wnd--2020-01-10--Lose the cars and keep your dignity

Lose the cars and keep your dignity

My wife and I will both turn 30 next month .
We have two young children , and we make a little over $ 85,000 combined .
The problem is we have about $ 70,000 in debt .
Some of it is credit card debt , but nearly $ 50,000 is in two car loans .
Her mom and dad have offered to let us move in with them , so we can save up money and start getting a better handle on our finances , but we 're not sure how we feel about this .
What 's your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general who started impeachment now under investigation You 've got a ridiculous amount of money wrapped up in those cars .
I 'd sell the stupid things , get into a couple of little beaters , and start living on a budget and paying down debt .
In your situation , the only scenario where I 'd even consider taking the in-laws up on their offer is one where the stay is for a very short , agreed-upon period of time .
They 'd have to be absolutely wonderful people , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their boundaries .
But you guys can get out of debt pretty fast if you 'll just lose the cars .
You could even save a little money on the side while you were paying down debt , and buy a better car as soon as the debt was gone .
You might love your cars so much that you 're unwilling to make the sacrifice .
Not me .
I 'd rather keep my dignity intact , and work my way out of the mess I created !
Do you appreciate Dave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' questions ?
Order his book `` The Money Answer Book '' and get your finances on the right track !
I 've been struggling financially for the past few months , so I 've been playing the lottery once a week .
To me , the chance to win millions is worth a few dollars a month , even if things are tight .
You 've told me you 're having money troubles , and at the same time you 're throwing money out the window every week ?
Honestly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't make a difference .
Even if it 's just two or three bucks a week , that action represents a lot of financially irresponsible behavior in your life .
I 'm going to be very blunt with you .
The lottery is a tax on the poor and people who ca n't do math .
Your chances of winning are bleak at best .
Did you know the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292,000,000 ?
There are plenty of other very unusual things that are much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lottery .
Your chances of making a hole-in-one on the golf course are about 1 in 12,500 .
Even your odds of having quadruplets are around 1 in 11 million .
When times are tough and you 're strapped for cash , the last thing you need to do is spend what little you have on gimmicks .
My advice is to focus on working hard , living on a tight budget that cuts out all unnecessary expenses and saving every penny you can .
Unlike the lottery , this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start living on a budget and get out of debt , it provides a little bit of breathing room in your life .
You might even feel like you got a raise !
Do n't let your finances – and your dreams – be hijacked by the lottery .

Dear Dave,
My wife and I will both turn 30 next month. We have two young children, and we make a little over $85,000 combined. The problem is we have about $70,000 in debt. Some of it is credit card debt, but nearly $50,000 is in two car loans. Her mom and dad have offered to let us move in with them, so we can save up money and start getting a better handle on our finances, but we're not sure how we feel about this. What's your advice?
Justin
Dear Justin,
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
You've got a ridiculous amount of money wrapped up in those cars. I'd sell the stupid things, get into a couple of little beaters, and start living on a budget and paying down debt.
In your situation, the only scenario where I'd even consider taking the in-laws up on their offer is one where the stay is for a very short, agreed-upon period of time. They'd have to be absolutely wonderful people, too, and everyone involved would need to know their boundaries.
But you guys can get out of debt pretty fast if you'll just lose the cars. You could even save a little money on the side while you were paying down debt, and buy a better car as soon as the debt was gone.
You might love your cars so much that you're unwilling to make the sacrifice. Not me. I'd rather keep my dignity intact, and work my way out of the mess I created!
Dave
Do you appreciate Dave's clear and solid answers to readers' questions? Order his book "The Money Answer Book" and get your finances on the right track!
Lottery: A tax on the poor
Dear Dave,
I've been struggling financially for the past few months, so I've been playing the lottery once a week. To me, the chance to win millions is worth a few dollars a month, even if things are tight.
Paula
Dear Paula,
You've told me you're having money troubles, and at the same time you're throwing money out the window every week? Honestly, the small amount you're talking about doesn't make a difference. Even if it's just two or three bucks a week, that action represents a lot of financially irresponsible behavior in your life.
I'm going to be very blunt with you. The lottery is a tax on the poor and people who can't do math. Your chances of winning are bleak at best. Did you know the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292,000,000? There are plenty of other very unusual things that are much more likely to happen to you than winning the lottery. Your chances of making a hole-in-one on the golf course are about 1 in 12,500. Even your odds of having quadruplets are around 1 in 11 million.
When times are tough and you're strapped for cash, the last thing you need to do is spend what little you have on gimmicks. My advice is to focus on working hard, living on a tight budget that cuts out all unnecessary expenses and saving every penny you can. Unlike the lottery, this is a plan that works every time. When you start living on a budget and get out of debt, it provides a little bit of breathing room in your life. You might even feel like you got a raise!
Don't let your finances – and your dreams – be hijacked by the lottery.
Dave


Khomeini's shield

Lindsey Graham launches plan to cut Pelosi out of impeachment entirely

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wnd--2020-01-10--1st human-composting site set for Seattle

( KIRO ) Recompose is building its first human composting location in SODO .
The company will be the first @ @ @ @ @ world and is set to open in spring 2021 .
Katrina Spade , the CEO @ @ @ @ @ with the idea more than seven years ago when she was contemplating her future .
@ @ @ @ @ of interest .
It 's really exciting , '' Spade said .
She realized livestock @ @ @ @ @ for years .
She was looking for an alternative for humans , so she teamed @ @ @ @ @ Science Department .
They used the bodies of six human donors and proved it is @ @ @ @ @ , as well .

(KIRO) Recompose is building its first human composting location in SODO.
The company will be the first of its kind in the world and is set to open in spring 2021.
Katrina Spade, the CEO of Recompose, came up with the idea more than seven years ago when she was contemplating her future. "We have a ton of interest. It's really exciting," Spade said.
She realized livestock have been composted by farmers for years. She was looking for an alternative for humans, so she teamed up with the WSU Soil Science Department. They used the bodies of six human donors and proved it is safe and effective for humans, as well.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-10--California looks to launch its own prescription-drug label

( WALL STREET JOURNAL ) California would become the first state to contract with generic-drug manufacturers to make prescription medicines @ @ @ @ @ under a plan proposed by Gov .
Gavin Newsom that aims to control rising health @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat , said it will be part of his new budget proposal .
Few @ @ @ @ @ the plan would work , what kind of drugs it would produce , how much @ @ @ @ @ or how much it might save the state—things that are likely to be studied in @ @ @ @ @ the state budget begins in the coming months .
But with a population of 40 @ @ @ @ @ whom use the state ’ s Medicaid program for low-income people—Mr .
Newsom is betting @ @ @ @ @ power can help it offer drugs at a lower price than they are offered commercially @

(WALL STREET JOURNAL) California would become the first state to contract with generic-drug manufacturers to make prescription medicines to sell to residents, under a plan proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that aims to control rising health costs.
Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, said it will be part of his new budget proposal. Few details were provided about how the plan would work, what kind of drugs it would produce, how much it would cost to enact or how much it might save the state—things that are likely to be studied in more depth as debate over the state budget begins in the coming months.
But with a population of 40 million—nearly 1 in 3 of whom use the state’s Medicaid program for low-income people—Mr. Newsom is betting that California’s purchasing power can help it offer drugs at a lower price than they are offered commercially.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-10--NYT's Paul Krugman claims hacker 'compromised' IP address to download child porn

( WASHINGTON TIMES ) New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said Wednesday that he believed a hacker used his internet @ @ @ @ @ .
Then he stated he was likely scammed .
“ Well , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ computer security service , and as I understand it someone compromised my IP address and @ @ @ @ @ child pornography , ” Mr. Krugman wrote on Twitter .
“ I might just be @ @ @ @ @ this could be an attempt to QAnon me , ” Mr. Krugman continued , referring @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s an ugly world out there .
”

(WASHINGTON TIMES) New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said Wednesday that he believed a hacker used his internet connection to download child pornography. Then he stated he was likely scammed.
“Well, I’m on the phone with my computer security service, and as I understand it someone compromised my IP address and is using it to download child pornography,” Mr. Krugman wrote on Twitter.
“I might just be a random target. But this could be an attempt to QAnon me,” Mr. Krugman continued, referring to a far-right conspiracy theory. “It’s an ugly world out there.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-10--Book to reveal how Biden family siphoned 'millions in taxpayer cash'

( BREITBART ) A forthcoming bombshell book from publishing giant HarperCollins will reveal how five members of Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ ” —siphoned tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer cash and guaranteed loans .
And @ @ @ @ @ and Hunter Biden , Ukraine , and Burisma are just “ the tip of the @ @ @ @ @ close to the publisher .
The upcoming book , Profiles in Corruption : Abuse of @ @ @ @ @ Progressive Elite , is the latest investigative work from Government Accountability Institute ( GAI ) @ @ @ @ @ contributor Peter Schweizer .
Publisher HarperCollins has the book under a strict embargo until its @ @ @ @ @ with knowledge of its contents say the book will “ upend official Washington , ” @ @ @ @ @ ’ s past works like Clinton Cash and Secret Empires did when he broke the @ @ @ @ @ .

