Chinese President Hu Tells Obama Korea Tension May Spiral Out of Control

Amplify’d from www.hapblog.com

Chinese President Hu Tells Obama Korea Tension May Spiral Out of Control

reuters Chinese President Hu Jintao warned U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday that Korean tensions risk spiraling out of control as the U.S., Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers met to discuss how to deal with North Korea's shelling of the South two weeks ago. Analysts said Hu's comments showed greater urgency over the mounting tension and an attempt to avoid the perception Beijing is siding with its ally Pyongyang against the United States, Japan and South Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was meeting her counterparts from Seoul and Tokyo in a series of meetings in Washington on Monday to discuss the North Korea situation. The White House said Obama, in a telephone call with Hu, urged Beijing to work with the United States and others to "send a clear message to North Korea that its provocations are unacceptable. Read more at www.hapblog.com

 

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Napolitano: Expansion of "If You See Something, Say Something" Campaign to Walmart Stores Across the Nation

Amplify’d from www.dhs.gov

Secretary Napolitano Announces Expansion of "If You See Something, Say Something" Campaign to Walmart Stores Across the Nation

Release Date: December 6, 2010

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary Contact: 202-282-8010

Washington, D.C. - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the expansion of the Department's national "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign to hundreds of Walmart stores across the country - launching a new partnership between DHS and Walmart to help the American public play an active role in ensuring the safety and security of our nation.

"Homeland security starts with hometown security, and each of us plays a critical role in keeping our country and communities safe," said Secretary Napolitano. "I applaud Walmart for joining the ‘If You See Something, Say Something' campaign. This partnership will help millions of shoppers across the nation identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to law enforcement authorities."

The "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign—originally implemented by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and funded, in part, by $13 million from DHS' Transit Security Grant Program—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

More than 230 Walmart stores nationwide launched the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign today, with a total of 588 Walmart stores in 27 states joining in the coming weeks. A short video message will play at select checkout locations to remind shoppers to contact local law enforcement to report suspicious activity.

The public service announcement will air in all Walmart stores equipped with checkout video screens.

Over the past five months, DHS has worked with its federal, state, local and private sector partners, as well as the Department of Justice, to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign and Nationwide SAR Initiative to communities throughout the country—including the recent state-wide expansions of the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign across Minnesota and New Jersey. Partners include the Mall of America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, sports and general aviation industries, and state and local fusion centers across the country.

In the coming months, the Department will continue to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign nationally with public education materials and outreach tools designed to help America's businesses, communities and citizens remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the country safe. Read more at www.dhs.gov

 

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Amplify’d from www.nationalterroralert.com

