting trees until it got too slick to do so safely.

I'll post more pictures later at my photoblog. Until then, here is one of a brush pile one of the guys assembled earlier in the morning. No politics today.

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A Little Snow in Maggie Valley

Brings out the kid in all of us!

One of my co-workers gets ambushed while posing for a picture.

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Zombie Visits the Impeach Beach in San Fran

Member of the Tinfoil Hat Brigade

One of my favorite Photojournalists has visited the Impeach Beach, and has made a Full Report, Complete with Eyecandy of Whackos in Full Bloom!!!

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A Letter on Illegal Immigration

I've often blogged here, and linked to other blogs or news items demonstrating the seriousness of the problems of illegal immigration and the apparent lack of conservatism by the President and the leaders of the Republican Party.

The following letter was posted in forum I am a member of, and this guy is responding to an RNC fund raising letter:

Mr. Ken Mehlman
RNC Chairman
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 200003

Dear Ken,

I hope that whoever opens these letters will pass this one on to you.
Obviously, my previous letters have been ignored or lost in the mail.

I’ve been a generous donor to the RNC ever since President Bush was
first elected. My donations  increased after 9/11, and increased again
when the Democrats chose John Heinz-Kerry in 2004. I do not regret
those donations but I’m extremely disappointed that my vote has been
taken for granted by President Bush and the national RNC.
The party has clearly gotten away from its conservative principles and
that was fully demonstrated on November 7th when conservatives stayed
home, or turned to Democrats who ran on a conservative platform. Most
disappointing to folks like myself was our party’s total disregard
for
border security and the consequences of illegal aliens. Grassroots
conservatives, like myself, lobbied hard, and continually presented
evidence, showing how destructive our open borders had become. Instead,
we were ignored, and received a smoke-and-mirrors border-security
speech from President Bush, along with his demands for a guest worker
(amnesty) program for illegals. That was – and still is –

unacceptable!

The history of the world is paved with the kind of segregated societies
illegal immigration is rapidly turning us into. Our crime rates and
disease rates are way up. Mexican military units are escorting drug
gangs across our border. Our hospitals and schools are going bankrupt.
Our un- and under-employed citizens are being passed over for illegal
aliens who are indeed stealing their jobs for Third World wages (often,
under the table).

Until the RNC stands up to the horrors of illegal immigration and
demands President Bush and the remaining Congressional Republicans
listen to their constituents, then I’m afraid you’ll receive no further donations
from me.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Sincerely,
James Andrew Dunn

Commentary

It is my personal belief that if the President, and the Republican Leadership do not wake up, change course, and return to practicing the principles of conservatism, come 2008, they will still be in the minority, and a Democrat will sit in the White House. Don't say you weren't warned.

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Israel Plans to Nuke Iran--Break Out the Weenies!

I've heard this rumor for almost ten years now. That being said, The Church of the Painful Truth has a sermon for the faithful.

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Darfur Now Safe for UN Troops to Enter in Numbers

Now that neighboring Ethiopia has waged a pre-emptive war in Somalia, and driven the al-Qaeda backed Courts of Islam out, Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) says it is time to increase the number of UN Troops in Darfur. Why? So they can ensure that that conflict has no resolution. Once the UN gets involved, you can rest assured that there will be no resolution. Story below:

SANTA FE, N.M. – Heading on a diplomatic mission to Sudan, Gov. Bill Richardson said Saturday he hopes to persuade the country's president to accept more U.N. peacekeepers in war-ravaged Darfur, a goal that has eluded world leaders.

The New Mexico Democrat, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, said in an Associated Press interview that he does not expect to settle President Omar al-Bashir's dispute with the U.N. over troop levels during the trip beginning this weekend.

He planned to meet with rebel leaders in Darfur on Tuesday and al-Bashir in Khartoum, the capital, on Monday. Sudan's state news agency confirmed Saturday that Richardson would meet the president; several Western officials were unable to get a meeting with the Sudanese leader during their recent visits.

Richardson, who was U.N. ambassador under President Clinton, said he has three goals for his visit to the African nation: increasing the U.N. force in Darfur, improving the humanitarian situation and helping encourage a cease-fire.