(BREITBART) A forthcoming bombshell book from publishing giant HarperCollins will reveal how five members of Joe Biden’s family—the “Biden Five”—siphoned tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer cash and guaranteed loans. And the recent scandals involving Joe and Hunter Biden, Ukraine, and Burisma are just “the tip of the iceberg,” say sources close to the publisher.
The upcoming book, Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite, is the latest investigative work from Government Accountability Institute (GAI) President and Breitbart News senior contributor Peter Schweizer.
Publisher HarperCollins has the book under a strict embargo until its January 21 release. Sources with knowledge of its contents say the book will “upend official Washington,” similar to the way Schweizer’s past works like Clinton Cash and Secret Empires did when he broke the Uranium One and Biden-Burisma scandals.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-10--Widow of fallen officer 'flabbergasted' when she finds out mortgage has been paid off

The family of fallen police officer Billy Clardy III will have their home mortgage paid in full thanks to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation .
The foundation announced Wednesday it was paying off the mortgage of two recently fallen officers : Huntsville Police Department Officer Billy Clardy III and Hendersonville Police Department Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol , Globe Newswire reported .
Clardy , from Huntsville , Alabama , was shot and killed on Dec. 6 during a drug investigation , WHNT reported .
Clardy , who was part of a drug task unit , is survived by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five children , as well as grandchildren .
TRENDING : Impeachment agenda slips out of Pelosi 's grasp , report says In a statement to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation , Ashlee Clardy spoke of her appreciation for the life-changing gesture .
“ I ’ m flabbergasted by your compassion and I am incredibly humbled by your generosity , ” she said .
According to the foundation 's news site , the Fallen First Responder Home Program designates money to support the families of first responders killed in the line of duty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Through our Fallen First Responder Home Program , we support our law enforcement and firefighters that lost their lives under extraordinary circumstances in the line of duty , '' the foundation stated .
`` In these times of tragedy , it is our mission to provide a support system for the surviving family and ensure that they are cared for . ''
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also has a Smart Home program , supporting disabled military veterans , and Gold Star Family Home Program , providing mortgage-free homes for surviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was started in memory of New York City Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller , who died on Sept. 11 , 2001 , while saving the lives of others .
To date , over $ 125 million has been raised for first responders , military veterans and their families .
Since 2015 , over 40 families have received a mortgage-free home thanks to the foundation , which aims to continually pay off mortgages for fallen police officers who leave young children behind .
While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a slice of comfort knowing the burden of housing costs has been lifted .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

The family of fallen police officer Billy Clardy III will have their home mortgage paid in full thanks to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The foundation announced Wednesday it was paying off the mortgage of two recently fallen officers: Huntsville Police Department Officer Billy Clardy III and Hendersonville Police Department Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol, Globe Newswire reported.
Clardy, from Huntsville, Alabama, was shot and killed on Dec. 6 during a drug investigation, WHNT reported.
Clardy, who was part of a drug task unit, is survived by his wife, Ashlee Clardy, and five children, as well as grandchildren.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In a statement to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Ashlee Clardy spoke of her appreciation for the life-changing gesture.
“I’m flabbergasted by your compassion and I am incredibly humbled by your generosity,” she said.
“This means the world to me.”
According to the foundation's news site, the Fallen First Responder Home Program designates money to support the families of first responders killed in the line of duty, specifically by paying for their home mortgages.
"Through our Fallen First Responder Home Program, we support our law enforcement and firefighters that lost their lives under extraordinary circumstances in the line of duty," the foundation stated.
"In these times of tragedy, it is our mission to provide a support system for the surviving family and ensure that they are cared for."
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also has a Smart Home program, supporting disabled military veterans, and Gold Star Family Home Program, providing mortgage-free homes for surviving spouses with young children.
The foundation was started in memory of New York City Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11, 2001, while saving the lives of others.
To date, over $125 million has been raised for first responders, military veterans and their families.
Since 2015, over 40 families have received a mortgage-free home thanks to the foundation, which aims to continually pay off mortgages for fallen police officers who leave young children behind.
While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one, the Clardy family will hopefully find a slice of comfort knowing the burden of housing costs has been lifted.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-10--Virginia Dems move to shutter indoor gun ranges, enact ammo-free zones

Two more bills chipping away at Virginia residents ' Second Amendment rights have been introduced by some of the state 's Democratic legislators as part of an anti-gun push that does n't seem to be slowing down .
House Bills 318 and 567 , introduced over the past few weeks , aim to restrict where ammunition can travel and decimate the state 's indoor gun ranges , respectively .
HB 318 , introduced by Democratic Del .
Kaye Kory in late December , would make it illegal to knowingly possess ammunition in a school or anywhere on the grounds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been proven ineffective when it comes to stopping malicious shooters , this bill also opens up the possibility of major unintended consequences for innocent people who run afoul of the law .
What if a high school senior , fresh from a morning squirrel hunt , has a handful of .22 LR shells in his truck ?
If his truck is parked on school grounds , he could face some serious legal issues .
TRENDING : Impeachment agenda slips out of Pelosi 's grasp , report says Of course , these are trivial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun control : HB 567 is an entirely different beast .
Introduced by Democratic ( seeing a pattern here ? )
Del .
Dan Helmer on Monday , the bill seeks to attack privately owned indoor shooting ranges by mandating that the facilities be under a shocking amount of government control .
The prospective law would require indoor gun ranges to be housed in buildings owned by the state of Virginia or the federal government .
The only exceptions are for indoor ranges with less than 50 employees , and indoor ranges where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 90 percent of the users .
And even if indoor ranges do meet the second requirement , the bill has even more restrictions in store .
These ranges must keep `` a log of each user 's name , phone number , address , and the law-enforcement agency where such user is employed , and ... the indoor shooting range verifies each user 's identity and address by requiring all users to present a government-issued photo-identification card . ''
While this does n't seem like a law that could affect the gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital to shooters in certain areas .
Those living in cities where there may not be enough rural area for a gun range can easily travel to a local indoor range to train .
Those more familiar with their own firearms are much less likely to cause an accident than those with no time behind the trigger .
These two bills are just more unashamed attacks on the Second Amendment -- attacks that are now threatening to spark an outright revolution in the commonwealth .
Thankfully , these Democrats are up against some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the counties in Virginia have stood up to Richmond 's tyranny and established constitutional safe zones .
Their pro-gun activism is so effective that it 's now spreading like wildfire across America .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Two more bills chipping away at Virginia residents' Second Amendment rights have been introduced by some of the state's Democratic legislators as part of an anti-gun push that doesn't seem to be slowing down.
House Bills 318 and 567, introduced over the past few weeks, aim to restrict where ammunition can travel and decimate the state's indoor gun ranges, respectively.
HB 318, introduced by Democratic Del. Kaye Kory in late December, would make it illegal to knowingly possess ammunition in a school or anywhere on the grounds of school facilities.
While gun-free zones have been proven ineffective when it comes to stopping malicious shooters, this bill also opens up the possibility of major unintended consequences for innocent people who run afoul of the law.
What if a high school senior, fresh from a morning squirrel hunt, has a handful of .22 LR shells in his truck? If his truck is parked on school grounds, he could face some serious legal issues.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Of course, these are trivial issues for a lawmaker who openly endorses gun control:
Enough is enough. No child should go to school in fear. No parent should have to worry if their child will come home safe. We have to do better. #GunControlNow — Del. Kaye Kory (@KayeKory) November 15, 2019
HB 567 is an entirely different beast.
Introduced by Democratic (seeing a pattern here?) Del. Dan Helmer on Monday, the bill seeks to attack privately owned indoor shooting ranges by mandating that the facilities be under a shocking amount of government control.
The prospective law would require indoor gun ranges to be housed in buildings owned by the state of Virginia or the federal government. The only exceptions are for indoor ranges with less than 50 employees, and indoor ranges where police or federal law enforcement officers make up 90 percent of the users.
And even if indoor ranges do meet the second requirement, the bill has even more restrictions in store.
These ranges must keep "a log of each user's name, phone number, address, and the law-enforcement agency where such user is employed, and ... the indoor shooting range verifies each user's identity and address by requiring all users to present a government-issued photo-identification card."
While this doesn't seem like a law that could affect the gun community at large, indoor ranges are vital to shooters in certain areas.
Those living in cities where there may not be enough rural area for a gun range can easily travel to a local indoor range to train. Those more familiar with their own firearms are much less likely to cause an accident than those with no time behind the trigger.
These two bills are just more unashamed attacks on the Second Amendment -- attacks that are now threatening to spark an outright revolution in the commonwealth.
Thankfully, these Democrats are up against some heavy competition.
An overwhelming majority of the counties in Virginia have stood up to Richmond's tyranny and established constitutional safe zones. Their pro-gun activism is so effective that it's now spreading like wildfire across America.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-10--Israeli analysts: Soleimani's death huge blow to Iran

