That should be the headline but is isn't.
Is this front page news? Nope.
It's buried because it's not Muslims. (h/t Lambert at Corrente)
Read on.... "A rash of attacks on abortion and family planning clinics has struck Albuquerque this month, the first such violence there in nearly a decade.
Two attacks occurred early Tuesday at two buildings belonging to Planned Parenthood of New Mexico, according to Albuquerque police and fire officials. An arson fire damaged a surgery center the organization uses for abortions, and the windows of a Planned Parenthood family planning clinic 12 blocks away were smashed, the officials said."
On Wednesday, agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with local arson investigators, arrested two suspects in the fire at Dr. Boyd’s clinic, which has provided abortions to women from throughout the region and Mexico since 1972.
The suspects, Chad Altman and Sergio Baca of Albuquerque, both 22, were arrested on arson charges after the authorities received a tip, said Jake Gonzales, the agent in charge of the firearms agency’s Albuquerque office."
"“I’m going to have to accept the fact that I’m going to die before the rights of women are secured, and the violence against providers and staff comes to an end,” Dr. Boyd said.
A study issued last year by the Feminist Majority Foundation, which monitors attacks on abortion clinics, concluded that the most serious anti-abortion violence had declined since 1994, when federal legislation gave greater protection to providers and patients. According to the report, 18 percent of clinics experienced severe violence in 2005, compared with 52 percent in 1994.
Still, the report said, many clinics are still targets of extreme violence."
This is clearly terrorism. Homegrown, "christian" terrorism.
Where is DHS in this?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
King's Flunky Trying to Pull a Fast One
A few years ago I pointed out that then executive vice-president of the Nassau County Young Republicans Alex Vassallo wrote scathing (and factually challenged) letters to the Long Island Press and Newsday without bothering to mention his position with the republican party. That is called being dishonest. See here and here. I also caught their First Vice-President doing the same here. Both young men went on to become Presidents of the Nassau County Young Republicans.
Two weeks ago the Long Island Press did a cover story about Long Island "Citizen Journalists" and featured Peter King Watch as one of the sites.
Last week, a letter appeared in the Press bashing the site and me...
"Zinging King Watch
Dear Editor,
I have to question your recent article on one of the “citizen journalists,” the gentleman who runs the blog King Watch [“Citizen Journalists: Long Island Blogs,” Oct. 4]. Journalism used to be something revered, but people like [the bloggers on] King Watch, along with those who covered the King/Mejias election for Newsday last year, showed their true colors-that they are interested in substantive issues but would rather make cheap political points by relentlessly attacking the congressman’s son and daughter for alleged ties to lobbyists. They even went to far as to allege both his children influenced his decisions without a shred of evidence. I am sorry, but this is not what my definition of journalism is and the last thing we should be doing is encouraging such behavior. Dissent is a part of political discourse and while it’s a fallacy to believe in the term “clean election,” the spew that came from King Watch was shameful and uncalled for. We all know that there are certain things that Mejias couldn’t say directly, so rather, he had his hatchet man at King Watch do it for him - that’s not journalism.
Sincerely,
Michael Kaplan, Freeport"
I read that and chuckled.
Why?
Because Michael Kaplan is trying to pull a fast one.
Here is my letter in this weeks Long Island Press...
"This is in response to the letter about my website Peter King Watch featured in the Oct. 4th issue. Letter writer Michael Kaplan takes issue with my website alternately calling me a “gentleman” and a “hatchet man.” Here comes the inconvienent truth; far from being “relentless,” the posts on my site about Sean Kings lobbying ties consisted of four posts out of hundreds. My site deals with issues and facts that Kaplan and King cannot refute or rebut. I work for no one but myself and post what I feel needs to be known by voters. Simply put, the facts.
What is most disturbing is that Kaplan stands on his soapbox pontificating about what he believes is journalism and tries to make what he himself calls “cheap political points” without disclosing his own background. Michael Kaplan is the past president of the Nassau County Young Republicans, interned for Peter King and now works for King’s committee in Washington . He boasts of being called “Mike the Machine” by King on his MySpace page. If Kaplan wanted to be honest he would have included that information which would put his attack on me and King Watch in better perspective."
So we have the former president of the YR's and a current employee of King making like he's just a regular guy writing a letter to the editor.
