westernjournal--2020-01-08--After Ignoring Pence Call on Iran Attack, Pelosi Spotted at Swanky New Restaurant’s Opening

You can ’ t say House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn ’ t have priorities .
The right ones ?
Well… At Tuesday evening Washington time , Iranian missiles hit two American military installations in Iraq .
The Al-Asad air base in Anbar province and a base in Irbil were targeted by the strikes , according to The Washington Post ; Iran claimed 80 U.S. deaths while the United States hasn ’ t reported any casualties .
Given the relative trustworthiness of the two sources , I ’ d say the latter is much , much closer to the truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not from Iranian proxies , a major escalation for Tehran .
The attacks were in response to the American drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani , a commander of the country ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
Pelosi had loudly complained that congressional Democrats — one presumes she was referring to herself in particular — weren ’ t notified ahead of that action .
But when the Iranian missiles hit American bases on Tuesday , Pelosi was notified directly by the White House , she apparently took somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Posts Video That Proclaims the US Is 'Not Very Good at Anything ' Except War The incident was reported by Politico ’ s Heather Caygle .
“ In meeting tonight Speaker Pelosi was handed a note telling her VP Pence was on the phone , ” Caygle tweeted .
“ ’ Tell him I ’ ll call him back , ’ she said according to sources in room , noting she had to go open the House for new session .
“ Two minutes later , she was handed note about air base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House speaker is a busy woman .
But for her to essentially ignore a phone call from the country ’ s vice president in the middle of an international crisis is odd , given the circumstances and the fact that she ’ s supposedly very tuned in to what ’ s happening in the Middle East .
She assured her Twitter followers , however , that she was on top of things .
“ Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq .
We must ensure the safety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence , ” Pelosi tweeted at 7:31 p.m. “ America & world can not afford war.
” RELATED : Intel Briefing Has Congressman 'Convinced Even More Than Ever ' That Soleimani Had To Go Her definition of “ closely monitoring ” might not match yours .
Here ’ s a tweet from Anna Spiegel , food editor of Washingtonian magazine , time stamped 15 minutes before Pelosi ’ s “ closely monitoring ” tweet was published : That means Pelosi was either “ closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mare opening celebration , or the Twitter post had been pre-scheduled for publication — to give Pelosi ’ s constituents and press corps fans the impression that she was hard at work on the nation ’ s business when she was actually enjoying a night on the town .
Neither explanation is very reassuring .
Just in case you didn ’ t notice the issue , it helps — as The Daily Caller ’ s Peter J. Hasson did — to note the timing of Pelosi being notified of the phone call from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out at a new restaurant ’ s opening Tuesday night .
Yes , Pelosi ’ s brush-off of Pence ’ s call was reported on just over a half-hour before she was reported being at restaurateur Danny Meyer ’ s Maialino Mare , described by Eater as the “ NYC magnate ’ s first fine-dining restaurant in D.C. ” At least it had a memorable opening night .
This didn ’ t take long to backfire , with GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming calling Pelosi “ unfit for office.
” Harsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were being thrown about .
This might have been a good moment for Pelosi to stay on Capitol Hill gathering intel , seeing how many of our servicemembers — if any — died , meeting with members of her caucus and other lawmakers , directing the opposition ’ s response , that sort of thing .
Instead , she was gathering intel on “ the first full-service restaurant in the city from Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group ” which “ is an outgrowth of Maialino , the decade-old New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotel.
” ( Again , Eater . )
She apparently wanted to inform us all whether the restaurant really did allow Meyer “ to replicate a model that already works while tweaking it to add new pieces ” and whether “ [ s ] eafood pastas — like a simple lemon-butter fettuccine made with meat , oil , and stock extracted from Argentine red shrimp — and whole fish will be points of emphasis.
” America demands to know .
President Trump is set to deliver his remarks on the missile strikes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assuming there ’ s not an opening of a Le Denny ’ s upscale breakfast eatery in the Adams Morgan area of the District , so no doubt Pelosi will be livetweeting it and telling us all how she ’ s all about “ ending needless provocations from the Administration.
” Beyond that , it ’ s interesting how a media usually absorbed in the food-related habits of our leaders — or , well , one leader in particular — didn ’ t want to pick up on this one .
The not-entirely-substantive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported as if they constituted actual news .
Fulminate as President Trump allocates himself two whole scoops of ice cream at dinner while everyone else gets one !
Lament the passing of the good ol ’ days when our presidents didn ’ t use bigger salt-and-pepper shakers as an apparent power move !
Cluck knowingly at how Trump orders dinner for other people !
Meanwhile , Pelosi ’ s food-adjacent activities are of legitimate concern to voters in this circumstance and among the legacy media , only Fox News ran a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cheney ’ s tweet .
If only she ’ d have used bigger salt-and-pepper shakers .
By George , they ’ d have had to report on it then — right ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

You can’t say House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn’t have priorities. The right ones? Well…
At Tuesday evening Washington time, Iranian missiles hit two American military installations in Iraq. The Al-Asad air base in Anbar province and a base in Irbil were targeted by the strikes, according to The Washington Post; Iran claimed 80 U.S. deaths while the United States hasn’t reported any casualties. Given the relative trustworthiness of the two sources, I’d say the latter is much, much closer to the truth.
The missiles were launched from inside Iran and not from Iranian proxies, a major escalation for Tehran.
The attacks were in response to the American drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a commander of the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Pelosi had loudly complained that congressional Democrats — one presumes she was referring to herself in particular — weren’t notified ahead of that action.
But when the Iranian missiles hit American bases on Tuesday and Pelosi was notified directly by the White House, she apparently took somewhat less interest.
The incident was reported by Politico’s Heather Caygle.
“In meeting tonight Speaker Pelosi was handed a note telling her VP Pence was on the phone,” Caygle tweeted.
“’Tell him I’ll call him back,’ she said according to sources in room, noting she had to go open the House for new session.
“Two minutes later, she was handed note about air base bombing.”
In meeting tonight Speaker Pelosi was handed a note telling her VP Pence was on the phone. “Tell him I’ll call him back,” she said according to sources in room, noting she had to go open the House for new session. Two minutes later, she was handed note about air base bombing. — Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) January 7, 2020
There’s no doubt the House speaker is a busy woman. But for her to essentially ignore a phone call from the country’s vice president in the middle of an international crisis is odd, given the circumstances and the fact that she’s supposedly very tuned in to what’s happening in the Middle East. She assured her Twitter followers, however, that she was on top of things.
“Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence,” Pelosi tweeted at 7:31 p.m. “America & world cannot afford war.”
Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war. — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2020
Her definition of “closely monitoring” might not match yours. Here’s a tweet from Anna Spiegel, food editor of Washingtonian magazine, time stamped 15 minutes before Pelosi’s “closely monitoring” tweet was published:
Nancy Pelosi at Danny Meyer’s Maialino Mare opening in Navy Yard. pic.twitter.com/OMkVtxeEEk — Anna Spiegel (@AnnaSpiegs) January 8, 2020
That means Pelosi was either “closely monitoring” the situation from the Maialino Mare opening celebration, or the Twitter post had been pre-scheduled for publication — to give Pelosi’s constituents and press corps fans the impression that she was hard at work on the nation’s business when she was actually enjoying a night on the town.
Neither explanation is very reassuring.
Just in case you didn’t notice the issue, it helps — as The Daily Caller’s Peter J. Hasson did — to note the timing of Pelosi being notified of the phone call from Pence and the visual evidence that she was out at a new restaurant’s opening Tuesday night.
Note the timestamps on these two tweets pic.twitter.com/nKvrN7Z5vo — Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) January 8, 2020
Yes, Pelosi’s brush-off of Pence’s call was reported on just over a half-hour before she was reported being at restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Maialino Mare, described by Eater as the “NYC magnate’s first fine-dining restaurant in D.C.” At least it had a memorable opening night.
This didn’t take long to backfire, with GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming calling Pelosi “unfit for office.”
While an American base is under attack Nancy chooses to party with DC society. https://t.co/dgvJIlkuhN — Matt Wall (@WallWallme) January 8, 2020
Speaker Pelosi is an embarrassment and unfit for office. https://t.co/DJGFb2da4d — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 8, 2020
Harsh words, but one can see why they were being thrown about. This might have been a good moment for Pelosi to stay on Capitol Hill gathering intel, seeing how many of our servicemembers — if any — died, meeting with members of her caucus and other lawmakers, directing the opposition’s response, that sort of thing.
Instead, she was gathering intel on “the first full-service restaurant in the city from Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group” which “is an outgrowth of Maialino, the decade-old New York City restaurant based in the Gramercy Park Hotel.” (Again, Eater.)
She apparently wanted to inform us all whether the restaurant really did allow Meyer “to replicate a model that already works while tweaking it to add new pieces” and whether “[s]eafood pastas — like a simple lemon-butter fettuccine made with meat, oil, and stock extracted from Argentine red shrimp — and whole fish will be points of emphasis.” America demands to know.
President Trump is set to deliver his remarks on the missile strikes in Iraq Wednesday morning. I’m assuming there’s not an opening of a Le Denny’s upscale breakfast eatery in the Adams Morgan area of the District, so no doubt Pelosi will be livetweeting it and telling us all how she’s all about “ending needless provocations from the Administration.”
Beyond that, it’s interesting how a media usually absorbed in the food-related habits of our leaders — or, well, one leader in particular — didn’t want to pick up on this one.
Do you think the United States should hit back at Iran after Tuesday's missile strike? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 59% (1223 Votes) No: 41% (859 Votes)
The not-entirely-substantive gustatory habits of the president have always been reported as if they constituted actual news. Fulminate as President Trump allocates himself two whole scoops of ice cream at dinner while everyone else gets one! Lament the passing of the good ol’ days when our presidents didn’t use bigger salt-and-pepper shakers as an apparent power move! Cluck knowingly at how Trump orders dinner for other people!
Meanwhile, Pelosi’s food-adjacent activities are of legitimate concern to voters in this circumstance and among the legacy media, only Fox News ran a short piece on it, focusing on Liz Cheney’s tweet.
If only she’d have used bigger salt-and-pepper shakers. By George, they’d have had to report on it then — right?
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-01-08--Jewish Youth Wary, Yet Bold in the Wake of Rising Anti-Semitism