Two top Israeli security analysts believe the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike was a significant blow to Iran 's Islamic regime .
The Algemeiner , which covers the Middle East and Israel , reported the experts believe Tehran has little appetite for direct conflict with the United States .
Avi Melamed , the president and CEO of Inside the Middle East : Intelligence Perspectives , calling the killing of Soleimani `` a shock wave that ripples through the Middle East '' and `` significantly disrupts Iran ’ s goal of regional superiority . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor easily recover from or overcome the loss of Soleimani , '' he said .
TRENDING : Impeachment agenda slips out of Pelosi 's grasp , report says Meanwhile , veteran Middle East analyst Ehud Yaari wrote in a column for the Israeli news website Mako that the `` most important event of the last day following Soleimani 's assassination is what did not happen : Baghdad 's Shiites did not take to the streets to participate in a funeral procession . ''
Yaari said it demonstrates the weakening of Iranian influence over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Baghdad ’ s squares for weeks to protest the government and burn [ Iranian Supreme Leader Ali ] Khamenei 's and Soleimani 's pictures . ''
`` It turns out that most Shiites in Iraq are unwilling to join Soleimani 's adulation as a fairy-tale hero and do not want to see Iraq become a battlefield between Iran and the United States , '' Yaari wrote .
He noted `` most Shiite militias deployed by Iran in Iraq have left the country in recent days for fear of further assassinations by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in no way wants war . ''
`` He would like to drag the United States into a skirmish in the form of attrition around the presence of 5,000 American troops in Iraq , but he does not want to provoke Tomahawk missiles and the US Air Force , '' he wrote .
`` Iran has no answer to US capabilities . ''
Commenting on the Israeli experts ' analysis , Hugh Fitzgerald , writing for Jihad Watch , wrote that in `` contradistinction to many others excitedly warning of a major war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however much it swaggers and now claims it will attack 6,236 ( the number of Qur ’ anic verses ) American targets , has no intention of directly engaging with the United States . ''
Iran , he said , `` has been blustering , and the bluster will continue , but nothing will come of it , save for a handful of minor attacks — e.g.
, an insignificant cyber attack from Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon , or the missiles lamely lobbed Tuesday night at an American base in Iraq .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Melamed said the death of Soleimani `` seriously undermines the assumptions and great sense of self-confidence the Iranian regime has held that it is immune to direct harm . ''
Iran previously acted with impunity because it assumed `` the West recoils from a military confrontation with Iran '' and President Trump would not risk war during an election year .
But now , he wrote , `` Iran has sustained two fierce blows by the US in just a few days . ''
He said the blow to Iranian prestige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while there are ongoing protests in Lebanon and Iraq .
Protests which , to a large extent , are aimed at getting Iran out of those two countries . ''
“ Some argue that the assassination of Soleimani will increase tensions in the Middle East , '' Melamed wrote .
`` This outlook confuses cause and effect : Tensions in the Middle East have intensified over the past decade because of the violent Iranian aggression which Soleimani spearheaded .
...
Killing Soleimani is not the cause of the escalation — but the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the main arena '' in the conflict .
He sees the possibility of `` internal clashes between Iranian-backed militias and Iraqi forces who want to or have been commanded to end — or significantly reduce — Iran ’ s influence on Iraq . ''
Iran also could make a `` drastic '' move , including `` a missile attack on Israel from western Iraq or `` direct Iranian military intervention in Iraq . ''

Two top Israeli security analysts believe the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike was a significant blow to Iran's Islamic regime.
The Algemeiner, which covers the Middle East and Israel, reported the experts believe Tehran has little appetite for direct conflict with the United States.
Avi Melamed, the president and CEO of Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives, calling the killing of Soleimani "a shock wave that ripples through the Middle East" and "significantly disrupts Iran’s goal of regional superiority."
"The Iranian regime will neither quickly nor easily recover from or overcome the loss of Soleimani," he said.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Meanwhile, veteran Middle East analyst Ehud Yaari wrote in a column for the Israeli news website Mako that the "most important event of the last day following Soleimani's assassination is what did not happen: Baghdad's Shiites did not take to the streets to participate in a funeral procession."
Yaari said it demonstrates the weakening of Iranian influence over Iraqi Shiites, who "have gone to Baghdad’s squares for weeks to protest the government and burn [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei's and Soleimani's pictures."
"It turns out that most Shiites in Iraq are unwilling to join Soleimani's adulation as a fairy-tale hero and do not want to see Iraq become a battlefield between Iran and the United States," Yaari wrote.
He noted "most Shiite militias deployed by Iran in Iraq have left the country in recent days for fear of further assassinations by the Americans."
Yaari said Khamenei "in no way wants war."
"He would like to drag the United States into a skirmish in the form of attrition around the presence of 5,000 American troops in Iraq, but he does not want to provoke Tomahawk missiles and the US Air Force," he wrote. "Iran has no answer to US capabilities."
Commenting on the Israeli experts' analysis, Hugh Fitzgerald, writing for Jihad Watch, wrote that in "contradistinction to many others excitedly warning of a major war, these Israeli analysts know that Iran, however much it swaggers and now claims it will attack 6,236 (the number of Qur’anic verses) American targets, has no intention of directly engaging with the United States."
Iran, he said, "has been blustering, and the bluster will continue, but nothing will come of it, save for a handful of minor attacks — e.g., an insignificant cyber attack from Hezbollah proxies in Lebanon, or the missiles lamely lobbed Tuesday night at an American base in Iraq."
"Iran dare not do more."
No longer acting with impunity
Melamed said the death of Soleimani "seriously undermines the assumptions and great sense of self-confidence the Iranian regime has held that it is immune to direct harm."
Iran previously acted with impunity because it assumed "the West recoils from a military confrontation with Iran" and President Trump would not risk war during an election year.
But now, he wrote, "Iran has sustained two fierce blows by the US in just a few days."
He said the blow to Iranian prestige "severely damages its deterrence image ... while there are ongoing protests in Lebanon and Iraq. Protests which, to a large extent, are aimed at getting Iran out of those two countries."
“Some argue that the assassination of Soleimani will increase tensions in the Middle East," Melamed wrote. "This outlook confuses cause and effect: Tensions in the Middle East have intensified over the past decade because of the violent Iranian aggression which Soleimani spearheaded. ... Killing Soleimani is not the cause of the escalation — but the result."
Melamend said Iraq will become "the main arena" in the conflict.
He sees the possibility of "internal clashes between Iranian-backed militias and Iraqi forces who want to or have been commanded to end — or significantly reduce — Iran’s influence on Iraq."
Iran also could make a "drastic" move, including "a missile attack on Israel from western Iraq or "direct Iranian military intervention in Iraq."


