zTruth

Boston Marathon bombers ID'd as two Muslim brothers from Chechnya!

Today we learned the perpetrators of pure evil at the Boston Marathon on Monday that resulted in the deaths of three precious lives and the wounding scores of others are two Muslim brothers from Chechnya who have been in the U.S. for about 10 years.  The older brother, Tamerlan Tsarneav, 26,  is now dead after a police shootout.  There's a massive manhunt for the younger brother, Dzhokar Tsarnaevc, 19.  Police warn those in Massachusetts he may have explosives and to stay indoors.

Here is a screen shot from Dzhokar's page at a Russian social networking site, Vkontakie (thanks JA).  Note he wrote that his world view is Islam:

A few hours after the FBI released the pictures of the suspect, a university police officer was shot and killed at MIT and a guard wounded after a car-jacking by the suspects which then led to a police chase with the brothers throwing out explosives at the police and the older brother being shot.

This is the 2nd successful jihadist-linked attack on American soil since 9/11. 

 

Also see:

Report: Boston suspect #2, Dzhokar Tsarnaevc, was granted citizenship on September 11, 2012

YouTube account that belongs to a person named Tamerlan Tsarnaev had bookmarked videos on terrorism.  Washington Post

Tamerlan Tsarnaev Youtube page

Islamic Society of Boston and the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center are two different mosque.  Suspects were associated with Islamic Society of Boston. 

Note: Muslim Brotherhood-linked mosque’s imam (Islamic Socieity of Boston CC) was replaced as speaker at service for Boston Marathon attack victims the night before.  Read article here.  This particular imam, Suhaib Webb, (a Muslim convert from Christianity and was formerly know as William Webb) is from Oklahoma. 

IPT on the Islamic Society of Boston 

Ztruth 2/18/2011:  Suhaib Webb's "virtual mosque" praised Yusef Qaradawi's book on jihad as a masterpiece! 

 

Plane crashes in 7-story office building in Austin, Texas!

photo source:  KVUE/TV

News is just breaking that a small plane may have crashed into the local offices of the FBI within the past 30 minutes. 

As always,  the first reports are often wrong.

Update 10:35 AM CT:  Now the reports say the 7-story building did not house the FBI office there but their offices are nearby. 

Update 11:18 AM CT:  There are some federal offices (maybe the IRS)  located in this building at the 9400 block of Research Blvd. in Austin.  There are reports now that the pilot set his home on fire and then flew a plane into the building,  intentionally but this has not been confirmed by officials.

Man sets off small explosive as plane lands in Detroit!

Jihadists attack somewhere in the world multiple times every day to help the cause of Islamism - the spread of Islamic supremacy!  Yesterday, there were four attacks and the day before seven. Today, Christmas, it looks like one of the attacks was aboard a plane, an Airbus A330, (Northwest Airlines Flight #253) from Amsterdam to Detroit,  as it was preparing to land about 20 minutes out around mid-day:

Federal officials and police are interviewing a Nigerian man, who allegedly tried to "explode" a powdery substance aboard a Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, injuring himself and two other passengers, law enforcement officials said.

The man said he was directed by al Qaeda to explode a small device in flight, over U.S. soil, ABC News has learned. Authorities have no corroboration of that information, and the credibility of the suspect's statements are being questioned, officials said.

There has been an increase in attempted or failed terrorist attack since President Obama took office.  Two other attacks were carried out in America that killed fifteen people: Ft. Hood, Texas  and in Arkansas.  All were planned by Muslims.  An Islamist supremacy organization, Hizb ut Tahrir,  reared its ugly head in America and held its first Caliphate conference in Chicago, too.

UPDATE 6:58 PM CT:  Abdul Mudallad, a 23-year-old Nigerian national, according to Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee. The device was technologically advanced and potentially devastating, Mr. King said. "This was not a firecracker," he said. Mr. King said the suspect's name did not appear on any of the terrorist watch lists maintained by U.S. authorities, but that the Nigerian national did turn up "hot" in other terrorism-related databases maintained by intelligence officials.

The White House confirmed this was an act of terror, according to the Washington Post.

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab is another spelling of his name.

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Also see:

Obama Orders Heightened Security After Disturbance on Plane

...Obama called for “all appropriate measures to be taken to increase security” after the incident, the White House said in a statement. The Department of Homeland Security said passengers may notice additional screening at airports.

Nov:  Testimony: 30 homegrown terror plots disrupted; 8 in 2009 alone

Four police officers killed at coffee shop in Washington state

Terrible news this morning from Parkland, Washington, a suburb of Tacoma (40 miles south of Seattle) where four police officers were gunned down in a local coffee shop, part of a a small chain owned by a former police officer, Brad Carpenter. 

Robbery was not a motive.

Video:

The coffee shop is located close to McCord Air Force Base as you can see on the snapshot of a google map:

 
 
Last month on Halloween, a Seattle police officer was shot and killed in a likely domestic terrorist attack.  His partner was injured.  See:  Court documents reveal more about note, evidence on Monfort:

On Friday, additional court documents were released in the case of Christopher J. Monfort, the man charged with killing Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton, wounding of his partner, Britt Sweeney, and attempting to kill detectives who confronted him six days after the shooting.

It also detailed the full text of the threatening note left at the Oct. 22 arson scene of three police vehicles. Monfort also has been charged in that case...

The note left threatened other police deaths.  It's not known if today's ambush was a copy-cat of the October attack.

