Kenya Terrorist Attack 'Most Sophisticated Seen of Its Kind'

More on the Nairobi al-Shabaab attack, via Telegraph UK:



PREVIOUSLY: "Al-Shabaab Massacres Dozens in Nairobi! U.S Marines Stationed Atop Embassy!"

Hobby Lobby Critics Demonize Belief

From Jonathan Tobin, at Commentary:

The legal and political world is awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case with bated breath. The court’s ruling will determine whether the Obama administration’s efforts to restrict religious freedom or the plaintiffs’ belief that faith may be practiced in the public square will prevail. The arguments over the merits of the case in which the government’s attempt to impose a contraception and abortion drug mandate on private businesses as well as religious institutions have been endlessly rehearsed as a sidebar to the general debate about ObamaCare. But, as I noted earlier this year, rather than confining the debate to the question of constitutional rights, critics of the plaintiffs in Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius have done their best to portray the business owners who seek to strike down the government mandate as not merely wrong but a threat to liberty.

In order to do this, the administration and its cheering section in the mainstream media have sought to transform the debate from one that centers on government using its power to force people of faith to choose between their religion and their business to the dubious notion that dissenters from the mandate wish to impose their beliefs on others. This is a false premise since even if the owners of Hobby Lobby win, its employees won’t be prevented from obtaining birth control or abortion-inducing drugs. The only thing that will change is whether their Christian employers will be forced to pay for them.

But efforts to demonize Hobby Lobby are not confined to these specious arguments. As today’s feature in Politico on the Green family shows, the goal of the liberal critics of Hobby Lobby isn’t so much to draw the line on religious freedom as it is to depict their foes as crazy religious extremists who want to transform America into a “Christian nation.” That this is an unfair distortion of their intent as well as the point of the court case goes without saying. But the fact that mainstream publications feel free to mock the Greens in this manner tells us exactly why the plaintiffs’ fears about restrictions on religious freedom may be justified.

In Politico’s telling, the Greens are religious fanatics who not only are willing to conduct their businesses along religious lines, including closing their chain of hobby stores on Sunday, but also want to promote their beliefs to others. The Greens may wind up investing hundreds of millions of their vast fortune to the building of a Bible museum in Washington D.C. The also want to promote Bible study and ... funding a textbook and curriculum about religious studies they’d like to see be adopted by school systems. According to Politico, these efforts are stirring concern in the ranks of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and other liberal organs....

The attacks on the Greens illustrate the intolerance of openly expressed faith that is at the core of the mandate the administration is seeking to enforce. The Greens are no threat to the liberty of non-believers who need not visit their bible museum nor read the religious materials they publish.

Keep reading.

Six in 10 Americans Dissatisfied with Obama Administration Handling of 2012 #Benghazi Attack

Yes, because it was all just some unhinged GOP whipped up frenzy for the base, or something.

At CNN, "CNN/ORC Poll: Majority dissatisfied with handling of Benghazi."

Just 37 percent are satisfied with the administration's handling of Benghazi, and:

Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed think the administration has generally been dishonest in providing information about Benghazi in the aftermath of the attack.

“That may be one reason why overall dissatisfaction with the White House has gone from 50% in 2012 to 60% now,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

There'll be more on this. An ABC News poll out last week found that 58 percent of Americans thought the White House "covered up what it knows" about. Benghazi.

VIDEO: U.S.-Made Stinger Missiles Likely in Hands of #ISIS Jihadists in Iraq

Following-up from previously, "Sources: #ISIS Jihadists Likely Have U.S.-Made Stinger Missiles."

Only America Can Prevent a Disaster in #Iraq

From the former American Regent in Iraq, L. Paul Bremmer, at the Wall Street Journal:

America's core interest remains a stable, united and democratic Iraq. But American regional interests are broader. At stake now is the century-old political structure of the entire region, with huge consequences for our friends and allies there.

If the terrorists continue south and take the capital, Baghdad, or threaten the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, a full-scale civil war is likely. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani Friday issued the first call for "jihad" by the Shiite religious leadership in almost 100 years. Radical Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has reactivated his " Mahdi " army and other Shiite leaders have recalled two battalions from Syria to fight in Iraq. A serious threat to the holy cities would almost certainly provoke intervention by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on the side of the Shiites. Kurdish leaders, who have the best-organized military force in Iraq, have taken advantage of the current chaos to wrest control of the long-coveted city of Kirkuk from the central government, and would be tempted to declare Kurdistan's independence.

Those Americans who have pressed in the past for dividing Iraq should be careful: They might get what they wished for. The price would be very high: a regional war on top of an Iraqi civil war. American action now would be considerably less difficult than later.

After a feckless and hesitant American policy against any intervention to stop Bashar Assad's slaughter in Syria, the region needs to see that we understand the risks by demonstrating a clear commitment to help restabilize Iraq. That means first stopping the southward march of the ISIL; then helping the Iraqis retake important cities like Mosul, Tikrit and Fallujah...