wnd--2020-01-11--Just what is a 'Right,' anyway? Here's the 5-word test

Many people believe the Founding Fathers left many `` rights '' out of the Constitution and Bill of Rights .
Stuff like the right to food .
The right to housing .
The right to a college education .
The right to health care ( particularly for illegal aliens ) .
Heck , even the right to abortions , the right to be called by a preferred pronoun and the right to free feminine hygiene products , even in men 's restrooms .
If these dead white men were so brilliant , why did n't they include these `` rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because public education is currently in the hands of progressives who are briskly producing generations of illiterates , I thought this might be a suitable time for a brief primer on what a `` Right '' ( with a capital `` R '' ) really is .
In fact , five words will determine whether or not something is a true `` Right . ''
As everyone ( who was n't educated in the current public school system ) knows , the Constitution outlines what the government CAN do , and the Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N'T do .
The Constitution is a blueprint that delineates what powers the government has , what its duties are and critical infrastructure details .
The Bill of Rights lists negative restrictions , setting out a variety of things the federal government may not do .
( Bear in mind the Bill of Rights originally was thought by many of the founders to be unnecessary , because the Constitution already listed only those things the federal government could do . )
In a nutshell , the Bill of Rights guarantees Americans the Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) assembly , freedom of religion , freedom of press , freedom to bear arms , freedom against unreasonable searches and seizures , freedom from being deprived of life , liberty , or property without due process of law , a right to trial , freedom from cruel or unusual punishment and many other such critical items .
But you 'll notice one common theme among every Right listed in the Bill of Rights : They do n't cost anything .
This is the litmus test whenever anyone claims they have a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it costs someone something such as time , money or labor , it 's not a Right .
TRENDING : U.S. 'deploys nuclear-capable bombers to within striking distance of Iran' Those five words – `` if it costs someone something '' – distinguishes true Rights from false ones .
You do n't have a right to an education .
You do n't have a right to an abortion .
You do n't have a right to free food , housing , transportation , or health care .
You do n't even have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No really , you do n't .
Why ?
Because all these so-called `` rights '' force someone else to provide those things to you , often at the point of a gun .
`` Free '' health care means doctors and hospitals must provide you with medical attention .
Who pays the doctors ?
Are they forced to work for nothing , or are other people forced to pay their salaries through their taxes ?
`` Free '' education means instructors must teach you .
Who pays these instructors ?
Are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are other people forced to pay their salaries through their taxes ?
And on and on it goes .
Even that most elemental necessity of existence , food , is not a `` right '' because providing it to you means it costs someone else money , time and labor to provide .
`` [ I ] f one person 's right entitles them to another person 's labor , the forceful imposition of slavery must be counted among the just powers of government , '' notes Alan Keyes .
`` Slavery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In other words , if you have the `` right '' to ( pick one ) food / shelter / medical care / college / transportation / abortions / feminine hygiene / jellybeans – and if you want the government to force people to provide those things to you – then you are enslaving a portion of the population who are force to provide their time/labor/money against their will .
The Founding Fathers did not pen the Bill of Wants .
They penned the Bill of Rights .
You may want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a right .
You may want health care , but it 's not a right .
You may want jellybeans for dessert , but it 's not a right .
This is the beauty of the American system : With our true Rights protected by the government , we 're free to strive for our Wants .
This freedom to obtain our Wants has resulted in the highest standard of living – even for poor people – the planet has ever seen .
`` Despite the many complaints about 'increasing wealth inequality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 that the world 's overall standard of living is the highest ever in man 's history , '' observes Selwyn Duke in the American Thinker .
`` The reason ?
The spread of healthy , meritocratic market systems – of economic freedom . ''
If you take away our true Rights and substitute whatever trendy manufactured `` rights '' anyone can think up , you might as well dismantle America ( which – what a coincidence – the progressives want more than anything else ) .
Take away the freedom to strive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` fairness '' and `` equality , '' and everyone suffers .
We have the Right to life , liberty and the pursuit ( not the guarantee ) of happiness .
The reason those things are Rights is because 1 ) they 're derived from our Creator , not the government ; and 2 ) they do n't forcibly take resources ( time , labor , or money ) from anyone else to provide .
There is no finer incentive to succeed than the need to provide the basic necessities of life without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wants in life is up to you – as long as the government stays out of it .
And therein lies the problem .
Most people – especially but not exclusively the left – wants government to `` fix '' what are perceived to be imbalances in the system , without understanding many of those imbalances spring from government interference in the free market in the name of `` fairness . ''
A few quotes are worth mentioning from some notable intellectual giants : • `` You need to vote for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose their rights . ''
– Nancy Pelosi ( 2019 ) • `` Owning guns is not a right .
If it were a right , it would be in the Constitution . ''
– Alexandria Ocasio Cortez ( 2018 ) Remember , if something costs taxpayers money or requires someone to provide a good or service against their consent , IT IS NOT A RIGHT .
It is an unconstitutional entitlement .

Many people believe the Founding Fathers left many "rights" out of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Stuff like the right to food. The right to housing. The right to a college education. The right to health care (particularly for illegal aliens). Heck, even the right to abortions, the right to be called by a preferred pronoun and the right to free feminine hygiene products, even in men's restrooms. If these dead white men were so brilliant, why didn't they include these "rights" when they wrote those documents?
Because public education is currently in the hands of progressives who are briskly producing generations of illiterates, I thought this might be a suitable time for a brief primer on what a "Right" (with a capital "R") really is. In fact, five words will determine whether or not something is a true "Right."
As everyone (who wasn't educated in the current public school system) knows, the Constitution outlines what the government CAN do, and the Bill of Rights reinforces what the government CAN'T do. The Constitution is a blueprint that delineates what powers the government has, what its duties are and critical infrastructure details. The Bill of Rights lists negative restrictions, setting out a variety of things the federal government may not do. (Bear in mind the Bill of Rights originally was thought by many of the founders to be unnecessary, because the Constitution already listed only those things the federal government could do.)
In a nutshell, the Bill of Rights guarantees Americans the Rights of free speech, free (peaceable) assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom to bear arms, freedom against unreasonable searches and seizures, freedom from being deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, a right to trial, freedom from cruel or unusual punishment and many other such critical items.
But you'll notice one common theme among every Right listed in the Bill of Rights: They don't cost anything. This is the litmus test whenever anyone claims they have a new and creative "right." If it costs someone something such as time, money or labor, it's not a Right.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Those five words – "if it costs someone something" – distinguishes true Rights from false ones.
You don't have a right to an education. You don't have a right to an abortion. You don't have a right to free food, housing, transportation, or health care. You don't even have a right to have jellybeans for dessert. No really, you don't.
Why? Because all these so-called "rights" force someone else to provide those things to you, often at the point of a gun.
"Free" health care means doctors and hospitals must provide you with medical attention. Who pays the doctors? Are they forced to work for nothing, or are other people forced to pay their salaries through their taxes?
"Free" education means instructors must teach you. Who pays these instructors? Are they forced to work for nothing, or are other people forced to pay their salaries through their taxes?
And on and on it goes. Even that most elemental necessity of existence, food, is not a "right" because providing it to you means it costs someone else money, time and labor to provide.
"[I]f one person's right entitles them to another person's labor, the forceful imposition of slavery must be counted among the just powers of government," notes Alan Keyes. "Slavery, however, involves the extinction of liberty."
In other words, if you have the "right" to (pick one) food / shelter / medical care / college / transportation / abortions / feminine hygiene / jellybeans – and if you want the government to force people to provide those things to you – then you are enslaving a portion of the population who are force to provide their time/labor/money against their will.
The Founding Fathers did not pen the Bill of Wants. They penned the Bill of Rights. You may want a college education, but it's not a right. You may want health care, but it's not a right. You may want jellybeans for dessert, but it's not a right.
This is the beauty of the American system: With our true Rights protected by the government, we're free to strive for our Wants. This freedom to obtain our Wants has resulted in the highest standard of living – even for poor people – the planet has ever seen. "Despite the many complaints about 'increasing wealth inequality,' even left-wing ThinkProgress acknowledged in 2013 that the world's overall standard of living is the highest ever in man's history," observes Selwyn Duke in the American Thinker. "The reason? The spread of healthy, meritocratic market systems – of economic freedom."
If you take away our true Rights and substitute whatever trendy manufactured "rights" anyone can think up, you might as well dismantle America (which – what a coincidence – the progressives want more than anything else). Take away the freedom to strive for our Wants in the name of "fairness" and "equality," and everyone suffers.
We have the Right to life, liberty and the pursuit (not the guarantee) of happiness. The reason those things are Rights is because 1) they're derived from our Creator, not the government; and 2) they don't forcibly take resources (time, labor, or money) from anyone else to provide. There is no finer incentive to succeed than the need to provide the basic necessities of life without government assistance.
Providing all the needs and wants in life is up to you – as long as the government stays out of it. And therein lies the problem. Most people – especially but not exclusively the left – wants government to "fix" what are perceived to be imbalances in the system, without understanding many of those imbalances spring from government interference in the free market in the name of "fairness."
A few quotes are worth mentioning from some notable intellectual giants:
"You need to vote for the Democrats, otherwise the illegal aliens will lose their rights." – Nancy Pelosi (2019)
"No ordinary American cares aboutcConstitutional rights." – Joe Biden
And my personal favorite:
"Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution." – Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (2018)
Remember, if something costs taxpayers money or requires someone to provide a good or service against their consent, IT IS NOT A RIGHT. It is an unconstitutional entitlement.


wnd--2020-01-11--Texas is 1st state to reject refugees

Texas is 1st state to reject refugees

( ASSOCIATED PRESS ) Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott said the state will reject the resettlement of new refugees , @ @ @ @ @ to do so under a recent Trump administration order .
In a letter released Friday @ @ @ @ @ “ has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a @ @ @ @ @ He added that Texas has done `` more than its share.
” Texas has long @ @ @ @ @ refugees , taking in more than any other state during the 2018 governmental fiscal year @ @ @ @ @ Nations High Commissioner for Refugees .
The state has large refugee populations in several of @ @ @ @

(ASSOCIATED PRESS) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state will reject the resettlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order.
In a letter released Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas “has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.” He added that Texas has done "more than its share.”
Texas has long been a leader in settling refugees, taking in more than any other state during the 2018 governmental fiscal year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The state has large refugee populations in several of its major cities.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-11--Clintons skate again! Bill Barr takes another dive

