EDIS - Electronic Data Information Source - UF/IFAS Extension

EDIS - Electronic Data Information Source - UF/IFAS Extension

FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 12/05 - 12/11/2014

FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 12/05 - 12/11/2014

Torture and the U.S. Intelligence Failure...

By George Friedman

Editor's Note: This piece was originally published in April 2009, as U.S. President Barack Obama – at that time only a few months into his first term – began to reverse key security policies and decisions made by his predecessor, George W. Bush. We are re-distributing the piece in light of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s blistering report this week on CIA interrogation practices implemented after the 9/11 attacks. 
 The Obama administration published a series of memoranda on torture issued under the Bush administration. The memoranda, most of which dated from the period after 9/11, authorized measures including depriving prisoners of solid food, having them stand shackled and in uncomfortable positions, leaving them in cold cells with inadequate clothing, slapping their heads and/or abdomens, and telling them that their families might be harmed if they didn't cooperate with their interrogators.

On the scale of human cruelty, these actions do not rise anywhere near the top. At the same time, anyone who thinks that being placed without food in a freezing cell subject to random mild beatings — all while being told that your family might be joining you — isn't agonizing clearly lacks imagination. The treatment of detainees could have been worse. It was terrible nonetheless.

But torture is meant to be terrible, and we must judge the torturer in the context of his own desperation. In the wake of 9/11, anyone who wasn't terrified was not in touch with reality. We know several people who now are quite blasé about 9/11. Unfortunately for them, we knew them in the months after, and they were not nearly as composed then as they are now.

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It is a great story of a wonderful woman whom should be considered for Sainthood! ...

I have seen this before but without the pictures!

Lady plumber

Remember this lady? sIrena Sendler  Died: May 12, 2008 (aged 98) Warsaw, Poland During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.  She had an ulterior motive.   Irena smuggled Jewish infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried. She also carried a burlap sack in the back of her truck for larger kids.    Irena kept a dog in the back of her truck that she had trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.  The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking which covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.     Ultimately, she was caught, however, and the Nazi's broke both of her legs and arms and beat her severely.     Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she had smuggled out in a glass jar that she buried under a tree in her back yard.  After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and tried to reunite the family.  Most had been gassed.  Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. In 2007 Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected.  Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming. Later, another politician, Barack Obama, won for his work as a community organizer for ACORN.   In  MEMORIAM - 65 YEARS LATER: I'm doing my small part by  forwarding this message.  I hope you'll consider doing the same. It is now more than 67 years since the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were  murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated!    Now, more than ever, with Iran, and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth', it's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again. This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide! Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world. Please send this e-mail to people you know and ask them to continue the memorial chain.   Please don't just delete it. It will only take you a minute to pass this along.

SHOCKED AND APPALLED -- CIA TORTURE REPORT RELEASED BY SENATE DEMOCRATS ...

One Citizen Speaking...