When a man spewed anti-Semitic slurs and spat on her face , Shoshana Blum remembered her ancestors who survived the Holocaust , and instead of looking down — she defiantly stared at him eye to eye .
The 20-year-old junior at City College of New York left the subway in tears .
But months after the attack , she continues to wear proudly the same Star of David necklace she wore that day , and on Sunday , she joined thousands of people in a solidarity march against a rise in anti-Semitism and acts of hate .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judaism , ” she said .
“ If this is what ’ s happening when we ’ re out being proud Jewish people , what ’ s it going to be like if we ’ re afraid and in hiding ?
” Many young Jewish people in the United States say their generation never experienced this level of threat and are searching for ways to cope with an alarming string of recent anti-Semitic attacks across the country .
TRENDING : Ilhan Omar Posts Video That Proclaims the US Is 'Not Very Good at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hate , No Fear ” march on Sunday organized by New York ’ s Jewish community came as a response to anti-Semitic violence , including the targeting of a kosher grocery in Jersey City , New Jersey , and a knife attack that injured five people at a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City .
“ It ’ s terrifying .
We thought that anti-Semitism was a thing of the past .
We learned about it but never thought we would live in it , ” said Rabbi Jon Leener , 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home-based ministry that aims to reach out to millennials and Jews of all backgrounds .
He attended Sunday ’ s solidarity march and published a photo with his 3-year-old son on his shoulders .
They held a banner that read : “ I love being Jewish because I love Shabbat.
” “ The idea that someone wants to hurt you , your family , your community just because you ’ re Jewish is still hard to fully comprehend , ” he said .
In the past five years , Leener and his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people into their home-based ministry rooted in openness .
Minutes before a class or a Shabbat dinner , he always walked to the front door and unlocked it because the couple believes in a Judaism where no door is shut or locked , both literally and metaphorically .
“ This is all changing now .
After Pittsburgh , after Poway , after Halle [ Germany ] , after Jersey City , after Monsey we no longer keep the door unlock [ ed ] , ” he recently said on Facebook .
Visitors now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security camera for the front door .
“ I ’ m angry that this is our new reality .
I hate that anti-Semitism is changing how I practice and share my Judaism to the world , ” he said .
RELATED : As NYC Turns on Jews , Warren Boasts New Endorsement from Anti-Israel Comedian Anti-Semitic attacks rose worldwide by 13 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year , according to a report by Tel Aviv University ’ s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary Jewry .
The report recorded nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quarter of the major violent cases taking place in the U.S .
The surge of fatal attacks on the Jewish community , including shooting rampages at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in October 2018 , and at a synagogue in Poway , California , in April , have caused consternation nationwide .
“ After the stabbing in Monsey , I told my mom , ‘ This is crazy .
He was arrested less than a mile from here , while we were at Shul [ synagogue ] and celebrating Hanukkah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was raised in Chabad-Lubavitch , an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic movement .
“ Jews are getting attacked .
It ’ s not far ; it ’ s not in Europe.
” The first time that Blum witnessed hate against Jews she was seven .
The victim was her father , Rabbi Yonah Blum , who was the head of Columbia University ’ s Chabad House for 23 years .
While they were walking hand-in hand from synagogue near the campus , a man came up behind him yelling anti-Semitic slurs and slapped his black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think Jews , we ’ re very separated people when it comes to different topics , and different nationalities , but something that has been coming up since the [ Monsey ] attack , is that we all stand together , ” she said on a recent Friday as she prepared dinner and later lit the candles and recited a blessing in Hebrew to mark the start of the Jewish Sabbath .
Since the Dec. 10 fatal shootings at a Jewish grocery store in Jersey City , there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 26 in New York and New Jersey alone , according to the Anti-Defamation League ’ s Tracker of Anti-Semitic Incidents .
The tracker compiles recent cases of anti-Jewish vandalism , harassment and assault reported to or detected by the group .
During a recent trip to a conference of young Jewish leaders in New York City , Hezzy Segal ’ s mother advised him against wearing the yarmulke while riding the subway .
The 16-year-old from Minnetonka , Minnesota , said that he still wore the Jewish skullcap that symbolizes his devotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city , he tucked it under his purple Minnesota Vikings snow hat .
“ I ’ ve never been scared of being Jewish , but with the rise in anti-Semitism , I was more aware of it , ” he said .
“ It ’ s sad , it ’ s scary for all Jews.
” Forty-five percent of teenagers feel that anti-Semitism is a problem for today ’ s teens , according to the largest study of Jewish teens conducted in North America .
The Jewish Education Project ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was published in March 2019 .
“ I ’ ve already been on my guard a lot , ” said Thando Mlauzi , 25 , a UCLA junior , who is majoring in English .
“ One of my hopes and dreams is that we live in a world , in a society , where it doesn ’ t matter that I ’ m black and Jewish , ” said Mlauzi , who converted to Judaism in 2018 .
On a recent Friday , Alexandra Cohen , 29 , chopped tomatoes before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her studio apartment decorated with menorahs and flags of Israel , as well as sepia photos of her grandparents next to a colorful painting of the beach in Tel Aviv .
Cohen said that her connection to Judaism grew stronger after someone put an anti-Semitic message on the door of her dorm at Johns Hopkins University , and later when she traveled to Israel and joined advocacy organizations .
She said she is combating the negative environment by exposing the positive side of Jewish life and contemporary Jewish society .
The Anti-Defamation League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No Place for Hate ” anti-bias , anti-bullying initiative , which is in place in schools .
Another includes working with juvenile offenders who are involved in some of the incidents to understand what they did and why .
Reformed neo-Nazi Shannon Foley Martinez is part of a U.S. movement that helps people quit hate organizations .
She feels she must spread the message that people can change their lives .
She hopes her story is a warning to parents .
“ People have preconceived notions of who they think violent white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who at 15 became a skinhead who spouted white supremacist rhetoric , gave stiff-armed Nazi salutes and tagged walls with swastikas .
“ I grew up in a family with two middle-class parents who have been married for 51 years , I was one of the smartest kids in my class , I was a championship athlete at one point of my life .
I don ’ t fit what people ’ s ideas are of who is vulnerable to radicalize into these ideas , ” she said .
“ My story is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at ourselves and our children and think : ‘ This could be my child .
Am I actively and intentionally taking steps to not find resonance and find resistance to hate ?
’ ” The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When a man spewed anti-Semitic slurs and spat on her face, Shoshana Blum remembered her ancestors who survived the Holocaust, and instead of looking down — she defiantly stared at him eye to eye.
The 20-year-old junior at City College of New York left the subway in tears.
But months after the attack, she continues to wear proudly the same Star of David necklace she wore that day, and on Sunday, she joined thousands of people in a solidarity march against a rise in anti-Semitism and acts of hate.
“It’s important to stand strong in my Judaism,” she said. “If this is what’s happening when we’re out being proud Jewish people, what’s it going to be like if we’re afraid and in hiding?”
Many young Jewish people in the United States say their generation never experienced this level of threat and are searching for ways to cope with an alarming string of recent anti-Semitic attacks across the country.
The “No Hate, No Fear” march on Sunday organized by New York’s Jewish community came as a response to anti-Semitic violence, including the targeting of a kosher grocery in Jersey City, New Jersey, and a knife attack that injured five people at a Hanukkah celebration north of New York City.
“It’s terrifying. We thought that anti-Semitism was a thing of the past. We learned about it but never thought we would live in it,” said Rabbi Jon Leener, 31, who runs Base BKLYN, a home-based ministry that aims to reach out to millennials and Jews of all backgrounds.
He attended Sunday’s solidarity march and published a photo with his 3-year-old son on his shoulders. They held a banner that read: “I love being Jewish because I love Shabbat.”
“The idea that someone wants to hurt you, your family, your community just because you’re Jewish is still hard to fully comprehend,” he said.
Do you think anti-Semitism is a growing threat in the U.S.? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 94% (61 Votes) No: 6% (4 Votes)
In the past five years, Leener and his wife, Faith, have welcomed thousands of people into their home-based ministry rooted in openness.
Minutes before a class or a Shabbat dinner, he always walked to the front door and unlocked it because the couple believes in a Judaism where no door is shut or locked, both literally and metaphorically.
“This is all changing now. After Pittsburgh, after Poway, after Halle [Germany], after Jersey City, after Monsey we no longer keep the door unlock[ed],” he recently said on Facebook.
Visitors now must buzz in and Leener installed a security camera for the front door.
“I’m angry that this is our new reality. I hate that anti-Semitism is changing how I practice and share my Judaism to the world,” he said.
Anti-Semitic attacks rose worldwide by 13 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year, according to a report by Tel Aviv University’s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary Jewry.
The report recorded nearly 400 cases worldwide, with more than a quarter of the major violent cases taking place in the U.S.
The surge of fatal attacks on the Jewish community, including shooting rampages at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in October 2018, and at a synagogue in Poway, California, in April, have caused consternation nationwide.
“After the stabbing in Monsey, I told my mom, ‘This is crazy. He was arrested less than a mile from here, while we were at Shul [synagogue] and celebrating Hanukkah,’ ” said Blum, who was raised in Chabad-Lubavitch, an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic movement. “Jews are getting attacked. It’s not far; it’s not in Europe.”
The first time that Blum witnessed hate against Jews she was seven. The victim was her father, Rabbi Yonah Blum, who was the head of Columbia University’s Chabad House for 23 years.
While they were walking hand-in hand from synagogue near the campus, a man came up behind him yelling anti-Semitic slurs and slapped his black fedora and his skullcap off his head.
“I think Jews, we’re very separated people when it comes to different topics, and different nationalities, but something that has been coming up since the [Monsey] attack, is that we all stand together,” she said on a recent Friday as she prepared dinner and later lit the candles and recited a blessing in Hebrew to mark the start of the Jewish Sabbath.
Since the Dec. 10 fatal shootings at a Jewish grocery store in Jersey City, there have been 33 anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S., including 26 in New York and New Jersey alone, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s Tracker of Anti-Semitic Incidents.
The tracker compiles recent cases of anti-Jewish vandalism, harassment and assault reported to or detected by the group.
During a recent trip to a conference of young Jewish leaders in New York City, Hezzy Segal’s mother advised him against wearing the yarmulke while riding the subway.
The 16-year-old from Minnetonka, Minnesota, said that he still wore the Jewish skullcap that symbolizes his devotion to God.
But in some areas of the city, he tucked it under his purple Minnesota Vikings snow hat.
“I’ve never been scared of being Jewish, but with the rise in anti-Semitism, I was more aware of it,” he said. “It’s sad, it’s scary for all Jews.”
Forty-five percent of teenagers feel that anti-Semitism is a problem for today’s teens, according to the largest study of Jewish teens conducted in North America. The Jewish Education Project’s GenZ Now Research Report included 18,000 respondents and was published in March 2019.
“I’ve already been on my guard a lot,” said Thando Mlauzi, 25, a UCLA junior, who is majoring in English.
“One of my hopes and dreams is that we live in a world, in a society, where it doesn’t matter that I’m black and Jewish,” said Mlauzi, who converted to Judaism in 2018.
On a recent Friday, Alexandra Cohen, 29, chopped tomatoes before guests arrived for a Shabbat dinner in her studio apartment decorated with menorahs and flags of Israel, as well as sepia photos of her grandparents next to a colorful painting of the beach in Tel Aviv.
Cohen said that her connection to Judaism grew stronger after someone put an anti-Semitic message on the door of her dorm at Johns Hopkins University, and later when she traveled to Israel and joined advocacy organizations. She said she is combating the negative environment by exposing the positive side of Jewish life and contemporary Jewish society.
The Anti-Defamation League has worked on initiatives, including its “No Place for Hate” anti-bias, anti-bullying initiative, which is in place in schools. Another includes working with juvenile offenders who are involved in some of the incidents to understand what they did and why.
Reformed neo-Nazi Shannon Foley Martinez is part of a U.S. movement that helps people quit hate organizations. She feels she must spread the message that people can change their lives. She hopes her story is a warning to parents.
“People have preconceived notions of who they think violent white supremacists are,” said Martinez, who at 15 became a skinhead who spouted white supremacist rhetoric, gave stiff-armed Nazi salutes and tagged walls with swastikas.
“I grew up in a family with two middle-class parents who have been married for 51 years, I was one of the smartest kids in my class, I was a championship athlete at one point of my life. I don’t fit what people’s ideas are of who is vulnerable to radicalize into these ideas,” she said.
“My story is important because of that. We have to look at ourselves and our children and think: ‘This could be my child. Am I actively and intentionally taking steps to not find resonance and find resistance to hate?’”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-01-08--Development in Drone Swarm Mystery: Sheriff Releases ‘Command Vehicle’ Description