Suspicious Activity – See Something, Say Something

What To Do If You Spot Suspicious Terrorist Activity If you see suspicious behavior, do not confront the individuals involved. Take note of the details: S – Size (Jot down the number of people, gender, ages, and physical descriptions) A - Activity (Describe exactly what they are doing) L - Location (Provide exact location) U – Uniform (Describe what they are wearing, including shoes) T – Time (Provide date, time, and duration of activity) E - Equipment (Describe vehicle, make, color etc., license plate, camera, guns, etc) Suspicious activity is often recalled after an event. We must train ourselves to be on the lookout for things that are out of the ordinary and arouse suspicions. Keep in mind, those who commit terrorist acts: Usually live among us without appearing suspicious while planning and preparing for their attack. They may be your neighbor, student or friend. Often they will need training or equipment that will arouse suspicion. Need to conduct surveillance on possible targets and gather information on the planned attcak location. All of these things make terrorists vulnerable to detection, by those watching for certain characteristics. Learn to recognize the difference between normal and abnormal behavior. It can be a fine line. Stay alert in your daily travels and routines and get to know: Who your neighbors are What cars are normally in your neighborhood Who regularly makes deliveries at work and in your neighborhood Staying alert is NOT about becoming paranoid. Staying alert is being aware of one’s surroundings. Be alert to indications of possible trouble. They may include: A local activity that could indicate problems in your community. One of the clues that led to the recent break-up of a terrorist plot was that several of the cell members were spotted celebrating in an apartment complex on the anniversary of 911. Previous activity or crimes. Controversial issues being debated. Suspicious thefts. It is impossible to identify a terrorist by Appearance Nationality Language You CAN only identify a terrorist threat by observing or hearing about suspicious activity that may lead to a criminal act. Identifying suspicious activity is not a difficult science. Rely on your judgment. Your suspicion of a threat could be confirmed with only one incident or it could take a series of incidents. Your suspicions will need to be based on: Experience Judgment Common sense Review some possible suspicious activity. Here is just one example: Unusual Interest in High Risk or Symbolic Targets Maybe you are at a high profile location or, perhaps a National Monument and you notice a person nearby taking several photos. That’s not unusual. But then you notice that the person is only taking photos of the locations surveillance cameras, entrence crash barriers and access control procedures. Is that normal for a tourist? Not. The following should cause a heightened sense of suspicion: suspicious or unusual interest surveillance (suspicious in nature) inappropriate photographs or videos note-taking drawing of diagrams annotating maps using binoculars or night vision devices Unusual or suspicious activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is happening, but be aware of the following suspicious behaviors: Individuals acting furtively and suspiciously Individuals avoiding eye contact Individuals departing quickly when seen or approached Individuals in places they don’t belong A strong odor coming from a building or vehicle An overloaded vehicle Fluid leaking from a vehicle, other than the engine or gas tank Over dressed for the type of weather Fraudulent Identification Many of the 9/11 terrorists were in the country illegally and using fraudulent IDs. Altering or using false government identification in any way and for any purpose is against the law. Read a recent news article we featured discussing this. Fraudulent ID’s include: drivers license social security card passport birth certificate INS identification If you believe someone is using or has altered government identification, please notify the law enforcement authrities. Do NOT request to see another person’s ID when not appropriate. Allow law enforcements to do the investigating. Terrorists, when not acting alone, need to meet with their conspirators and often times work within a cell. Pay attention to visitors and guests that arrive and leave at unusual hours try not to be noticed act in a suspicious manner park an unusual distance from the meeting have an unusual number of unrelated people living together Not all people who maintain privacy are terrorists. But people intent on doing illegal acts want to be left alone. Some signs that may raise your suspicions. they only let you into the apartment or house with plenty of prior notice they change the locks often they keep certain rooms off limits they cover tables and other pieces of furniture they never allow maid service in a hotel room they only take hotel room service outside the door they only accept deliveries at the hotel’s front desk or outside a closed door Deliveries are a common method for terrorists to carry out their attacks. Be aware of: a vehicle with hazardous material parked or driving in an inappropriate area unusual deliveries of chemicals or fertilizer unattended bags or boxes in a public access place fire extinguishers that may have been moved or tampered with unusual or unexpected mail Unusual Purchases or Thefts Terrorists need supplies to carry out their attacks and accomplish their goals. Pay attention to purchases, rentals or thefts of: police, security, public utility, mail carrier, or airline uniforms and equipment explosives weapons ammunition propane bottles toxic chemicals vehicles able to contain or haul hazardous materials Additional suspicious activity may include: Someone bragging or talking about plans to harm citizens in violent attacks or who claims membership in a terrorist organization that espouses killing innocent people. Suspicious packages, luggage, or mail that have been abandoned in a crowded place like an office building, an airport, a school, or a shopping center. Suspicious letter or package that arrives in your mailbox. (Stay away from the letter or package and don’t shake, bump or sniff it; wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Someone suspiciously exiting a secured, non-public area near a train or bus depot, airport, tunnel, bridge, government building, or tourist attraction. Any type of activity or circumstance that seems frightening or unusual within the normal routines of your neighborhood, community, and workplace. Someone unfamiliar loitering in a parking lot, government building, or around a school or playground. Anyone asking a lot of questions ‹ especially concerning routes or loads or drop-off times. Recruiters should be alert for unusual employment applications. Don’t assume it couldn’t be an inside job. A trucker returning to his or her vehicle from a restaurant or truck stop should make sure no one is loitering around the truck. Watch out for walk-arounds. Read more at www.nationalterroralert.com

 

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Gallup: Approval Rating For The Last Nine Presidents

Amplify’d from www.hapblog.com

Gallup: Approval Rating For The Last Nine Presidents

Kennedy, Reagan top the list. Jimmy Carter with the biggest percentage drop in the last 4 years, dropping 9 percentage points. Clinton and George H.W. Bush each gaining 8 points in the last 4 years gallup.com PRINCETON, NJ -- Of the nine U.S. presidents who have served in the past 50 years, John F. Kennedy continues to earn the highest retrospective job approval rating from Americans, now 85%. Ronald Reagan ranks second, with 74%. While these presidents' ratings are largely unchanged from 2006, Bill Clinton's rating has improved, putting him in third place, while Jimmy Carter, at 52%, has dropped from third to sixth. Richard Nixon remains the lowest rated Read more at www.hapblog.com

 

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Big Sis & Wal-Mart: 'If you see something, say something'

Amplify’d from newsofthenorth.net

Big Sis & Wal-Mart: 'If you see something, say something'

Joe Costanza, NN.N Editor

Big Sis is at it again.