“I'll consider it a success if we accelerate movement in those areas,” Richardson said over breakfast at the governor's mansion before departing. “But I don't want to raise expectations. I don't think we'll settle the U.N. issue.”

The dispute is over a three-stage plan to send some 20,000 peacekeepers and police to Darfur to provide protection to the 2.5 million people uprooted since early 2003 as a result of sectarian conflict. More than 200,000 people have died, victims of violence as well as malnutrition and disease.

Al-Bashir indicated in late December that he would go along with a plan that would create a hybrid U.N.-African Union force. But al-Bashir's U.N. ambassador quickly ruled out any U.N. peacekeeping operation in Darfur.

President Bush's special envoy to Sudan, Andrew Natsios, met with al-Bashir last month. Natsios said he insisted al-Bashir allow 60 U.N. troops and civilians into Darfur by the end of the year, but the State Department says only 20 civilians have been deployed.

Signon San Diego

As long as the UN focuses on achieving "peace," there will be no peace. War is the only sure way to peace, when you have beaten the stuffings out of your opponent, and has no more will to fight.

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Heath Shuler Starts a Blog at the Asheville Citizen-Times

This is a good sign, provided he keeps it updated on a regular basis, and should be required reading for every NC-11 District Voter. I can already hear the naysayers out there, "Yes, but he won't be the one writing them!" In my not so humble opinion, that is not really important, because the important thing is that he, or some one on his staff, realizes the importance of an extra line of communication between him and his constituents.

I applaud that realization.


Here is a little snippet:

On a closing note, I hope this blog will be a useful tool for us to communicate with each other. I plan on updating three days a week and look forward to reading your comments. Some of my posts will be about legislation, others will be about the day-to-day operations of the office, and others still will be about the issues of the day. I look forward to your feedback and to serving you in the 110th Congress.

Heath Shuler Blog

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The Democratic Miscalculation

I am 100% confident that with the upcoming Congressional and Senatorial sessions and the fact that both houses now are in the hands of the Democrats that the American people will see why they voted the Republicans into office in the first place.

Nancy Pelosi ascended to the proverbial throne yesterday becoming the first ever elected woman as Speaker of the House of Representatives, but she has yet to claim the title of queen bee within the Democratic Party as she had hoped.

That distinct privilege and honor would fall to the less than worthy Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton and it’s a title she won’t easily give up.

Hillary Clinton, like Nancy Pelosi believe that the agenda that they have put forth is the correct and responsible one, but what they never talk about is how anything they put forward will ever make it through the narrow advantage that they now posses in the Senate over the Republicans.

What is never mentioned by the Democrats and the mainstream media is the fact that there is a great deal of infighting going on within the upper hierarchy of the Democratic leadership.

In fact the Democratic Party has absolutely no concrete or consensus opinion regarding the Iraq War, they complain constantly about it and obviously have no desire to achieve victory, but they wouldn’t dare to not fund the military operations that are now taking place.

Rightwing Guy


Commentary


From Your Lips to God's Ears, Terry.

One of the things that Conservatives need to do is to get active in our local communities, and build up the base for the 2008 elections, and get those who don't normally vote, involved before then.

get in the trenches, people!

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Did Mookie Help Hang Saddam?

Now this story really blew my mind:

According to the Saudi daily Al Riyad, citing a witness to the execution of Hussein, one of the masked men was indeed Moqtada Al Sadr. Knowing that Saddam Hussein had Moqtada's father killed, this would not be surprising. In fact the son would want to take part in taking revenge. But if this turns out to be true, this would be another major faux pas for Iraqi authorities.

The Counterterrorism Blog

Hat Tip: The Eyrie

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The Shuler Staff Begin Lying Before Congressman Sworn In

Is Hayden Rogers practicing Mountain Values, or Brokeback Mountain Values?

An article in the Asheville Citizen-Times this morning either reveals the ignorance, or deceitfulness of Hayden Rogers:

Staffers for incoming U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler got an unwelcome surprise this week when they received computers from outgoing Rep. Charles Taylor that were stripped of their operating systems.
Advertisement

“To clean off the operating systems, that’s more than just cleaning the files,” said Shuler’s chief of staff, Hayden Rogers.