Authorities working to crack the case of mysterious swarms of drones in the central United States are now taking a new approach — they ’ re searching for a command vehicle .
The Phillips County Sheriff ’ s Office in Colorado made the announcement Monday , revealing that the case now has its own task force comprised of local , state and federal officials .
“ A strategy meeting was held today in Brush , Colorado with Federal , State and local law enforcement agencies regarding the drone issue , ” the sheriff ’ s office posted on Facebook .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the drones are malicious.
” “ A task force has been organized and we are asking for your assistance .
Specifically , we are looking for the command vehicle .
We are looking for a closed box trailer with antennas or a large van that does not belong in the area.
” The theory is apparently that these drone swarms , which often appear at night and elude attempts to follow them to their source , are not being controlled by individual operators but rather by a sophisticated piece of hardware .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Proclaims the US Is 'Not Very Good at Anything ' Except War A box trailer or large van would be able to hold not only the drones , but also the equipment needed to communicate with and control the swarms .
Another law enforcement agency involved in the search said the command vehicle description is simply an educated guess .
“ The vehicle and trailer descriptions are based on pure speculation , ” the Morgan County Sheriff ’ s Office in Colorado wrote Tuesday on Facebook .
“ It may be accurate ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time , that supports it.
” Despite a number of sightings in the past few weeks , authorities do not appear to be any closer to discovering who is behind the mysterious flights of machines .
Sheriff ’ s offices have urged an increasingly worried public to not shoot the drones , an act that could have unintended consequences if a bullet travels beyond the target .
Speculation about the drones ’ operators ranges from a group of sophisticated pranksters to hostile foreign actors .
Drones of all types are now becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with machines of all sizes being used for reconnaissance , combat and other military operations .
RELATED : Meet the Knifefish , the US Navy 's New Cutting-Edge Drone Sub A Reaper drone , on the larger and more heavily equipped end of the spectrum , was famously used last week to take out Iranian terror monger Qassem Soleimani .
The smaller size of the drones perplexing residents of Colorado , Nebraska and Kansas virtually rules out any potential Hellfire missile strike .
If the unmanned aircraft continue to roam the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of time before officials discover their true purpose .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Authorities working to crack the case of mysterious swarms of drones in the central United States are now taking a new approach — they’re searching for a command vehicle.
The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado made the announcement Monday, revealing that the case now has its own task force comprised of local, state and federal officials.
“A strategy meeting was held today in Brush, Colorado with Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies regarding the drone issue,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook. “None of the agencies can confirm that the drones are malicious.”
“A task force has been organized and we are asking for your assistance. Specifically, we are looking for the command vehicle. We are looking for a closed box trailer with antennas or a large van that does not belong in the area.”
The theory is apparently that these drone swarms, which often appear at night and elude attempts to follow them to their source, are not being controlled by individual operators but rather by a sophisticated piece of hardware.
A box trailer or large van would be able to hold not only the drones, but also the equipment needed to communicate with and control the swarms.
Another law enforcement agency involved in the search said the command vehicle description is simply an educated guess.
“The vehicle and trailer descriptions are based on pure speculation,” the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado wrote Tuesday on Facebook.
Will the operators of these drones ever be found? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 80% (766 Votes) No: 20% (188 Votes)
“It may be accurate; but there is no information, at this time, that supports it.”
Despite a number of sightings in the past few weeks, authorities do not appear to be any closer to discovering who is behind the mysterious flights of machines.
Sheriff’s offices have urged an increasingly worried public to not shoot the drones, an act that could have unintended consequences if a bullet travels beyond the target.
Speculation about the drones’ operators ranges from a group of sophisticated pranksters to hostile foreign actors.
Drones of all types are now becoming a regular part of war and terrorism, with machines of all sizes being used for reconnaissance, combat and other military operations.
A Reaper drone, on the larger and more heavily equipped end of the spectrum, was famously used last week to take out Iranian terror monger Qassem Soleimani.
The smaller size of the drones perplexing residents of Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas virtually rules out any potential Hellfire missile strike.
If the unmanned aircraft continue to roam the night sky, it’s likely only a matter of time before officials discover their true purpose.
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westernjournal--2020-01-08--Passenger Jet with 176 People Aboard Crashes in Iran

