Ukraine Says Multiple Buk Missile Systems Moved to Russia — #MH17

At the Los Angeles Times:

Three Buk missile systems made their way from eastern Ukraine across the border into Russia on Friday, according to Ukrainian officials, including one lacking the missile they believe brought down a Malaysia Airlines jet the day before. “

Three missile launchers trespassed the Ukraine border on July 18,” Vitaly Nayda, Ukraine’s counterintelligence chief, told reporters in Kiev on Saturday afternoon.

The announcement came a day after a government advisor posted a video purportedly showing a single Buk system, with at least one missile missing, making the trip to Russia on a road in eastern Ukraine. The new disclosure suggests that the Russian government supplied multiple anti-aircraft systems to the separatists, which Nayda said were also used to bring down two Ukrainian military transport planes earlier in the week. The systems crossed the border at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Friday, Nayda said.

If the Ukrainian government claims are confirmed, it would serve as strong evidence that Russia provided help to separatists to shoot down planes in eastern Ukraine.

Nayda added that, according to his country’s intelligence, Russian military officers accompanied the units on their move across the border.

“We documented negotiations between terrorists and got information from those conversations that three Russian personnel came with it,” he said. “There were Russian citizens operating the Buk-M1 and they came from territory of the Russian Federation.”

More.

Blistering Indictment of Obama Administration Open-Borders Subterfuge: Dems Facilitating Asymmetrical Warfare Against the U.S.

This is an utterly astonishing video, sent to me by Terri Hill.

Here, "Zack Taylor Interview-Security on the border between USA and Mexico."

More at the Washington Times, "Former Border Patrol agents call Senate’s immigration plan ‘a huge waste of resources’- Find criminal aliens, they say."

The Downing of #MH17

At the Wall Street Journal, "Putin is the one leader who quickly assigned blame for the disaster" (via Google):

The downing of MH17 should at the very least clear the fog around the conflict in eastern Ukraine. If not for President Putin, none of this would be happening. The conflict was conceived, funded and armed by Russia. The commander of the separatist forces is a Russian military intelligence officer. The leader of the separatist government in Donetsk is a resident of Moscow.

As Ukraine's popular new president launched an operation to liberate the east last month, the rebels acquired fancier new weaponry. Their ability to shoot down Ukrainian aircraft was remarkable for a supposedly ragtag force of mercenaries, locals and thugs. The Kremlin put advanced weapon systems in the hands of a band of outlaws—and it is ultimately responsible for how they use them.

This catastrophe brings to mind the Korean Air Lines plane shot down in 1983 by a Soviet military fighter, killing 269. President Reagan called the downing of KAL007 "an act of barbarism, born of a society which wantonly disregards individual rights and the value of human life and seeks constantly to expand and dominate others." It was a moral turning point in the Cold War.

Perhaps the downing of MH17 will be a similar turning point in our post-post Cold War era. The Ukrainian crisis has been dismissed too often as a faraway battle in which the West has little stake, and in any case Ukraine is within Russia's "sphere of influence."

The deaths of 298 innocents from many countries should put that to rest. The Kremlin's attack on an independent neighboring state presents the gravest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War. Russia has supported non-state insurgents with the express purpose of sowing chaos. It's notable that Mr. Putin was the one leader who didn't show restraint on Thursday. He blamed Ukraine as "the government on whose territory this occurred." The world should ask why he would be so quick to jump to conclusions.

RTWT at that top link.

U.S. Blames Pro-Putin Rebels for Missile Attack on Malaysia Airlines Jet in Ukraine — #MH17

At the Wall Street Journal, "West Accuses Ukrainian Separatists of Firing Missile That Downed Plane; Obama Faults Putin for Support":

WASHINGTON—The U.S. and its allies accused Russian-aided separatists of firing the missile that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, killing 298 people, including a dual Dutch-American citizen, and demanded that Moscow end months of unrest in eastern Ukraine.

President Barack Obama, faulting Russian President Vladimir Putin's support for separatists, called on Friday for "an immediate cease-fire" in eastern Ukraine to allow for a thorough investigation of the crash by international authorities.

"It is not possible for these separatists to function the way they're functioning... without sophisticated equipment and sophisticated training—and that is coming from Russia," Mr. Obama said at a White House news conference.

At the crash site in a separatist-controlled part of eastern Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels fired briefly into the air before allowing the first international observers very limited access to the vast field of destruction.