Two weeks ago the Long Island Press did a cover story about Long Island "Citizen Journalists" and featured Peter King Watch as one of the sites.
Last week, a letter appeared in the Press bashing the site and me...
"Zinging King Watch
Dear Editor,
I have to question your recent article on one of the “citizen journalists,” the gentleman who runs the blog King Watch [“Citizen Journalists: Long Island Blogs,” Oct. 4]. Journalism used to be something revered, but people like [the bloggers on] King Watch, along with those who covered the King/Mejias election for Newsday last year, showed their true colors-that they are interested in substantive issues but would rather make cheap political points by relentlessly attacking the congressman’s son and daughter for alleged ties to lobbyists. They even went to far as to allege both his children influenced his decisions without a shred of evidence. I am sorry, but this is not what my definition of journalism is and the last thing we should be doing is encouraging such behavior. Dissent is a part of political discourse and while it’s a fallacy to believe in the term “clean election,” the spew that came from King Watch was shameful and uncalled for. We all know that there are certain things that Mejias couldn’t say directly, so rather, he had his hatchet man at King Watch do it for him - that’s not journalism.
Sincerely,
Michael Kaplan, Freeport"
I read that and chuckled.
Why?
Because Michael Kaplan is trying to pull a fast one.
Here is my letter in this weeks Long Island Press...
"This is in response to the letter about my website Peter King Watch featured in the Oct. 4th issue. Letter writer Michael Kaplan takes issue with my website alternately calling me a “gentleman” and a “hatchet man.” Here comes the inconvienent truth; far from being “relentless,” the posts on my site about Sean Kings lobbying ties consisted of four posts out of hundreds. My site deals with issues and facts that Kaplan and King cannot refute or rebut. I work for no one but myself and post what I feel needs to be known by voters. Simply put, the facts.
What is most disturbing is that Kaplan stands on his soapbox pontificating about what he believes is journalism and tries to make what he himself calls “cheap political points” without disclosing his own background. Michael Kaplan is the past president of the Nassau County Young Republicans, interned for Peter King and now works for King’s committee in Washington . He boasts of being called “Mike the Machine” by King on his MySpace page. If Kaplan wanted to be honest he would have included that information which would put his attack on me and King Watch in better perspective."
So we have the former president of the YR's and a current employee of King making like he's just a regular guy writing a letter to the editor.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
King Tries to Scare Religious Right into Supporting Rudy
James Dobson of the right-wing group Focus on the Family is one of many religious-right leaders who are considering supporting a third-party candidate if the twice-divorced, abortion-rights supporting, gun-control extolling Guiliani gets the GOP nomination.
In response, King pulls the Hillary-Hate card and says that if the religious right doesn't support Rudy, Hillary Clinton will be president.
The New York Observer has more...
"Peter King: Dobson Could Elect Hillary
In response, King pulls the Hillary-Hate card and says that if the religious right doesn't support Rudy, Hillary Clinton will be president.
The New York Observer has more...
"Peter King: Dobson Could Elect Hillary
Peter King thinks the religious right wing might end up guaranteeing a Hillary Clinton presidency.
"It would do more harm to the religious wing of the party," said King, a Giuliani supporter and Republican congressman from New York. "If they are successful it would mean they would be responsible for Hillary Clinton being president."
Ultimately, he doesn't think it's going to happen.
"They're not going to be successful," he said of Giuliani critics like James Dobson. "I think they are going to do very poorly."
But King also said he thought the prospect of President Hillary would be the very thing that would rally disparate parts of G.O.P. behind Giuliani.
"He is the one Republican that has the best chance of beating Hillary Clinton," said King. "Because having Hillary there makes the Republicans realize how serious this election is next year - that this is not just a theoretical debate. This is for real and he is the only one right now who can match her toe-to-toe as far as television ability or even the super-status that she has."
Monday, October 08, 2007
Blogger Cover Story in Long Island Press
Thanks to the Long Island Press Editors and Staff for choosing this site.
What's the deal? Arguably the most high-profile individual politician-watchdog blog for LI, the Peter King Watch keeps tabs on the headline-prone, lone-Republican U.S. representative in the LI caucus. With no shortage of material, this blog has been recapping and editorializing on the congressman's often eyebrow-raising public statements since posts started in 2004.