A Boeing 737 passenger jet operated by a Ukrainian airline crashed Wednesday in Iran , killing all aboard .
The Boeing 737-800 was bound for Kyiv from Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after 6 a.m. local time , according to CNBC .
Ali Kahshani , a senior public relations official at the airport , was quoted by Iran state media as saying mechanical difficulties were the most likely cause of the crash .
Ukraine ’ s embassy in Iran initially issued a statement that ruled out terrorism .
“ According to preliminary information , the plane crashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of the terrorist attack or rocket attack is currently excluded , ” the statement said , according to CNN .
TRENDING : Ilhan Omar Posts Video That Proclaims the US Is 'Not Very Good at Anything ' Except War The embassy then scrapped that with one that said a commission would look into the crash and that “ any statements about the causes of the accident before the decision of the commission are not official , ” according to The Washington Post .
Iranian officials said the flight data recorders were recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data with the U.S. or Boeing .
However , it said it will share data with Ukraine .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said Ukraine has stopped all flights over Iranian airspace until “ the reasons of the tragedy are determined.
” Many other airlines had already stopped flying due to the increase in tensions between the U.S. and Iran , which overnight fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq .
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 carried 167 passengers and nine crew members on board .
“ No one has survived the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we are collecting the bodies , ” Pirhossein Koulivand , Iran ’ s chief of emergency services , told state television .
“ All emergency and rescue forces are present at the scene.
” Iran said 140 of the dead were Iranian .
Other victims were citizens of Canada , Sweden , Britain , Afghanistan and Germany , according to the Ukraine Foreign Ministry .
RELATED : US Deploys Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Within Striking Distance of Iran - Reports The airline said the jet that crashed was three years old and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its last routine maintenance on Monday .
“ We are aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information , ” Boeing said in a statement .
The plane had reached a height of about 7,900 feet when it was last spotted on radar , which was about two minutes after taking off .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
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A Boeing 737 passenger jet operated by a Ukrainian airline crashed Wednesday in Iran, killing all aboard.
The Boeing 737-800 was bound for Kyiv from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after 6 a.m. local time, according to CNBC.
Ali Kahshani, a senior public relations official at the airport, was quoted by Iran state media as saying mechanical difficulties were the most likely cause of the crash.
Ukraine’s embassy in Iran initially issued a statement that ruled out terrorism.
“According to preliminary information, the plane crashed due to an engine malfunction. The version of the terrorist attack or rocket attack is currently excluded,” the statement said, according to CNN.
The embassy then scrapped that with one that said a commission would look into the crash and that “any statements about the causes of the accident before the decision of the commission are not official,” according to The Washington Post.
Ukraine embassy in Iran drops reference to engine failure as cause of plane crash https://t.co/KfWaW56L28 pic.twitter.com/dJQeJRO2UT — Reuters (@Reuters) January 8, 2020
Iranian officials said the flight data recorders were recovered, but that Iran will not share data with the U.S. or Boeing. However, it said it will share data with Ukraine.
Do you think this crash was an accident? Yes No
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said Ukraine has stopped all flights over Iranian airspace until “the reasons of the tragedy are determined.”
Many other airlines had already stopped flying due to the increase in tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which overnight fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq.
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 carried 167 passengers and nine crew members on board.
“No one has survived the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines plane, and we are collecting the bodies,” Pirhossein Koulivand, Iran’s chief of emergency services, told state television. “All emergency and rescue forces are present at the scene.”
Iran said 140 of the dead were Iranian. Other victims were citizens of Canada, Sweden, Britain, Afghanistan and Germany, according to the Ukraine Foreign Ministry.
Global Affairs Canada has just issued an advisory warning Canadians and Canadian-Iranian dual citizens against travelling to Iran. The advisory does not specifically mention the air crash that killed 63 Canadians overnight, but talks of the region’s ‘volatile security situation.’ pic.twitter.com/eFDVHOtVQz — CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) January 8, 2020
The airline said the jet that crashed was three years old and had been purchased from Boeing. It had its last routine maintenance on Monday.
“We are aware of the media reports out of Iran and we are gathering more information,” Boeing said in a statement.
The plane had reached a height of about 7,900 feet when it was last spotted on radar, which was about two minutes after taking off.
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westernjournal--2020-01-08--California Gov Seeking To Approve $750M To Pay Rent, Buy Tents for Homeless

California ’ s governor said Wednesday that he is seeking $ 750 million in part to help pay rent for people facing homelessness in the most populous state ’ s latest attempt to fight what he called a national crisis .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom planned to sign an executive order Wednesday creating the fund , two days before he presents his second annual budget proposal to the state Legislature .
The state ’ s worsening affordable housing and homelessness problem has prompted anger and outrage from citizens and repeated criticism from President Donald Trump aimed at Newsom and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also directed the state to provide 100 travel trailers and modular tent structures to cities and counties that meet certain criteria .
The trailers and tents would be used for temporary housing and to provide related health and social services .
Newsom also announced a multiagency “ strike team ” to help local governments address homelessness .
TRENDING : Ilhan Omar Posts Video That Proclaims the US Is 'Not Very Good at Anything ' Except War The new fund could include not only state taxpayer money but donations from philanthropic organizations and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to providers to pay rent , pay for affordable housing units , or aid board and care homes .
Newsom said a year ago that he wanted to build housing on surplus state property .
His new order directs his administration to identify some of those properties that can be used by local governments or nonprofits to shelter homeless individuals on a short-term emergency basis , so long as it doesn ’ t delay the development of affordable housing .
He said the state will measure local governments ’ success in moving people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving more state assistance .
“ Californians are demanding that all levels of government — federal , state and local — do more to get people off the streets and into services — whether that ’ s emergency housing , mental health services , substance abuse treatment or all of the above , ” Newsom said in a statement .
He said compassion for those who are homeless “ isn ’ t allowing a person suffering a severe psychotic break or from a lethal substance abuse addiction to literally drift towards death on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , he said he is also seeking $ 695 million , including federal funds , to increase spending on preventative healthcare through the state ’ s Medicaid program .
RELATED : Ben Carson Shares 'Key ' to Fixing Homelessness : Get Them the Help They Really Need The money , which he expected to eventually reach $ 1.4 billion , would go to prevent things that he said can lead to homelessness , including aiding tenants and helping people find housing .
A portion could even go to rent assistance if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care services .
Another nearly $ 25 million , eventually growing to more than $ 364 million , would go to test programs in three of the state ’ s 58 counties to put those deemed incompetent to stand trial for criminal offenses into community programs instead of state mental hospitals .
Last year , Newsom signed a state budget that gave $ 650 million to local governments and agencies for things like rental assistance and emergency shelters .
Of the $ 650 million , $ 275 million goes to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 175 million to county governments and $ 190 million to continuing care programs .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