More formally known as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Janet Napolitano is coming to a Wal-Mart near you. It’s not enough that we’re being x-rayed or fondled at the airport as terror suspects in violation of our Fourth  Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure.     Now Bis Sis wants shoppers to report “suspicious activity” – two words that are open to much interpretation. Here, according to the “National Terror Alert Response Center” (I know, I never heard of it either), are the scores of things we ought to be on the lookout for: click     Napolitano has just announced an expansion of the so-called DHS national “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign in hundreds of Wal-Mart stores across the country. She says the new partnership between DHS and Wal-Mart is all about keeping us safe and secure.     “Homeland security starts with hometown security, and each of us plays a critical role in keeping our country and communities safe,” said Big Sis. “I applaud Wal-Mart for joining the ‘If You See Something, Say Something’ (IYSSSS) campaign. This partnership will help millions of shoppers across the nation identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to law enforcement authorities.”     In the so-called “war on terrorism,” there’s a new quiver in the arrow. Now when the old guy or gal at the door greets you with the customary “welcome to Walmart,” you can respond by saying, “I saw someone in the parking lot who looks weird.” Assuming the greeter gets the message, you can then move on knowing you’ve done your civic duty and shop worry-free.     The “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign was first implemented in New York City, the nation's Nanny State capital that has already banned short-term apartment rentals, bake sales in schools, cellphones in theaters and public schools, trans-fat in restaurants and is pushing to outlaw salt.     Thanks to a $13 million grant from DHS (taxpayer money), the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s IYSSSS is described as an “effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.” For 13 mil, you better have something good to say.     Now, more than 230 Wal-Mart stores nationwide climb onto the snitching bandwagon with IYSSSS, with a total of 588 Wal-Mart stores in 27 states joining in coming weeks. Big Sis says a short video message will play at select checkout locations to remind shoppers to contact local law enforcement to report suspicious activity.    Over the past five months, DHS says it has has worked with “federal, state, local and private sector partners,” as well as the Department of Justice, to expand the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign. Others joining in include the Mall of America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, sports and general aviation industries, and state and local fusion centers across the country.     Napolitano says that in the coming months, DHS will go national with IYSSSS to “help America’s businesses, communities and citizens remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the county safe.” Pretty soon, everyone will have their eyes open and ears out for "suspicious activity." All that remains are Orwellian "tele-screens" to monitor our every move and utterance.     I realize I leave myself open to a charge of paranoia. Perhaps warranted. I concede that an unclaimed bag at an airport or on a train reasonably raises a red flag and there are other signs of obvious “suspicious activity.” Common sense, however, tries to prevail. We are told by DHS that it’s “impossible” to tell a terrorist by “appearance, nationality or language.” This is known as “profiling” in politically correct America and not legally sanctioned – so far. Many traveling Americans identify with Juan Williams, who was fired from National Public Radio for expressing heightened fears of seeing someone in "Muslim garb." Face it, burkas and turbans make some people nervous if not "suspicious."    Then again, what “suspicious activity” occurs at the airport that allows the government goons to keep grabbing crotches without probable cause? There is none. Yet the groping and full-body x-rays are here to stay.    Now another layer of "security" has been added. Next time you’re in Wal-Mart, whose partial slogan is to “live better,” remember to be on your best behavior. Beware of dressing, looking or acting "suspicious." Someone will be watching waiting to say “something.” Read more at newsofthenorth.net

 

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Frankenbombers: Al Qaeda hopes to surgically implant bombs into thugs

Amplify’d from www.nydailynews.com

Frankenbombers are 'new kind of terrorism': Al Qaeda hopes to surgically implant bombs into thugs

BY James Gordon Meek DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Al Qaeda's No. 2 is Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor.

A Jordanian doctor known as 'Abu Dujana al-Khorasani' killed seven CIA officers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Jihadis bent on concocting a "new kind of terrorism" are brainstorming how to surgically implant explosives to make undetectable Frankenbombers.

"What is your opinion about surgeries through which I can implant the bomb ...inside the operative's body?" an apparent mad surgeon recently asked an online forum used by Al Qaeda affiliates.

He called on bombmakers and doctors to cook up the perfect solution to murder "larger numbers of unbelievers and apostates."

"I am waiting for the interaction of the experienced brothers to connect the two sciences together and produce a new kind of terrorism, Allah willing," he wrote, according to a translation by terror experts at the SITE Intelligence Group.

The scheming comes amid controversy over body scanners and pat-downs in airports that some Americans complain are too invasive. The ideas for a "surgically booby-trapped martyrdom seeker" were chillingly concise for the doctor of death monitored by SITE.

Stitching a bomb into the abdominal cavity made of plastic or liquid explosives - such as semtex or PETN - was judged the best method.

"It must be planted near the surface of the body, because the human body absorbs shocks," advised one terrorist.

Prior to the attempted destruction of a Detroit-bound flight last Christmas by accused underwear bomber Farouk Abdulmutallab, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula almost assassinated a Saudi prince with a bomb believed to have been concealed inside a body cavity; it was recently clarified that it was the first attempt at an explosive hidden in undies.

Unproven body cavity bombs worry security agents, though "no one has figured out how to actually do it," said a counterterror official.

Last month, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole said his agency wouldn't do cavity checks because secondary screening procedures and technology can find fuses and detonators, which must be outside the body.

"You have to have some external device to cause that initiation," he said. "That's what the advanced imaging technology machine will pick up: any anomaly outside of the body."

Still experts worry about the doctors among the terrorists' ranks and their willingness to kill. Al Qaeda's No. 2 is Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, and last year a Jordanian doctor known as "Abu Dujana al-Khorasani" killed seven CIA officers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

"In the same way that drug smugglers have placed bags of narcotics in the body cavities of animals and had people ingest condoms filled with drugs, it would not be out of the realm of Al Qaeda operational planners to conceive of such a technique," said Mark Rossini, a former senior FBI counterterror agent. "No technique is off-limits to Al Qaeda to achieve its destructive goals."

jmeek@nydailynews.com

Related News Joke's over: DHS to ditch color-coded terror alert Terror experts: Al Qaeda in Yemen may send American jihadis into U.S. Editorial: Letting the enemy win ... Krauthammer: The Guantanamo obsession White House admits it didn't believe Al Qaeda from Yemen had ability to attack the U.S. Obama links Al Qaeda to Northwest Flight 253 terror plot