Update 11/30/09 7:23 AM CT:  Maurice Clemmons has been named a suspect in Sunday's ambush.  He was tracked to a home in Seattle.  Police have the home surrounded and shots have been fired.  The AP reports he may be wounded or deceased.

Clemmons was sentenced to 60 years or more when he lived in Arkansas for a crime but he had his sentenced reduced to 11 years by then governor Mike Huckabee (Huckabee's statement), it has been reported.

Update 10:50 AM CT:  Clemmons was not found in the home.  It is believed he has been shot in the abdomen.

Update 12/1/09 6:12 AM CT:  Clemmons was killed by police in Seattle earlier this morning about 90 minutes ago.  The police had been zeroing in on the homes of family members who may have aided him.

Muslim held in Illinois for attempting to bomb a federal building yesterday

Talib Islam was ordered today to be held on charges he tried to blow up a federal building in Springfield, Illinois yesterday.  He detonated, what he thought was a real bomb, with a cell phone. 

Michael Finton, also known as Talib Islam, was arrested in Springfield, Illinois, and charged with attempted murder of federal officers or employees and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, charges that carry a life sentence.

"Fortunately, a coordinated undercover law enforcement effort was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed," David Kris, assistant Attorney General for National Security, said in a statement.

Finton was arrested on Wednesday in Springfield as he used a cell phone to try to detonate the bomb he believed was inside a van he had just parked outside the federal building.

...After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia in 2008, Finton told an individual, who turned out to be a law enforcement source, that he wanted to fight against Israelis in the Gaza Strip, according to the complaint.

In early 2009, "it appeared that Finton was on the verge of taking action, so it was decided to proactively provide him with an opportunity for action that we controlled, rather than merely hoping to be able to find out and stop him," according to a government affidavit.

Talib Islam converted to Islam while in prison.

BREAKING: Jordanian Muslim arrested for attempting to bomb a Dallas skyscraper!

A 19-year-old year-old Muslim by the name of Hosam Maher Husein Smadi was arrested today for planting what he thought was a car bomb near Fountain Place, a tall building in downtown Dallas:

The FBI says agents arrested Smadi after he placed what he thought was a bomb at the base of Fountain Place, a 60-story skyscraper located at 1445 Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas.

The FBI says undercover agents found out about Smadi's intent to commit violent attacks in Dallas.  The FBI says agents tried to get him to change his mind about committing the attacks, but were unsuccessful.

...Agents say they arrested Smadi Thursday afternoon after he placed the dummy car bomb next to the building. The FBI says the public was never in any danger.

Federal complaint

BREAKING: New York City residences raided in terrorism investigation!

The New York Times is reporting terror investigators have raided more than one residences or locations in New York City.  The Times states federal authorities are preparing to brief Congress on the raid, which is most curious and worrisome.

"...New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne confirms that searches were conducted in the borough of Queens on Monday by agents of a joint terrorism task force. He would not discuss the matter further.

Separately, federal authorities planned to brief senior lawmakers in Congress on the case later Monday.

Update 5:17 PM CT:  From Bloomberg:  Searches took place in the borough of Queens...Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Joseph Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Maine Senator Susan Collins, the panel’s top Republican, were briefed in the Capitol by law enforcement officials today. They declined to comment when asked about the probe.

Update 7:21 PM CT:  From Reuters:  "...Four Bosnians -- a couple and their two adult children -- were arrested at an apartment they have shared for three years, said John Choe, an aide to City Councilman John Liu and a candidate for the seat in Queens that Liu is vacating.

Authorities also searched an apartment shared by five Afghan men, taking some of them in for questioning, said one man who was questioned.

"There was nothing imminent, and they are very good now at tracking potentially dangerous actions and this was preventive," said Charles Schumer, a U.S. Senator from New York who was among those briefed by FBI officials.

Other reports said no arrests were made.

Update 9/15/09:  FBI warns police departments across America: signs of homemade bombs

Update 9/18/09:  12 Muslims on constant FBI watch in possible al-Qaeda linked terror probe

Update 9/21/09:  Al-Qaeda cell suspect arrested - more under survelliance!

Update 9/22/09:  Mass transit in U.S. on high alert

Update 9/24/09:  Najibullah Zazi indicted for plotting to use weapons of mass destruction!

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Also see:

2/24/09:  Director of FBI warns of possible U.S. terror attacks

12/2/08:  U.S. likely faces massive terror attack by 2013 government report states

Anti-abortion activist shot and killed near high school in Michigan

Anti-abortion activist, Jim Pouillon, 63,  was shot and killed this morning while protesting across the street from a high school in Owosso, Michigan.  Another person were also shot in a related murdered, according to press reports.  The high school went into lockdown and the suspect is in custody.

Update 7:26 PM CT:  Harlan James Drake, 33, is the suspect arrested.

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Also see: 

Anti-Abortion Activist Gunned Down

FOXNews -

Owosso High School staff stand outside the school Friday morning after police arrived to investigate the fatal shooting of an anti-abortion activist near ...

 

James Pouillon is Another Victim of Abortion Say Priests for Life ...‎ -

"James Pouillon today joined the approximately 4000 other victims who will be killed today because of abortion," said Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of ...

Possible shots in or near Senate office in DC

Just breaking:  shots may have been heard in or near the Senate office building in DC. Some entrances to the U.S. capitol are sealed off.  One person may have been taken away in an ambulance.

Update 4:55 PM CT:  The gun shots were not in any building but near the capitol.  A white mercedes was involved. 