Why should you care? The blog has commented on everything from King's rise and fall from chair of the Homeland Security Committee, to protests at his district office in Massapequa, to his skirmishes with the Muslim community (not to mention the angry letter-writing community). Latest entries go beyond King's controversial recent interview when he made his "there are too many mosques in America" comment. Posts also track the congressman's latest votes on important bills in the House. As a sign of the blog's success, there are even anti-King souvenirs for sale on the website. It's not all negative, though. In a show of concern, the blogger posted that he hoped those responsible for placing a pipe bomb outside King's district office would be arrested.
Quotable: "I thank God every night that George Bush is our president."-A King classic that the blogger seems to take joy in reminding readers about regularly"
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
More Condemnation of King's Bigotry
Letters From Today's Newsday:
King should stop bigotry
One cannot help but get an uncomfortable sense of deja vu reading the remarks of Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) that there are "too many mosques in this country, there's too many people who are sympathetic to radical Islam" ["King: 'Too many mosques,'" News, Sept. 20].
Once again flying boldly in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, King seems unwilling or perhaps unable to abandon his crusade against his fellow Americans who happen to be of a faith other than his own.
It is both a political and a moral tragedy for all of us when a representative, charged not only with representing all the citizens of his district in Congress but with upholding and defending the Constitution and all the rights guaranteed therein, stoops to this kind of fear-mongering and bigotry.
Muslim Americans, like Christian and Jewish and every other kind of Americans, are equal under the law and as such are equally entitled to be free of harassment because of their faith. President George W. Bush has said more than once that the war on terror is not a war on Islam. Peter King should listen to him.
Rev. Mark J. Lukens
Editor's note: The writer is president of the Long Island chapter of The Interfaith Alliance and pastor of Bethany Congregational Church.
East Rockaway
As an American, I hang my head in shame. And as a Jew with a deep sense of foreboding, I stand in solidarity with my Muslim fellow citizens to repudiate the conduct of Rep. Peter King and State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) for their prejudicial and inflammatory actions.
King's unsubstantiated claims and innuendoes are reminiscent of the defamatory tactics employed against my own faith community in Germany just before the Nazi takeover in 1933.
The same may be said of passing into law encouragement to subject to police scrutiny ordinary citizens who may be engaged in an unfamiliar ritual practice of their faith without potential consequences for defamation. It is a blatant incitement to community divisiveness and the harassment of those whose life of pious service to the divine differs from the more commonplace.
I call upon my fellow clergy of all denominations and all citizens of goodwill to denounce publicly both of these contributions to the intended discrimination that they foster toward loyal Americans.
Rabbi Paul Joseph
Long Beach
King should stop bigotry
One cannot help but get an uncomfortable sense of deja vu reading the remarks of Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) that there are "too many mosques in this country, there's too many people who are sympathetic to radical Islam" ["King: 'Too many mosques,'" News, Sept. 20].
Once again flying boldly in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, King seems unwilling or perhaps unable to abandon his crusade against his fellow Americans who happen to be of a faith other than his own.
It is both a political and a moral tragedy for all of us when a representative, charged not only with representing all the citizens of his district in Congress but with upholding and defending the Constitution and all the rights guaranteed therein, stoops to this kind of fear-mongering and bigotry.
Muslim Americans, like Christian and Jewish and every other kind of Americans, are equal under the law and as such are equally entitled to be free of harassment because of their faith. President George W. Bush has said more than once that the war on terror is not a war on Islam. Peter King should listen to him.
Rev. Mark J. Lukens
Editor's note: The writer is president of the Long Island chapter of The Interfaith Alliance and pastor of Bethany Congregational Church.
East Rockaway
As an American, I hang my head in shame. And as a Jew with a deep sense of foreboding, I stand in solidarity with my Muslim fellow citizens to repudiate the conduct of Rep. Peter King and State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) for their prejudicial and inflammatory actions.
King's unsubstantiated claims and innuendoes are reminiscent of the defamatory tactics employed against my own faith community in Germany just before the Nazi takeover in 1933.
The same may be said of passing into law encouragement to subject to police scrutiny ordinary citizens who may be engaged in an unfamiliar ritual practice of their faith without potential consequences for defamation. It is a blatant incitement to community divisiveness and the harassment of those whose life of pious service to the divine differs from the more commonplace.
I call upon my fellow clergy of all denominations and all citizens of goodwill to denounce publicly both of these contributions to the intended discrimination that they foster toward loyal Americans.