California’s governor said Wednesday that he is seeking $750 million in part to help pay rent for people facing homelessness in the most populous state’s latest attempt to fight what he called a national crisis.
Gov. Gavin Newsom planned to sign an executive order Wednesday creating the fund, two days before he presents his second annual budget proposal to the state Legislature.
The state’s worsening affordable housing and homelessness problem has prompted anger and outrage from citizens and repeated criticism from President Donald Trump aimed at Newsom and other Democratic leaders in California.
The governor also directed the state to provide 100 travel trailers and modular tent structures to cities and counties that meet certain criteria. The trailers and tents would be used for temporary housing and to provide related health and social services.
Newsom also announced a multiagency “strike team” to help local governments address homelessness.
The new fund could include not only state taxpayer money but donations from philanthropic organizations and the private sector. The money would go to providers to pay rent, pay for affordable housing units, or aid board and care homes.
CA is treating homelessness as a real emergency because it is one.@GavinNewsom is proposing over $1B in direct initiatives for housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment & more. It’s all of the above. #CaliforniaForAll #CAbudget https://t.co/ABFHYSpmXg — Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2020
Newsom said a year ago that he wanted to build housing on surplus state property.
Do you think this money will make a major impact on California's homelessness epidemic? Yes No
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His new order directs his administration to identify some of those properties that can be used by local governments or nonprofits to shelter homeless individuals on a short-term emergency basis, so long as it doesn’t delay the development of affordable housing.
He said the state will measure local governments’ success in moving people off the streets as a requirement for receiving more state assistance.
“Californians are demanding that all levels of government — federal, state and local — do more to get people off the streets and into services — whether that’s emergency housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment or all of the above,” Newsom said in a statement.
He said compassion for those who are homeless “isn’t allowing a person suffering a severe psychotic break or from a lethal substance abuse addiction to literally drift towards death on our streets and sidewalks.”
To that end, he said he is also seeking $695 million, including federal funds, to increase spending on preventative healthcare through the state’s Medicaid program.
The money, which he expected to eventually reach $1.4 billion, would go to prevent things that he said can lead to homelessness, including aiding tenants and helping people find housing.
A portion could even go to rent assistance if it helps individuals lower their high use of health care services.
Another nearly $25 million, eventually growing to more than $364 million, would go to test programs in three of the state’s 58 counties to put those deemed incompetent to stand trial for criminal offenses into community programs instead of state mental hospitals.
Last year, Newsom signed a state budget that gave $650 million to local governments and agencies for things like rental assistance and emergency shelters. Of the $650 million, $275 million goes to the state’s 13 most populous cities, $175 million to county governments and $190 million to continuing care programs.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Ilhan Omar Rushes To Defend Iran from Trump’s Supposed ‘Economic Warfare’

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota , who supports the Boycott , Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel , lashed out Wednesday at President Donald Trump for conducting “ economic warfare ” against Iran through economic sanctions .
In a speech to the nation regarding Iran ’ s missile attack on installations in Iraq that house U.S. forces ( in which no Americans were injured ) , Trump said that he would respond , but not militarily , to Iran ’ s aggression .
“ As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression , the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Iranian regime .
These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior , ” the president said , according to a White House media pool report .
A livid Omar tapped out her reply on Twitter .
“ This makes no sense .
Sanctions are economic warfare , ” she wrote .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East “ They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran .
You can not claim to want deescalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear goal .
This is not a measured response !
” Many who read Omar ’ s tweet were incensed by her perspective .
RELATED : Ilhan Omar Suggests Iran Threat on Trump Hotels Could Draw Him into War Omar spoke differently about sanctions in October in an interview on CBS News ’ “ Face the Nation.
” “ I think the opportunity to boycott , divest , sanction is the kind of pressure that leads to that peaceful process , ” she said , speaking about the anti-Israel BDS movement .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution that sought to support the right to boycott Israel .
“ We are introducing a resolution … to really speak about the American values that support and believe in our ability to exercise our First Amendment rights in regard to boycotting , ” Omar said then , according to the New York Post .
“ And it is an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support a nonviolent movement , which is the BDS movement , ” she added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards .

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, lashed out Wednesday at President Donald Trump for conducting “economic warfare” against Iran through economic sanctions.
In a speech to the nation regarding Iran’s missile attack on installations in Iraq that house U.S. forces (in which no Americans were injured), Trump said that he would respond, but not militarily, to Iran’s aggression.
“As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior,” the president said, according to a White House media pool report.
A livid Omar tapped out her reply on Twitter.
“This makes no sense. Sanctions are economic warfare,” she wrote.
“They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran. You cannot claim to want deescalation and then announce new sanctions with no clear goal. This is not a measured response!”
This makes no sense. Sanctions are economic warfare. They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran. You cannot claim to want deescalation and then announce new sanctions with no clear goal. This is not a measured response! https://t.co/sGWtwXuNDT — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 8, 2020
Many who read Omar’s tweet were incensed by her perspective.
Thanks for making my earlier point. You are more interested in promoting Iranian than American interests. — Theodore S Roosevelt MD PhD JD (@TSRooseveltRE) January 8, 2020
So you admit BDS is economic warfare, then. You’re a hateful, raging, anti-semitic hag, and an embarrassment to our country. Can’t wait to block literally EVERY SUPPORTER of yours who defends you on this. — Chicks On The Right (@chicksonright) January 8, 2020
Yet you keep demanding BDS; an economic warfare on our biggest ally in ME Israel who are fighting same radical Islamic Irani regime you’re trying to save.
It’s ok to cause medical shortages & countless deaths there cause they’re Jews.
You’re the definition of hypocrisy @IlhanMN — Sarai (Sarah Idan) Miss Iraq (@RealSarahIdan) January 8, 2020
This is interesting that a Congressional Representative claiming to be an American, swearing an oath to America, would decry economic sanctions on Iran. Sweetheart, they are WORLD-WIDE. We are NOT the only ones. Because Iran is a theocratic dictatorship that exports terror. — Bootsie (@AugustusBeau) January 8, 2020
You can’t make this up. 2019 Anti-Semite of the Year Democrat Rep. Ilahn Omar condemns “crippling” Iranian sanctions despite being an avid supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel. pic.twitter.com/Uhk4LHelxW — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 8, 2020
Omar spoke differently about sanctions in October in an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
Do you think Omar's comments about "economic warfare" were hypocritical? Yes No
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“I think the opportunity to boycott, divest, sanction is the kind of pressure that leads to that peaceful process,” she said, speaking about the anti-Israel BDS movement.
Earlier in the year, she sponsored a resolution that sought to support the right to boycott Israel.
“We are introducing a resolution … to really speak about the American values that support and believe in our ability to exercise our First Amendment rights in regard to boycotting,” Omar said then, according to the New York Post.
“And it is an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support a nonviolent movement, which is the BDS movement,” she added.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Country Superstars Rascal Flatts Announce Farewell Tour After 20 Years Together