In the political and military turmoil if not madness over the killing of Iranian terrorist Quds commander Qassem Soleimani , as well as the stalled Pelosi impeachment caper , our compromised and do-nothing U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) – now run by that overweight clone of former Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions , a neutered elephant going by the name of William `` Bill '' Barr – predictably and quietly let it be known this week that Barr would not bring charges against Hillary Clinton , or for that matter any Clinton , over alleged corruption at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasoned `` special ops legal veterans '' of the Washington , D.C. , corrupt swamp , infested with dishonest reptilians of both major political parties , this came as no surprise .
Not only are the `` Clinton Gang of Three '' – Hillary , Bill and their equally criminally minded daughter , all directors of the Clinton Foundation – a protected species of the capital 's so-called law enforcement establishment , they are even more off limits than even the desert tortoises that roam over my client Cliven Bundy 's ranch at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the privileged , elitist beautiful people who reside along the Potomac , they can do as they please – in particular take bribes and steal with impunity .
The Washington Post , a newspaper not coincidentally represented by Williams & Connelly , whose lawyers such as David Kendall also represent the Clintons , was the first to leak the latest dive by our worthless attorney general and his equally worthless DOJ .
Here is what the Post gleefully and sarcastically reported Thursday , which report was not picked up widely in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian airliner , killing all on board .
Reported the Post : `` A Justice Department inquiry launched more than two years ago to mollify conservatives clamoring for more investigations of Hillary Clinton has effectively ended with no tangible results , and current and former law enforcement officials said they never expected the effort to produce much of anything .
`` John Huber , the U.S. Attorney in Utah , was tapped in November 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to look into concerns raised by President Trump and his allies in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Clinton 's time as secretary of state , when the U.S. government decided not to block the sale of a company called Uranium One .
`` … The effective conclusion of his investigation , with no criminal charges or other known impacts , is likely to roil some in the GOP who had hoped the prosecutor would vindicate their long-held suspicions about a political rival . ''
TRENDING : U.S. 'deploys nuclear-capable bombers to within striking distance of Iran' Years ago , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the Clinton defendants the Clinton Foundation .
The lawyer who represented the foundation not coincidentally became one of the top prosecutors of Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his now infamous Russian collusion investigation .
Her name is Jeannie Rhee , and she was also instrumental in threatening to indict my brave client Dr. Jerome Corsi in this witch hunt , if Jerry would not agree to lie and implicate the president in Russian collusion .
It regrettably came as no surprise to me that my racketeering lawsuit was dismissed , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton-appointed federal judge , the Honorable Donald Middlebrooks , in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida .
But , to the contrary , when President Trump 's own Justice Department , run by someone who has been billed by the confused likes of Sean Hannity of Fox News as the equivalent of a `` legal messiah , '' acts no differently than a politicized Clinton judicial appointee , this underscores what We the People are up against these days .
Not since the years leading up to the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the Declaration of Independence was signed in my birthplace of Philadelphia on or about July 4 , 1776 , has the citizenry seen such rank corruption in our system of justice .
Couple this with another overlooked story this week , that Chelsea Clinton has reaped $ 9 million dollars from a corporate board position – putting her in a league with Joe Biden 's halfwit son Hunter 's Urkrainian bribery shakedown ( Hunter is also fresh from a court ruling in a paternity suit that he fathered a love child with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and it is easy to conclude that there is little to no justice from government law enforcement in the land of plenty these days for the political establishment elite .
( Alexander Bolton , `` Chelsea Clinton Reaps $ 9 Million From Corporate Board Position , '' The Hill , Jan. 6 , 2020 . )
So much for all of those self-serving pundits on Fox News , who night after night in prime time boost the network 's ratings and ad dollars by promising that justice will be meted out by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just around the corner .
Just in the last months , AG Barr – on the verge of setting a new indoor world record for cowardice – has taken a dive not just with regard to the Clintons , but also former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Director Andrew McCabe , to name just a few .
And , this week it was also reported that the compromised former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was proudly named a new partner of Atlanta based mega-law firm King & Spalding , proving once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite .
Here is my post-New Year 's message for these criminals .
We at Freedom Watch are coming for you , and you will be held to account , peacefully and legally , by our citizens grand juries in 2020 , with ensuing indictments , trials , convictions in peoples ' courts and finally prison sentences .
What choice do We the People have when our own Justice Department continues to be run by cowardly fools and compromised political hacks , even under our great President Donald J. Trump ?
Go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League and play a direct role in restoring justice to our legal system through our hard-hitting cases and citizens grand juries .

In the political and military turmoil if not madness over the killing of Iranian terrorist Quds commander Qassem Soleimani, as well as the stalled Pelosi impeachment caper, our compromised and do-nothing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – now run by that overweight clone of former Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions, a neutered elephant going by the name of William "Bill" Barr – predictably and quietly let it be known this week that Barr would not bring charges against Hillary Clinton, or for that matter any Clinton, over alleged corruption at the Clinton Foundation. To me and other seasoned "special ops legal veterans" of the Washington, D.C., corrupt swamp, infested with dishonest reptilians of both major political parties, this came as no surprise. Not only are the "Clinton Gang of Three" – Hillary, Bill and their equally criminally minded daughter, all directors of the Clinton Foundation – a protected species of the capital's so-called law enforcement establishment, they are even more off limits than even the desert tortoises that roam over my client Cliven Bundy's ranch at Bunkerville, Nevada. Like the rest of the privileged, elitist beautiful people who reside along the Potomac, they can do as they please – in particular take bribes and steal with impunity.
The Washington Post, a newspaper not coincidentally represented by Williams & Connelly, whose lawyers such as David Kendall also represent the Clintons, was the first to leak the latest dive by our worthless attorney general and his equally worthless DOJ. Here is what the Post gleefully and sarcastically reported Thursday, which report was not picked up widely in the aftermath of the Iranian shootdown of a Ukrainian airliner, killing all on board.
Reported the Post: "A Justice Department inquiry launched more than two years ago to mollify conservatives clamoring for more investigations of Hillary Clinton has effectively ended with no tangible results, and current and former law enforcement officials said they never expected the effort to produce much of anything.
"John Huber, the U.S. Attorney in Utah, was tapped in November 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to look into concerns raised by President Trump and his allies in Congress that the FBI had not fully pursued cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Clinton's time as secretary of state, when the U.S. government decided not to block the sale of a company called Uranium One.
"… The effective conclusion of his investigation, with no criminal charges or other known impacts, is likely to roil some in the GOP who had hoped the prosecutor would vindicate their long-held suspicions about a political rival."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Years ago, I filed a racketeering lawsuit that included as one of the Clinton defendants the Clinton Foundation. The lawyer who represented the foundation not coincidentally became one of the top prosecutors of Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his now infamous Russian collusion investigation. Her name is Jeannie Rhee, and she was also instrumental in threatening to indict my brave client Dr. Jerome Corsi in this witch hunt, if Jerry would not agree to lie and implicate the president in Russian collusion. It regrettably came as no surprise to me that my racketeering lawsuit was dismissed, as it was supposedly randomly assigned to a Clinton-appointed federal judge, the Honorable Donald Middlebrooks, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
But, to the contrary, when President Trump's own Justice Department, run by someone who has been billed by the confused likes of Sean Hannity of Fox News as the equivalent of a "legal messiah," acts no differently than a politicized Clinton judicial appointee, this underscores what We the People are up against these days.
Not since the years leading up to the American Revolution, which in practice began long before the Declaration of Independence was signed in my birthplace of Philadelphia on or about July 4, 1776, has the citizenry seen such rank corruption in our system of justice.
Couple this with another overlooked story this week, that Chelsea Clinton has reaped $9 million dollars from a corporate board position – putting her in a league with Joe Biden's halfwit son Hunter's Urkrainian bribery shakedown (Hunter is also fresh from a court ruling in a paternity suit that he fathered a love child with a stripper and then denied it) – and it is easy to conclude that there is little to no justice from government law enforcement in the land of plenty these days for the political establishment elite. (Alexander Bolton, "Chelsea Clinton Reaps $9 Million From Corporate Board Position," The Hill, Jan. 6, 2020.)
So much for all of those self-serving pundits on Fox News, who night after night in prime time boost the network's ratings and ad dollars by promising that justice will be meted out by government law enforcement and that it's just around the corner. Just in the last months, AG Barr – on the verge of setting a new indoor world record for cowardice – has taken a dive not just with regard to the Clintons, but also former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, to name just a few. And, this week it was also reported that the compromised former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was proudly named a new partner of Atlanta based mega-law firm King & Spalding, proving once again that crime pays for the establishment elite.
Here is my post-New Year's message for these criminals. We at Freedom Watch are coming for you, and you will be held to account, peacefully and legally, by our citizens grand juries in 2020, with ensuing indictments, trials, convictions in peoples' courts and finally prison sentences. What choice do We the People have when our own Justice Department continues to be run by cowardly fools and compromised political hacks, even under our great President Donald J. Trump?
Go to www.freedomwatchusa.org and join and support our Justice League and play a direct role in restoring justice to our legal system through our hard-hitting cases and citizens grand juries.


wnd--2020-01-11--Will this 'ally' buck Trump on Iran sanctions?