The Frankenbomber Are you worried that suicide bombers may one day be able to hide explosives inside their bodies? Yes. These lunatics have shown they are capable of anything. No. I don't think it will be medically possible for this to ever happen. Read more at www.nydailynews.com

 

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New Kind of Terrorism: Al Qaeda Hopes To Surgically Implant Explosives into the Body

Amplify’d from www.hapblog.com

New Kind of Terrorism: Al Qaeda Hopes To Surgically Implant Explosives into the Body

Stitching a bomb into the abdominal cavity made of plastic or liquid explosives - such as semtex or PETN was judged the best method nydailynews Jihadis bent on concocting a "new kind of terrorism" are brainstorming how to surgically implant explosives to make undetectable Frankenbombers. "What is your opinion about surgeries through which I can implant the bomb ...inside the operative's body?" an apparent mad surgeon recently asked an online forum used by Al Qaeda affiliates. He called on bombmakers and doctors to cook up the perfect solution to murder "larger numbers of unbelievers and apostates." "I am waiting for the interaction of the experienced brothers to connect the two sciences together and produce a new kind of terrorism, Allah willing," he wrote, according to a translation by terror experts at the SITE Intelligence Group. The scheming comes amid controversy over body scanners and pat-downs in airports that some Americans complain are too invasive. The ideas for a "surgically booby-trapped martyrdom seeker" were chillingly concise for the doctor of death monitored by SITE. Stitching a bomb into the abdominal cavity made of plastic or liquid explosives - such as semtex or PETN - was judged the best method. "It must be planted near the surface of the body, because the human body absorbs shocks," advised one terrorist. In the same way that drug smugglers have placed bags of narcotics in the body cavities of animals and had people ingest condoms filled with drugs, it would not be out of the realm of Al Qaeda operational planners to conceive of such a technique," said Mark Rossini, a former senior FBI counterterror agent. "No technique is off-limits to Al Qaeda to achieve its destructive goals Read more at www.hapblog.com

 

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Chesapeake Woman Pleads Guilty in Foreclosure Rescue Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Amplify’d from norfolk.fbi.gov

Chesapeake Woman Pleads Guilty in Foreclosure Rescue Mortgage Fraud Scheme

NORFOLK, VA—Shanita Lacy, age 34, of Chesapeake, Virginia, pleaded guilty today in Norfolk federal court to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain home mortgages. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Lacy's plea was accepted by United States Senior District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Lacy faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 when she is sentenced on March 18, 2011. According to court documents, Lacy admitted that, during 2007 and 2008, she conspired with others to fraudulently obtain eight mortgage loans worth $1,549,170. Through her Virginia Beach business known as Clean Slate Financial Services, Lacy targeted homeowners in financial distress with false promises of credit repair and action to enable them to save their homes from foreclosure. Lacy then oversaw the sale of the homes at inflated prices to straw buyers, who Lacy helped to obtain mortgage loans based upon falsified income and down payment data. At or soon after the closings, Lacy liquidated and made off with the homeowners' equity. Soon thereafter, the straw buyers defaulted on the mortgage loans and the homes were foreclosed upon. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Krask is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov. Read more at norfolk.fbi.gov

 

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Maryland Trucker Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Transporting an 11-Year-Old Girl to Have Sex

Amplify’d from baltimore.fbi.gov

Maryland Trucker Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Transporting an 11-Year-Old Girl to Have Sex Girl Was Found Hours After an AMBER Alert Was Issued in Tennessee; Trucker Intended to Take Her to Texas and El Salvador

GREENBELT, MD—U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Elmer Zelaya-Robles, age 42, of Grand Prairie, Texas, who worked for a Maryland trucking company and at times resided with a relative in Virginia, today to 20 years in prison followed by supervised release for life for transporting an 11-year-old girl from Maryland to engage in sex. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to Zelaya-Robles’ plea agreement, the parents of an 11-year-old girl living in Prince George’s County, Maryland reported their daughter missing on February 13, 2010. At approximately 2:00 that morning, Zelaya-Robles had picked up the girl at her parents’ home. Zelaya-Robles, an El Salvadorean citizen, had been a friend of the child’s family. That day, Zelaya-Robles drove the child by car from Prince George’s County to Arlington County, Virginia. Zelaya-Robles and the child entered a tractor trailer truck. Zelaya-Robles had sexual intercourse with the child in the sleeper area of the truck. Zelaya-Robles and the child left Virginia for Texas in the truck. While driving to Texas, Zelaya-Robles stopped at a truck stop and purchased coffee and two boxes of condoms. Zelaya-Robles had sexual intercourse with the child at least one more time. That same day, the child contacted her mother by telephone, and stated that she was with Zelaya-Robles. Zelaya-Robles contacted the child’s father by telephone, and stated that he was in love with the child. Zelaya-Robles apparently had been talking to the child on the phone for about a year, and planned with the child to reside in Dallas, Texas. The child’s family told Zelaya-Robles to return their daughter and that they had contacted the police. Thereafter, Zelaya-Robles made several calls to arrange to cross the border into Mexico and reside in El Salvador. After an AMBER Alert was broadcast, a Tennessee highway trooper spotted the truck and followed it to a truck stop in Jackson, Tennessee. The trooper stopped the vehicle. When asked if he had anyone riding with him, Zelaya-Robles stated that his daughter was with him. The trooper found the child in the sleeper area of the tractor trailer and arrested Zelaya-Robles. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Details about Maryland’s program are available at www.justice.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html. United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the FBI and Prince George’s Police Department for their work in this investigation, as well as Prince George’s County Assistant State’s Attorney Renee Battle-Brooks and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacy Dawson Belf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney LisaMarie Freitas, who prosecuted the case. Read more at baltimore.fbi.gov