Taylor Press Secretary Deborah Potter said the erasures were done because the law restricts going over personal case information.

As any who is a user of Windows knows, old information can be a bear to get rid of. I have purchased used computers from Flea Markets and Computer Shops that still had personal bank account numbers on them, passwords to email accounts, and in one case, someone's computer journal.

I refer you to an article from CNET News:

Tax records, resumes, photo albums--the modern hard drive can keep increasingly larger volumes of information at the ready. But that can turn into a problem when it comes to effectively erasing the devices.

There are a number of options for cleansing the drives of unwanted computers, from special wiping software to destruction services to manufacturers' recycling programs. But what many PC owners don't realize, experts say, is that these methods are often not enough.

"For people who want to sell or donate a computer, who are trying to protect their checkbook or medical info, you can expect to protect yourself against all but the most sophisticated attacks with wiping," said Stephen Lawton, the director of marketing at Acronis, a maker of wiping tools, backup and recovery software. "But you have to use the software the right way."
News.context

What's new:
It can be tougher to clean data off a discarded hard drive than many people realize, experts say.

Bottom line:
Sensitive data could be left on donated or sold PCs. The only way to erase drives is to use wiping software plus material destruction.

More stories on hardware security

"Even the people who destroy disks will tell you (that) unless you do that correctly, there are always people who can get the data off," he added.

That means that passwords, logins and other personal information could still be lurking on machines that have supposedly been cleaned--a risk that strikes a chord amid reports of laptop thefts exposing sensitive information on thousands of Americans.

If the Shuler Staff are having trouble with formatting their hard drives, and installing operating systems, I can do it a whole lot cheaper than the $2,632 figure stated, including my flight to and from Washington. Wonder who gets that cushy contract?

Besides, aren't the Shuler people using Apples and iMacs?

As always, I'll keep following the Headlines at West Carolina Report.

I will be very interested in seeing how the "progressive" bloggers respond to this, and whether they'll line up according to Technology, or Doctrine?

Update: Jan 5th

To make matters worse, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported this morning that the computers that were handed down from the offices of The Not Very Honorable at All Charles Taylor have been reformatted. Erased. Everything's gone, including pending constituent service case file information. This is a little bit worse than Clinton staffers removing all of the W keys from the keyboards of computers throughout the White House in January 2001, don't you think?

That was on Scutiny Hooligans

In my district, Heath Shuler (D-NC 11) had a welcome surprise from Charles Taylor’s staff. Computers holding constituent service files were erased, reformatted and purged of all data and operating systems. No flags for vets or guided tours for anyone! (Citizen-Times)

And that was on Petulant Rumblings


I guess they decided to take that shot, and keep on driving by...

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Hope for 2008

The anti-war protesters give me hope that they will steer the De mocrats to disaster, and their Net Roots Corps of Leftist Bloggers will carry leverage beyond their influence.


Click to watch Fox Video coverage of the Sheehan crowd interrupting Congressman Emmanuel's Press Conference this afternoon. I never thought I'd see that group suck the oxygen from their own side. It warms the very cockles of my heart.


Hat Tip: The Drudge Report

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Saddam Co-Defendants Could Hang Thursday

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Preparations are under way to hang two of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants on Thursday but the details still have to be worked out with the American military, an Iraqi government official said Wednesday.

Saddam's half brother Barzan Ibrahim, a former intelligence chief, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, were originally scheduled to hang with Saddam, who was put to death on Saturday.

But their execution was delayed until after Islam's Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends Wednesday for Iraq's majority Shiites.

Al-Arabiya satellite television and Al-Furat TV, run by Iraq's major Shiite Muslim political organization, both reported Wednesday that Ibrahim and al-Bandar would go to the gallows on Thursday.

The Associated Press

What do you wanna bet this one doesn't get bootlegged?

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Red Alert: It's David and Goliath Time in Hazeltown, Pennsylvania

Click on the post title for more information.

STOP THE ACLU COALITION
Red Alert

Working Hard to Keep America Safe & Free from the ACLU

Dear Friends & Supporters:

We had not planned to sent out any alerts and newsletters until after the 1st of the year, however, a certain issue has been in the spotlight that I feel warrants our prompt attention and action now.