Rabbi Paul Joseph
Long Beach
Monday, October 01, 2007
OMG! King Finally Votes for Childrens Health Insurance
After voting AGAINST expanding children's health care back in August, King has come around figuring that voting against children isn't a good campaign platform.
From the Daily Gotham...
"Have you been following the fight to reauthorize and expand the State-Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)? Tuesday, a large majority of Congress members voted for a House-Senate compromise which will make lower cost health insurance available to millions of children who are, at present, without any. UPDATE: Thursday night, the Senate voted for S-CHIP 67-29; greater than two-thirds majority. Every GOP Senator in a tight bid for reelection in 2008 voted for S-CHIP and against Mr. Bush. President Bush, that deplorable politician, has promised a veto.
From the Daily Gotham...
"Have you been following the fight to reauthorize and expand the State-Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)? Tuesday, a large majority of Congress members voted for a House-Senate compromise which will make lower cost health insurance available to millions of children who are, at present, without any. UPDATE: Thursday night, the Senate voted for S-CHIP 67-29; greater than two-thirds majority. Every GOP Senator in a tight bid for reelection in 2008 voted for S-CHIP and against Mr. Bush. President Bush, that deplorable politician, has promised a veto.
The problem progressives face is that, even with 45 GOP votes, we are 24 votes away from a veto over-riding two-thirds majority. Peter King and Vito Fossella, perhaps with a wish to avoid political extinction, voted for the bill (They’d voted against earlier versions in the House). Two NYS GOP Congress Members voted with Mr. Bush against Child Health: John "Randy" Kuhl & Thomas Renyolds. A Century Foundation poll shows voters want to spend more to insure more children and oppose a Bush veto."
Reaction to Peter "Archie Bunker" King
"The (Staunton, Va.) News Leader
Sept. 23, 2007A few weeks ago, after former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had announced he was resigning, we suggested that a good way to check the qualifications of any prospective candidates for Gonzales' post might be to require them to pass the same test prospective U.S. citizens take. After all, Gonzales seemed unaware of concepts like the rule of law and the Constitution, things every want-to-be American must know.
After listening to the ravings of Rep. Peter King, R-NY, we've got another suggestion: Make it a prerequisite that any individual seeking to be elected to or currently serving in Congress be familiar with at least the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
That would be what we fondly refer to as the Bill of Rights. It's apparent King isn't even familiar with the First Amendment, at least not the part that guarantees freedom of religion.In an interview with The Politico, a newspaper that covers - what else, politics - in Washington, D.C., King, who is the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said that there were "too many mosques" in America.
"Unfortunately, we have too many mosques in this country. There's too many people who are sympathetic to radical Islam. We should be looking at them more carefully. We should be finding out how we can infiltrate. We should be much more aggressive in law enforcement," King was quoted as saying.
Later, King tried to say he was quoted "out of context." Unedited video of the interview, however, shows that not to be the case.
Every time an elected official wanders off into this kind of intellectual terra incognito, we can't help but wonder two things:
- Did they even get a basic education, and
- Wouldn't we be better off if this person was in some other line of work?
There are not "too many mosques" in the U.S., any more than there are too many Baptist churches or Jewish temples.
Sadly, there are too many people like Peter King who do not understand that one of the reasons the U.S. has grown and flourished is its ability to open its arms to people of many faiths, many nations, and many colors."
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Peter "Archie Bunker" King Says There Are Too Many Mosques
King is trying to dig himself out of this but this is how he really feels. And the truth about King keeps slipping out. From Politico...
Politico has more...."UPDATE: On Wednesday, the congressman said: “The quote was taken entirely out of context by Politico. My position in this interview, as it has been for many years, is that too many mosques in this country do not cooperate with law enforcement. Unfortunately, Politico was incapable of making this distinction.”
UPDATE 2: After Congressman King said his comment was taken out of context, Politico posted a fuller video so readers can decide."
Politico has more...."UPDATE: On Wednesday, the congressman said: “The quote was taken entirely out of context by Politico. My position in this interview, as it has been for many years, is that too many mosques in this country do not cooperate with law enforcement. Unfortunately, Politico was incapable of making this distinction.”
UPDATE 2: After Congressman King said his comment was taken out of context, Politico posted a fuller video so readers can decide."
