Uncategorized
Dog bites man – Pakistani ISI ready to split with CIA
Feb 24th
The latest from Matt’s Meditations
By Matt Holzmann
This afternoon, AP published a story reporting that Pakistan’s ISI is ready to split with the CIA in their dispute over the shooting of two Pakistani agents by an American agent in Lahore. The dysfunctional relationship between our government and Pakistan’s is about to come apart at the seams.
The United States has paid billions of dollars to Pakistan both directly and indirectly for the privilege of that country’s meddling in the internal affairs of their neighbors. The utter corruption of the ISI is well established. Current and former members of the spy agency are primary facilitators of both the Taliban and Al Q’aeda, and are also up to their necks in the $5 Billion heroin trade coming out of Afghanistan. Direct participation by Pakistani officers in the planning and execution of some of the most heinous terror incidents within Afghanistan has been well documented.
In response to our country’s aid, The ISI has allowed pinprick drone strikes in the Northwest Territories that have done little to affect the balance of power in the Afghanistan/Pakistan theater. Recent firefights between ANA and Pakistani border troops also point towards greater levels of hostility. In a country where nothing moves without the knowledge of the highest ranks within the ISI, it is beyond rational belief that a war costing billions of dollars per year to fund continues unchecked. American, Allied and Afghan casualties mount while the ISI plots.
The relationship between the Afghan and Pakistani governments is at an all time low, while the relationship between ISAF and the Afghan government is also on edge. Claims by Afghani officials about civilian casualties have been met with concrete denials by ISAF and the suggestion that they are being fed by a desire for easy money in blood payments. All in all, as we enter the crucial spring/summer fighting season, the war is in a flux not seen before.
The United States has specifically lacked in the human intelligence assets so necessary to determine plans and intentions of the insurgents and their enablers. The Davis case springs from the rise in the number of U.S. agents within Pakistan forced upon them by our government in return for our billions. In a country where assassination, robbery, and blood feuds are the norm, the Davis case stands out for the hypocrisy with which the Pakistani government is manipulating the mindspace as well as the diplomatic relationship. The fires of nationalism and radicalism have been well and truly fanned and the ISI is trying to back the United States into a corner.
Pakistan is a tinderbox. The tensions between factions; the inability of the government to function; the failure to provide for a large percentage of the population in the Indus Valley during last year’s floods, and the utter corruption are the makings of what we have seen in Egypt and Libya and Tunisia. While the military was once looked upon as the saviors of the nation, today Pakistanis have lost that faith.
The ISI is at the heart of the matter, and the question now is whether to continue to enable our enemies or cut the cord with a regime more openly at war with our country than any other.
Fleebaggers instructed to get bloody!
Feb 23rd
Yesterday at the Massachusetts State House the democrats held a rally in support of the Wisconsin Fleebaggers. As you know, the “fleebaggers” are the democrat state senators elected in Wisconsin who fled the state rather than vote on legislation which would make joining a union voluntary rather than mandatory.
Democrat MA representative Mike Capuano appeared at the rally and called on opponents of the Wisconsin bill to “get bloody”.
“I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary,”
You can contact representative Capuano here. Let him know how you feel about his willingness to incite violence.
BTW DATech guy has a video showing the tea party actually clearning up after the unions who left the state house covered in trash.
I’m not convinced I would be that generous.
In my mailbox today
Feb 22nd
Go Massachusetts Tea party!
Stand with Governor Scott Walker Rally
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
4:00 – 6:00 PM
The MA Statehouse
(Beacon and Park Street)
Join tea party and liberty activists from across MA as we show our support for the courageous and common sense actions of Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin. Public employee unions are well represented on Beacon Hill – it is time for private sector taxpayers to be heard!
Bring a sign showing your support for Gov. Walker’s common sense budget proposals! Show your support for an end to collective bargaining! Show your support for the Right to Work!
Oh to be in Madison
Feb 19th
On the second anniversary of the tea party, there is no place I would rather be today, than Madison Wisconsin. An epic battle is happening in Madison, where the public sector unions and the democrats elected to the legislature are standing against democracy with the help of President Obama’s Organizing for America and the DNC.
The people of Wisconsin elected a republican governor in November who promised to fix the budget problems. In Wisconsin, as in nearly every state in the union, the budget problem is largely a result of sky high public sector pay, pensions and benefits. In Wisconsin the average teacher makes twice the per capita income, receives about $22k a year in health insurance (free) and has a fully paid pension requiring no contribution. Governor Scott Walker was elected to fix this disparity. He has proposed that union members contribute a modest 12% to their health care premiums, and 5.8% to their pension plans which is about 1/5 of the contribution of the average American. And don’t forget, the teachers work only 190 days a year. In addition Governor Walker would end the practice of automatic deduction of union dues, a savings of between $700 -$1000 a year per worker.
For three days now the teachers have called in sick, closed down the schools, and protested at the capital. In the ultimate act of spinelessness the democrat legislators, of which the presence of only one is required to have the needed quorum for the vote, have fled the state, taking up residence at a fancy resort in Il. President Obama has unleashed his personal army, Organizing for America to help the union members. The DNC is also mobilizing to aid the unions, as well as the typical publicitiy mongers e.g. Jesse Jackson.
While ugly and unprecedented, the president’s entry into local politics where he clearly does not belong, and may be illegal, is understandable – at least to the corrupt. The unions are his base. Union dues are collected largely for his benefit. In the last election, unions donated $60.9 million to elect Obama. Given the state of things in the country since Obama took over, he will need every penny of union money to get re-elected.
The people are pushing back. What the unions, the DNC, the president and the democrat legislators are doing is unpopular with the people who see the cuts as fair and reasonable. It is ironic that a president who so often invokes the concept of “fairness” to redistribute wealth is caught red handed promoting unfairness to make sure the people who send him money, make more money than the average worker.
Today, in a show of support for Governor Walker and the people who elected him, the Tea Party is flocking to Madison. Led by Andrew Breitbart and Jim Hoft the tea party and supporters of Governor Walker will show up in Madison at noon today. Oh how I wish I could be there. And what better way to celebrate the second anniversary of the tea party movement.
The second anniversary of the Tea Party movement
Feb 15th
As I get ready for the monthly meeting of the Sturbridge Tea Party I am filled with pride over what we have accomplished in 2 short years. It was February 19th, 2009 when Rick Santelli, unwittingly called the country to get off the couch and come save the country.
Santelli’s rant in February led to tax day rallies in April, which led to 2 million people showing up in DC in September which led to the creation of thousands of tea party groups all over the country which led to the change of 63 seats in the house, 6 seats in the senate , 5 governors and 660 seats in the statehouses.
And trust me, we have just begun to fight.
If you aren’t a member of a tea party, join one. On April 15th get out and show your support. It’s our country and it is time to take it back.