The latest chapter in Iran 's 40-year confrontation with the U.S. reveals who our friends are .
Following the termination of Iran 's terror chief , President Trump announced further economic sanctions on Iranian officials and Iranian companies .
The president authorized the Treasury Department to blacklist any individual or company operating in the construction , manufacturing , textiles and mining sectors of the Iranian economy or , notably , anyone assisting them .
It will be interesting to see how the third-party sanctions develop .
Our European `` allies '' have been some of Iran 's largest trading partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 billion in goods to Iran in 2017 after sanctions were lifted , roughly 100 times U.S. exports to Iran the same year .
TRENDING : U.S. 'deploys nuclear-capable bombers to within striking distance of Iran' Back in 2018 , the U.K. , France and Germany were so eager to bust the economic blockade reimposed after the Iran nuclear deal fizzled , it set up INSTEX , a financing mechanism to help companies move money in and out of Iran since Western banks will not , fearing legal action by the U.S .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ banking executive , which made sense since German companies have been major providers of goods and services to Iran .
German industrialists drive German government policy , and Berlin fought hard to save the Iran nuclear deal .
`` German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said Germany , as one of Iran 's most important trading partners in Europe , had a 'great interest ' in preserving the agreement .
German exports to Iran rose 23 percent to 1.4 billion euros in the first half of 2017 '' after sanctions were lifted , Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the German industrial giant Siemens .
Siemens rose from the ashes of Auschwitz crematoria ( which it built ) to become a global energy , infrastructure , automation , healthcare and engineering conglomerate .
Siemens was one of the first companies to make a deal with Iran after the Obama administration lifted sanctions .
It landed contracts worth billions to build railroads , power plants and natural gas compressors for the Islamist regime .
Siemens ' subsidiary Nokia provided Tehran 's ayatollahs with the surveillance apparatus to spy on opponents ' phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green Revolution , according to Iranian human rights activists .
You ca n't say `` Iran nuclear deal '' without `` nuclear , '' and you will find Siemens ' fingerprints there , too .
Siemens built Iran 's nuclear reactors before the 1979 revolution and then sold Iran spare parts through second and third parties in violation of international sanctions imposed after the revolution .
That 's not all .
Siemens software controlled the uranium enrichment centrifuges at the center of Iran 's drive for an atomic bomb .
When the Stuxnet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Siemens reassured its Iranian customers the problem could be easily fixed – with Siemens ' help .
After the U.S. reimposed sanctions , Siemens announced it would not seek new business in Iran .
But you can be sure it 's eager to find a way back in .
Just last month , the Tehran Times reported Siemens and Iran 's largest energy construction and engineering group are cooperating on building F-class gas turbines to boost efficiency at Iranian power plants .
`` Iranian officials have hailed Siemens ' commitment to joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer of technology , saying it is a sign the company is valuing its long history of presence in the country and shows that the Germans are keen to resume work in Iran , '' the paper declared .
Germany 's accommodating stance toward Iran has not gone unnoticed .
In 2018 , the chairman of Germany 's Jewish community , Dr. Josef Schuster , called for `` an immediate halt to any economic relations with Iran .
Any trade with Iran means a benefit for radical and terrorist forces , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` It seems paradoxical that Germany – as a country that is said to have learned from its horrendous past and which has a strong commitment to fight anti-Semitism – is one of the strongest economic partners of a regime that is blatantly denying the Holocaust and abusing human rights on a daily basis , '' Schuster said .
He added Berlin should stop `` doing business with a fanatic dictatorship that is calling for Israel 's destruction , pursuing nuclear weapons and financing terror organizations around the world . ''
Siemens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The top executive of Chinese telecom giant Huawei is awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face charges of violating sanctions .
The United States has also sanctioned Chinese state-run energy company for buying Iranian oil .
Satellite imagery captured Iranian tankers parked in Chinese ports .
China has been called Tehran 's last-ditch lifeline .
You can be sure Washington will be watching China and the Europeans closely in the weeks ahead .

The latest chapter in Iran's 40-year confrontation with the U.S. reveals who our friends are.
Following the termination of Iran's terror chief, President Trump announced further economic sanctions on Iranian officials and Iranian companies.
The president authorized the Treasury Department to blacklist any individual or company operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles and mining sectors of the Iranian economy or, notably, anyone assisting them.
It will be interesting to see how the third-party sanctions develop. Our European "allies" have been some of Iran's largest trading partners.
The European Union exported nearly $13 billion in goods to Iran in 2017 after sanctions were lifted, roughly 100 times U.S. exports to Iran the same year.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Back in 2018, the U.K., France and Germany were so eager to bust the economic blockade reimposed after the Iran nuclear deal fizzled, it set up INSTEX, a financing mechanism to help companies move money in and out of Iran since Western banks will not, fearing legal action by the U.S.
The effort was overseen by a German banking executive, which made sense since German companies have been major providers of goods and services to Iran.
German industrialists drive German government policy, and Berlin fought hard to save the Iran nuclear deal.
"German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said Germany, as one of Iran's most important trading partners in Europe, had a 'great interest' in preserving the agreement. German exports to Iran rose 23 percent to 1.4 billion euros in the first half of 2017" after sanctions were lifted, Reuters reported.
Iran has been especially good for the German industrial giant Siemens.
Siemens rose from the ashes of Auschwitz crematoria (which it built) to become a global energy, infrastructure, automation, healthcare and engineering conglomerate.
Siemens was one of the first companies to make a deal with Iran after the Obama administration lifted sanctions. It landed contracts worth billions to build railroads, power plants and natural gas compressors for the Islamist regime.
Siemens' subsidiary Nokia provided Tehran's ayatollahs with the surveillance apparatus to spy on opponents' phone calls and social media activities during the Green Revolution, according to Iranian human rights activists.
You can't say "Iran nuclear deal" without "nuclear," and you will find Siemens' fingerprints there, too.
Siemens built Iran's nuclear reactors before the 1979 revolution and then sold Iran spare parts through second and third parties in violation of international sanctions imposed after the revolution.
That's not all. Siemens software controlled the uranium enrichment centrifuges at the center of Iran's drive for an atomic bomb. When the Stuxnet computer virus monkey-wrenched Tehran's nuclear program, Siemens reassured its Iranian customers the problem could be easily fixed – with Siemens' help.
After the U.S. reimposed sanctions, Siemens announced it would not seek new business in Iran. But you can be sure it's eager to find a way back in.
Just last month, the Tehran Times reported Siemens and Iran's largest energy construction and engineering group are cooperating on building F-class gas turbines to boost efficiency at Iranian power plants.
"Iranian officials have hailed Siemens' commitment to joint venture schemes, including contracts on the transfer of technology, saying it is a sign the company is valuing its long history of presence in the country and shows that the Germans are keen to resume work in Iran," the paper declared.
Germany's accommodating stance toward Iran has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, the chairman of Germany's Jewish community, Dr. Josef Schuster, called for "an immediate halt to any economic relations with Iran. Any trade with Iran means a benefit for radical and terrorist forces, and a hazard and destabilization for the region."
"It seems paradoxical that Germany – as a country that is said to have learned from its horrendous past and which has a strong commitment to fight anti-Semitism – is one of the strongest economic partners of a regime that is blatantly denying the Holocaust and abusing human rights on a daily basis," Schuster said. He added Berlin should stop "doing business with a fanatic dictatorship that is calling for Israel's destruction, pursuing nuclear weapons and financing terror organizations around the world."
Siemens finds itself in good company in Iran. The top executive of Chinese telecom giant Huawei is awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face charges of violating sanctions. The United States has also sanctioned Chinese state-run energy company for buying Iranian oil. Satellite imagery captured Iranian tankers parked in Chinese ports. China has been called Tehran's last-ditch lifeline.
You can be sure Washington will be watching China and the Europeans closely in the weeks ahead.


wnd--2020-01-11--Chick-fil-A CEO regrets 'inadvertently' discrediting 'outstanding' groups like Salvation Army

( CHRISTIAN TODAY ) Late last year , Chick-fil-A announced it would change its charitable giving strategy , investing larger @ @ @ @ @ charities as opposed to funding a wide array of organizations .
This decision came after @ @ @ @ @ fast-food chain from LGBT bullies who condemned groups like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship @ @ @ @ @ anti-gay '' because of their orthodox Christian stances on sexuality .
In a letter sent @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , CEO Dan Cathy said he regretted `` inadvertently '' discrediting the Salvation @ @ @ @ @ Christian Athletes by seeming to cave to LGBT activists when the company 's intention was @ @ @ @ @ giving .
`` As you have seen , recently we announced changes to our giving @ @ @ @ @ .
These changes were made to better focus on hunger , homelessness and education , @ @ @ @ @ We understand how some thought we were abandoning our longstanding support of faith-based organizations .
@ @ @ @ @ organizations that have effectively served communities for years . ''

(CHRISTIAN TODAY) Late last year, Chick-fil-A announced it would change its charitable giving strategy, investing larger amounts in a few select charities as opposed to funding a wide array of organizations. This decision came after years of pressure on the fast-food chain from LGBT bullies who condemned groups like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as "anti-gay" because of their orthodox Christian stances on sexuality.
In a letter sent last month but widely publicized on Wednesday, CEO Dan Cathy said he regretted "inadvertently" discrediting the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes by seeming to cave to LGBT activists when the company's intention was merely to restructure its charitable giving.
"As you have seen, recently we announced changes to our giving strategy at the Chick-fil-A Foundation. These changes were made to better focus on hunger, homelessness and education," Cathy wrote. "We understand how some thought we were abandoning our longstanding support of faith-based organizations. We inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations that have effectively served communities for years."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-11--Christian-academy teacher, coach arrested for alleged sex with student

( HOUSTON CHRONICLE ) A Woodlands Christian Academy teacher and coach is facing a felony charge for the alleged sexual @ @ @ @ @ that began in August last year .
Lacey Jo Cunningham , 32 , is charged @ @ @ @ @ improper relationship between educator/student .
Cunningham teaches anatomy and is a basketball coach for the @ @ @ @ @ had not replied with a statement about Cunningham as of 1 p.m. Wednesday .