 

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Former New York State Senator and Putnam County Executive-Elect Pleads Guilty in White Plains Federal Court

Amplify’d from newyork.fbi.gov

Former New York State Senator and Putnam County Executive-Elect Pleads Guilty in White Plains Federal Court to Obstruction of Justice and Tax Charges

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and CHARLES R. PINE, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), Criminal Investigation Division, announced that VINCENT L. LEIBELL, III, pled guilty today in White Plains federal court to obstructing a federal grand jury that was investigating whether he had extorted cash payments from lawyers working in Putnam County and to failing to report on his income tax returns tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments he had received from those lawyers. Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: "This is a sad day for the citizens of Putnam County and a scene that has become all too familiar in New York state. Vincent Leibell betrayed the trust of his constituents and now stands convicted of two federal felonies. Leibell has only himself to blame for the fact that, after 28 years in public office, this conviction will be the capstone to that career. He is the latest in a long line of public officials who have placed themselves above the law and have been brought before the bar of justice in the Southern District of New York. Along with our law enforcement partners, we will fight corruption wherever we find it and prosecute those who abuse the public trust wherever we find them." FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK said: "It is inexcusable when public officials abuse the trust that the public has placed in them to make our communities better. Mr. Leibell made it very clear that he did not have the public’s best interest in mind when he repeatedly took part in the activities that led to today’s charges. The FBI remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice all corrupt public officials, whose actions tarnish their offices and undermine public confidence." IRS Special Agent-in-Charge CHARLES R. PINE stated: "Receiving corrupt payments in the form of cash and then getting others to lie about and cover up the true reasons they were obtaining large sums of cash is a classic technique that tax evaders use to cover up criminal activity. What is truly astonishing is that an elected official who has been in politics for many years, and has known about other elected officials arrested and convicted for financial related crimes, has not learned the lesson that crime does not pay." According the Information filed in White Plains federal court and statements made during the plea proceeding: Since April 2010, a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of New York, the FBI, and the IRS had been investigating allegations that, as a New York state senator, LEIBELL had unlawfully extorted cash payments from attorneys doing business in Putnam County under color of official right. The investigation focused on whether LEIBELL had demanded and received cash payments from an attorney, described in the Information as Attorney #1, who provided legal services to a Putnam County based not-for-profit organization (the "NFP") that received millions of dollars in New York state senate member item grants that LEIBELL sponsored as a state senator. According to the Information, the investigation focused on whether LEIBELL had threatened to cause the NFP to refuse to pay the invoices ATTORNEY #1 submitted to the NFP for legal services that ATTORNEY #1 had rendered to the NFP unless ATTORNEY #1 agreed to give half of the invoiced amount of money to LEIBELL in cash. LEIBELL became aware of the investigation in late April 2010 when FBI and IRS agents began approaching, subpoenaing, and interviewing witnesses about the allegations. After LEIBELL learned about the investigation, he began meeting with ATTORNEY #1 to discuss what ATTORNEY #1 should say when approached by federal agents. On June 6, 2010, at LEIBELL’s request, ATTORNEY #1 met with LEIBELL on a street in Carmel, New York, to discuss the pending federal investigation. During the June 6, 2010 meeting, LEIBELL repeatedly directed ATTORNEY #1 to lie to federal investigators about the cash payments ATTORNEY #1 had previously made to LEIBELL. LEIBELL instructed ATTORNEY #1 to falsely say: (1) that he had never made cash payments to LEIBELL; (2) that when investigators question him about cash withdrawals ATTORNEY #1 made from his bank account to pay LEIBELL, ATTORNEY #1 should falsely say that he withdrew the money to have around in case of a national or family emergency and that he used the money for living expenses, including caring for his elderly mother. During the meeting, LEIBELL repeatedly urged ATTORNEY #1 to maintain their false denials: "You and I say there was never any cash relationship. Period... Since you and I are in agreement, it didn’t happen... All I know is, as long as you and I are consistent, I’m fine, you’re fine. There was never any cash between you and I, Okay?" During the plea allocution, LEIBELL also admitted to filing false federal income tax returns with the IRS for the tax years 2003 through 2006. LEIBELL acknowledged that he failed to report at least $43,000 in cash he received during these years from ATTORNEY #1 and ATTORNEY #2, also mentioned in the Information, both of whom did business in or for Putnam County. LEIBELL also acknowledged that he failed to advise the accountant preparing his income tax returns that he had received the cash payments. LEIBELL, who resigned his New York state senate seat effective on December 3, 2010, is scheduled to be sworn in as Putnam County Executive on January 1, 2011. LEIBELL pled guilty today before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge GEORGE A. YANTHIS to a two-count Information charging him with actively obstructing a pending Southern District of New York grand jury investigation involving special agents of the FBI and the IRS. The grand jury was investigating allegations of extortion by public officials in Putnam County and LEIBELL’s failure to report all his income. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge WARREN W. EGINTON and sentencing has been set for March 7, 2011. The maximum sentence of imprisonment for the crimes to which LEIBELL pled guilty today is 13 years. Mr. BHARARA praised the work of the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. He added that the investigation is ongoing. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys PERRY A. CARBONE and JASON P.W. HALPERIN are in charge of the prosecution. FBI New York Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for the Criminal Division Diego Rodriguez addresses attendees of this afternoon's press conference. To the immediate right of SAC Rodriguez are U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Peter Grupe. Photo Credit: FBI New York Read more at newyork.fbi.gov