Monday, September 17, 2007
King Needs to Repudiate John Boehner's Comments
Last week, King was in Iraq with fellow republican Rep. John Boehner. Boehner went on CNN to talk to Wolf Blitzer and was asked this question:
"How much longer willU.S.
Boehner answered "I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids"
(h/t TPM)
Yes, the sacrifice of American servicemen and women is a "small price to pay" according to Kings travel-buddy.
Decorated Vietnam Veteran Sen. John Kerry on Huffington Post said "A single life is a large price to pay for any endeavor. Sometimes, in our national interest, we choose to pay that awful price, but we must always make sure that the policy is worthy of it.”
King needs to publically repudiate Boehner's disgusting comments.
Here is the video
"How much longer will
Boehner answered "I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids"
(h/t TPM)
Yes, the sacrifice of American servicemen and women is a "small price to pay" according to Kings travel-buddy.
Decorated Vietnam Veteran Sen. John Kerry on Huffington Post said "A single life is a large price to pay for any endeavor. Sometimes, in our national interest, we choose to pay that awful price, but we must always make sure that the policy is worthy of it.”
King needs to publically repudiate Boehner's disgusting comments.
Here is the video
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Right Wing News Readers Take a Poll
Who is your favorite Republican congressman?
Duncan Hunter: 30%
Tom Tancredo: 20%
Other: 9%
Mike Pence: 7%
Peter King: 5%
John Boehner: 5%
Jeff Flake: 4%
Marsha Blackburn: 4%
John Shadegg: 3%
James Sensenbrenner: 3%
Roy Blunt: 2%
Jeb Hensarling: 2%
Jack Kingston: 2%
Adam Putnam: 1%
Thaddeus McCotter: 1%
Eric Cantor: 1%
Patrick McHenry: 1%
Chris Cannon: 0%
Tom Cole: 0%
Walter Jones: 0%
Duncan Hunter: 30%
Tom Tancredo: 20%
Other: 9%
Mike Pence: 7%
Peter King: 5%
John Boehner: 5%
Jeff Flake: 4%
Marsha Blackburn: 4%
John Shadegg: 3%
James Sensenbrenner: 3%
Roy Blunt: 2%
Jeb Hensarling: 2%
Jack Kingston: 2%
Adam Putnam: 1%
Thaddeus McCotter: 1%
Eric Cantor: 1%
Patrick McHenry: 1%
Chris Cannon: 0%
Tom Cole: 0%
Walter Jones: 0%
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
If I Were a Passenger, I'd Want to Sue
But Kings "John Doe" law blocking lawsuits makes this ridiculous inconveinence okay...
"Passenger dispute delays American Airlines flight overnight
A conflict between passengers at Lindbergh Field Tuesday night caused the overnight delay of an American Airlines flight headed to Chicago.
"Passenger dispute delays American Airlines flight overnight
A conflict between passengers at Lindbergh Field Tuesday night caused the overnight delay of an American Airlines flight headed to Chicago.
Flight 590 was scheduled to depart at 11 p.m. for Chicago O'Hare International Airport but was rescheduled for Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. after some kind of dispute among customers started at the gate and continued onto the plane, said American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner.
"While Wagner said it is the airlines policy not to disclose any information about their passengers, televised reports claimed that the incident involved a group of six to seven Iraqi Americans and another passenger who was apparently uncomfortable that the men were speaking in Arabic.
The jet left the gate at 11:14 p.m. but did not take off and instead returned at 11:26 p.m. after a traveler with a child elected to get off the plane, Wagner said."
Monday, August 27, 2007
Gonzales Resigns, If Chertoff Becomes AG, What of Peter King?
Department of Homeland Security boss Chertoff is one of the possibilities to replace the disgraced A.G. Alberto Gonzales.
Would King like to head Homeland Security?
Would he be considered by Bush?
Is a 500 day tenure be worth it to King because after the 2008 elections, King wouldn't be asked to stay on.
Would King like to head Homeland Security?
Would he be considered by Bush?
Is a 500 day tenure be worth it to King because after the 2008 elections, King wouldn't be asked to stay on.
Friday, August 24, 2007
It's Quiet.....Too Quiet.
Congress is in recess but we have some interesting things to post shortly.
But for now, a movie...
King tries to explain Guliani flip-flops on major issues and ties himself into a knot.
But for now, a movie...