Continue reading.

And, if you can bear it, watch Bremer's interview with Erin Burnett on CNN, " Paul Bremer: Obama is to blame for Iraq."

A a leftist attack dog, I tweeted:

.@ErinBurnett You cannot be serious with that Paul Bremer interview?!!! My god Stephanie Cutter's got nothing on you, Obama flack!
— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) June 17, 2014

Military Package for U.S. Counteroffensive Against #ISIS in Iraq

Following-up from earlier, "Iraq Expert Danielle Pletka Beats Back Leftist Talking Points on 'Crossfire'."

See Jack Keane and Danielle Pletka, at the Wall Street Journal, "A Plan to Save Iraq From ISIS and Iran":

The Middle East is in a downward spiral. More than 160,000 have died in Syria's civil war, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, aka ISIS, has captured key Iraqi cities and is marching on Baghdad, and the security investments made by the U.S. over the past decade—like them or not—are being frittered away.

It is still possible to reverse the recent gains of ISIS, an outgrowth of what was once al Qaeda in Iraq. The group's fighters number only in the thousands, and while well-armed, they lack the accoutrements of a serious military. But only the United States can provide the necessary military assistance for Baghdad to beat back our shared enemy.

Setting aside for the moment the question of whether this administration has the will to intervene again in Iraq, here are the components of a reasonable military package that can make a difference:

• Intelligence architecture. Iraq's intel screens went blank after the U.S. military pulled out in 2011. Washington needs to restore Baghdad's ability to access national, regional and local intelligence sources, enabling the Iraqi military to gain vital situational awareness.

• Planners and advisers. The Iraqi military needs planners to assist with the defense of Baghdad and the eventual counter-offensive to regain lost territory, as well as advisers down to division level where units are still viable.

• Counterterrorism. Special operations forces should be employed clandestinely to attack high value ISIS targets and leaders in Iraq and Syria.

• Air power. Air power alone cannot win a war, but it can significantly diminish enemy forces and, when used in coordination with ground forces, can exponentially increase the odds of success.

SIS has made extraordinary progress in recent weeks in Iraq and controls large swaths of territory in northern Syria. But its forces are not impregnable and their tactics are not terribly complicated. ISIS has progressed via two main routes in Iraq, traveling during the day in columns. Its forces and staging areas are exposed targets—but the Iraqis have very limited air power.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and some of the necessary target development have already begun on the Iraq side; the U.S. needs to expand them to the Syria side of the Iraqi-Syrian border. We need to know more about who is moving, how they're moving, who is helping, and how to stop them. This target information will assist air interdiction and non-American ground forces to counter ISIS.

The next necessary step is air interdiction of ISIS staging areas, supplies, sanctuaries and lines of communication...

Continue reading.

See also, "Frederick Kagan and William Kristol: Plan for #Iraq."

Samantha Hoopes for Galore Magazine

She's wonderful.

See: "COVER STORY: THE ALL-AMERICAN BOMBSHELL SAMANTHA HOOPES BRINGING THE SEXY."

Frederick Kagan and William Kristol: Plan for #Iraq

At the Weekly Standard, "What to Do in Iraq":

Throwing our weight behind Iran in the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq, as some are suggesting, would make things even worse. Conducting U.S. airstrikes without deploying American special operators or other ground forces would in effect make the U.S. Iran’s air force. Such an approach would be extremely shortsighted. The al Qaeda threat in Iraq is great, and the U.S. must take action against it. But backing the Iranians means backing the Shi’a militias that have been the principal drivers of sectarian warfare, to say nothing of turning our backs on the moderates on both sides who are suffering the most. Allowing Iran to in effect extend its border several hundred kilometers to the west with actual troop deployments would be a strategic disaster. In addition, the U.S. would be perceived as becoming the ally of the Islamic Republic of Iran against all of the forces of the Arab and Sunni world, conceding Syria to the Iranian-backed Bashir al-Assad, and accepting the emergence of an Iranian hegemony soon to be backed by nuclear weapons. And at the end of the day, Iran is not going to be able to take over the Sunni areas of Iraq—so we would end up both strengthening Iran and not defeating ISIS.

Now is not the time to re-litigate either the decision to invade Iraq in 2003 or the decision to withdraw from it in 2011. The crisis is urgent, and it would be useful to focus on a path ahead rather than indulge in recriminations. All paths are now fraught with difficulties, including the path we recommend. But the alternatives of permitting a victory for al Qaeda and/or strengthening Iran would be disastrous.

Heh, I love that "not the time to re-litigate" bit. That's all the left wants to do, frankly. They don't care about anything other than protecting President Clusterf-k and blaming everything in Iraq on the evil George W. Bush.