4:59 PM:  Reports are  the capitol police might have been involved in the shooting and may have hit the suspect.  But nothing official.

5:43:  Official:  Suspect in shooting is dead.  This started as a routine traffic stop when the car sped off.

There more at Reuter's Capitol police say suspect killed near Capitol

The shooting occurred after a Capitol police officer tried to make a routine traffic stop near Union Station -- the driver fled, nearly ran over two officers, struck a parked and then crashed into a police cruiser.

"... He began shooting a weapon at several U.S. Capitol Police officers. U.S. Capitol Police returned fire, hitting the suspect,"

...Robert Drumm, visiting Washington from Edmond, Oklahoma said he was walking near the Capitol when he saw police cars engaged in a high speech chase with a white Mercedes.

There was a crash and then "boom, boom, boom, boom. A pause and then a bunch more," Drumm added, estimating he heard more than a dozen gunshots.

The incident was the second shooting in just over a month near a popular tourist attraction in Washington.

Michael Jackson rushed to L.A. hospital; dies

Michael Jackson was rushed to a LA hospital this afternoon around 12:30 PM with possible cardiac problems. CPR was given to him by paramedics. 

TMZ reports he has since died but there has been no "official" announcement. 

Update 5:23 PM CT:  The LA Times also reports Michael Jackson has passed away.

Rest in peace, Michael

Actress Farrah Fawcett passed away this morning

 

Actress Farrah Fawcett has passed away today after battling cancer for 3 years.

Fawcett, who was diagnosed with -- cancer in 2006, died at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica at 9:28 a.m Thursday.

Three months after she was declared cancer-free in 2007, doctors at UCLA Medical Center told her the cancer had returned, spreading to her liver, and she repeatedly sought experimental treatment in Germany...

Rest in peace, Farrah.

Ed McMahon passes away

Shortly after midnight this morning Ed McMahon passed away at the Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California..

The team of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon brought great laughter into milliions of American homes for many, many years. 

Rest in peace,  Ed.

Video of suspect in Army recruiters shooting

Police now say the suspect in the video below may have had political and religious reasons for targeting the Army recruiters today in Little Rock, Arkansas.   Want to take a guess as to what religion?

The young soldier who died was 24-year-old William Long of Conway, Arkansas.

Will President Obama announce his "outrage" as he did in the murder of a late-term abortion doctor on Sunday who performed over 60,000 abortions over his 35 year career?  Will Attorney General Eric Holder also announce more protection for some military recruitment centers as he did for other high-risk abortion clinics?

Update 7:04 PM:  A Muslim convert, Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad,  who said he was opposed to the U.S. military shot two soldiers outside an Arkansas recruiting station, killing one of the soldiers, police said Monday.  USA Today.

Video:

Also see:

Two Army recruiters shot in Little Rock, Arkansas

Two Army recruiters shot in Little Rock, Arkansas

Breaking News:  Two army recruiters in Little Rock, Arkansas were shot this morning.  One of the young men has died.  The suspect is in custody. 

From 5 KSLTV:

"A new soldier helping to attract others to the military was shot and killed outside an Army recruiting office Monday and a second soldier was wounded, and a suspect was arrested, police said.

...Lt. Col. Thomas F. Artis of the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion, which oversees the Little Rock office, said the victims had just completed basic training and were not regular recruiters. He said they were serving two weeks in the Little Rock office.

Update 7:12 PM CT:  Suspect in shooting: Muslim convert Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad.

Update 6//2/09 8:40 AM CT: Jihadist in Arkansas likely homegrown; was under FBI surveillance

Update 6/3/09 8:34 AM CT:  More targets found on suspect comupter

Former congressman Jack Kemp has died

In January, it was disclosed Jack Kemp had cancer.  At the time, the type of cancer he had wasn't revealed.  Apparently, he lost his battle with it and passed away earlier today at 73.

During his career as a congressman, he represented western New York for nine years as a Republican.

Photo credit:  NYDailyNews

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Also see:

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Jack Kemp Dies At 73

WKRC TV Cincinnati - ‎6 minutes ago‎

A spokesperson for Jack Kemp says the former housing secretary, congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback has died at 73. Kemp was diagnosed with cancer in ...

Breaking News: Captain Phillips freed by U.S. Navy!

 Richard Phillips, captain of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama, right, fter his rescue, with Cmdr. Frank Castellano, the commanding officer of USS Bainbridge.  Photo:  U.S. Navy via Reuters

Capt. Richard Phillips has been freed by the U.S. Navy in a military operation!  Three pirates are dead and one is in custody.  There was a brief firefight and it is being reported Capt Phillips is unhurt.

Praise be to God!  Thank you U.S. Navy!  Thank you President Bush for making our military stronger during your eight years in office.

Let's not forget there are still over 200 men and women being held as prisioners in Somalia from many other ship takeover by these Islamic pirates.

<a href="http://technorati.com/claim/82huqczfyd" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a>

Breaking: President Obama lands in Baghdad!

President Obama has landed in Baghdad about 10 minutes ago, a city where 33 were killed yesterday in a string of bombings. 

The air is so full of dust, the President cannot travel by helicopter to where he will meet with U.S. troops.  He will travel by motorcade, per White House pool reporter, Chip Reed. 

This is Obama's first visit to Iraq as President of the United States.

I think the President will thank our hard-working and brave troops for their efforts in the "Overseas Contingency Operations", don't you think?