We are aware that everyone who comes to the Stop the ACLU web site and joins our mailing list may not disagree with the ACLU on every single issue. While I believe most of us reject all the ACLU’s positions on abortion, same sex marriage, sex ed, Gay/Straight Alliances, prayer in schools and city council meetings, public displays of the 10 Commandments and religious symbols, radical Islam, the UN and matters of national security and terrorism, we know there are some who do not take issue with them on every single item. We understand and respect that.

However, I believe I speak for virtually everyone in the Stop the ACLU database when I say that the most serious issue of our day is the matter of border security and deportation of illegal aliens. And as such, we need each of you reading this alert to take action and do your part to stop the ACLU.

As many of you know, a few cities across America have enacted ordinances to curb illegal immigrants from employment and residency in their communities. Examples of those include Escondido, California; Valley Park, Missouri; Riverside, New Jersey, and Farmers Branch, Texas.

These communities have all been sued by the ACLU and have either backed off enforcement of their ordinances or are seriously considering doing so. Other communities like Carpentersville in my home state of Illinois have wanted to do so but were thwarted by radicals opposing public officials in these towns, led by ACLU threats of litigation.

However, one community is not succumbing to ACLU suits but instead digging their heels in to fight them, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary. And that is the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, led by Mayor Lou Barletta.

This past Tuesday night on CNN, Christine Romans, substitute host for Lou Dobbs, had Mayor Barletta on the show. The transcript can be accessed here for those who would like to do so. But in the interest of time, I have copied and pasted the interview below.

(Note that there is a small section earlier in the web page that details what lawmakers and the president plan to do in the 107th Congress with regards to the illegal aliens currently here.)

Quote:
ROMANS: It's one small city in America and it's at the forefront of the battle against illegal immigration. Hazleton, Pennsylvania has become a model for other communities trying to stem illegal immigration within their own city limits. But Hazleton now faces expensive legal challenges for those efforts. The mayor of Hazleton though says he won't back down and he joins me now. Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, welcome back to the program.

LOU BARLETTA, MAYOR, HAZLETON: Nice to be here.

ROMANS: Now Escondido yielded in California to the pressure that it was getting from groups who said you can't do this. And in fact, turned around and even paid the people that were suing it. Are you daunted at all by that?

BARLETTA: No, I'm not. You know, I'm sorry to hear what happened in Escondido, however we do things a little differently in Hazleton. We put together one of the finest legal defense teams in the country. Some of it is pro bono, some of it at discounted rates. Our insurance carrier is also covering us as well as we started a defense fund, smalltowndefenders.com where people from all over America are helping us defend ourselves.

ROMANS: Mayor, one attorney with the national ACLU had this to say about the Escondido move and how it relates to Hazleton and other towns. Quote, "Other cities that have similar legislation should heed the lesson of this case. These ordinances will not withstand challenge, and must be repealed."

You've had -- you have suffered some legal setbacks in the course of this legislation. Are you concerned?

BARLETTA: Well, we have. The plaintiffs who are suing us, the judge has ordered that their identities will be kept confidential from even us.

ROMANS: So you're being sued by people who are not being identified?

BARLETTA: Absolutely. We don't know who these people are, where they live, where they work. They could be invisible for all we know. Unfortunately, we will heed that challenge and continue on. We're not going to back down and we'll fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to.

ROMANS: Now the ACLU declined our request or our invitation to appear on the program with you tonight. But we did get several statements. And I've spoken to Vic Walczak who is the person for the ACLU in Pennsylvania who has been on this case.

"The mayor was unable to give statistics to support claims of problems illegal aliens have caused to Hazleton. There was no evidence to support any of his claims. He gave no details of actual problems illegal aliens are causing in Hazleton."

He says that he deposed you for some seven hours in the course of this litigation and in fact he couldn't come back with any kind of clear, concise data about just what harm illegal immigration is doing to your town. How do you respond to that?

