Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : How Quickly Can Obama Totally Destroy the US? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 12:16:56 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

In Context of Desertion Charges, Bergdahl Swap Was a ‘High Crime’ ......................................................................... Breitbart.com ^ \| 03/26/2015 \| Joel B. Pollak

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 12:17:19 PM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Recommended By unclewest Respond to of 16547

REID PRESSURED DHS TO EXPEDITE $115 MILLION FOREIGN INVESTORS EB-5 VISA DEAL CRITICAL TO SON’S ........................................................................................... Breitbart ^ \| March 26, 2015 \| by MICHAEL PATRICK LEAHY

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 12:31:03 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

Hmm: Did the US Also Pay a Ransom As Part of the Bergdahl Deal? ............................................................................ Townhall ^ \| Jun 09, 2014 \| Guy Benson

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 5:23:03 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

Why Are We Revealing Israel’s Nuclear Secrets? .................................................................................. TheRightToBear.com ^ \| 03/26/2015 \| Jim Treacher I sure hope one of the smart people can explain this to me, because I just can’t figure it out. Ari Yashar and Matt Wanderman, Israel Nation News: In a development that has largely been missed by mainstream media, the Pentagon early last month quietly declassified a Department of Defense top-secret document detailing Israel’s nuclear program, a highly covert topic that Israel has never formally announced to avoid a regional nuclear arms race, and which the US until now has respected by remaining silent. But by publishing the declassified document from 1987, the US reportedly breached the silent agreement to keep quiet on Israel’s nuclear powers for the first time ever, detailing the nuclear program in great depth. The timing of the revelation is highly suspect, given that it came as tensions spiraled out of control between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama ahead of Netanyahu’s March 3 address in Congress. If Bibi didn’t want his widdle nuclear secrets getting out after almost 30 years, he should’ve been a good little Jew and done what Obama said. And then they reelected him? Too bad, so sad, Israel. Our emperor’s ego trumps your nation’s very existence. Right, anti-Semites? Iran, on the other hand, is great. Just a terrific bunch of guys. No problems there.

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 6:16:07 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

Judicial Watch Sues Defense Dept for Army's ‘Initial Report’ of Bergdahl’s Disappearance MARCH 25, 2015 Lawsuit seeks emails, text messages and other communications between former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff concerning Army’s review of Bergdahl’s disappearance and subsequent capture by Taliban in Afghanistan (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that on February 11, 2015, it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to obtain records related to the “initial report” of the U.S. Army’s review of the disappearance of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ( Judicial Watch v U.S. Department of Defense (No. 1:15-cv-00212)). Bergdahl left his post and was held captive by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Afghanistan from June 2009 until May 2014. The circumstances surrounding Bergdahl’s disappearance and subsequent capture have become the subject of intense controversy. He was released on May 31, 2014, as part of a prisoner exchange by the Obama administration for five Taliban terrorist leaders who were held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit after the DOD failed to comply with a FOIA request submitted on October 22, 2014, asking for: Any and all records of communications, including by not limited to, emails and text messages, from or to (as either a direct recipient, “Cc” or Bcc”) Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and the following members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Military Service Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps; and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, regarding, concerning, or related to the ‘initial report’ of the Army’s review of the disappearance of Bowe Bergdahl from his post and his subsequent capture by Taliban forces. The time frame of the records sought is September 1, 2014 to October 28, 2014. The prisoner exchange by the Obama administration has also been the subject of intense controversy. The Government Accountability Office found that the Obama administration violated “ clear and unambiguous” law in the prisoner swap. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 says that all prisoner transfers from Guantanamo Bay require 30 days’ notice to Congress. Such notice was not provided in Bergdahl’s case. This is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed by Judicial Watch concerning the controversial prisoner exchange for Bergdahl. On November 18, 2014, Judicial Watch filed lawsuits against the U.S. Departments of Defense and State to obtain records concerning arrangements made between the U.S. government with third parties or other states regarding agreements and monetary payments to secure the release of Bergdahl from captivity in Afghanistan. On January 2, 2015, Judicial Watch filed a FOIA lawsuit against the U.S. State Department seeking access to the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Qatar relating to the terrorist release. The Army’s fact-finding investigation concluded in December, but the Obama administration withheld the results from the public. Despite today’s announcement that Bergdahl would be charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, which could carry the death penalty, the Obama Defense Department announced that reports about Bergdahl would remain secret. “Given today’s announcement, we now know why the Obama gang would keep a nearly five-year-old report secret about Bergdahl’s desertion,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The Obama administration lied and violated the law in releasing five terrorist leaders from captivity in exchange for Bergdahl, and is violating the federal open records law to cover its tracks.” With respect to today’s announcement, Fitton added, “The untoward delay of justice by the Obama Pentagon is unseemly at best, and – as the decision was conveniently delayed well past the November elections – one must wonder if politics trumped military discipline and order among the Pentagon leadership who should know better.” judicialwatch.org

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/26/2015 6:21:04 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