Ukrainian officials have released what they say was evidence that the jetliner was shot down by separatists, including video of an antiaircraft system purportedly being moved, and intercepted phone calls said to be between separatists and Russian advisers. U.S. officials said they are examining some of the evidence offered by Ukraine.

Mr. Obama said Moscow would face new economic sanctions unless it backed a cease-fire and international probe of the crash site. His remarks came amid new indications that Europe, jolted by the tragedy, may be readying an expansion of sanctions as early as next week.

"This is a platform that gives us a lot of leeway to act on a new level," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, referring to a new framework for potential sanctions adopted by the European Union earlier this week.

Earlier Friday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, presented evidence of Russian aid to pro-Russia separatists.

Together, the developments pointed to a renewed, U.S.-led campaign against Moscow that puts Mr. Putin on notice that he is facing world-wide grief and anger over the crash and now must swiftly move to stabilize eastern Ukraine.

"If Mr. Putin makes a decision that we are not going to allow heavy armaments and the flow of fighters into Ukraine across the Ukrainian-Russian border, then it will stop," Mr. Obama said...

More.

Obama's full statement here, "The President Makes a Statement on Ukraine."

VIDEO: Staten Island Man Dies After Placed in NYPD Chokehold, Slammed to Ground

This is just ridiculously sad.

The man, choking, says repeatedly, "I can't breathe!" My eyes get teary listening to his cries.

At the New York Times, "Man’s Death After Chokehold Raises Old Issue for the Police":

The 350-pound man, about to be arrested on charges of illegally selling cigarettes, was arguing with the police. When an officer tried to handcuff him, the man pulled free. The officer immediately threw his arm around the man’s neck and pulled him to the ground, holding him in what appears, in a video, to be a chokehold. The man can be heard saying “I can’t breathe” over and over again as other officers swarm about.

Now, the death of the man, Eric Garner, 43, soon after the confrontation on Thursday on Staten Island, is being investigated by the police and prosecutors. At the center of the inquiry is the officer’s use of a chokehold — a dangerous maneuver that was banned by the New York Police Department more than 20 years ago but that the department cannot seem to be rid of.

“As defined in the department’s patrol guide, this would appear to have been a chokehold,” the police commissioner, William J. Bratton, said at a news conference in City Hall on Friday afternoon.

More.

And at New York Daily News, "Staten Island man dies after NYPD cop puts him in chokehold — SEE THE VIDEO."

A YouTube clip is here.

VIDEO: National Protests Against Amnesty — #BorderInvasion

At Americans for Legal Immigration, "Protest Times and Locations for July 18-19 National Protests Against Amnesty.

And at American Thinker, "Protesting illegal immigration today," and World Net Daily, "HUNDREDS OF CITIES FIGHT BACK AGAINST 'INVASION'":

Radio host Rush Limbaugh led his show Tuesday with stories about the successful pushback against the illegals going on across America.

“Here’s what you do not know,” he said. “There are towns all over America standing up to this invasion, just like they did in Murrieta, California. You’re not hearing about it, however, and I am here to tell you why you’re not hearing about it. Westminster, Maryland, is a town standing up to it, just like Murrieta, California, did. Oracle, Arizona, is standing up to it.

“In Nebraska they’re gonna stand up to it when they find out. The governor is fit to be tied,” Limbaugh continued. “Upper Michigan, same thing. There are towns all over America standing up to this. There are protests happening, but they’re not being covered.”

But the mother of all protests promises to be Friday and Saturday. It’s dubbed the National Day of Protesting Against Immigration Reform, Amnesty & Border Surge, and it’s gaining support by the hour, said William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC and one of 11 sponsors. The main organizers are Gheen’s ALIPAC, James Neighbors of Overpasses For America and Paul Arnold of a new group called Make Them Listen.

“Right now it’s looking like we’ll have a little more than 300 protest rallies large and small across the country. Our goal is to unify Americans of all races, political parties and walks of life against the Obama-inspired illegal immigrant invasion,” Gheen said. “At last count we had 257 communities signed up, but that was two hours ago. We’re expecting more than 300 and updating the event list every two hours.”

The protests will take place in state capitals, Mexican consulates, on highway overpasses and intersections, and at illegal immigrant drop-off points and detention centers...