BARLETTA: That's quite amusing. Apparently he forgot the illegal alien that shot two people on a busy street with hundreds of teenage high-schoolers standing nearby, killing one. Apparently he forgot about the 29-year-old that was shot between the eyes by two illegal aliens costing the city thousands of dollars. Apparently he forgot about the 14-year-old illegal alien who was shooting a gun on a playground. Or the drug dealers, over half last year, who were illegal aliens. And apparently he forgot the statistic that over half of our entire budget for overtime in the police department was spent on one homicide committed by illegal aliens.

If he wanted more statistics, I gave them to him. The school district, for example, English as a second language. In the year 2000, the budget was $500. Last year, that budget now is $1,145,000. So he may have to refresh himself on the notes from that deposition.

ROMANS: Let me ask you. So often people like the ACLU and some of the open borders lobby, they say this is war on immigration and on immigrants. You have told me before that that is simply not the case, that this is something to preserve a town for legal immigrants and for citizens. Explain that a little bit.

BARLETTA: That's correct. We are not rolling out the welcome mat for legal immigrants. However illegal aliens are destroying the quality of life and we simply cannot absorb the cost in our small budget where we cannot -- we can no longer provide the level of public service to the legal, hard working taxpayers of our community. This does not mean that we don't welcome legal citizens. Illegal is illegal and it shouldn't go any further than that.

ROMANS: So how far now does this legal battle go?

BARLETTA: Well this battle right now is in federal court here in Scranton, Pennsylvania. From there, it will most likely go to the third circuit court in Philadelphia. And I believe it will finally end up in the Supreme Court. We are one small city with limited resources, but we have a big heart who won't back down from this fight.

ROMANS: Let me ask you, is there a way mayor to write this legislation to make everyone happy? Is there a way to still preserve what you're trying to do, and that is to stem illegal immigration within your city limits, but at the same time satisfy the folks who say this is some kind of racism?

BARLETTA: No, there's no race in illegal. Illegal is illegal and we have. The ordinance that is before counsel and before the judge right now, we feel, does not regulate immigration in any way. We punish businesses that hire unlawful workers and landlords that harbor illegal aliens.

As far as the illegal immigrants, we leave that up to the federal government. Nobody in the city of Hazleton will be determining anyone's immigration status. And I believe we have found a way to defend ourselves and we're willing to fight to prove that.

ROMANS: Is there a point, Mayor, where this becomes too costly, where you have to throw in the towel?

BARLETTA: Well there are 25 lawyers on the other side suing us and the ACLU has a lot of money, and we are one small city. We've set up a legal defense fund, city of Hazleton legal defense fund and anyone in America and they have already that wants to help us fight, can do so through this Web site. The Escondidos in this country, as well as Farmers Branch and many other cities, this fight, the battleground is really in Hazleton, Pennsylvania right now.

ROMANS: That's true. I spoke with somebody from the ACLU several months ago actually who said that Hazleton is our Alamo, meaning they were really going to focus on this case and hope that it would deter other communities from doing the same that you are.

BARLETTA: Well, I could tell them that this is one mayor that will never stop fighting for the people in my community.

ROMANS: Mayor Lou Barletta, thank you so much for joining us.

BARLETTA: Thank you.

After reading the transcript, many of you are likely outraged that the ACLU will not disclose the names of the plaintiffs they are claiming to represent and that the organization is denying the criminal activity occurring in Hazleton.

As noted in the article, Mayor Barletta set up a web site called Small Town Defenders to receive donations to fight the ACLU’s lawsuit. To his great courage, Mr. Barletta has said he will not bow to the ACLU in any way, shape or form. And we need to help as much as we can.

This issue is critical because whoever wins will set the stage for either uncontrolled immigration or major reform and isolation of ACLU lawsuits. If the ACLU wins, few municipalities, if any, will introduce immigration reform ordinances, knowing they will likely be struck down, resulting in thousands of taxpayers dollars awarded to the ACLU.

If Hazleton wins, it will mean that cities concerned about illegal aliens will be able to craft and model legislation after the Hazleton ordinance and as such, will likely stand up to court scrutiny.

This one is for all the marbles. As such, we need everyone's participation.

Take Action Now!

While we here at the Coalition are definitely in need of serious financial infusions to sustain and expand our operations and hope you will consider us at this time, the city of Hazleton needs us as well, if not more so.