King tries to explain Guliani flip-flops on major issues and ties himself into a knot.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
8-6-01 Never Forget
6 Years ago George W. Bush was presented with a security briefing entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike IN U.S."
He ignored it.
The declassified breifing:
Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."
After U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to a -- -- service.
An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told - - service at the same time that bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative's access to the U.S. to mount a terrorist strike.
The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of bin Laden's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S.
Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that in ---, Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own U.S. attack.
Ressam says bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation. Although Bin Laden has not succeeded, his attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Laden associates surveyed our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.
Al Qaeda members -- including some who are U.S. citizens -- have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks.
Two al-Qaeda members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our embassies in East Africa were U.S. citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.
A clandestine source said in 1998 that a bin Laden cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.
We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a ---- service in 1998 saying that Bin Laden wanted to hijack a U.S. aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Sheikh" Omar Abdel Rahman and other U.S.-held extremists.
Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.
The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full-field investigations throughout the U.S. that it considers bin Laden-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our embassy in the UAE in May saying that a group or bin Laden supporters was in the U.S. planning attacks with explosives.
He ignored it.
The declassified breifing:
Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America."
After U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, bin Laden told followers he wanted to retaliate in Washington, according to a -- -- service.
An Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) operative told - - service at the same time that bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative's access to the U.S. to mount a terrorist strike.
The millennium plotting in Canada in 1999 may have been part of bin Laden's first serious attempt to implement a terrorist strike in the U.S.
Convicted plotter Ahmed Ressam has told the FBI that he conceived the idea to attack Los Angeles International Airport himself, but that in ---, Laden lieutenant Abu Zubaydah encouraged him and helped facilitate the operation. Ressam also said that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah was planning his own U.S. attack.
Ressam says bin Laden was aware of the Los Angeles operation. Although Bin Laden has not succeeded, his attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 demonstrate that he prepares operations years in advance and is not deterred by setbacks. Bin Laden associates surveyed our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as early as 1993, and some members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.
Al Qaeda members -- including some who are U.S. citizens -- have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks.
Two al-Qaeda members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our embassies in East Africa were U.S. citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990s.
A clandestine source said in 1998 that a bin Laden cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks.
We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a ---- service in 1998 saying that Bin Laden wanted to hijack a U.S. aircraft to gain the release of "Blind Sheikh" Omar Abdel Rahman and other U.S.-held extremists.
Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.
The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full-field investigations throughout the U.S. that it considers bin Laden-related. CIA and the FBI are investigating a call to our embassy in the UAE in May saying that a group or bin Laden supporters was in the U.S. planning attacks with explosives.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
DISGUSTING! King Votes Against Troop Rest
Just when you thought Peter "Baghdad is just like Downtown Manhattan" King could get any worse after voting against children's healthcare, today he votes against mandatory rest between deployments for soldiers.
You would think that "Geez, it's common sense to want soldiers to have some rest before they are redeployed to a combat area."
But for Peter King and 189 other republicans voted against HR3159 Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act of 2007.
It has become too common for soldiers returning to have very little time to rest before be redeployed - sometimes for a 3rd and 4th time - back to a combat area. It is time the soldiers who put their lives on the line every day get to spend time with their families and in too many cases get to know their newborn children or new spouses.
For King to vote against this bill just shows how little he thinks of the men and women who serve this country.
Here is the common sense idea from the bill:
"IN GENERAL- No unit of the Armed Forces specified in paragraph (3) may be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom unless the period between the most recent previous deployment of the unit and a subsequent deployment of the unit is equal to or longer than the period of such most recent previous deployment."
Exemptions- The limitations in subsections (a) and (b) do not apply--
You would think that "Geez, it's common sense to want soldiers to have some rest before they are redeployed to a combat area."
But for Peter King and 189 other republicans voted against HR3159 Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act of 2007.
It has become too common for soldiers returning to have very little time to rest before be redeployed - sometimes for a 3rd and 4th time - back to a combat area. It is time the soldiers who put their lives on the line every day get to spend time with their families and in too many cases get to know their newborn children or new spouses.
For King to vote against this bill just shows how little he thinks of the men and women who serve this country.
Here is the common sense idea from the bill:
"IN GENERAL- No unit of the Armed Forces specified in paragraph (3) may be deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom unless the period between the most recent previous deployment of the unit and a subsequent deployment of the unit is equal to or longer than the period of such most recent previous deployment."