Speaking of which, all the usual leftist idiots are aggregated at the Memeorandum thread.

In Texas' Rio Grande Valley, a Seemingly Endless Surge of Immigrants

This was at the Los Angeles Times over the weekend, now at Memeorandum.

Here's a video, in Spanish, of illegals taking a raft over the Rio Grande a month ago: "Immigrants crossing the Rio Grande river."

More at Gateway Pundit, "35,000 Illegal Immigrants Stream Across U.S. Border EACH MONTH."

Behind #Iraq's Sectarian Divide

And interesting ethnic primer at the New York Times, on video: "A Look at Iraq's Factions and Their Goals."

Iraq Expert Danielle Pletka Beats Back Leftist Talking Points on 'Crossfire'

I love how she says, "Heh, hold your horses. We could argue about going into Iraq until the cows come home," or something to that effect, heh.

Obama Sending 275 Troops to Protect U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

This is breaking, at the Hill, "Obama: 275 troops to Iraq to protect embassy."

Sources: #ISIS Jihadists Likely Have U.S.-Made Stinger Missiles

Right now on Fox News with Greta Van Susteren.

I'll update as more information becomes available.

BREAKING NEWS: “appears likely/probable” that US made Stinger missiles have fallen into the hands of Sunni insurgents http://t.co/4wmf6iaaXG

— Greta Van Susteren (@gretawire) June 16, 2014

U.N. Condemns 'War Crimes' as Tal Afar Falls to Jihadists in #Iraq

See, Telegraph UK, "Iraq crisis: UN condemns 'war crimes' as another town falls to Isis":

Human rights commissioner Navi Pillay voices shock at 'executions' carried out by militants as Isis takes Tal Afar, once a symbol of US military success.

Cold blooded "executions" said to have been carried out by militants in northern Iraq almost certainly amount to war crimes, the United Nations said on Monday, as a key northern town fell to the insurgents.

After the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Isis) released graphic photographs of its fighters shooting scores of young men, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, voiced shock over the bloodshed.

Isis claims to have executed 1,700 people after capturing the Iraqi city of Tikrit. Ms Pillay said the figure could not be verified, but added: "This apparently systematic series of cold-blooded executions, mostly conducted in various locations in the Tikrit area, almost certainly amounts to war crimes."

Ms Pillay urged "comprehensive action", saying: "We want to alert the world to address this immediately."

More.

Comprehensive action. What does that mean? The U.N. can do about as much in Iraq as it did in Ukraine, which is nothing.

Also at the New York Times, "Sunni Rebels in Iraq Kill Shiite Volunteers and Seize New City." And at the Guardian UK, "Iraqi city of Tal Afar falls to Isis insurgents."

Above, the Telegraph has captions translating the clip I posted yesterday: "Tunisian #ISIS Jihadist Executes 5 Captured Soldiers in #Iraq — WARNING GRAPHIC."

New Photos Show #ISIS Excecuting Iraqi Troops Near Syrian Border — GRAPHIC

From Dubai journalist Jenan Moussa, on Twitter.

Obama White House Vacillates on #Iraq

Watch retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Jessie Jane Duff, on Neil Cavuto's show on Fox News.

See, "ISIS Closes In on Baghdad While White House Vacillates."

Who knows, maybe we'll see some airstrikes soon. Earlier: "CNN Reports Obama Administration Leaning Toward Airstrikes in #Iraq."

Indeed, Obama Administration Had a Choice About What to Do in #Iraq

Patrick Brennan, at National Review, just destroys idiot MSNBC hack Chris Hayes, "No, U.S. Troops Didn’t Have to Leave Iraq."



These are fundamentally unserious people. Unfortunately the same sort of fundamentally unserious people are now in charge of American national security.

I could really go for a Will Ferrell address to the nation on Iraq

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) June 16, 2014

CNN Reports Obama Administration Leaning Toward Airstrikes in #Iraq

Someone at the White House is beating the president over the head, saying, "Sir, you can't just leave the U.S. out of this. Forget your pledge to end the war. We need to go back in and do SOMETHING!"

So, here's Brooke Baldwin:



RELATED: At Weasel Zippers, "Report: Obama Considering Sending U.S. Special Forces to Iraq…"

College Porn Star Belle Knox Loses Financial Aid at Duke University

Her real name is Miriam Weeks. "Belle Knox" is her stage name.

Now she's lost her tuition, but she's making so much money she'll still be able to afford it.

At Time, "‘Duke Porn Star’: I Lost My Financial Aid."

D-Day Veteran Bernard Jordan 'Overwhelmed' After Receiving 2,500 Birthday Cards

This is great, at Telegraph UK:

Bernard Jordan, who absconded from his care home to join his comrades in Normandy for D-Day, receives thousands of cards and presents on his 90th birthday.

More at Sky News, "90-Year-Old Veteran Returns Home After Normandy Adventure."