We fully understand the bills many of you have incurred as a result of Christmas shopping and we also realize that your house of worship, for those of you who attend church, needs your support first. However, after doing so, would you be willing to donate to Hazleton’s legal defense fund and help them defeat the ACLU?

The town’s web page is a secure site whereby you can contribute online. Or if you wish to mail a check or money order, you can do so by sending it to:

City of Hazleton Legal Defense Fund
C/O Mayor Lou Barletta

City Hall

40 N. Church St.

Hazleton, PA 18201.



We especially ask that as many Pennsylvanians as possible help this town fight the ACLU.

It doesn’t matter whether you can give $5 or $50 or $500. If as many as possible in the Coalition’s database can step up to the plate and simply do a little, we could greatly expand the town of Hazleton’s current financial resources.

We know some folks cannot contribute anything and we fully understand. However, we would that each of you, as well as those of you planning to donate to Hazleton’s legal fund, sign the city’s petition of support and share your personal comments to Mayor Barletta by clicking here.

Also, if there is someone living within an hour radius of Hazleton who would like to be our liaison to the community, please contact me for more information. We will be in touch with the mayor, hopefully within the next few days.

Thank you, everyone, for your assistance in this matter. For those of you who are prayer warriors, pray that this ACLU suit will go down in flames and that Hazleton will have a big victory.

In closing, we want to remind you that with the support of the ACLU, the new Congress and President Bush plan to push the comprehensive immigration bill granting amnesty to thousands of illegal aliens currently here and cause nightmares right and left. We ask you to join as many immigration control groups as possible to force Washington to hear us. Some recommendations I can give are FAIR U.S., NUMBERS USA, U.S.Border Control, ALIPAC, Alamo Alliance and the Minuteman Project.

This bill may be introduced early next month so be informed and be prepared to blitz your senators and congressmen with communications. We will also endeavor to provide this information to you as well, both in an e-mail alert and on our web site.

Bottom line, I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is that Hazleton defeats the ACLU and that we force Congress to abandon any legislation granting amnesty and citizenship to illegals. Please do your part and encourage those in your address book to do theirs as well. I believe this is the defining issue of our time.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and Happy New Year to all.
Warmest Regards,
Nedd Kareiva,
Director

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Speaker Pelosi's Plan: Shutting You Up

I found the following story disturbing:

Included as part of the lobbying reform bill incoming Speaker Pelosi has promised to deliver within 100 hours is a provision which is simply not getting enough attention.

The lobbying bill seeks to, among other things, require groups to account for and disclose their efforts at grassroots "lobbying." This is a very dangerous development and should be opposed with all the white heat one could muster to attack McCain-Feingold a few years back.

Grassroots "lobbying" isn't "lobbying" at all, in the conventional sense. There is no "lobbyist" waiting to buttonhole members. Rather, grassroots lobbying means efforts by citizens, citizen organizations, and other groups to contact other citizens, and urge those citizens to contact their senators and representatives on an issue.

Read on . . .

Hat Tip: USS Neverdock



Commentary

How else are they gonna clear the way for the Hilda Beast?

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Thoughts on 2006

The events of the past few days seem to have pushed a whole year's worth of events aside, as if to say they didn't matter.

I won't cheat, and pore through my posts of 2006 to refresh my memory. I'll do that later, when I am in a reflective mood.

I think the execution of Saddam will live as the most important event of the year, despite my closeness to it in time that may obscure my view.

My view is that the display by the Islamopithecines who chanted and disrupted Saddam's attempt to say the Shahada was contemptible. I daresay that sort of scene would be gleefully repeated if the Kos Kid types got their fantasy fulfilled of putting President Bush through the same circumstances, as evidenced through their posts on Daily Kos.

These people show more empathy to a man who is responsible for the deaths of over a million people, many of them his own countrymen, women, and children; and the oppression of tens of million.

They hate the man, President George W Bush, who has liberated around 50 million souls at the cost of a few thousand lives, telling far more about the dark places of their souls than about the object of their hate. I do not agree with all his policies, but, I am glad that God has raised him up to stand in the gap.


The other event that has significance for the future is the November midterms that swayed a tenuous control of the Senate from the Republicans to an equally tenuous control of the Democratic Party...setting us up nicely for 2008.