Yesterday,  the president reached out to the Muslim world saying Islam is not the enemy.  "...The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam," he told the Turkish parliament on Monday, April 6.

President Bush made similar statements but that didn't change anything with our Islamic enemies, whose religious ideology gives them the strength and the will to harm us.

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Also see:

From Terror-supporter Yusef Qaradawi's Islamonline:

Obama's Islam Message Delights Muslims

Islam Online - ‎4 hours ago‎

"This is a very important message to the American people, to the West and to the Muslim World in general," said Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the ...

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Also see:

Islamic scholars in Turkey call for reformation of Islam

Breaking: Shooting in Binghamton, New York; hostages taken and fatalities reported

In Binghamton,  New York, 74 miles south of Syracuse, a shooting has taken place at the American Civic Association where a number of hostages were taken around 10:30 AM ET.  The shooter is reported to be an Asian male with a high-powered rifle.  Fatalities and injuries are being reported.

Around 20 hostages or people have come out of the building and are being questioned by authorities.  There are reports the SWAT team is being readied and FBI hostage negotiators have been called in.

As far as it is known at this moment, the shooter is still in the building.

Caution:  Facts often change as more information is learned.  More to come.

Update 12:47 PM CT:  SWAT team advised the people inside (26?) to have their hands over their head as they enter the building).

It is raining and hundreds of law enforcement huddled under trees and stuff.

The lady who owns a business right across the street said she did not hear anything.  She said the building is always busy on Friday with classes.  All types of refugees use this building.

Update 12:51 PM CT:  ABC News is reporting 13 fatalities.  The lady in the building mentioned above also confirmed she was told by the police that 13 were dead because she asked a policeman who came and asked her if she wanted to be evacuated.  This has not been confirmed by authorities.

Two people have been brought out in handcuffs not sure if these are the shooters or what.

Update 1:03 PM CT:  A news conference is scheduled for 3:30 PM CT.  It is being reported police are now walking around the front of the building which appears that the shooter(s) were apprehended or are dea but nothing has been confirmed by officials.

Update 1:17 PM CT:  Translator services were being asked by authorities.  15 dead mentioned by one source on Fox News - think it was a local reporter.

Update 1:29 PM CT:  The most serious injuries were probably taken to the level one trauma center at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

Update 1: 35 PM CT:  The local ABC News affiliate is reporting "the lone gunman" has killed himself.

Most reports state 13 dead - not 15.

All law enforcement units have been released per local scanner reports.

ABC News Binghamton, New York

Binghamton Shooting Gunman Takes His Own Live

HULIQ - ‎7 minutes ago‎ (2.06 PM CT)

Police scanners in Binghamton NY confirm one gunman has taken his own life, all emergency vehicles except for ambulances have been released. ...

 

Update 3:26 PM:  Gunman was 41 year-old Jiverly Voong (Wong), aka Linh Phat Voong,  from nearby Johnson City, N.Y.  He may have been laid-off from IBM.

 

 

(Binghamton Police Department/AP Photo)

Update 4/4/09:  The gunman was as named above but he did not work for IBM or have a high-powered rifle.  He lived in Union, N.Y not Johnson City.  He was reported frustrated by his poor English language shills

G20 protests

Some video from today's G20 protests in London:

3.43 minutes

Radio legend and Tulsa native, Paul Havey, dies

Paul Harvey, a man many have enjoyed on the radio over the years passed away today.

picture:  from PaulHavey website

"Paul Harvey, a radio legend who began his career in 1933 while he was still in high school, has died, ABC News reported Saturday.

Harvey began his radio career on KVOO-AM while in high school in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla. He was known for his unique, staccato-style delivery of news combined with commentary, which resonated with tens of millions of Americans for more than five decades.

Among the dozens of professional honors Harvey received, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and, in 1992, received the Paul White Award, the highest honor presented by RTNDA, the Radio-Television News Directors Association."

CBS4Denver

Mt. Redoubt in Alaska has steam plum now

Video:

But it has not erupted yet.

US Airways jet lands on the Hudson River!

It's remarkable the pilot was able to land a large airbus with one or two engines that failed after birds flew into them in the waters on the Hudson River.

Praise God.

 US Airways pilot Chelsey B. Sullenberger III  

This video was taken shortly after the disabled plane, an Airbus A320, landed on the water in what could have easily been a full-fledge deadly crash.  All 155 passengers were able to get off alive, as far as I have been able to tell.

This pilot did a remarkable job!

Notice around the 11 sec. mark the male passengers who are actually standing on the wing in the far right of the video:

Little Caylee Anthony's body may have been found

A utility worker walking in the woods a few blocks from the Anthony home may have found little Caylee's body wrapped in a plastic bag.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Orange County deputies said a meter reader found the remains of a young child this morning in the area of S. Chickasaw Trail and Suburban Drive -- less than 1/4 mile from the Anthonys' home on Hopespring Drive. Spokesman Jim Solomons of the Orange County Sheriff's Office said the remains were found in a bag.

Although this isn't confirmed by officials, some sources said there was duct tape on the child's skull around the mouth area.  But early reports aren't always accurate, so keep that in mind.

Just last night, Caylee's grandparents were on Larry King and were taken back what they had said about the smell of a dead body in Casey's car (which is on tape, if I recall right):

Cindy Anthony told King she got a tip that Caylee was spotted at a Tennessee grocery store at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. 