 

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A Defense of God’s Goodness In the face of the existence of evil

Amplify’d from endrtimes.blogspot.com

A Defense of God’s Goodness

In the face of the existence of evil

By Greg Szymanski Nov 29, 2010

One cannot love God, his fellow man or himself without freedom. Freedom of choice is vital for love to exist. But with freedom comes risk, the great risk we will choose not to love, following a path of sin, self-righteousness and selfishness. Of course, there are many forms of love. According to Gary Amirault of Tentmaker.org, “The words “I love you” for example can have many different meanings depending upon who said them, at what time and to whom, and for what purpose. True meaning goes far beyond the actual spoken or written word. This is about learning to go beyond the “It is written” Church mentality which has brought legalism, fundamentalism and many other isms which have prevented us, His people, from moving into the Spirit of His Holy Word. “There are many forces in this world arrayed against God’s people to prevent us from entering into our inheritance. Bible translating and interpreting has been an area in which the devil has had a field day. In the coming years, this is going to change. Get ready for a mighty outpouring of revelation that will truly set His people free that we may go into the world and into creation itself to set it free from its bondage of corruption. We need to get free to love with His love first.” The love we are addressing here and what Amirault is talking about is unconditional love or the type of love God asks of every human being. We are not talking about just mouthing “I Love You” or “I Love God” at a Sunday service or weekly Bible study in order to feel good. But we are talking about something much deeper, something beyond legalism and literal Bible translations. “Be careful also in your quest for facts in your study of the Bible,” said John Gavazzoni in an article entitled The Bible. “Facts can be used of God to enlighten us, but facts can become an end in themselves and addict us to being right and knowing more, or more accurately, than the next guy. “Wow, you have no idea how seductive biblical knowledge can be. Don’t equate facts with truth. Christ is the truth, and there are a lot of dear brethren whose factual knowledge is minimal, but who know Christ intimately.” It is important to remember that God understood for his people to be able to experience true unconditional love and to know Him intimately, they first needed to have complete freedom of choice. However, with complete freedom comes great risk — the risk his people and even his Angels would turn away, choosing evil instead of His gracious love. God, of course, knew this full-well but he took the risk anyway, knowing love cannot exist when it is demanded through fear and force. For example, a man holding a knife to your throat may force you to do many things. But one thing for sure if he asks you to love him, that could never happen! These important concepts brings us to the study of what is called Theodicy, the branch of theology that defends God’s goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil. This study begins in the beginning with the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-3. P.G. Nelson in his article Theodicy and Genesis 1-3 points out: “One way of understanding Genesis 1−3 is as an explanation of how there can be evil in a world created by God. Genesis 1 affirms that there was no evil in the world when God created it − it was ‘very good’ (1:31). Genesis 2 and 3 express how evil came into it − through creatures(both heavenly and earthly) abusing the freedom God had given them.” It can’t be emphasized enough how many times and how important the word “good” is in Genesis 1. Simply put, God created both a perfect world on earth and in the heaven without a speck of evil. He created the Angels and His heavenly government with the same freedom of choice as he gave Adam and Eve. What happened? It is a huge misconception to think God created evil, hardship, suffering and death as introduced in Genesis 2-3. As recorded in scripture, the first spark of evil took place in God’s heavenly kingdom, not on earth. Lucifer, one of God’s special Angels, used freedom of choice to rebel, trying to usurp God’s authority. Banished to earth with his band of followers, he first corrupted Adam and Eve but still remains here today, intermingling with man to spread evil in the form of untold suffering, destruction and death. With unlimited power, why didn’t God kill Lucifer in the beginning? Why didn’t God create machines or robotic people without freewill to obey Him and live in a world free from suffering and sin? Why did He allow suffering, destruction and death to reign on earth for thousands of years? First, if God killed Lucifer, it would have sent a terrible message to others in His heavenly kingdom? It would have sent a message of fear and forceful power. It would have said “If you dare challenge God, the result is death! In fact, in the minds of those having free choice, it may have laid doubt and perhaps strengthened Lucifer’s case that God was not the all loving, all merciful and all forgiving God He professed to be. Remember, in the beginning, everything was “good”, according to God. In the beginning, God understood true goodness and unconditional love, His plan for all of us, could not be obtained by force, but only by freedom. So, when evil through Lucifer reared its ugly head, instead of wiping it out by force, He allowed it continue, grow and prosper, giving all of us, however, the freedom to choose otherwise and accept God’s unconditional love. In fact, in the beginning chapters of Genesis God created a perfect world. Furthermore, in the last chapter of the Book of Revelations, God promises His perfect world will return and evil will reign no more. And what is outlined in the Bible pages in between is nothing more than the long struggle between good and evil existing here on earth ever since God laid out his plan which included unconditional love, freedom of choice and the risk of evil. In fact, it is obvious God chose to allow evil to mature and grow so large in the end that all would one day see how His love, a love not attained through obedience or force like the enemy, is really the only answer. Wouldn’t you like to be there someday in God’s perfect world, a world that shares and spreads unconditional love? Here are some words of advice again from Gary Amirault, which may help you get to one day share in God’s never ending love: “Having been in hundreds of churches in dozens of different denominations, I am convinced that millions of