CNN's Brooke Baldwin on Bowe Bergdahl's Desertion: Isn't Captivity 'Punishment Enough'? Newsbusters ^ \| March 25, 2015 \| Matthew Balan CNN's Brooke Baldwin slanted towards the sympathizers of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Wednesday's CNN Newsroom, just minutes after the U.S. Army announced that the former captive would be charged with desertion. Baldwin asked special forces veteran Scott Mann, "You have those who...on the opposite end, [are] vilifying him. Again, this is someone who was held...for five years by terrorists. Is that not – this is what some say – is that not punishment enough?" [video below] Moments earlier, the anchor turned to Reuters correspondent David Rohde, who was held by the same Taliban-affiliated terrorist group that had captured Sgt. Bergdahl. Rohde set up Baldwin's question by admitting that he had a bias on this issue, due to their common experience: BROOKE BALDWIN: David Rohde, to you – because I feel like this is – you almost have to look at this two different ways – or two different narratives. You have what's happening with Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. But then, you also have this prisoner swap, which is absolutely part of this entire conversation. It was last May – the Obama administration agreed to take those five members of the Taliban, who'd been down at Guantanamo Bay – swap them. We've all seen the video here for Bowe Bergdahl there in this undisclosed area of Afghanistan – much criticism on the administration for this willingness to the swap. And now, with this charge of desertion here – I know the President said – you know, essentially, leave no soldier behind – but what are the implications here for the administration; for the Pentagon? DAVID ROHDE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, REUTERS: Well, it's an awkward time. I mean, as was referenced earlier, this is going on while the new president of Afghanistan is in Washington. And the new president of Afghanistan and the administration is trying to tell the American public that there is a more serious effort now – a better partner in Afghanistan. So it's awkward in that sense. I think there's a very high chance of some kind of plea deal here. As Barbara [Starr] said, they don't want things to – you know, this embarrassing – those questions about what happened in his unit. But I also, just from a personal sense – and I'm biased. I was held by the same people, the Haqqani network, for seven months. Bowe was held, you know, by them for – for five years. You know, he walked off that base. He deserves to be held responsible for it. But I guarantee you he regretted it every day of the five years he was in captivity. There's been an effort by some people to really vilify this young man and vilify his family. You know, he made an enormous mistake. He should be accountable for it. But, you know, I would be shocked if there isn't a plea bargain here, and I'll be disappointed if there's real effort to – to attack him personally. AD FEEDBACK The CNN then asked her "punishment enough" question to Lt. Colonel Mann. The Army veteran bluntly answered Baldwin's question, and put the situation into a broader context: BALDWIN: To David's point, Colonel Mann – I mean, you have those who also – you know, on the opposite end, vilifying him. Again, this is someone who was held – you know, for five years by terrorists. Is that not – this is what some say – is that not punishment enough? LT. COL. SCOTT MANN (RET.), U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES: Well, you know, no – I mean, if he is found guilty of desertion, which we don't – you know, we need to let the process play out. Then – then, you know, that – that crime holds with it its own – its own penalty. And, you know, I certainly think that that will play out the way it's supposed to. I think what – what concerns me more than anything else about this, is that it's – it's becoming such an issue right now – is that it could actually cause us to lose focus on the thousands of men and women that are over there still fighting right now; you know, that have done multiple tours over there. And, like I said earlier, with [Afghan] President Ghani here in the United States, we're at a critical juncture right now with what our follow-on policy is going to be in Afghanistan, and I think what we got to watch here is not letting – you know, it's a bad thing, desertion, if he's found to have done that. But there's much larger strategic fish to fry here in Afghanistan.

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/27/2015 12:50:57 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16547

Yes, Those Are Kids Climbing on a Vietnam Memorial .,.,....................................................................................... by Matthew Munson link The Vietnam Women's Memorial, dedicated to the women of the U.S. who served in the Vietnam War, is one of many sites on the National Mall that honors those who have sacrificed for our country. Matthew Munson was visiting the powerful memorial when he saw parents encourage their young children to climb on the monument for a photo op. Munson snapped a picture of the kids treating the memorial like their personal jungle gym, as veterans looked on, appearing angry and hurt. snip *************************************************** The parents are vile scum and they're raising a new generation of disrespectful scum.