Part and Parcel to that was the loss of Charles Taylor's Congressional seat to a man claiming to be conservative. We shall see. I think he would make a good running mate for John Edwards. I wonder what the mechanism of replacement for a Congress Critter is? Would Governor Sleasley make the call? A quick internet search revealed that a temporary appointment may be made, but only until an election could be held. Speculation on my part...

I honestly can't tell you anything else about the year that looms large, except perhaps the media blitz by Hezbollah and western media served to put Israel in Samson-like chains. There are efforts afoot to prevent the traitorous activity by "the fourth estate," whop view themselves as "citizens of the world" rather than of their homeland, or of western civilization.

The 910 Group is part of that response.

Wretchard has a superb analysis at The Belmont Club of the problem and solution already underway.

The West Carolina Report is an early phase of my response on the local and state level.

I am optimistic for 2007. Now, if we can get Heads Up America, The John Batchelor Show, and No Apologies Radio back on the air...we'd really be cooking!!!


I wish all my readers and compatriots a Happy New Year!!!

P.S. Matt Drudge just made the observation that the networks did not hesitate to show American troops get shot by snipers, and fall to the ground,,,and they muted the sound, and stopped tape just before the drop out of respect for Saddam. Yes, that is another piece of evidence for the tribunal of history.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

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Media Bias in Portraying Those Opposed To Zoning

There is an article in today's Asheville Citizen-Times which, to me, reflect a calculated portrayal of anti-zoning advocates as ignorant hillbillies who live in the past.
Here is an excerpt:

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When Buncombe County asked residents in 1999 whether they favored countywide zoning, Beth Woody was among the majority opposed to the idea.

But now that a developer wants to put more than 100 houses above her home in Britain Cove northeast of Weaverville, she feels differently.


“I did cut my nose off to spite my face, and I guess I’m paying the price,” Woody said. “I don’t think any of us realized … what the future was going to be.”

Recent conversations with county residents indicate a growing concern about the pace of development in the county’s rural areas and some new attitudes about land use controls that may result in adoption of a countywide zoning ordinance in 2007.

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There are also other portions of the article which lay more weight on the zoning side of the issue from demographic data, along with "victims" of the fact that the government cannot protect them from other people practicing their Property Rights and ruining their view of the mountains.

Fellow Property Rights Advocates: Go read the article, and start your opposition now. They have already started their Campaign For Zoning, and they have more money, resources, and they are organized.

I will let you know about organizations I am aware of who are opposed to zoning, where you can go to help keep the government off your property, and your neighbors property.

If your group is opposed to this Property Rights Grab, drop me a line in the comments of this post, or send me an email.

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As Expected, The Jawas Have The Money Shot

Of Saddam Dancing With The Devil

Go check out the cellphone video at The Jawa Report. Be patient with the cerebral palsy suffering video-phone operator, and wait until the end, when the guy gets a close up of Saddam hanging by his neck.

The crowd chants, "Muhammad" some before and after Saddam is sent to await final judgment.

I've been patrolling several leftist blogs and message boards over the weekend, and my belief that we will be forced to fight another civil war in this country was only strengthened by the vitriolic hatred for Truth, Justice, and the American Way was palpable.

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Pig Races Start in Katy, Texas

Read about it at The Gates of Vienna

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Leftists Resist Wealth Creation in Favor of Theft

A Dangerous Obsession

A Dangerous Obsession, Part II

A Dangerous Obsession, Part III

A Dangerous Obsession, Part IV

Many poverty-stricken people in the Third World work harder than most Americans work but, for a number of reasons, they don't produce as much. That is why these countries are poor.

Transferring wealth from 300 million Americans and spreading it out over more than two billion people in India and China is not going to do much. But enabling more people in India or China to become more productive can help them and us -- and has.

Multinational corporations are among the biggest spreaders of greater productivity to Third World countries and they usually pay higher wages than local employers. But moral exhibitionists who are hot for the redistribution of other people's money are among the biggest critics of multinational corporations.

Mr. Sowell is right on the money, and more people should be educated about the self-destructive nature of Leftist Philosophy.

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