"...In addition to talking about the case, Cindy also took a call from a viewer.  The viewer wanted to know why Cindy recently changed her mind about the smell in the back of her daughter's car from that of a dead body to a rotting pizza.  Cindy replied, "I changed my mind on that (pause) I never changed my mind on that.  What I stated was the car smelled. OK. I was told by my husband and also by the gentleman at the tow yard that there was bag of food that contained pizza and maggots in the car." ..."

Bernie Mac dies unexpectedly from pneumonia complications

Just heard on the news comedian Bernie Mac has passed away. 

Publicist Danica Smith says Bernie Mac died early Saturday at a hospital in the Chicago area of complications due to pneumonia.

The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but he had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently had been hospitalized and treated for pneumonia.

7online

American tourist murdered in Drum Tower in Beijing - killer jumps to his death

An American was murdered and his wife seriously injured in a knive attack in Beijing, China.  This vicious act of violence appears to be the work of a lone killer.  The man and his wife are the in-laws of one of the coaches on the volleyball tea participating in the Olympics. 

A knife-wielding Chinese man attacked two relatives of a coach for the US Olympic men's volleyball team at a tourist site in Beijing, killing one and injuring the other on the first day of the Olympics.

The incident took place on the second level of the Drum Tower, an ancient monument situated just 8km from the main Olympics site, which was used to tell time centuries ago.

The 47-year-old attacker, identified by local police as Tang Yongming from the eastern city of Hangzhou, then committed suicide by jumping from the second story of the Tower.

The attack has brought shock to the country because of the rarity of violent crime against foreigners in tightly controlled China, which has ramped up security measures even more for the Olympics.

The stabbing came only hours after what by many accounts was the most spectacular opening ceremony in Olympic history and has already dampened some of the enthusiasm.

Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the US Olympic Committee, said the volleyball team was deeply saddened and shocked and that it was "too early to say whether the US delegation or athletes will require additional security".

timesonline

Update:  11:20 am:  The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn and their daughter was with them at the time.

...The Bachmans' daughter, Elisabeth Bachman, was a standout middle blocker on the UCLA volleyball team in the early part of this decade, and competed on the women's US Olympic team in 2004.

Elisabeth Bachman reportedly witnessed the attack, which also resulted in wounds for the Chinese tour guide showing them the Drum Tower in central Beijing.

She is married to current men's Olympic Volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, and the couple lives in Irvine, (California).

The attack on the Bachmans has drawn worldwide attention, and President Bush was notified of the murder as he attended the games.    cbs2

Breaking: Tony Snow loses his battle with cancer

Sad news today.  Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary, died from cancer.  He was in Georgtown University Hospital and passed away about 2 AM Eastern Time:

Photo credit:  White House

Former White House press secretary Tony Snow -- who once told reporters "I'm a very lucky guy" -- died at the age of 53 early Saturday after a second battle with cancer.

Snow, who had been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for a recurrence of the disease, left his White House job September 14, 2007, and joined CNN in April as a conservative commentator.

President Bush said Saturday that he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.

"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," the president said in a statement.

"It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day."

Snow's successor, White House press secretary Dana Perino, said, "The White House is so deeply saddened by this loss. He was a great friend and colleague and a fantastic press secretary. And his dear family is in our thoughts and prayers."

CNN Politics

God bless his soul.

 

Breaking: Tim Russert dies of heart attack

Tim Russert, a familar face and name has died.  Russert was vice president of NBC News, was recording voice-overs for Sunday's edition of "Meet the Press" when he collapsed, NBC said in a statement.

Buffalo native Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and author of books about his family and experience growing up in Buffalo, has died from a heart attack, according to the New York Times and the New York Post.

Russert, 58, grew up in South Buffalo and attended Canisius High School. He frequently referred to his roots on his television show, and remained a booster of Buffalo's sports teams despite being a notable member of the Washington Press Corps.

"His books include "Big Russ and Me," a memoir of his childhood and the lessons learned from his father, who still lives in South Buffalo.

BuffaloNews

 

Eliot Spitzer resigns

Photo:  Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

The resignation will be effective on Monday, and Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson will be sworn in to replace him.

“From those to whom much is given, much is expected,” Mr. Spitzer said. “I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.”

Mr. Spitzer, 48, spoke in a somber but steady voice, his usual barking tone softened by contrition. He took no questions. His wife, in a dark suit and brightly colored scarf, looked off to the side of the podium, occasionally glancing up to reveal deep circles beneath her eyes.

New York Times

Seems Spitzer didn't follow his own advice:

Never talk when you can nod, and never nod when you can wink, and never write an e-mail because it’s death. You’re giving prosecutors all the evidence we need.    ---Eliot Spitzer when he was the New York Attorney General

He did forgot a couple important points in his quote:  never make large transfers from your bank account when you can pay cash and abvoe all else - never do anything illegal.

BREAKING: Terrorists attack students in Jerusalem - Palestinians celebrate

The wrath of the religion of peace spoke loud and clear to us all today: 

Two gunmen infiltrated a rabbinical seminary at the entrance of Jerusalem and opened fire after nightfall Thursday, killing at least seven, police and rescue workers said.

..."One terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire, and apparently he had an explosives belt,'' said Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben Ruby said.

"One or two terrorists infiltrated the Mercaz Harav seminary and opened fire in all directions,'' said Ruby, who added that students were being evacuated from the building.

There were no attacks by Palestinian militants in Jerusalem during 2007, though police and the military claimed to have foiled many attempts.

In Gaza City, residents went out into the streets and fired rifles in celebration in the air after hearing news of the attack on the seminary.