Christians today are in exactly the same condition Martin Luther was in before he got his revelation. Through Sunday School and Bible study material written at denominational headquarters, through training church leaders at seminaries, Bible colleges and text books, every denominational headquarters injects “traditions of men” and “doctrines of demons,” and definitions, creeds, articles of faith, catechisms, etc. which render the word of God of no effect. I have had many scales placed over my eyes through various Christian institutions – but far less than the average Christian who was raised in church because I was an atheist for much of my life. These Christian “traditions of the elders” do the same thing to modern Christians that they did to the Jews 2,000 years ago. The common people couldn’t recognize the Messiah because the leaders taught the Messiah would be a political/military man. When the Messiah showed up, they wanted to kill Him. The “Christ” many Christians have been taught to expect at any moment will be to many modern Christians as different as Jesus was to the image of the Messiah the Jews were expecting. “The very best Bible translation, which may be a perfect transference of the original languages to our own language, may become an instrument of death unless the Holy Spirit opens its truth through the Spirit of Truth which Jesus promised to send to his disciples. Dear friend, please spend some considerable time in prayer and contemplation over what I am stating. It is possible to have an accurate translation of the original and still have a false understanding of the text. Not only is it possible, I submit that this is the norm of the typical Christian in a typical mainline church. The state of Martin Luther’s mind prior to his seeing the light is the state of the average Christian in this part of the twenty-first century. Of course few of us actually believe this because we are quite comfy in our dark little corner. Our pastor is nice, went to Bible college or seminary, the church is well-established in the community – surely we are on safe ground. And as long as we refuse to step outside the boundaries of our church or denomination, we will feel quite secure in our beliefs. In America, there is security in numbers. But remember in the Bible, the “majority” was usually against the Spirit of God. “I have spent a great deal of time in prayer and study learning about the “traditions of men” which have been injected into the minds of the modern Christian which render the “word of God of no effect.” There are countless thousands of them. (The books Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and The Way Church Ought To Be by Robert A. Lund are excellent sources for information about how far the church has strayed from the teachings of Christ and His apostles.) I have been forced to step out of my comfort zones many times. While in the short run it has been very discomforting, in the long run having to be forced to compare teachings and traditions among many different denominations has been extremely beneficial to my spiritual growth. I only gave one example in Martin Luther’s life to illustrate the power “traditions of men” have over our minds and hearts. This one revelation on the “righteousness of God” made Martin Luther one of the most influential men on the face of the planet. This single revelation was a major source of light that began to dispel the Dark Ages. A single person being freed from religious darkness can literally revolutionize the world. Who knows, perhaps you are the next one. “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” (Luke 11:34-36) “After over two decades as a Christian, I have found that a person can and will find whatever they want to in the Bible to justify themselves or condemn or judge others. If a person is a racist, he/she can find a verse or two to justify their racism. Ku Klux Klan literature is full of King James Bible quotes. If a person is a sexist, he can find scores of verses to support his bias. If greedy people want to justify selling or buying slaves, they can find support in the Bible. Jews, Christians and Muslims have throughout the last 2,000 years used the Bible to support countless abominations which they have done in the name of the Lord. But those verses were read with “dark light,” not with the light of the Holy Spirit. An evil person will project their own evil upon those they hate. They will also project their hate onto the pages of the Bible. If we are filled with things like nationalism, racism, prejudice, jealousies, greed, unrighteous anger, blame-shifting, self-righteousness, biases, denominationalism, cultural biases, resentment, unforgiveness, etc. — these things are “dark light” which will cause us to project onto the pages of the Bible and on other people our own darkness of soul. We will end up forming God into our own image through what psychologists call “projection.” We also project our own short-comings onto perceived enemies through this same technique. “I have also come across Christians who believe that white Christians are the only true representatives of God, that darker skinned human beings are “beasts of the field,” not really human beings. And they use certain verses and certain interpretations of those verses to prove to themselves they are correct. Neither Jews nor Christians who teach these abominations are correct! “A perfect translation of the Bible will not bring the truth into our soul if we are filled with traditions of men which make the word of God of no effect or if we have corruption in our hearts. Some of the most evil men I have encountered in my Christian walk have practically memorized the Bible. “When Jesus was tested of the Devil after the forty day fast in the wilderness, Satan used Scriptures to try to tempt Jesus. I have heard in more than one sermon how Jesus defeated Satan by quoting Scriptures. In two of the three temptations, Satan quoted Scriptures. Jesus replied all three times quoting Scripture. But what was the last Scripture Jesus quoted which ended that spiritual battle?: “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4, NIV) Editor’s Note: Hopefully this article will help people come closer to God and accept His love. The false doctrines of Hell, eternal punishment and the idea that God created evil have kept millions of people in fear, unable to get close to a really all loving and all forgiving God. Source: http://www.arcticbeacon.com/greg/?p=1990&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestigativeJournal+%28Investigative+Journal%29 Read more at endrtimes.blogspot.com

 

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Child Rape as the Vatican's Worst Crime?