Exemptions- The limitations in subsections (a) and (b) do not apply--
- (1) to special operations forces as identified pursuant to section 167(i) of title 10, United States Code; and
- (2) to units of the Armed Forces needed, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, to assist in the redeployment of members of the Armed Forces from Iraq to another operational requirement or back to their home stations.
- (d) Waiver by the President- The President may waive the limitation in subsection (a) or (b) with respect to the deployment of a unit of the Armed Forces to meet a threat to the national security interests of the United States if the President certifies to Congress within 30 days that the deployment of the unit is necessary for such purposes."
- (1) DEPLOYMENT- The term `deployment' or `deployed' means the relocation of forces and materiel to desired areas of operations and encompasses all activities from origin or home station through destination, including staging, holding, and movement in and through the United States and all theaters of operation.
- (2) UNIT- The term `unit' means a unit that is deployable and is commanded by a commissioned officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps serving in the grade of major or, in the case of the Navy, lieutenant commander, or a higher grade.
- (g) Effective Date- This Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act."
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Peter King Votes Against Childrens Health Insurance
King and 193 other republicans voted against the`Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007'.
HR 3162 To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program, and for other purposes is pretty straight forward with its intent on providing health care.
What does Peter King have against children getting treated by a doctor?
The stated purpose of the bill is to "... provide dependable and stable funding for children's health insurance under titles XXI and XIX of the Social Security Act in order to enroll all six million uninsured children who are eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage today through such titles."
I guess with his own congressional, taxpayer-funded healthcare, King doesn't care about uninsured children.
And that is just plain wrong.
Call Peter King and tell him he needs to start caring about those less fortunate than he.
Washington Office # 202-225-7896
District Office # 516-541-4225
e-mail - pete.king@mail.house.gov
Campaign office # (516) 280-5122
fax (516) 750-5121
HR 3162 To amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP program, and for other purposes is pretty straight forward with its intent on providing health care.
What does Peter King have against children getting treated by a doctor?
The stated purpose of the bill is to "... provide dependable and stable funding for children's health insurance under titles XXI and XIX of the Social Security Act in order to enroll all six million uninsured children who are eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage today through such titles."
I guess with his own congressional, taxpayer-funded healthcare, King doesn't care about uninsured children.
And that is just plain wrong.
Call Peter King and tell him he needs to start caring about those less fortunate than he.
Washington Office # 202-225-7896
District Office # 516-541-4225
e-mail - pete.king@mail.house.gov
Campaign office # (516) 280-5122
fax (516) 750-5121
King and Staff Evacuated
Reports are that a suspicious envelope cleared out Kings office this afternoon. The envelope was delivered with the words "ammonium nitrate" and "homeland security" written on it.
King has gotten behind the effort to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate which can be used as a main component of a improvised bomb. Timothy McVeigh used ammonium nitrate to blow up the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City. President Clinton made a push to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate but got resistance from the republican-led congress.
The opposition to the regulation have no leg to stand on and now some wacko may be making threats.
King has gotten behind the effort to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate which can be used as a main component of a improvised bomb. Timothy McVeigh used ammonium nitrate to blow up the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City. President Clinton made a push to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate but got resistance from the republican-led congress.
The opposition to the regulation have no leg to stand on and now some wacko may be making threats.
Monday, July 30, 2007
No Art in the 3rd Congresional District?
I find that hard to believe but one out of five members of congress no longer participates in the Congressional Artistic Discovery Contest.
King tells Newsday "he stopped conducting the competition several years ago because of lack of interest."
Go to the Newsday article and read about the fantastic entries from the other districts. Is king saying from Oyster Bay to Babylon and Massapequa to Long Beach there are no young people interested in the arts?
How about Art in the Park in Massapequa Park?
Maybe look to the Town of Oyster Bay Arts Council for entries?
Or any of the schools located in the district?
How about trying next year because the 3rd district is full of very talented people?
King tells Newsday "he stopped conducting the competition several years ago because of lack of interest."
Go to the Newsday article and read about the fantastic entries from the other districts. Is king saying from Oyster Bay to Babylon and Massapequa to Long Beach there are no young people interested in the arts?
How about Art in the Park in Massapequa Park?
Maybe look to the Town of Oyster Bay Arts Council for entries?
Or any of the schools located in the district?
How about trying next year because the 3rd district is full of very talented people?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