AP

Update:  Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack but has backed off that claim Friday.

Israeli security forces have razed the home of the murderous terrorist who murdered eight Merkaz HaRav yeshiva students.  He lived in Jabel Mukabar, a neighborhood just east of Jerusalem's East Talpiyot neighborhood. His family set up a mourners' tent outside the ruins, and hung Hamas flags all around it.

Israel Matzav blogs from Jerusalem and write about the attack and events that happen in Israel.

U.S. Embassy in Belgrade on fire

REUTERS/Oleg Popov

The birth of a new country is not going over well in its mother country, Serbia.  Thank goodness the U. S. Embassy was closed and evacuated when Serb demostrators broke open the doors and started a fire at the embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.  According to a report by msnbc, one protester climbed up to the first floor, ripped the U.S. flag off its pole and briefly put up a Serbian flag in its place. 

Serbia's ambassador to Canada has urged Ottawa not to recognize the independence of Kosovo, warning the recognition by some countries is setting a "worldwide dangerous precedent." "If we accept this kind of violation of international law, the whole international order is at stake," Dusan Batakovic was quoted as saying during an interview with Canadian Press,  reports a chinese paper.

Serbia will never recognise Kosovo's independence, President Boris Tadic said on Monday.  Belgrade ordered the withdrawal of Serbian ambassadors from the United States, France and Turkey and plans to withdraw its ambassadors from other countries that recognise Kosovo's independence.

Protesters started a fire in the U.S. embassy in Belgrade on Thursday after breaking in to protest at U.S. support for Kosovo's independence. The embassy was closed. Police were not protecting the building. Doors were ripped off, set on fire and wedged in the embassy windows. Black smoke billowed out of the building.

Reuters

I believe this protest, caught on video in Belgrade, is several days old but shows rioting against the U.S. Embassy - it gives you a good idea what is going on there.  They try to kick in the door of our embassy and then are pushed back by the police and then the police are pushed back and then there is a loud shot.  It's worth watching.

Update 3:22 PM:  The US Ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that he was "outraged" by the storming of the US embassy in Belgrade by rioters opposed to Kosovo's independence.

"I am outraged by the mob attack against the US embassy in Belgrade," Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters, adding he would seek condemnation by the UN Security Council.

"The embassy is sovereign US territory. The government of Serbia has a responsibility under international law to protect diplomatic facilities, particularly embassies."  AFP

Breaking: Gunman opened fire on students near Chicago

This is not good news:

Another person shot when a gunman opened fire at a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University has died, bringing the toll to seven, including the gunman, a coroner said Friday.

Investigators and school officials did not immediately know why the man indiscriminately fired into the crowd with a shotgun and two handguns Thursday, wounding 15 people and sending panicked students fleeing for the exits before killing himself.

"We have no motive and I have no way of knowing what the motive was," University Police Chief Donald Grady said.

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis J. Miller on Friday released the identities of the four victims who died in his county: Daniel Parmenter, 20, of Westchester; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; and Julianna Gehant, 32, of Meridan.

Two other victims died after being transfered to hospitals in other counties, Miller said in a news release.

Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia on Friday said a female victim died in her county but has not been identified pending notification of family. An autopsy was planned for Friday, she said.

Witnesses said the gunman, dressed in black and wearing a stocking cap, emerged from behind a screen on the stage of 200-seat Cole Hall and opened fire just as the class was about to end around 3 p.m.

Officials said 162 students were registered for the class but it was unknown how many were there Thursday.

Allyse Jerome, 19, a sophomore from Schaumburg, said the gunman burst through a stage door and pulled out a gun.

"Honestly, at first everyone thought it was a joke," Jerome said. Everyone hit the floor, she said. Then she got up and ran, but tripped. She said she felt like "an open target."

Source

Bomb squad examines truck near Captol Hill

Breaking News:  Fox News reports police found a sword and other items near a truck with Utah license plates.  This is happening after a man was seen walking down the street with a shotgun in our nations capitol. 

Live view of robot nearing the truck is being shown on Fox.  More news to come if warranted.

Breaking News: Ex-U.S. Congressman charged in a terror fundraising ring

I see the tentacles of Islamism have reached high in our government.  Mark Deli Siljander, served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and was appointed by President Reagan to serve as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations for one year in 1987 and now he is in big trouble for aiding terrorism while a lobbyist:

A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a former US lawmaker for his links to a charity that sent funds to an Afghanistan-based supporter of Al-Qaeda through banks in Pakistan.

Republican former representative Mark Deli Siljander was named in a 42-count indictment against the Missouri-based Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA), charged with "engaging in prohibited financial transactions for the benefit of US-designated terrorist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar," the US Department of Justice said in a statement.

Siljander, 57, faces money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges in the case.

Siljander represented a congressional district in the midwestern state of Michigan from 1981 to 1987. He now owns and heads a public relations company.

The indictment "paints a troubling picture of an American charity organization that engaged in transactions for the benefit of terrorists," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Kenneth Wainstein.

The organization "allegedly sent funds to Pakistan for the benefit of a specially designated global terrorist with ties to al-Qaeda and the Taliban," said John Wood, US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

The indictment alleges that Siljander "engaged in money laundering and obstruction of a federal investigation in an effort to disguise IARA's misuse of taxpayer money that the government had provided for humanitarian purposes."

The charity was closed in October 2004 when the Treasury Department said it was "a specially designated global terrorist organization."

According to the indictment, the group sent some 130,000 dollars in 2003 and 2004 to bank accounts in Peshawar, Pakistan that Hekmatyar had access to.