Amplify’d from continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com

Child Rape as the Vatican's Worst Crime?

Are sex crimes worse then the blatently Vatican continuing counter reformation war against Serbian people by Roman Catholic Clerical Fascist Ustase- of tearing out their tongues and eyes BEFORE killing them- and the August 1995 US-Vatican-NATO war crime of 'Operation Storm"?

Thomas Richards Vatican Exposer Farewell Address http://www.spirituallysmart.com/ 11/23/10 I am very tired of covering this Vatican issue. I think I've made my point with what I've done so far. The Vatican is just so obviously filthy and corrupt that I really think it's no longer necessary for me to continue. The Vatican connections and intrigue never end. Truly, "All Roads Lead to Rome." (If you wonder what I'm talking about simply go through my web site and also google search.) I've become increasingly sickened by reading everything the Papacy and it's "priests"are doing and so I will only update here every once in a while. There is nothing more wicked than raping children who are created in the very image and likeness of God! (Genesis 1:27) It shows how much they hate God and family and God's creation. Roman Catholicism with their horrible crimes have soiled the very term "Christianity". They have said they are Christians. Even claiming they are the first Christians and Peter was the first Pope. Therefore many people are thinking that "Christianity" is wickedness. And people are so backwards that even many non catholic christians will say I'm wrong for having this web site up. Well, John the Baptist was at the gate of the King calling him out for his wickedness every day until it cost him his head. And what did Jesus say about John the Baptist? That he was the greatest prophet that ever lived (Luke 7:28, Matt 11:11) So on top of that you have all these mega church pastors saying they're homosexuals or committing lewd acts in general and I've seen many Catholic apologists pointing their fingers at them, attempting to justify the crimes catholic clergy are perpetrating on children. I have found over the last ten years that most church folks in general are lukewarm and refuse to speak out. I wish they were at least like John the baptist. Who was never born again of the Spirit like the Apostles were. I feel like I'm done with this chapter of my life. It's been 10 long years since I put spirituallsmart.com together. And now I just want to focus on Jesus (Yeshua the Messiah) and my life. I've been through a lot over the past ten years being chewed up and spit out by so called Christian churches. I pray God has mercy on me. And I pray He has mercy on you too. Thank you for reading. Alas, my efforts at exposing what I consider to be the Vatican's greatest achilless heal, 26th Jesuit Order Superior General -- see this blog Continuing Counter Reformation, starting June, 2007 -- only inspired Richards to add to his pretty good start at Vatican expose, "Spiritually Smart", a miror of the first month's archive of Continuing Counter Reformation via a link labled "Ledochowski", plus a single example of my crop of the young Wlodimir Ledochowski to his Jesuit Nazis page. As of today, that mirror link appears on his page, yet when clicked is found inoperatable. http://www.spirituallysmart.com/ledochowski.html A subsequent opportunity to suggest he address my expose of the Vatican's control over the planning of Washington, D.C. regarding the USNCPC Extending the Legacy South Capitol Mall, and hence the far greater political control it has over the U.S. led to his backing down from exposing the Vatican, as it subsequently appears to be the case with his November 23, 2010 farewell address. After all, if one is to be an exposer of the Vatican, would one choose to study new things presented to them and inorporate such to build upon one's existing work? Or would they simply choose to give up? Endr Times: Thomas Richards, What Happened to "SPIRITUALLY SMART.COM"? http://endrtimes.blogspot.com/2010/11/thomas-richards-what-happened-to.html Topics to push the envelope of exposing the Vatican and the true extent of its political and social power: Washington, D.C.'s Supreme Bridge Builder http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2010/09/washington-dcs-supreme-bridge-builder.html Washington, D.C.'s Monumental Indicator http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2010/04/dcs-monumential-indicator.html Freemasonry Lets America Down http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2010/11/freemasonry-lets-america-down.html Wlodimir Ledochowski Mission Motivation, Geopolitcal Chessboard http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2007/06/wlodimir-vladimir-ledochowski-mission.html Wlodimir Ledochowski Kulturkampf Revenge http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2009/07/wlodimir-ledochowski-kulturkampf_17.html NYTimes- Historians- Europe's Wars of Religion ended in 1648! http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2007/07/holocaust-denial-via-new-york-times-in.html Wlodimir Ledochowski The UnMentionable Even By The Jesuits! http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2008/05/wlodimir-vladimir-ledochowski-usually.html Wlodimir Ledochowski Great Roman General http://continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com/2009/11/along-amber-path-7_7355.html Read more at continuingcounterreformation.blogspot.com

 

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