Diseases Crossing Border with Illegals — #StopAmnesty

At IBD:

Got scabies? Disease Tsunami Washing Across Our Border http://t.co/Sy6ap5iJNe … … via @IBDinvestors - pic.twitter.com/JYedTl8q1F

— Daniel John Sobieski (@gerfingerpoken) July 18, 2014

20 Hamas Missiles Found in U.N.-Run School in Gaza

At the Times of Israel, "20 missiles found in UN-run school in Gaza."

Surreal in the Middle East: Hama's human shields http://t.co/MOIP7sW0bx pic.twitter.com/83bD5LpVlw

— DEFCON (@gb_ball) July 19, 2014

Also at Atlas Shrugs, "Islamic terrorists in Gaza using ambulances with children in them, to avoid being targeted by the IDF."

Leftists Want Elizabeth Warren Over Hillary Clinton in 2016

Warren gave the keynoted address today at Netroots Nation and the overwhelming consensus of attendees is Warren over Clinton for president in 2016.

Well, almost the overwhelming consensus. Communist John Nichols of the Nation, at the video, wants socialist Bernie Sanders, heh.

And at Politico, "Dem base: Fine with Hillary Clinton, pining for Elizabeth Warren."

VIDEO: Pro-Putin Separatists Reportedly Smuggle BUK Missile Launcher Back to Russia — #MH17

I saw the video this morning and wasn't going to blog it, but CNN's been running images from the clip all day, with stop-image graphics showing two of the launcher's missiles gone, presumably having been fired at the Malaysian 777.

And now here comes London's Daily Mail, "Tucked in the corner of a leafy square, is this the Russian missile launcher that blasted flight MH17 out of the sky?"

Also at Toronto's National Post, "After MH17 shot down, video shows Buk missile launcher allegedly being moved from Ukraine to Russia":

What's claimed to be the Buk used to down #MH17 being driven out of Ukraine towards Russia https://t.co/4CZY9Dex4e

— Brown Moses (@Brown_Moses) July 18, 2014

Ukraine released a video Friday it says shows the Buk missile launcher used to shoot down a Malaysian Airlines jet being carted toward the Russian border.

The footage was captured by a police surveillance squad at dawn Friday, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry claims. In it, one of four of the launcher’s missiles are missing, Ukraine says.

The Buk missile battery is a Soviet-era weapon equipped with a 70-kilogram warhead, designed for taking out cruise missiles, aircraft and drone planes. Usually mounted on a tracked vehicle, it is in use in both Russia and Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government in Kyiv, the separatist pro-Russia rebels they are fighting and the Russia government that Ukraine accuses of supporting the rebels all denied shooting the plane down. Moscow also denies backing the rebels.

Obscene: New U.C. San Francisco Chancellor to Rake $750,000 Salary — Plus Car and Housing Allowances!

Reports indicate that one-third of the new chancellor's salary won't be paid with "state funds."

And that makes a difference? Frankly, I'm shocked at what these top-level bureaucrats are paid when local college community college districts won't even approve cost-of-living raises.

At the San Francisco Chronicle, "UC regents confirm Sam Hawgood as UCSF chancellor":

The University of California regents on Thursday confirmed Dr. Sam Hawgood as the new chancellor of UCSF, where he has served as dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and interim chancellor.

Hawgood, 61, identified last week as UC President Janet Napolitano's top choice for the job, will fill the role left by outgoing Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, who left the university in the spring to become chief executive officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The new chancellor said he planned to focus his efforts on increasing funding for basic research at UCSF as well as promoting new partnerships to help commercialize advancements in technologic and biologic sciences.

"I understand and deeply respect the core values of UCSF - and both the principle and practice of shared governance with the faculty," Hawgood told the regents after they approved his appointment.

"But I know that, while we should remain connected to our past and preserve our values," he said, "our times call for a rigorous look at the reality of the world today and a willingness to move forward in new directions."

The regents approved a state-funded base salary of $500,000, plus $250,000 to be funded through an endowed chair, the Arthur Rock and Toni Rembe Distinguished Professorship, which was created for the chancellor position by the UCSF Foundation and uses no state funds.

Hawgood's total cash compensation ranks 34th among chancellors and presidents of the 62 public research universities that are part of the Association of American Universities, UC officials reported.

He will also receive an annual automobile allowance of $8,916 and be provided with the UCSF chancellor's home, UC officials said. The residence is maintained with non-state funds.

GRAPHIC VIDEO: 20 Killed as Ukraine Pounds Rebel-Held Luhansk with Artillery Shelling — #MH17

Obama today called for an "immediate cease fire" today, all the good that's going to do.