Most people have heard of Rascal Flatts .
You don ’ t even need to be a country music aficionado to know them — they made it big , and they ’ ve been around since 2000 .
The biography on their website lists a few of their accomplishments as a group : “ 17 Number One hits , over 23.4 million albums sold , 35 million digital downloads , 2.2 billion streams worldwide and 4.4 billion streams solely on Pandora , while also selling over 11 million concert tickets and earning more than 40 trophies from the ACA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Choice and more , making them the most awarded country group of the past decade.
” Now , as the three members find themselves nearing their 50s , they ’ ve agreed that it ’ s time for things to wind down .
In a news release from Tuesday , the three expressed their thankfulness for their time together .
“ When we started out 20 years ago , we could not imagine all of the people , places and gifts we would encounter , ” Gary LeVox shared .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives.
” TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East “ What greater gift can an artist receive than to be told ‘ I got married to “ Bless The Broken Road , ” ’ or ‘ We played “ My Wish ” at my graduation.
’ That ‘ “ What Hurts The Most ” is the song that made me love country music for the first time , ’ or ‘ “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped me get sober ’ or even that ‘ “ Changed ” made me call my family again after not talking to them for years.
’ ” “ That ’ s why we create music and the reason we can ’ t wait to celebrate this incredible 20 year journey all year , with our fans who we love dearly .
I don ’ t know what God has in store for the future , but I am excited to see what He has planned !
” Jay DeMarcus spoke about how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a goodbye tour , appropriately named “ Rascal Flatts Farewell : Life is a Highway Tour.
” “ While it is of course bittersweet , it is so important to us to celebrate what our music has meant to their lives , as well as what the fans have meant to us , ” DeMarcus added .
“ There is no sadness here , just new chapters , new journeys , and new beginnings .
Rascal Flatts ’ music will live on forever , because of our fans , and this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dreams do come true … and we are three walking examples of this truth , ” Joe Don Rooney said .
“ I ’ m most proud of the fact that we ’ ve pursued our dreams together and with courage , hard-work and dedication we ’ ve been able to cultivate our dreams into reality ; it ’ s simply incredible !
” Rooney highlighted how blessed the trio has been and how much they look forward to spending the next year thanking their fans .
RELATED : Carrie Underwood Steps Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'It 's Time' “ And , ” Rooney added , “ I personally can ’ t wait to shine a light on my brothers Jay and Gary this year , and make another mountain of new memories with them.
” The farewell tour will start June 11 and run through Oct. 17 , with 25 events running from coast to coast .
If you were ever a serious Rascal Flatts fan at any point during their 20 years , now ’ s the time to make sure you see them off !
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Most people have heard of Rascal Flatts. You don’t even need to be a country music aficionado to know them — they made it big, and they’ve been around since 2000.
The biography on their website lists a few of their accomplishments as a group: “17 Number One hits, over 23.4 million albums sold, 35 million digital downloads, 2.2 billion streams worldwide and 4.4 billion streams solely on Pandora, while also selling over 11 million concert tickets and earning more than 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, making them the most awarded country group of the past decade.”
Now, as the three members find themselves nearing their 50s, they’ve agreed that it’s time for things to wind down. In a news release from Tuesday, the three expressed their thankfulness for their time together.
“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” Gary LeVox shared. “The greatest feeling ever, is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives.”
“What greater gift can an artist receive than to be told ‘I got married to “Bless The Broken Road,”’ or ‘We played “My Wish” at my graduation.’ That ‘“What Hurts The Most” is the song that made me love country music for the first time,’ or ‘“I’m Movin’ On” helped me get sober’ or even that ‘“Changed” made me call my family again after not talking to them for years.’”
“That’s why we create music and the reason we can’t wait to celebrate this incredible 20 year journey all year, with our fans who we love dearly. I don’t know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what He has planned!”
Jay DeMarcus spoke about how they’re going to take 2020 to do a goodbye tour, appropriately named “Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life is a Highway Tour.”
“While it is of course bittersweet, it is so important to us to celebrate what our music has meant to their lives, as well as what the fans have meant to us,” DeMarcus added. “There is no sadness here, just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings. Rascal Flatts’ music will live on forever, because of our fans, and this year is all about them!”
Are you a Rascal Flatts fan? Yes No
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“Dreams do come true … and we are three walking examples of this truth,” Joe Don Rooney said. “I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve pursued our dreams together and with courage, hard-work and dedication we’ve been able to cultivate our dreams into reality; it’s simply incredible!”
Rooney highlighted how blessed the trio has been and how much they look forward to spending the next year thanking their fans.
“And,” Rooney added, “I personally can’t wait to shine a light on my brothers Jay and Gary this year, and make another mountain of new memories with them.”
The farewell tour will start June 11 and run through Oct. 17, with 25 events running from coast to coast. If you were ever a serious Rascal Flatts fan at any point during their 20 years, now’s the time to make sure you see them off!
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Trump Economy Continues Winning as US Companies Add 202K Workers in December: Report

The jobs market finished 2019 on a high note , adding 202,000 new positions to the private sector payrolls in December .
According to an ADP and Moody ’ s Analytics report released on Wednesday , the service sector provided 173,000 of those positions .
Meanwhile , small and medium sized companies made up a bulk of the hiring , with small businesses ( 1-49 employees ) adding 69,000 new jobs , while midsized employers ( 50-499 workers ) brought on 88,000 .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in employment , while the manufacturing sector lost 7,000 positions .
“ The service providers posted the largest gain since April , driven mainly by professional and business services .
Job creation was strong across companies of all sizes , led predominantly by midsized companies , ” said Ahu Yildirmaz , vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute .
“ Manufacturers , energy producers and small companies have been shedding jobs , ” noted Mark Zandi , chief economist of Moody ’ s Analytics .
The total 202,000 jobs added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimate from economists surveyed by Dow Jones and sets the stage for the government ’ s official count that will be released Friday , ” according to CNBC .
ADP also revised its initial November new jobs count from 67,000 to 124,000 created .
Ivanka Trump , who leads the Trump administration ’ s National Council for the American Worker , touted the gains made while her father has been in office at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday .
“ This is a very very exciting time to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during her keynote remarks .
“ One of the things that I ’ m really passionate about is there really is this blue collar boom that is taking place , ” she added .
“ If you look at where wages are rising , they ’ re rising the fastest in the bottom quintile .
They ’ re rising the fastest for blue collar workers , ” Trump said .
The country has been experiencing its lowest unemployment rate since 1969 , and the lowest ever for African-Americans , Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their fastest rate in years , with those at the lowest end of the economic spectrum seeing the highest percentage gains .
Since President Donald Trump was elected , 7 million new jobs have been created .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The jobs market finished 2019 on a high note, adding 202,000 new positions to the private sector payrolls in December.
According to an ADP and Moody’s Analytics report released on Wednesday, the service sector provided 173,000 of those positions.
Meanwhile, small and medium sized companies made up a bulk of the hiring, with small businesses (1-49 employees) adding 69,000 new jobs, while midsized employers (50-499 workers) brought on 88,000.
The #Jobs market finished 2019 strong, adding 202,000 new positions to the private payrolls in December! pic.twitter.com/0UfN3BcOc3 — Randy DeSoto (@RandyDeSoto) January 8, 2020
The construction sector saw a 37,000 increase in employment, while the manufacturing sector lost 7,000 positions.
“The service providers posted the largest gain since April, driven mainly by professional and business services. Job creation was strong across companies of all sizes, led predominantly by midsized companies,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute.
“Manufacturers, energy producers and small companies have been shedding jobs,” noted Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics.
The total 202,000 jobs added “was well above the 150,000 consensus estimate from economists surveyed by Dow Jones and sets the stage for the government’s official count that will be released Friday,” according to CNBC.
Do you believe the economy will remain strong through 2020? Yes No
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ADP also revised its initial November new jobs count from 67,000 to 124,000 created.
Ivanka Trump, who leads the Trump administration’s National Council for the American Worker, touted the gains made while her father has been in office at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“This is a very very exciting time to be in the work force,” Trump said during her keynote remarks.
WATCH: @IvankaTrump on the Blue Collar Boom and rising wages under @realDonaldTrump! pic.twitter.com/DSJArTYvKT — Team Trump (#TrumpSpeech) (@TeamTrump) January 8, 2020
“One of the things that I’m really passionate about is there really is this blue collar boom that is taking place,” she added.
“If you look at where wages are rising, they’re rising the fastest in the bottom quintile. They’re rising the fastest for blue collar workers,” Trump said.
The country has been experiencing its lowest unemployment rate since 1969, and the lowest ever for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans.
Meanwhile, hourly wages have risen at their fastest rate in years, with those at the lowest end of the economic spectrum seeing the highest percentage gains.
Since President Donald Trump was elected, 7 million new jobs have been created.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Thanks to Dems’ WWIII Talk, Americans Terrified by Fake ‘You’ve Been Drafted’ Texts

In the wake of the airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump that took out top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani , the president ’ s haters on the left immediately jumped to assume the worst — that the Bad Orange Man had just kickstarted World War III on an impulsive whim .
All of that fearmongering was for naught , however , as evidenced by the ineffectual ballistic missile strikes Iran launched into Iraq toward military bases used by U.S. soldiers on Tuesday , which did minimal damage , caused no American casualties and prompted no escalated response from Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did manage to apparently provoke were hoax text messages sent to some people informing them that they ’ d been drafted by the military for a war with Iran .
Whether those messages were simply intended to spark fear or were part of a scam to obtain personal information remains unclear .
The Verge reported on Tuesday about the fake text messages about a military draft as well as the response those hoax messages compelled from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command that set out to debunk the fake communications .
The text messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that something was amiss , as they were purported to be from the non-existent “ United States Official Army Draft ” and were filled with all sorts of grammatical and punctuation errors , misspellings and unprofessional wording .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East The messages , which provided a number for recipients to call , directed the recipients to report for “ immediate departure for Iran ” — something that obviously wouldn ’ t happen without initial training — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail time if the texts were ignored .
In response to those bogus text messages , the U.S. Army Recruiting Command issued an “ urgent ” statement on Tuesday that acknowledged the worried calls and emails it had received about the fraudulent messages people had been receiving about a military draft .
The statement was intended to “ ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army.
” “ The decision to enact a draft is not made at or by U.S. Army Recruiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Selective Service System , a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense , is the organization that manages registration for the Selective Service.
” Speaking of the independent Selective Service System , it too appears to have fallen prey to the absurd fearmongering about a war with Iran and a potential military draft , as evidenced by a pair of tweets issued by the System on Jan. 3 , the second of which indicated that high traffic to its website — undoubtedly spurred by those worried about a possible draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — had caused the site to crash temporarily .
The first tweet noted that the Selective Service was “ conducting business as usual ” and reminded people that Congress and the president would have to work cooperatively to reinstate a military draft .
On Monday , the agency issued another tweet warning about fraudulent “ websites claiming to be the Selective Service that charge for registration .
You will not be registered and your personal information may be at risk.
” As was alluded to in one of the Selective Service tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Army , there currently isn ’ t a military conscription system in effect , nor has there been since 1973 .
As noted , it would take an act of Congress and a signature from the president for there to be a military draft once again .
Instead , our nation has relied upon an all-volunteer military for nearly 50 years now , and while the Army and other branches are certainly anxious to receive more recruits , they aren ’ t reaching out via text message or threatening fines and jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and non-existent draft are ignored .
RELATED : Trump Just Accomplished What Presidents Have Been Trying To Do for 40 Years with Iran It remains to be seen who specifically is responsible for the fake texts about a draft , and odds are there are authorities looking closely to determine who sent those messages out and what the purpose was .
One thing that is clear , however , is that the left ’ s incessant fearmongering over everything said or done by Trump , especially in regard to foreign policy and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and jerks to play on people ’ s fears , either for the benefit of obtaining personal information or simply to fulfill a twisted desire to frighten people .
If there is anything that can be gleaned from this particular incident , it is that everyone should calm down and take a deep breath before jumping off the deep end at every move made by Trump , and instead display some common sense and due diligence rather than succumb to fear .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @

In the wake of the airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump that took out top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the president’s haters on the left immediately jumped to assume the worst — that the Bad Orange Man had just kickstarted World War III on an impulsive whim.
All of that fearmongering was for naught, however, as evidenced by the ineffectual ballistic missile strikes Iran launched into Iraq toward military bases used by U.S. soldiers on Tuesday, which did minimal damage, caused no American casualties and prompted no escalated response from Trump.
Nevertheless, one thing the over-the-top fearmongering did manage to apparently provoke were hoax text messages sent to some people informing them that they’d been drafted by the military for a war with Iran. Whether those messages were simply intended to spark fear or were part of a scam to obtain personal information remains unclear.
The Verge reported on Tuesday about the fake text messages about a military draft as well as the response those hoax messages compelled from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command that set out to debunk the fake communications.
The text messages themselves should have been the first clue that something was amiss, as they were purported to be from the non-existent “United States Official Army Draft” and were filled with all sorts of grammatical and punctuation errors, misspellings and unprofessional wording.
The messages, which provided a number for recipients to call, directed the recipients to report for “immediate departure for Iran” — something that obviously wouldn’t happen without initial training — and in some cases even threatened fines and jail time if the texts were ignored.
In response to those bogus text messages, the U.S. Army Recruiting Command issued an “urgent” statement on Tuesday that acknowledged the worried calls and emails it had received about the fraudulent messages people had been receiving about a military draft.
The statement was intended to “ensure Americans understand these texts are false and were not initiated by this command or the U.S. Army.”
“The decision to enact a draft is not made at or by U.S. Army Recruiting Command,” the statement continued. “The Selective Service System, a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense, is the organization that manages registration for the Selective Service.”
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Speaking of the independent Selective Service System, it too appears to have fallen prey to the absurd fearmongering about a war with Iran and a potential military draft, as evidenced by a pair of tweets issued by the System on Jan. 3, the second of which indicated that high traffic to its website — undoubtedly spurred by those worried about a possible draft due to the “spread of misinformation” — had caused the site to crash temporarily.
The first tweet noted that the Selective Service was “conducting business as usual” and reminded people that Congress and the president would have to work cooperatively to reinstate a military draft.
On Monday, the agency issued another tweet warning about fraudulent “websites claiming to be the Selective Service that charge for registration. You will not be registered and your personal information may be at risk.”
As was alluded to in one of the Selective Service tweets as well as the bulletin from the U.S. Army, there currently isn’t a military conscription system in effect, nor has there been since 1973. As noted, it would take an act of Congress and a signature from the president for there to be a military draft once again.
Instead, our nation has relied upon an all-volunteer military for nearly 50 years now, and while the Army and other branches are certainly anxious to receive more recruits, they aren’t reaching out via text message or threatening fines and jail time if such communications about an imaginary and non-existent draft are ignored.
It remains to be seen who specifically is responsible for the fake texts about a draft, and odds are there are authorities looking closely to determine who sent those messages out and what the purpose was.
One thing that is clear, however, is that the left’s incessant fearmongering over everything said or done by Trump, especially in regard to foreign policy and the military, has given license to scammers and jerks to play on people’s fears, either for the benefit of obtaining personal information or simply to fulfill a twisted desire to frighten people.
If there is anything that can be gleaned from this particular incident, it is that everyone should calm down and take a deep breath before jumping off the deep end at every move made by Trump, and instead display some common sense and due diligence rather than succumb to fear.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Iran Has a Long History of Hating the US

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday that “ we are not looking to start a war with Iran , but we are prepared to finish one.
” “ What we ’ d like to see is the situation de-escalated , ” he added .
The next day Iranian missiles hit U.S. bases in Iraq .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed that “ our action was a legitimate self-defense and the United States should avoid assessing it based on illusions.
” Iran has again proven its nerve ; it is the one that should avoid making assessments based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday that Iran “ appears to be standing down ” after its latest attack .
The president vowed to continue with the pressure on Iran by using sanctions .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East It all followed the escalation in U.S.-Iran relations after a U.S. airstrike killed top Iranian official Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
It was another chapter in the prolonged conflict between the two states .
In the 1970s the United States and Iran were allies .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserves , large population , vast territory and strategic location .
The United States sold Iran weapon systems such as F- 14 fighters .
Iran and the United States had common enemies such as the Soviet Union .
The 1979 Islamic revolution changed this picture .
Iran ’ s new leader , Ayatollah Khomeini , declared that the United States an enemy .
It was the start of a long conflict , which included clashes between the two states in the 1980s .
The United States also supported Saddam Hussein in his war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , after 9/11 , during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq , Iran assisted insurgents who attacked U.S. forces .
Iran did not pay the penalty for its subversion against the United States .
Iran opposes the United States for several reasons .
The regime sees the United States as one of its biggest challenges due to American might and military deployment in the Middle East .
Iran has been conquered several times in the past .
The last time , it fell to two world powers , the United Kingdom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might happen again , even if there is no basis for that fear .
Although the United States has no desire to invade the country , that does not reduce Iran ’ s concerns .
Iran strives to gain hegemony in the Middle East and seeks to reduce ( and if possible to wipe out ) the U.S. presence in this region .
The United States is a superpower and Iran is a regional power solely .
The United States , however , has to divide its resources and manpower across the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Asia .
Iran , meanwhile , can concentrate its resources in the Middle East .
Over the years , the U.S. had to deal with different powers that had autocratic regimes .
The Iranian regime is autocratic too .
It is worried that American influence on the Iranian public will undermine its rule and eventually bring about its downfall .
RELATED : With Soleimani Gone , US Must Ramp Up Sanctions The United States sought to prevent any state in the Middle East from becoming too strong if that state was hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1950s and 1960s , Egypt strove to become the dominant power in the region .
Later on , there was the rise of Syria and Iraq .
The United States had to deal with all of them — some more , some less .
The United States helped Israel and Arab states that were under threat .
The most known example was the liberation of Kuwait in the 1991 war .
Now Iran assumes it is its turn to reach hegemony .
So the United States has to restrain Iran .
Many Arabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of those Arabs don ’ t like Iran , either .
Although Iran is mostly Shiite , while most of the Arabs are Sunnis , all of them are Muslims .
Iran presents the United States as a common enemy of both Iranians and Arabs in order to gain support in the Arab world .
Iran has several proxies across the Middle East , part of its plan to control the region .
Those groups confront U.S. allies .
Israel , with an American arsenal , fights Iran ’ s forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaza Strip — Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas .
Saudi Arabia confronts the Houthis in Yemen with American support .
If Iran ’ s partners get weaker , it will reflect on Iran itself .
The Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran until 1979 .
The shah was the nemesis of the Islamic revolution .
The United States had close relations with the shah .
The current Iranian regime never forgot that in spite of all the time that passed since then .
Iran still associates the United States with the shah .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same fate to befall the United States too .
No wonder why Iranians call for “ death to America ” again and again .
As Brian Michael Jenkins at the RAND Corporation put it , “ Iran is a master of hybrid warfare.
” Iran knows well it can ’ t match the United States in the conventional battlefield .
Therefore Iran will rely on hybrid warfare , where it may have the upper hand , hoping not to absorb a massive retaliation .
The Iranian regime , therefore , has strategic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States although it knows well it can ’ t defeat ( let alone annihilate ) the foe .
The U.S. has to block and contain Iran , including by force when it is required , and must also win the battle of ideas by showing how evil , wrong and dangerous Iran ’ s policies are .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our editorial standards .