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	3/27/2015 5:26:26 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

‘Senior Defense Officials’ Undermining Army’s Prosecution of Bergdahl ........................................................................................................................... Washington Free Beacon ^ \| March 27, 2015 12:29 pm \| BY: Aaron MacLean It could be possible to read the final tweet, from CNN's Barbara Starr, as implying that the two defense officials are only confirming for her why Bergdahl “says” he left base. But the three tweets from CNN’s National Security desk reference two defense officials who say Bergdahl walked off his post to “report what he believed to be problems with ‘order and discipline’ in his unit.” The direct quote from the “second official” reinforces the impression that he and his colleague are speaking to Starr on background, and that rather than merely reporting what Bergdahl “says,” they are endorsing a version of events that is in Bergdahl’s legal favor. Indeed, if Bergdahl “wasn’t fed up; he wasn’t planning to desert,” why is the Army charging him with desertion? If a defense attorney were saying these things to CNN, I would have no objection. Every American accused of a crime deserves a vigorous defense, including soldiers accused of serious misdeeds on the battlefield. But this appears to be a pair of senior defense officials (the language of which implies to me that these men are likely not in uniform) promoting Bergdahl’s case, undermining the prosecution, interfering with the legal process, and calling into question the character of his platoon mates, who have been critical of Bergdahl and the Obama administration’s actions in the press. Which is reprehensible. What is the Obama administration’s plan here, exactly? Bergdahl’s defense for abandoning his weapon and walking off his post appears to be that his unit was engaged in incompetent or even unconscionable behavior, which he felt it was his duty to report. Now senior officials are going to leak to the press that Bergdahl has been right all along, and his comrades in arms, who did not abandon their posts in the night, may have (wink, nudge) been up to some bad stuff? That the real hero here is Bergdahl? If anyone in this administration wants to know why the troops despise it, this morning is a fine demonstration.

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	4/4/2015 4:57:42 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

OUTRAGE! “I Don’t Give A Damn” VA Employee Caught On Camera Belittling Elderly Vet Desperate For Thyroid Meds (VIDEO) By Velvet Hammer April 3, 2015 . Making matters worse the VA employee humiliated the elderly veteran in a jam packed waiting room. It’s obvious that the mean spirited bureaucrat is in the wrong profession. Via Popular Military: Kevin Clifton of San Antonio, Texas secretly filmed a VA worker belittling a veteran in need of medication. He posted the video to his Facebook account a few days ago and it quickly went viral. The exact VA hospital and the employee involved are unknown, but this is a clear example of the overall problems with the VA’s mistreatment of veterans. In the beginning of the video the VA employee tells the veteran “Okay…well honestly I don’t give a damn” when he asked about getting Thyroid medication. […] Watch Name her, shame her, then kick her out the door –permanently. View the original video here. H/T J.T. - See more at: libertynews.com

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	4/4/2015 5:06:26 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

The instinct of most American presidents would be to halt any type of negotiations at the sight of Iran bombing a mock U.S. aircraft carrier (during “negotiations”) or after hearing its supreme leader call for “death to America” (during negotiations). But not the obedient Pet BaRock

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	4/6/2015 7:17:19 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 16547

Lead Benghazi Investigator Receives Death Threat ........................................................................................... teapartyupdate.com

To: unclewest who wrote (14669)	4/11/2015 3:13:08 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16547

Obama Puts an End to the Monroe Doctrine ..................................................................................... whitehousedossier.com ^ \| April 11, 2015 \| Keith Koffler President Obama officially closed a chapter in U.S. history that has guided presidents since nearly beginning, indicating the United States will no longer act to resist overseas influence in the Hemisphere. Obama, who spoke Friday during a “civil society” forum in Panama City, Panama, disparaged past efforts by the United States to forestall the spread of Communism in Latin America and suggested similar missions would no longer be undertaken. “The days in which our agenda in this hemisphere so often presumed that the United States could meddle with impunity, those days are past,” Obama said. Let’s think about what Obama means here. Obama’s world view was whelped in the 1980s within Leftist universities where political science professors groaned ceaselessly about Ronald Reagan and dismissed his anti-Communism as primitive warmongering that failed to recognize the basic decency of our enemies. When it came to Latin America, they spouted something called “Dependency Theory,” which posited that U.S. policy in the region was predicated on sucking the wealth out of smaller, less powerful nations, not preventing Soviet expansion. This, of course, is the theory Obama embraced, viewing our “meddling” as ignoble capitalist exploitation, not a defensive parry against the Soviets. Obama, as the Iranians have recently recognized, does not understand the evil designs of our enemies and believes in campfire singalongs rather than fighting fire with fire. Meanwhile, he suspects the motives of the United States. And so opposing Communism in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, Guatemala, and anywhere else was “meddling,” notwithstanding the foreign influence behind “indigenous” Communist movements. This foreign influence is exactly what James Monroe was trying to deflect. Monroe said: The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers. We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety . . . With the Governments who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States. The Soviet Union was just such a power. But for Obama, Cuba, which was sustained by the Soviets, is really not much different than any other place. Obama said: As we move toward the process of normalization, we’ll have our differences, government to government, with Cuba on many issues — just as we differ at times with other nations within the Americas; just as we differ with our closest allies. There’s nothing wrong with that. As the United States begins a new chapter in our relationship with Cuba, we hope it will create an environment that improves the lives of the Cuban people -– not because it’s imposed by us, the United States, but through the talent and ingenuity and aspirations, and the conversation among Cubans from all walks of life so they can decide what the best course is for their prosperity. Today, Iran is seeking to spread its influence into Latin America, and Russia is hoping to stage a comeback. But now, the area is off limits. To the United States, that is. Not to its enemies.