CA Boy Flies To TN To Hijack Plane

I heard about this on the radio this morning and it is a little close to home. A boy was found with duct tape, hand cuffs, and rope in his possession in Nashville, TN. The boy is 16 years old and flew from California to Nashville so he could allegedly hijack a Southwest Airlines plane and fly it into a Hannah Montana concert. The parents were unaware of where their child was or what he was up to, but yet he had a mock cockpit at his home.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-How does a 16 year old purchase a ticket and board a plane without his parent's knowledge?
-Why do you think he wanted to fly it into a Hannah Montana concert?
-What do you think would be just punishment for this boy?
-Should the parents share in the punishment as well?

Hillary Clinton Campaign Office Staff Taken Hostage

(WBZ) ROCHESTER, N.H. A man is holding at least two people hostage at the presidential campaign office for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Rochester, New Hampshire. WBZ has learned he walked into the office with some sort of device strapped to him, claiming it was a bomb.State Police said the man released a mother and a child from the office, but is holding others.
Clinton is not there.

You can read more here.

The Insurgency Takes Its Cues From Hollywood

The insurgency has taken a cue from past psychological warfare tactics used by the US military. In addition to the beheadings, the torture, the kidnapping of civilians, they have now began to produce Hollywood style posters portraying American's in a not-so-nice light. Not only do they intend for this propaganda to play on the emotions of the soldiers, they also intend for it to show the Iraqi's a "new" face to America (or enforce the image the Iraqi's already had of us).

You can see the posters here.

Some questions:

-Do you see these posters as being an effective psycholigical tool?
-It would appear that whoever made these, they would be familiar with American movies: does this imply a double standard or is it just mere speculation?
-If you are (or hypothetically speaking) a soldier, what would effect would these have on you being plastered around a city you were currently serving in?

Islamic Extremist Defects

In an article published by the Daily Mail in today's paper Hassan Butt, a former member of the Brittish Jihadi Network, sheds some light on the recent terror attacks in the UK as well as explains why terrorist acts are increasing and fanaticism/extremism is increasing in number daily. Here is an excerpt:

I remember how we used to laugh in celebration whenever people on TV proclaimed that the sole cause for Islamic acts of terror like 9/11, the Madrid bombings and 7/7 was Western foreign policy. By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us. More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.

You can read more here.

Some questions:

-What would end terrorism?
-Do you think that the West can fight this battle of ending terrorism or do you think that this is a battle for the Muslims themsevles to educate their people on this matter?
-Do you concur with Mr. Butt?
-What do you think it will take for Islamic extremism to be "put back in the box" as Mr. Butt terms it?

Fleeing Nazi Germany in Modern Day America

There were certain events that led up to the rise of Nazi Germany. It did not happen over night. Some took the cues and left while the vast majority stayed. Out of that vast majority, many died unnatural deaths. Nazi Germany was not a kind place to the Jew nor was it kind to the nations around it. Many neighboring countries fell to the strong hand of Germany and it took much death and fighting to do away with the Nazi party and restore things to how they were prior to the rise of Hitler.

Now, living in America, a Holocaust survivor has decided to move back to Germany. Why? Not because he misses his homeland, but because of fear. He says he is taking his cues and will not be here for when America does what Germany did. He said that, "I'm going back because I've seen this before." He then commenced to explain that when he was a kid, he watched with his family in fear as Hitler's government committed atrocity after atrocity, and no one was willing to say anything. He said the news refused to question the government, and the ones who did were not in the newspaper business much longer. He said good neighbors, people he had known all his life, turned against his family and other Jews, grabbing on to the hate and superiority "as if they were starved for it".

You can read more here.

Some questions:

-Do you think that this man is alone in his thinking?
-What do you think about this Holocaust survivor's view of America in this current time?
-Do you think his concerns are legitimate? Why?
-If you could ask this man one question about the signs of the time that are causing him to move, what would it be?
-Are there other Holocaust survivors out there who feel the same way?

All Is Fair in Love and War

Sabotage. A word that is plaguing the Iranians' officials. Sabotage is a double-edged sword for them as sometimes it is taking place especially in their industrial nuclear sector. Other times it is just merely the thought that could delay a program or cause the government to waste money by throwing away a perfectly good product under the pretense of sabotage.

According to a report by CBS some allied countries are actively participating in sabotage to delay the development of the Iranian's nuclear capabilities. So far, their efforts appear to have slowed them down. The Iranian head of the Atomic Energy Agency who is also the acting Vice-President, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, speaking in reference to a power supply that exploded and damaged 50 centrifuges stated the power supply had been "manipulated."

Currently Iran is attempting to further mask their identity as buyers on the black market in hopes that the product will not be tampered with. Officials have stated that their desire to conceal their identity borders on the edge of paranoia.

You can read more here.

Some questions:

-Is sabotage ethical?
-Is sabotage a favorable method for delaying a war?
-Do you think our government is currently participating in sabotage around the world?
-What are your thoughts about the current conflict with Iran?
-Is sabotage an effective means of accomplishing a goal or is it a political maneuver utilized to play down direct tension between two opposing forces while still tipping the odds?

Al Qaeda Torture Manual Found

***Warning: The "Read More Here" Link Depicts Graphic Pictures And Sketched Images Of Torture And Torture Victims***

In a recent safe house raid, a manual showing different tactics for torturing those who oppose Al Qaeda was discovered. The contents are very telling of their thoughts on humanity and the Geneva Convention.

You can read more here.

Some questions:

-How do you fight against someone who does not play by your rules? Who does not honor the Geneva Convention? Who does not distinguish between the private citizen and the military personel?
-Do you think there should ever be a time when the "rules no longer apply"?
-What do you think about the unconventional war tactics employed by some of those who fought in the revolutionary war for the seperation of America from Brittian? What do you think about the unconventional tactics employed by Al Qaeda?
-Do you think that war is a place for "properness"?

Want to Join Al Qaeda?

Here is an application. Too bad it doesn't have the "send to" address going back to Osama Bin Laden.

Some questions:

-What are your thoughts on "The War on Terror"?
-Who do you think is winning and why?
-What role do you think Iraq plays in a US victory?
-Does this application give some insight that you think would be helpful to those seeking to put an end to Al Qaeda?