Obama calls on Russia, pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine to adhere to cease-fire for #MH17 probe. http://t.co/uJLy7piCtf

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 18, 2014

Here's this at the Independent UK, "MH17 Malaysia Airlines crash: '20 civilians killed in Luhansk' as shelling continues":

At least 20 civilians have died when shelling continued in the rebel-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine this morning, just hours after the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed, the Luhansk city administration has reported.

The city’s official administration said the deaths came on “another black day” where shells hit almost every district in the city as Ukraine's forces continued to advance against pro-Russian rebels.

In a statement, it said: "Today intense bombardment of Luhansk has continued. Shells are falling in almost all districts of the city. According to preliminary information, more than 20 civilians have been killed since this morning."

Shelling in the troubled eastern region also damaged an electricity substation and reduced access to water supplies after the powercut halted water pumping stations, according to the BBC.

The conflict continued as it emerged nine Britons are among the 298 passengers who died when the Boeing 777-200 was downed as it passed over the Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the neighbouring region of Donetsk on Thursday.

Also at London's Daily Mail, "Calls for ceasefire in Ukraine fall on deaf ears in wake of plane crash as at least 20 are killed in heavy shelling across country."

#MH17 Theories Focus on Russian Special-Ops Forces in Ukraine

Fareed Zakaria speculates that it's likely that Russian special-ops units in Ukraine are responsible for the downed jetliner, "U.S.: Pro-Russian separatists likely shot missile at MH17."

And also at this report from CBS News This Morning:

U.S. Officials Say 'Indicators' Show Pro-Russia Rebels Shot Down #MH17

At WSJ, "U.S.: Evidence Points Toward Separatists in Missile That Downed Airliner."

'All Roads Lead to the Russians' — U.S. Officials Say #MH17 Was Hit by Surface-to-Air Missile

At the Wall Street Journal, "Malaysia Airlines Plane Was Hit by Surface-to-Air Missile, U.S. Officials Say: 283 Passengers and 15 Crew Were on Board Flight Bound for Kuala Lumpur From Amsterdam."

US Defense official: "If the separatists shot it down, it couldn't have been done without Russian assistance." #MH17

— Julian E. Barnes (@julianbarnes) July 17, 2014

Thanks to Amazing Hot Shots Ladies

From Hot Shot Calendars:

Now the 2015 calendar girls have been chosen, and the calendar has been shot.. we'd like to thank all the amazing ladies who made it to the castings.

It was extremely hard to chose the final girls and we hope you enjoyed the ride. Hope to see you all again soon.

VIDEO: Public Health Crisis, Medical Screening Breakdown as Illegal Aliens Spread Infectious Diseases Across U.S.

The disgusting open-borders leftists are denouncing "fear-mongering," attempting to give the diseased aliens a clean bill of health.

But this investigation, at ABC-15 KNXV-TV Phoenix, indicates the public health screening system is breaking down, and that chicken pox, influenza, pneumonia, viruses, staff infections, and tuberculosis are showing up across the Southwest.

God, this is out of conrol!

Krauthammer on #MH17: The Least Obama Could Do is 'Make a Damned Decision for Once in His Life'

Oh man, Dr. K just thrashes our semi-retired president:



And you know, Mary Katharine Ham says we should drop the "semi" off "semi-retired. See, "Video: Pretty much everyone expressing dismay over White House response to world falling apart."

'Dumbass' Krystal Ball Pranked by Howard Stern Fan During Malaysian Crash Coverage

At Free Beacon, "Prank Caller Destroys MSNBC’s ‘The Cycle’."

And at Business Insider, "A Howard Stern Fan Pranked MSNBC During Malaysian Plane Crash Coverage":

MSNBC host Krystal Ball was pranked live on air Thursday during her coverage of the Malaysian flight crash in Ukraine — with an apparent fan of shock jock Howard Stern posing as a military expert only to make a crude joke and call Ball a "dumbass."

"I was looking out the window and I saw a projectile flying through the sky, and it would appear that the plane was shot down by a blast of wind from Howard Stern's ass," the prankster said.

Ball ignored the remark and continued her questioning.

"So it would appear that the plane was shot down. Can you tell us anything more from your military training of what sort of missile system that may have been coming from?" she asked.

"Boy you're a dumbass, aren't ya?" came the reply.

Yep, a true dullard, even by MSNBC's gutter-level standards.

Why #BDS Must Be Stopped

From Alan Dershowitz, for Prager University: