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« on: May 19, 2015, 05:42:13 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 5-19-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
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Daily Digest
May 19, 2015
THE FOUNDATION
“Stability in government is essential to national character and to the advantages annexed to it, as well as to that repose and confidence in the minds of the people, which are among the chief blessings of civil society.” —James Madison, Federalist No. 37, 1788
TOP RIGHT HOOKS
State Dept. Knew Terrorists Were Planning Benghazi Attack1
The State Department knew that al-Qaida-backed jihadists perpetuated the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the Benghazi consulate the day after the attack that killed four Americans. On Sept. 12, State released a secret memo2 including “not finally evaluated intelligence” that had none of the Obama administration’s false narrative about a spontaneous protest over a YouTube video. “The attack was planned ten or more days prior on approximately 01 September 2012,” the memo said. “The intention was to attack the consulate and to kill as many Americans as possible to seek revenge for U.S. killings of Aboyahiye ((ALALIBY)) in Pakistan and in memorial of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings.” The document was pried loose from State by Judicial Watch, which also released documents showing the Obama administration knew of the looming threat of Syrian violence before the civil war broke out. Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton asserted3 that if the public knew in 2012 what it knows now regarding the Obama administration’s conduct surrounding the Benghazi attack, “Mitt Romney might very well be president.” More…4
‘Dead Broke’? Hardly5
Last year, Hillary Clinton bemoaned her impoverished state upon leaving the White House at the end of Bill’s second term. “We came out of the White House not only dead broke but in debt,” she lamented. “We had no money when we got there and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages for houses, for Chelsea’s education — you know, it was not easy.” Even if that were completely true, they didn’t waste much time winning, as Barack Obama recently put it6, “society’s lottery.” The Associated Press reports7, “Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton reported Friday that they earned more than $30 million combined in speaking fees and book royalties since January 2014.” That’s more than $1 million per month. Nice work if you can get it. Bill justifies it all, saying, “I gotta pay our bills8” — they did pay off a mortgage of up to $5 million — and that he gives most of his income to the Clinton Foundation anyway. Never mind that the Foundation’s pay-to-play setup is grossly corrupt. Meanwhile, Hillary complained in Iowa, “There’s something wrong when CEOs make 300 times more than the American worker.” She might not be the best messenger for that one.
A Bloody Weekend in Chicago and Baltimore9
In what has become an all-too familiar story, more blood was spilled on the streets of Chicago over the weekend after a barrage of shootings claimed nearly 50 victims10, two of whom succumbed to their injuries, according to the latest available data. The Chicago Tribune reports that felonious shootings were already up 22% compared to 2014 before this latest episode: “Through May 10, there were 627 shooting incidents, up from 516 for the same year-earlier period, the police department said. Last year saw shooting incidents rise to 2,084, up nearly 12 percent from 1,866 in 2013.” In all, 49 residents were shot between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, and at least one of the victims was a 14-year-old. Even more sadly, the escalation in violence is not confined to Chicago. According to The Baltimore Sun, four more people also were murdered11 in Freddie Gray’s hometown over the weekend. All told, “At least 87 people have been killed in Baltimore this year, 22 more than at this time last year,” the Sun reported. “Nonfatal shootings are up nearly 50 percent across the city.” Both of these cities, and other megalopolises for that matter, have two identical themes: tight gun control laws, and deep-rooted poverty. But as we’ve seen over and over again, no number of laws on the books will alleviate the broader symptoms that culminate in lethal urban mayhem.
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FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Politics and Policy: Obama’s ‘Ban’ on Military Supplies for Police14
By Paul Albaugh
On Monday, Barack Obama announced a ban on some of the surplus military style gear that has been transferred to police departments over the last several years. The announcement is surprising, given Obama’s track record of being on the wrong side of almost every policy. As with all of his policy decisions, though, this move is entirely for political reasons.
We have previously expressed concern about the militarization of police15 forces across our nation. Is it really necessary for local police forces to use military gear and vehicles in their duties to serve and protect? Perhaps one might point to violence and rioting in Ferguson and Baltimore as a reason for this military equipment, but it’s also arguable that — at least in Ferguson — it only made things worse.
None of this is to say there aren’t legitimate concerns for officers who seek protection from violent criminals. “We need to only look back to Baltimore to see what happens when officers are sent out ill-equipped in a disturbance situation,” said James Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, in response to Obama’s order. “Because you don’t like the optics, you can’t send police officers out to be hurt or killed.”
Indeed, our society has devolved in dangerous ways and law enforcement officers are on the front lines. That said, this escalation and war-like view of civilian law enforcement is troubling for those who love Liberty.
Police departments have been able to arm themselves in recent years through the Defense Department’s 1033 Program for excess property. Since its inception in 1997, more than $4.3 billion worth of equipment has been transferred to local police departments with at least half a billion dollars' worth transferred in 2013 alone.
We can’t blame police departments for accepting surplus military gear. Think about it; in an era of budget constraints amongst police forces across the nation, who wouldn’t accept such a sweet deal? On another note, at least some of the military gear was staying in our own country instead of being sold or given to our past, future or even present enemies. Oh, wait, that’s still happening.
The Washington Post highlights16 that “banned items are tracked armored vehicles, bayonets, grenade launchers, ammunition of .50-caliber or higher and some types of camouflage uniforms. … Other equipment, including tactical vehicles [such as MRAPs], explosives and riot equipment, will be transferred only if local police provide additional certification and assurances that the gear will be used responsibly.”
Two points: First, other than bayonets, everything on this list was already banned. Second, as Reason’s Scott Shackford notes17, however, the layer of certification is merely “another layer of bureaucracy.” And with a federal bribe to the tune of $163 million to get law enforcement agencies on board, who will be first in line?
Speaking before a crowd in Camden, New Jersey, Obama stated, “We’ve seen how militarized gear sometimes gives people a feeling like they are an occupying force as opposed to a part of the community there to protect them. … Some equipment made for the battlefield is not appropriate for local police departments.” |