Other defendants include Mubarak Hamed, 51, a naturalized US citizen from Sudan; Ali Mohamed Bagegni, 53, a naturalized US citizen born in Libya; and Ahmad Mustafa, 55, a US resident and citizen of Iraq.

Beirut explosion hits U.S. embassy car

Breaking news about, yet another explosion, that took the lives of at least 3 people in Beirut, Lebanon.  Ah, the religion of peace cries out loud and clear for the rest of the world to hear:

This analysis from the Counterterrorism blog  may shed some light:

Today's bombing which targeted a U.S. Embassy car in a northern Beirut neighborhood most likely was an assassination attempt by Hezbollah and their Iranian superiors on the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, or senior embassy personnel.

The blast killed four Lebanese and injured a local embassy employee as Amb. Feltman was getting ready to attend farewell reception for him before his next assignment. Our special correspondent in Lebanon, "Karim," who has provided valuable information for us here before, reports, "Apparently the bombers didn't know which car in the convoy was his, this one turned off the main road, they assumed it was his and blew it up." He discounts another theory, that a judge on the Hariri tribunal was targeted: "Usually to assassinate a Lebanese judge, they would blow up his car or shoot him to send a message to others."

Retired Lebanese Col. Charbel Barakat, speaking on behalf of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution, considers this terrorist act as directed by Hezbollah's war room against the United States and Lebanese citizens. "It is an act of terror ordered by Tehran's Pasdaran against a U.S. diplomatic target in Lebanon as President Bush is visiting the region....

Breaking News: Hostage taken at or near Clinton's campaign office

From the Boston Globe: 

"A man walked into Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, N.H., this afternoon with what looked like a bomb strapped to his body and is holding two volunteers hostage, according to police and a campaign official.

The man walked into the office on North Main Street at about 12:55 p.m., said Captain Anthony Colarusso of the Dover Police Department, which is part of a regional tactical response team. Police have been in contact with the man inside the office, Colarusso said.

Bill Shaheen, a top state campaign official, said that the man was holding two volunteers hostage, according to the Associated Press.

According to television reports, heavily armed police holding riot shields and wearing helmets arrived on the street in an armored truck at about 3 p.m. Nearby businesses have been evacuated."

UPDATE:  3:16 PM ET:  two hostages released.

BREAKING NEW: Federal judge dismisses challenge to Oklahoma Illegal Immigration Law!

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy, to defeat Oklahoma's new anti-illegal foreign national law.

"U.S. District Judge James Payne [U. S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 4, 2001] ordered the case dismissed because he found that none of the plaintiffs in the case had been injured by the law, so they do not have standing to file the suit.

Comparable cases before the U.S. Supreme Court have determined that ''a proper constitutional vetting of any law cannot be achieved without the existence of a plaintiff that has actually been injured by the challenged law,'' Payne says in his order.

''While a constitutional vetting of HB 1804 would serve the interest of all parties to this litigation, the interest of the public would be be served by a sharpening of the issues presented prior to such a vetting,'' he says. ''Such a sharpening can only be achieved through a suit brought by plaintiffs with well-defined injuries causally connected to HB 1804.''

Payne's order does not determine the constitutionality of the law." 

Terrorrists Beware " We Are Going to Get YOU!"

The Transportation Safety Administration has issued a new alert that remote control devices used in toys should not be in carry-on luggage. 

"While not associated with a specific threat at this time, TSA is aware that remote control toys can be used to initiate devices used in terrorist attacks," said Washington-based TSA Administrator Kip Hawley.

Atlanta-based TSA spokesman Jon Allen said if screeners detect a remote-controlled toy in carry-on luggage, the passenger will be subjected to additional screening.

"The biggest thing people can do to help is not to bring these items through the security checkpoint," Allen said. "They'll be subject to additional security screening. It may take a few more minutes, and it could include a pat down."

Fox News reported TSA is increasing screenings of the toys in part because of the National Intelligence Estimate in July, which outlined possible methods of terrorist attacks.

This news comes on the heels of an arrest at Boston's Logan Airport Saturday of a man claminng to be an al-Qaeda operative.

"Massport officials tell the Herald the 27-year-old man had a ticket on his bag from Dubai of the United Arab Emirates and security began asking him questions.

“He seemed aggravated and said "I’m Al-Qaeda and I’m here to blow things up,” said Massport spokesman Phil Orlandella.

Orlandella said the man, Asfaw Ermiyas of Washington, D.C., was taken into custody at the AirTran gate Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. He is set to be arraigned today in East Boston District Court on a charge of making a bomb threat. Massport officials say Ermiyas was heading to Baltimore and listed his occupation as self-employed taxi driver."

In other breaking news today, a man was arrested in Austria trying to gain entrance into the American Embassy there.  He had a backpack with hand grenandes inside. 

"A man who tried to enter the U.S. Embassy in Vienna with a backpack that contained hand grenades, nails and Islamic literature was arrested Monday, Austrian authorities said.

The suspect was taken into police custody around after he was seen dropping the bag and fleeing on foot, Vienna police spokeswoman Michaela Raz said.

No one was injured, but police sealed off the neighborhood as a precaution and shut down or rerouted nearby bus and tramway lines."

The suspect was described only as a 42-year-old Bosnia native who now lives in the province of Lower Austria. Police said they made the arrest a short distance from the embassy building in a neighborhood where security is tight."

When will this madness end? 