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday that “we are not looking to start a war with Iran, but we are prepared to finish one.”
“What we’d like to see is the situation de-escalated,” he added.
The next day Iranian missiles hit U.S. bases in Iraq.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed that “our action was a legitimate self-defense and the United States should avoid assessing it based on illusions.” Iran has again proven its nerve; it is the one that should avoid making assessments based on illusions.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran “appears to be standing down” after its latest attack. The president vowed to continue with the pressure on Iran by using sanctions.
It all followed the escalation in U.S.-Iran relations after a U.S. airstrike killed top Iranian official Gen. Qassem Soleimani. It was another chapter in the prolonged conflict between the two states.
In the 1970s the United States and Iran were allies. Iran was important due to its huge oil reserves, large population, vast territory and strategic location. The United States sold Iran weapon systems such as F- 14 fighters. Iran and the United States had common enemies such as the Soviet Union.
The 1979 Islamic revolution changed this picture. Iran’s new leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, declared that the United States an enemy. It was the start of a long conflict, which included clashes between the two states in the 1980s. The United States also supported Saddam Hussein in his war against Iran at the time. Later on, after 9/11, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran assisted insurgents who attacked U.S. forces. Iran did not pay the penalty for its subversion against the United States.
Iran opposes the United States for several reasons.
The regime sees the United States as one of its biggest challenges due to American might and military deployment in the Middle East. Iran has been conquered several times in the past.
The last time, it fell to two world powers, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Iran fears it might happen again, even if there is no basis for that fear. Although the United States has no desire to invade the country, that does not reduce Iran’s concerns.
Iran strives to gain hegemony in the Middle East and seeks to reduce (and if possible to wipe out) the U.S. presence in this region. The United States is a superpower and Iran is a regional power solely.
The United States, however, has to divide its resources and manpower across the world while trying to focus on areas like East Asia. Iran, meanwhile, can concentrate its resources in the Middle East.
Over the years, the U.S. had to deal with different powers that had autocratic regimes. The Iranian regime is autocratic too. It is worried that American influence on the Iranian public will undermine its rule and eventually bring about its downfall.
The United States sought to prevent any state in the Middle East from becoming too strong if that state was hostile toward the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s, Egypt strove to become the dominant power in the region. Later on, there was the rise of Syria and Iraq. The United States had to deal with all of them — some more, some less. The United States helped Israel and Arab states that were under threat. The most known example was the liberation of Kuwait in the 1991 war. Now Iran assumes it is its turn to reach hegemony. So the United States has to restrain Iran.
Many Arabs see the United States as an enemy. Some of those Arabs don’t like Iran, either. Although Iran is mostly Shiite, while most of the Arabs are Sunnis, all of them are Muslims. Iran presents the United States as a common enemy of both Iranians and Arabs in order to gain support in the Arab world.
Iran has several proxies across the Middle East, part of its plan to control the region. Those groups confront U.S. allies.
Israel, with an American arsenal, fights Iran’s forces and its protégés in Syria and the Gaza Strip — Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Saudi Arabia confronts the Houthis in Yemen with American support.
If Iran’s partners get weaker, it will reflect on Iran itself.
The Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran until 1979. The shah was the nemesis of the Islamic revolution. The United States had close relations with the shah. The current Iranian regime never forgot that in spite of all the time that passed since then.
Iran still associates the United States with the shah. The latter is dead. Iran wishes the same fate to befall the United States too. No wonder why Iranians call for “death to America” again and again.
As Brian Michael Jenkins at the RAND Corporation put it, “Iran is a master of hybrid warfare.”
Iran knows well it can’t match the United States in the conventional battlefield. Therefore Iran will rely on hybrid warfare, where it may have the upper hand, hoping not to absorb a massive retaliation.
The Iranian regime, therefore, has strategic, ideological and psychological reasons to confront the United States although it knows well it can’t defeat (let alone annihilate) the foe.
The U.S. has to block and contain Iran, including by force when it is required, and must also win the battle of ideas by showing how evil, wrong and dangerous Iran’s policies are.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-01-09--Buttigieg Suggests Trump Is at Fault for Iran Shooting Down Civilian 737

South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg is now hinting that President Donald Trump is at fault for a downed civilian airliner seemingly shot down by Iranian forces .
The Democratic presidential candidate made the suggestion Thursday after news of Iran ’ s involvement in the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 disaster broke .
The passenger jet was carrying 176 people when it crashed Wednesday , killing everyone on board .
It is now thought to have been brought down by Iranian anti-aircraft fire .
Iranian AA batteries were likely on high alert after having fired a missile salvo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation that could have potentially led them to misidentify and then fire on the Boeing 737 .
Despite the fact that Trump was more than 6,000 miles away , Mayor Pete found a way to include him in the tragedy .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East “ Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat , ” Buttigieg wrote in response to a CBS News tweet saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran shot down Ukrainian passenger jet carrying 176 people.
” “ My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight , ” he said .
Buttigieg seemingly refused to place blame solely on Tehran despite the fact that hours before allegedly shooting down the civilian airliner , Iran was busy aggressively bombarding U.S. positions and rightfully fearful of reprisal .
It ’ s a far-fetched theory that Trump had anything to do with the actions of a seemingly incompetent Iranian anti-aircraft site .
A more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile site were unable to differentiate between the radar signature of a single civilian airliner and a hostile U.S. force .
Iran originally claimed the 737 ’ s crash was the result of a catastrophic mechanical failure .
Once evidence implicating a surface-to-air missile strike was the more likely culprit , the Islamic Republic quickly changed its story in an apparent attempt to muddy the waters .
Luckily for Iran , it can rely on Buttigieg and some other Democratic leaders to run interference for it .
RELATED : Stefanik Becomes Anti-Impeachment Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington referred to the killing of Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani as an “ assassination ” in an apparent attempt to paint Trump ’ s drone strike as something other than a rightful military action .
Later , Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts hesitated to call Soleimani a terrorist on national television .
Placing America over a terroristic nation should be a no-brainer .
For these politicians , it appears to be a little more complicated than that .
With the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colors is more important now than ever .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is now hinting that President Donald Trump is at fault for a downed civilian airliner seemingly shot down by Iranian forces.
The Democratic presidential candidate made the suggestion Thursday after news of Iran’s involvement in the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 disaster broke.
The passenger jet was carrying 176 people when it crashed Wednesday, killing everyone on board. It is now thought to have been brought down by Iranian anti-aircraft fire.
Iranian AA batteries were likely on high alert after having fired a missile salvo at American forces in Iraq, a situation that could have potentially led them to misidentify and then fire on the Boeing 737.
Despite the fact that Trump was more than 6,000 miles away, Mayor Pete found a way to include him in the tragedy.
“Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat,” Buttigieg wrote in response to a CBS News tweet saying, “U.S. officials are confident Iran shot down Ukrainian passenger jet carrying 176 people.”
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight,” he said.
Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight. https://t.co/zWaVgWxfdL — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 9, 2020
Buttigieg seemingly refused to place blame solely on Tehran despite the fact that hours before allegedly shooting down the civilian airliner, Iran was busy aggressively bombarding U.S. positions and rightfully fearful of reprisal.
It’s a far-fetched theory that Trump had anything to do with the actions of a seemingly incompetent Iranian anti-aircraft site.
A more likely proposition is that troops manning the missile site were unable to differentiate between the radar signature of a single civilian airliner and a hostile U.S. force.
Iran originally claimed the 737’s crash was the result of a catastrophic mechanical failure. Once evidence implicating a surface-to-air missile strike was the more likely culprit, the Islamic Republic quickly changed its story in an apparent attempt to muddy the waters.
Luckily for Iran, it can rely on Buttigieg and some other Democratic leaders to run interference for it.
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington referred to the killing of Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani as an “assassination” in an apparent attempt to paint Trump’s drone strike as something other than a rightful military action.
Later, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts hesitated to call Soleimani a terrorist on national television.
Placing America over a terroristic nation should be a no-brainer. For these politicians, it appears to be a little more complicated than that.
With the 2020 election closing in, seeing Democrats’ true colors is more important now than ever.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.