This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: Hondo

  • Benghazi

    Don’t much care if the aging leftist Canadian hippie who wrote the original is offended; he can pack up and go back to Canada for all I care.  Fair use and all that.

     

    Benghazi

    Trapped in a seaside town building
    Surrounded by jihadi
    Can’t you hear the mortars crumping
    Four dead in Benghazi

    No way now to stop it
    Islamists gunning them down
    Should have sent help long ago
    They had no chance since State
    Hung them all out to dry
    As SECSTATE surely did know

    . . .

    Help ready but mission canx
    Soldiers told to stand down
    As if nothing was at stake
    Instead all still there were
    Abandoned on the ground
    “What diff-er-ence does it make?”

    There would be no rescue coming
    To that African city
    We did absolutely nothing
    Four dead in Benghazi

    Four dead in Benghazi

    Four dead in Benghazi

    . . .

    The attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi began at approximately 3:40PM EDT (9:40PM local time) on Tuesday, 11 September 2012.  It spread to include the nearby CIA Annex early (local time) the next morning.

    Four Americans died in the attack:  US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, Embassy Information Officer Sean Smith, and CIA contract employees Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.  Smith, Doherty, and Woods were veterans.  Stevens and Smith were members of the US Foreign Service.

    Rest in peace, men.

    The result of some “offensive film”?  Film my ass.  This was a well planned terrorist attack intentionally timed to occur on a date where we should have been on heightened alert:  the anniversary of 9/11.

    Ask the SECSTATE at the time why it was instead apparently “business as usual, no worries” in Benghazi that day prior to the attack.

    . . .

    Footnote: the CSN&Y original ended with Stephen Stills singing the interjectory phrases “Why?” (some sources say “Why did they die?”) and “How many more?” Those questions are apropos here too.

    The identity of an Iranian scientist who was a US intelligence source was apparently exposed by material contained on Clintoon’s private email server – a server that was laughably badly secured, and which is widely believed to have been penetrated by multiple foreign intelligence services.  As Jonn noted earlier, that Iranian scientist was hanged by Iran in August 2016.

    The answer to the “How many more?” question is thus now, “At least one – and likely more.”

    The answer to the questions, “Why?” and “Why did they die?” should be reasonably obvious.

  • Four More Are Home

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US military personnel.

    From World War II

    • Pfc Nicholas J. Cancilla, Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMCR, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted for on 6 September 2016.

    • Pfc James S. Smith, Company C, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted for on 6 September 2016.

    From Korea

    • CPL Vernon D. Presswood, Heavy Mortar Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 2 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 6 September 2016.

    • CPL Donald R. Hendrickson, Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, US Army, was lost on 6 December 1950 in North Korea. He was accounted for on 7 September 2016.

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    You’re home now. Rest in peace.

    . . .

    Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

  • About That Recent “Return of Assets” to Iran . . .

    Remember that $400 million      ransom payment      return of assets we recently sent to Iran?  You know, the one made in cash, using foreign currency obtained in Europe, by a cargo plane immediately before 4 US citizens      held hostage by Iran       detained by Iran were released?  The cash payment I wrote about previously here – and again here – and mentioned yet again here?

    Well, it appears that the       gang of idiots screwing up US foreign policy “by the numbers”      current Administration has recently acknowledged that cash payments in foreign currency made to Iran didn’t stop after the first payment.  The total paid in cash to Iran amounted to far more than the original $400M.  Rather, the entire $1.7 billion in “returned assets” was apparently paid in foreign currency – e.g., in cash.

    The first installment of $400M was sent to Iran on the day Iran agreed to release those       US hostages      detained US citizens:  17 January 2016.  The Administration has now confirmed that the second and third payments of those “returned assets”, totaling another $1.3 billion, were made a few days after their release – on 22 January 2016 and 5 February 2016, respectively.  They were also made in foreign currency.

    Hmm.  So, we made cash payments to an adversary that was at the time detaining a number of US citizens, and in return those US citizens were promptly released.  To me that certainly sounds an awful lot like the textbook definition of something called a “ransom” – and a big honking ransom at that.  And it was paid in cash.

    But maybe that’s just me.

    Oh, and if anyone’s wondering if this is a “big freaking deal”, it is – for two reasons.  First, we have now established the principle that we will indeed pay ransom for US citizens held hostage by adversaries, at least sometimes.  This is idiocy that even Jimmy “the Clueless” Carter did not commit.

    And, second:  cash generally cannot be traced.  And $1.7 billion can fund a helluva lot of terrorist activity.

    I really did not think I’d live long enough to see a US Administration more inept, foreign-policy wise, than Carter’s Clueless Crew.  I was wrong.  This gang of naive fools in DC today takes the cake.

  • No Worries. Just A Local Delivery.

    The BBC reports that a car was found parked on the Quai de Montebello, near the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. It was found with its hazard flashers activated.

    The vehicle had an empty gas cylinder on the front passenger seat. Six other gas cylinders, apparently not empty, were found in the trunk.

    No detonating device was present. However, materials written in Arabic were found in the vehicle.

    The vehicle’s owner is on France’s watch list of “suspected religious radicalization.” He’s now in custody, along with a second individual.

    French authorities believe this was a “dry run” for a possible terrorist attack. The Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris is one of Paris’ most popular tourist destinations, visited by about 13 million people annually. Per the linked articles, the auto was found parked “meters” from the cathedral.

    The vehicle was reported by a nearby bar owner, who noticed it and notified local authorities. Looks like Paris’ has the functional equivalent of a “see something, say something” program that works pretty well.

    In case anyone was wondering: yes, the title of this article was sarcasm. If you believe this was a “gas delivery”, well . . . I’ve got this bridge for sale really cheap.

  • Russia’s Military Gets “Frisky”, Part 5

    Well, looks like Putin decided it was time to give the POTUS the finger yet again.

    Yesterday, a Russian SU-27 “buzzed” a US reconnaissance jet over the Black Sea.  The incident occurred 40 miles from the Russian coast.

    This time, it’s estimated that the Russian aircraft passed within 10 feet of the US aircraft, a Navy P-8 Poseidon.

    The incident occurred while the US SECSTATE, John “Christmas in Cambodia” Kerry, is attempting to negotiate with Russia concerning a cease-fire in Syria.  Gee, you don’t suppose this incident was intentional, and intended to send a message – do you?

    There’s no word on whether the pilot of the Russian aircraft gave the US crew the finger – or mooned them – during the close approach.  But if he had, that would have been apropos.

    Hell, Putin’s been doing that to the current POTUS and his gang of sycophants for years now.  They don’t seem to mind.

    And Lord knows, there haven’t been any consequences for Russia for doing that.

  • Three Return from World War II

    DPAA has identified and accounted for the following formerly-missing US military personnel.

    From World War II

    • Pfc John W. Mac Donald, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 20 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted for on 1 September 2016.

    • Sgt James L. Hubert, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, USMC, was lost on 21 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted for on 1 September 2016.

    • Pfc Ben H. Gore, Special Warfare Group, 2nd Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, USMC, was lost on 25 November 1943 on Tarawa Atoll. He was accounted for on 1 September 2016.

    Welcome back, elder brothers-in-arms. Our apologies that your return took so long.

    You’re home now. Rest in peace.

    . . .

    Over 73,000 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,800 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,600 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia (SEA). Comparison of DNA from recovered remains against DNA from some (but not all) blood relatives can assist in making a positive ID for unidentified remains that have already been recovered, or which may be recovered in the future.

    On their web site’s “Contact Us” page, DPAA now has FAQs. The answer to one of those FAQs describes who can and cannot submit DNA samples useful in identifying recovered remains. The chart giving the answer can be viewed here. The text associated with the chart is short and can be viewed in DPAA’s FAQs.

    If your family lost someone in one of these conflicts and you qualify to submit a DNA sample, please arrange to submit one. By doing that you just might help identify the remains of a US service member who’s been repatriated but not yet been identified – as well as a relative of yours, however distant. Or you may help to identify remains to be recovered in the future.

    Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all while serving this nation.

  • More Evidence of Clintoon “Pay for Play”? Sure Looks Like It – Part II

    I’ve written about this subject before (and before, and before).  But it’s the “gift that keeps on giving”.

    Or perhaps that should read that it’s the “corruption that reeks to high heaven”.  Because at first glance, that’s exactly what it looks like.

    We know that Clintoon Foundation donors and/or executives appear to have gotten “preferred access” when it came to personal meetings with a certain SECSTATE between 2009 and early 2013.  But it seems that they may have gotten some other perks, too.

    In particular, it appears that one of those “other perks” in some cases may have been unwarranted diplomatic passports.  Unwarranted, as in “issued to private individuals who do not travel on diplomatic business for the United States”.

    And yeah:  as was the case with preferred access, it looks like Clintoon’s “protégé” Huma Abedin was involved hip-deep in this as well.

    Predictably, Clintoon’s        naive sycophants and/or paid “spin doctors”         supporters have sought to downplay this latest revelation.  They’ve claimed that some of those folks “were actually at times engaged in diplomatic efforts”.

    Yeah, right.  Sure they were.  Just like I’m the freaking King of Siam.

    The Daily Caller has a short article giving a few details; Fox News has a longer one giving more.  Both articles IMO are worthwhile – if disgusting – reading.

    You or I would be in jail by now.

  • “We want the Venezuela we had 20 years ago”

    Looks like the heirs of Hugo Chavez might be in a bit of trouble.  The picture below – of a demonstration yesterday in Caracas demanding the recall of “El Presidente” Nicolas Maduro – pretty much says it all:
     


     
    The LA Times has a reasonably short article describing the situation.  It’s worth a few minutes of your time.

    Let’s hope the people of Venezuela can take back their country from the corrupt ruling      Communist       Chavenista Politburo.  They deserve better than they have today under the rule of that bunch of leftist idiots.