"Last month, court documents revealed that a University of South Florida engineering student facing a terrorism-related charge made a video showing how to detonate explosives using a remote-control toy.

An FBI agent said in a sworn statement that Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed told authorities he made the video "to assist those persons in Arabic countries to defend themselves against the infidels invading their countries."

“She said that it was a piece of art"

"A woman who walked into Logan International Airport allegedly wearing a fake bomb strapped to chest was arrested at gunpoint Friday, officials said.

Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board, wiring and a putty that later turned out to be Play-Doh in plain view over a black hooded sweatshirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.

"She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare told The Associated Press. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue.  Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said."  WHDH TV Boston

And from USA Today: ..."Officials say Star Simpson, who appears to have her own website, approached the information booth and asked about an incoming flight, prompting an airport employee to call the state police, who determined that it wasn't an operative device and took her into custody.

Someone with that name is listed as a member of the school's swim team from Kihei, Hawaii. Here's how the student describes herself on the school website: "In a sentence, I'm an inventor, artist, engineer, and student, I love to build things and I love crazy ideas."

Crazy idea?  What a friggin fool.

Giving a Public Forum to Ahmadinejad - a Gift from Columbia University!

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requested approval to go to the WTC, Ground Zero, to lay a wreath.  Thankfully, the New York Police Department said NO!  Just the fact that he asked makes me sick.  But be prepared to be sick again.  Columbia University has invited this scumbag, who want to kill all Jews and destroy Israel, to speak at the university.  Isn't this bad? 

Columbia President, Lee Bollinger issued a statement:

“It should never be thought that merely to listen to ideas we deplore in any way implies our endorsement of those ideas, or the weakness of our resolve to resist those ideas, or our naiveté about the very real dangers inherent in such ideas,” Bollinger said. “It is a critical premise of freedom of speech that we do not honor the dishonorable when we open the public forum to their voices. To hold otherwise would make vigorous debate impossible.”

This invitation is a slap in the face to Americans. Iran sponsors terrorists!  If this had happened back in the day of Hitler, no doubt Columbia would have invited him to speak. 

Interestingly, Columbia just denied a speaking engagement to Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project.  On Oct. 4 of last year, Gilchrist’s speech in Roone Arledge Auditorium was halted after student protesters rushed the stage.  Humm.

University President Lee Bollinger was asked about the events while appearing on Inside City Hall on local television station NY1.

“Students can invite people for political reasons or whatever reasons they want, but they can also choose not to invite people, and my understanding is that some student groups have decided not to invite somebody to speak, and that’s their right, too,” he said.

Upon hearing about the CPU’s revocation of sponsorship, Gilchrist, speaking to the Associated Press, accused the group of “succumbing to pressure from anti-freedom-of-speech gangsters.”

I anticipate an invitation to Osama Bin Laden could be forthcoming, don't you?

If you find this despicable by all means contact this school and voice your concern:

Columbia University
Office of the President
535 West 116th Street 
202 Low Library,  Mail Code 4309, 
New York, NY 10027
phone: 212.854.9970,  fax: 212.854.9973

The President Steps in to Save the Failing Home Ownership Market

Well, the President must feel this has reached a crisis point for him to step into the slumping housing market mess.  A previous post discussed the significant increase in foreclosures since last year. He will introduce a number of initiatives to keep homeowners in their homes. 

..."The official said Bush will direct Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson to work on an initiative to help troubled mortgage holders get services and products they need to keep them from defaulting on their loans. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the initiatives ahead of the presidential event...."

From MSNBC

European Union to Texas: Stop the Death Penalty

The Council of the European Union made a declaration on August 21st (PRESS RELEASE) which urged the Governor of Texas to stop executing prisoners.  This included the candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan align themselves with this declaration. 

Of particular note is the reply from the state of Texas:

Statement by Robert Black, spokesman for Texas Governor Rick Perry:

“230 years ago, our forefathers fought a war to throw off the yoke of a European monarch and gain the freedom of self-determination. Texans long ago decided that the death penalty is a just and appropriate punishment for the most horrible crimes committed against our citizens. While we respect our friends in Europe, welcome their investment in our state and appreciate their interest in our laws, Texans are doing just fine governing Texas.”

BREAKING NEWS: CAIR Strikes Back at the Federal Government

CAIR has filed an amicus brief in court in an attempt to get their names off the list of unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation Trial citing it is "unconstitutional".  The Tech Law Journal say this type of brief could bring to the attention of the Court relevant matters ...it may be of considerable help to the Court or if not found helpful ...it could burden the Court, and its filing is not favored." Rule 37(1), Rules of the Supreme Court of the U.S."

CAIR's attorney cites the list violates Department of Justice guidelines stating the public naming of them as co-conspirators is damaging their reputation. He said it also violates their 1st and 5th amendment rights.

In another related move the National Association of Muslim Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys objected in a letter to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales asking for a meeting with him to discuss their objections and protection under the constitution.  ..."Freedom of association and freedom to exercise religious belief --- for supporting the charitable activities of a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that, until the Fall of 2001, was perceived as a mainstream, legitimate charitable institution in the United States by its donors and volunteers." 

It's particularly noteworthy that in both these instances there is no disputing the connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was the reason they were listed as unindicted co-conspirators.

On August 9th, Newsweek reports the Justice Department called off a Muslim outreach meeting because one of the invited guest belonged to the Islamic Society of North America which was also named as an unidicted co-conspirator.

Oh boy, this is getting more and more interesting.