(HOUSTON CHRONICLE) A Woodlands Christian Academy teacher and coach is facing a felony charge for the alleged sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student that began in August last year.
Lacey Jo Cunningham, 32, is charged with a second-degree felony of improper relationship between educator/student. Cunningham teaches anatomy and is a basketball coach for the private school.
WCA officials had not replied with a statement about Cunningham as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-11--Latest federal 'omnibus' – worse than sausage-making

Many Americans have been complaining that due to the impeachment nonsense and such , nothing is getting done in Washington … on behalf of the American people .
I disagree .
Any time our `` lawmakers '' are n't meeting to write bills and pass laws , they 're not fleecing us … any further .
Unfortunately , just prior to Christmas break , they all got together in a whirlwind session to do just that .
Just prior to D.C. 's holiday respite , our bureaucrats and elected officials went from zero to 100 miles per hour in no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , Congress passed and the president signed two monstrosities – the 2020 omnibus spending bill and the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) .
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And that , as Joe Biden says , is Not Hyperbole !
Most assuredly , God is the only one who knows what 's in these two grotesque leviathans , because you can bet your last dollar that not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House read them all .
And how could they ?
The $ 1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill was released to the House on the Monday prior to their holiday break and was voted on the following day .
Lawmakers had less than 24 hours to review and then vote on a package of more than 2,300 pages .
But hey – I guess `` reading the bill '' is overrated .
After signing the last one , Trump said he would never again sign a single giant omnibus bill .
So Congress just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minibus '' bills – so technically , he kept his word and instead signed two spending bills , which together equaled one giant omnibus bill .
Terrific .
But you 'll be happy to know that on our behalf , Congress has granted the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health $ 25 million to research gun violence .
So that 's a win – right ?
It also gave federal agencies an additional $ 49 billion of extra cash to play with .
Another win .
Funny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with less , or even the same .
It was n't all bad – just most of it .
Trump received another $ 1.4 billion for border wall funding , same as last year , and a few more Obamacare provisions were repealed .
As stated , in the eleventh hour , they also passed , and Trump signed , the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) .
Again , they had no time to review it , but hey – it was only 1,000-plus pages longer than the omnibus bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scales at 3,488 pages – possibly the largest piece of legislation ever crafted .
Getting tired of winning yet ?
For a change , our military personnel did OK , receiving a pay raise , medical and survivor benefits , and Guard and Reserve benefits .
But , as it always is with these behemoth bills , there 's a lot more bad hidden away , spending that has not been debated nor even read prior to passage .
Here are just a couple gems .
It authorizes billions to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Afghanistan and Somalia .
`` Page 1,069 of the conference report categorically authorizes the DOD to 'provide support for the stabilization activities of other Federal agencies … in Iraq , Syria , Afghanistan , and Somalia . '
Nobody ever questioned what it is we are accomplishing in any of these countries , '' writes Daniel Horowitz in Conservative Review .
That never seems to be important .
Just throw money at it – our money .
`` … page 1,087 of the bill authorizes the DOD to reimburse these governments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation to or in connection with United States military operations in Afghanistan , Iraq , or Syria . '
'' It 's always nice to pay for the privilege of defending another country .
How dumb are we ?
And the NDAA is vague at best as to who we are even defending over there , as it authorizes $ 4.5 billion for the Afghan government ( whoever they are currently ) and another close to $ 900 million to the Iraqi government ( again , whoever they are ) .
And this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iceberg .
Most of which we will never hear of .
Now just imagine how much better and safer our own country would be if we spent just a fraction of what we waste oversees on real homeland security .
Imagine indeed .

Many Americans have been complaining that due to the impeachment nonsense and such, nothing is getting done in Washington … on behalf of the American people.
I disagree. Any time our "lawmakers" aren't meeting to write bills and pass laws, they're not fleecing us … any further.
Unfortunately, just prior to Christmas break, they all got together in a whirlwind session to do just that.
Just prior to D.C.'s holiday respite, our bureaucrats and elected officials went from zero to 100 miles per hour in no time flat.
Within a matter of days, Congress passed and the president signed two monstrosities – the 2020 omnibus spending bill and the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
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These two behemoths combined to produce almost 6,000 pages of God knows what.
And that, as Joe Biden says, is Not Hyperbole! Most assuredly, God is the only one who knows what's in these two grotesque leviathans, because you can bet your last dollar that not a soul on Capitol Hill or the White House read them all.
And how could they? The $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill was released to the House on the Monday prior to their holiday break and was voted on the following day. Lawmakers had less than 24 hours to review and then vote on a package of more than 2,300 pages.
But hey – I guess "reading the bill" is overrated.
After signing the last one, Trump said he would never again sign a single giant omnibus bill. So Congress just basically cut it up, into "minibus" bills – so technically, he kept his word and instead signed two spending bills, which together equaled one giant omnibus bill. Terrific.
But you'll be happy to know that on our behalf, Congress has granted the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health $25 million to research gun violence. So that's a win – right?
It also gave federal agencies an additional $49 billion of extra cash to play with. Another win. Funny how the feds can never seem to do with less, or even the same.
It wasn't all bad – just most of it. Trump received another $1.4 billion for border wall funding, same as last year, and a few more Obamacare provisions were repealed.
As stated, in the eleventh hour, they also passed, and Trump signed, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Again, they had no time to review it, but hey – it was only 1,000-plus pages longer than the omnibus bill of 2,313 pages. The NDAA tipped the scales at 3,488 pages – possibly the largest piece of legislation ever crafted.
Getting tired of winning yet?
For a change, our military personnel did OK, receiving a pay raise, medical and survivor benefits, and Guard and Reserve benefits.
But, as it always is with these behemoth bills, there's a lot more bad hidden away, spending that has not been debated nor even read prior to passage.
Here are just a couple gems.
It authorizes billions to continue to prop up quasi-governments in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. "Page 1,069 of the conference report categorically authorizes the DOD to 'provide support for the stabilization activities of other Federal agencies … in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia.' Nobody ever questioned what it is we are accomplishing in any of these countries," writes Daniel Horowitz in Conservative Review.
That never seems to be important. Just throw money at it – our money.
"… page 1,087 of the bill authorizes the DOD to reimburse these governments for 'logistical and military support provided by that nation to or in connection with United States military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria.'"
It's always nice to pay for the privilege of defending another country. How dumb are we?
And the NDAA is vague at best as to who we are even defending over there, as it authorizes $4.5 billion for the Afghan government (whoever they are currently) and another close to $900 million to the Iraqi government (again, whoever they are).
And this is just the tip of a 3,488-page iceberg. Most of which we will never hear of.
Now just imagine how much better and safer our own country would be if we spent just a fraction of what we waste oversees on real homeland security. Imagine indeed.


wnd--2020-01-11--Prof calls college a 'racket,' blasts diversity hires

( CAMPUS REFORM ) An economics professor at George Mason University is speaking out about the “ racket ” that @ @ @ @ @ and blaming it on the “ diversity people ” who he says have flooded the @ @ @ @ @ perpetually increasing expenses tied to a seemingly endless need for more and more diversity initiatives @ @ @ @ @ op-ed for The National Interest , George Mason University professor Walter E. Williams explains that @ @ @ @ @ started budgeting for “ diversity and equity personnel ” to accommodate the modern-day college student @ @ @ @ @ says , is to protect “ vulnerable ” groups of students from “ hate speech @ @ @ @ @ ” noting that they have even gone as far as creating speech codes and bias-response @ @ @ @ @ But Williams also takes issue with the fact that it doesn ’ t stop there @ @ @ @ @ programs is created , colleges and universities find a “ need ” for more programs @ @ @ @ @ money to fund these initiatives .

(CAMPUS REFORM) An economics professor at George Mason University is speaking out about the “racket” that he says is college, and blaming it on the “diversity people” who he says have flooded the university system with unnecessary and perpetually increasing expenses tied to a seemingly endless need for more and more diversity initiatives and faculty.
In his op-ed for The National Interest, George Mason University professor Walter E. Williams explains that institutions of higher education have started budgeting for “diversity and equity personnel” to accommodate the modern-day college student. The idea, Williams says, is to protect “vulnerable” groups of students from “hate speech” and “microaggressions,” noting that they have even gone as far as creating speech codes and bias-response teams to investigate complaints.
But Williams also takes issue with the fact that it doesn’t stop there. As each of these programs is created, colleges and universities find a “need” for more programs and faculty and therefore more money to fund these initiatives.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-11--Ilhan Omar slams pro-life Christians:

Ilhan Omar slams pro-life Christians:

( LIFE NEWS ) Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar slammed pro-life Christians for “ trying to impose their beliefs on society @ @ @ @ @ for aborting unborn babies and forcing taxpayers to fund abortions .
CNS News reports Omar @ @ @ @ @ on the House floor last year , claiming laws that protect the unborn are “ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ reproductive rights.
” “ Religious fundamentalists are currently trying to manipulate the @ @ @ @ @ impose their beliefs on an entire society , all with complete disregard for voices and @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said May 22 .
A pro-abortion Democrat , she described pro-life Christians @ @ @ @ @ to control women .

(LIFE NEWS) Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar slammed pro-life Christians for “trying to impose their beliefs on society” while she herself advocates for aborting unborn babies and forcing taxpayers to fund abortions.
CNS News reports Omar spoke out against pro-life legislation on the House floor last year, claiming laws that protect the unborn are “horrifying attacks” against women’s “reproductive rights.”
“Religious fundamentalists are currently trying to manipulate the State laws in order to impose their beliefs on an entire society, all with complete disregard for voices and the rights of American women,” she said May 22.
A pro-abortion Democrat, she described pro-life Christians as hypocrites who just want to control women.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-01-11--Pope Francis' untold damage to the Catholic Church

Did you see the latest antics of Pope Francis ?
First , he was walking along a press line of admirers when one woman not only touched his hand , but grabbed it and hung on .
Without missing a beat , the pope pulled his arm back and took his free hand to smack her hand so that she 'd let go .
He turned away , and it was clear from the grimace on his face that he was NOT happy about the incident – nor should he have been .
What struck me was the public reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it and in fact was virtually accused of `` violence against women '' !
The uproar was so great that the pontiff actually apologized the next day – it was as though he had beaten up a random female when all he had done was smacked her hand , which was pulling at him .
Sorry , ladies , that was not violence against women .
Pope Francis was reacting as a human being to a situation that could have been dangerous .
Suppose that woman was armed with a plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was not the case , but at the time , no one had any way of knowing .
Think back to the day in 1981 , when Pope John Paul II was being driven through St. Peter 's Square in an open car and a Turkish terrorist opened fire on him .
He was shot twice and nearly died .
Two women in the area were also shot and survived .
The pope 's bodyguards were , there and while they did n't prevent the attack , they did capture the shooter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were the pope 's bodyguards when that woman grabbed his hand and would n't let go ?
Clearly , he had security nearby ; he would be a fool to be out in public without them .
But where were they ?
Why did n't they intervene , and why was the pope left to bear the shrieks of the media about his `` violence '' and be shamed into apologizing the next day ?
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When I was young , the pope was a distant figure in Rome who did n't get much publicity .
If he traveled , it was reported with a sense of quiet dignity and talked about mostly within the confines of local parishes .
There was a sense of respect for his position and his role in the `` business '' of the Catholic Church .
Well , those days are gone forever , and judging by what is going on today with the current pontiff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One reason is that media have changed drastically both in how news is reported and in the myriad ways information is transmitted across the world .
The other reason for the change is the man who is the current pope – Francis .
I 'm not a church historian , but I do n't think we have ever had a pope like this one .
To say he has n't seen a camera or microphone he does n't like would be a massive understatement .
This is a man who relishes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that both give him a platform that ca n't be matched .
Whether Pope Francis is speaking to the media in a formal interview or whether he is on the papal plane , going to and from his many travels , he speaks off the cuff to the reporters there – and the ramifications of those comments follow him permanently .
But apparently that does n't deter him .
Just after New Year 's Day , after the hand incident , during a general audience , the pope became aware that a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and one of them wanted to give him a kiss .
He acknowledged them but said , `` You bite . ''
`` You bite '' ?
Where does that come from ?
So he kissed the woman on the cheek , and the nuns were delighted .
He loved the attention , and I 'm sure his security detail was relieved all was OK. And there was no biting .
What on earth is going on ?
What happened to the dignity of the papacy ?
What are average Catholics thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pope who has made changes in worship prayers , the Catechism and constantly criticizes traditional Catholics and their beliefs .
He caters to popular movements and wants to introduce non-traditional practices into church life .
Lifesite quoted Marcello Pera , an Italian intellectual and non-believer , who criticized Pope Francis for `` openly going against tradition , doctrine and introducing inexplicable innovations , behaviors and gestures . ''
As examples , Francis criticizes capitalism and colonialism ; supports the Amazonian initiative ; seemingly supports female priests , same-sex marriage , male to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elimination of fossil fuels ; and he supports continued and open migration of Muslims into the West , repeating the mantra that Islam is a religion of peace – despite the clear evidence that it is not friendly to Catholic beliefs .
None of this is helped by the ongoing sex scandals sweeping through the hierarchy worldwide as well as the revelation of the financial misdeeds in the Vatican .
The long-term effect of all this on the Catholic Church is unclear , except to say that things will never be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pope , surely the damage he is causing is deep , and it will only get worse .
Catholics are leaving the church by the thousands and those who remain have reduced their donations .
How all that can be rectified is unknown , even if the next pope is more traditional in his beliefs and behavior .
All Catholics can do is pray , pray and pray – and pray some more .

Did you see the latest antics of Pope Francis? First, he was walking along a press line of admirers when one woman not only touched his hand, but grabbed it and hung on. Without missing a beat, the pope pulled his arm back and took his free hand to smack her hand so that she'd let go. He turned away, and it was clear from the grimace on his face that he was NOT happy about the incident – nor should he have been.
What struck me was the public reaction to the incident. He was criticized for it and in fact was virtually accused of "violence against women"! The uproar was so great that the pontiff actually apologized the next day – it was as though he had beaten up a random female when all he had done was smacked her hand, which was pulling at him.
Sorry, ladies, that was not violence against women. Pope Francis was reacting as a human being to a situation that could have been dangerous. Suppose that woman was armed with a plan to harm the pope? We know now that was not the case, but at the time, no one had any way of knowing.
Think back to the day in 1981, when Pope John Paul II was being driven through St. Peter's Square in an open car and a Turkish terrorist opened fire on him. He was shot twice and nearly died. Two women in the area were also shot and survived. The pope's bodyguards were, there and while they didn't prevent the attack, they did capture the shooter.
And speaking of that, where were the pope's bodyguards when that woman grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go? Clearly, he had security nearby; he would be a fool to be out in public without them. But where were they? Why didn't they intervene, and why was the pope left to bear the shrieks of the media about his "violence" and be shamed into apologizing the next day?
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It was embarrassing, for him, for the Church and, quite frankly, for all Catholics.
When I was young, the pope was a distant figure in Rome who didn't get much publicity. If he traveled, it was reported with a sense of quiet dignity and talked about mostly within the confines of local parishes. There was a sense of respect for his position and his role in the "business" of the Catholic Church.
Well, those days are gone forever, and judging by what is going on today with the current pontiff, it's doubtful they'll ever return. One reason is that media have changed drastically both in how news is reported and in the myriad ways information is transmitted across the world.
The other reason for the change is the man who is the current pope – Francis. I'm not a church historian, but I don't think we have ever had a pope like this one. To say he hasn't seen a camera or microphone he doesn't like would be a massive understatement.
This is a man who relishes the position and the power and the fact that both give him a platform that can't be matched. Whether Pope Francis is speaking to the media in a formal interview or whether he is on the papal plane, going to and from his many travels, he speaks off the cuff to the reporters there – and the ramifications of those comments follow him permanently.
But apparently that doesn't deter him.
Just after New Year's Day, after the hand incident, during a general audience, the pope became aware that a group of nuns were delighted to see him, and one of them wanted to give him a kiss.
He acknowledged them but said, "You bite."
"You bite"? Where does that come from?
The pope added, "Promise you won’t bite?"
So he kissed the woman on the cheek, and the nuns were delighted. He loved the attention, and I'm sure his security detail was relieved all was OK.
And there was no biting.
What on earth is going on? What happened to the dignity of the papacy?
What are average Catholics thinking as this show continues?
This is a pope who has made changes in worship prayers, the Catechism and constantly criticizes traditional Catholics and their beliefs. He caters to popular movements and wants to introduce non-traditional practices into church life.
Lifesite quoted Marcello Pera, an Italian intellectual and non-believer, who criticized Pope Francis for "openly going against tradition, doctrine and introducing inexplicable innovations, behaviors and gestures."
As examples, Francis criticizes capitalism and colonialism; supports the Amazonian initiative; seemingly supports female priests, same-sex marriage, male to female and female to male transitions, the elimination of fossil fuels; and he supports continued and open migration of Muslims into the West, repeating the mantra that Islam is a religion of peace – despite the clear evidence that it is not friendly to Catholic beliefs.
None of this is helped by the ongoing sex scandals sweeping through the hierarchy worldwide as well as the revelation of the financial misdeeds in the Vatican.
The long-term effect of all this on the Catholic Church is unclear, except to say that things will never be the same again. However long Francis remains pope, surely the damage he is causing is deep, and it will only get worse.
Catholics are leaving the church by the thousands and those who remain have reduced their donations. How all that can be rectified is unknown, even if the next pope is more traditional in his beliefs and behavior.
All Catholics can do is pray, pray and pray – and pray some more.
Follow Barbara Simpson on Facebook.