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SHOCKED AND APPALLED -- CIA TORTURE REPORT RELEASED BY SENATE DEMOCRATS Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:59 PM PST I am shocked and appalled that the progressive socialist democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee would release a report that materially damages the reputation of the United States and provides a propaganda win for our enemies that can be used as a recruiting tool. It appears this report was released, at this point in time, for political purposes: one, to further damage the legacy of the Bush Administration; two, to focus attention away from the significant failings of the Obama Administration including, but not limited to, violations of the United States Constitution, criminal activities under existing laws, and the obstruction of justice. Furthermore, this report needs to be read in context …  That is, if you can even consider this an unbiased "report" and not what it really is, "a partisan progressive political document and hit piece." This is truly "old news" about a program the ceased years ago. One can only assume that the malicious intent of the progressive socialist democrats was behind the release of this so-called report -- even in the face of government warnings that this may damage existing relationships and put our troops in harm's way. We had experienced the worst enemy sneak attack since Pearl Harbor and did not know, thanks to Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton gutting the intelligence agencies, what might be coming next. We are dealing with an enemy that lacks any vestiges of humanity and will kill innocent men, women, and children just because they are not of the same religious sect. We are dealing with an enemy that maintains medieval barbarity as a circumstance of daily life and whose torture methods are truly horrific, made more so when measured against what the progressive socialist democrats define as torture. In many cases, torture is employed not only as a method of interrogation, but a means of spreading terror; and in some instances, a recreational activity in enemy camps. We have, within the United States, a fifth column that seeks to destroy our Constitution and our Country from within, using any means, fair or foul. We need only look around us to see Mosques that are protected by the Constitution, and yet serve as centers for housing terrorist and disseminating terror. We have progressive socialist democrats, many proclaiming that Islam is misunderstood and that we should hold out a hand to those who respect only strength and the resolve to use it; enemies that have sworn to kill us. This report was compiled solely from documents, nobody actively involved with the program was interviewed by the Committee. Feinstein claims that nobody was interviewed because the people involved in this program were under investigation by the Department of Justice.  That probe has been over for years and the DOJ declined then, as now -- after the release of this report -- to prosecute any individuals. And, lest we forget … we are speaking of enemy combatants with no rights under our Constitution and debatable rights under the Geneva convention. These people are merciless and persistent.  Should you wish to read the redacted report, you can download it here: Senate CIA Torture Report. Let us not forget the truth exposed in A Few Good Men written by Aaron Sorkin, one of Hollywood’s staunchest liberals … Film A Few Good Men Author Aaron Sorkin Role Colonel Nathan R. Jessep Actor Jack Nicholson “You can’t handle the truth! …Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.” Are we to judge the actions of our intelligence agencies by San Francisco’s uber-liberal standards as promoted by an aging political ideologue, doyenne of liberalism, and malicious old lady?  I regard the Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), with the same regard I do former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). That is to say that both are self-serving progressive socialist democrats who have built their fortunes on political connections and continue to hold much the same “blame America first” as their “Dear Leader,” Barack Hussein Obama. A man who, if not a Muslim, is a Muslim sympathizer. And, I regard it as ironic that this report is released on the watch of the CIA’s Director John Brennan, himself a Muslim sympathizer. The proper perspective ... You want to talk torture? Consider the pain and suffering of deciding whether or not to burn to death or to voluntarily jump out of a 20th-floor window. Or how about the pain and suffering with emphysema or cancer for having been brave enough to attempt to rescue stricken victims of the 9/11 attack. Or deciding to attack your attackers who are trying to crash your plane. I have absolutely no sympathy for the relatively few people who were either enemy combatants or among the sympathetic Muslims celebrating the attack. Bottom line … It appears that President Obama and his cadre of progressive socialist democrats cannot be trusted with the national defense of the United States. Furthermore, President Obama and his surrogates have done every thing in their power to disadvantage our allies and to confer significant advantage's to our Islamic enemies. The least of which is the bald-faced lie that “Islam is the Religion of Peace.” Feel free to read this report and consider the context of the times that called for the enhanced interrogation of prisoners. I will not deny that mistakes have been made and people have suffered or died, but we, as Americans, should not denigrate the activities of those men and women who were charged with keeping America and Americans safe at a time when uncertainty was the only constant. Let us not forget that, starting with Jimmy Carter and proceeding through Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, our intelligence agencies – and not the military, was or is being gutted to promote a political ideology that is fundamentally anti-American. We do not need to apologize to anyone about what we do to keep America safe. We owe it to ourselves to strengthen America and if that means employing hard men to do unpleasant tasks, so be it. Let us give thanks for the men and women of the CIA and the other intelligence agencies whose work may never be known, whose lives will forever be in the shadows, and whose deaths are marked only with an anonymous star in the CIA’s headquarters. As for Dianne Feinstein, I think she should resign or be censured for actions unbecoming a Senator and putting America and Americans at risk. I would not be surprised if we see ISIL producing a video showing these techniques used on American hostages much as they put beheaded hostages in orange jumpsuits like those used at the enemy combatant detention center in Guantanamo, Cuba.  -- steve Reference Links … Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program - Foreword, Findings and Conclusions, and Executive Summary  Additional Views  Minority & Additional Minority Views

Mark Wahlberg wants a pardon, a gun, and millions of dollars? Posted: 08 Dec 2014 04:59 PM PST It appears the celebrity media is spinning the story that Mark Wahlberg want to join the Los Angeles Police Department. But, to do this he needs a pardon from past criminal behavior in order to handle guns … Mark Wahlberg wants record wiped to join police reserve Mark Wahlberg wants to be on the right side of the law. The 43-year-old “2 Guns” actor is applying to join the LA police department as a reservist, reports TMZ. News broke last week that Wahlberg asked Massachusetts for a pardon for the two assaults he committed in 1988, which left one man partially blind. He was sentenced to three months in jail for his crimes. As the law states, convicted felons are not allowed to handle guns. Wahlberg’s interest in law enforcement may have been inspired by his acting career. The site reports that his roles in “The Other Guys,” “Max Payne” and “The Departed” have all contributed to his interest. He’s also in the midst of selling a reality show called “Port of L.A.,” in which officers examine containers that arrive in the country. Source: Mark Wahlberg wants record wiped to join police reserve | Page Six It’s not about being right with the law, it appears to be about the millions of dollars at stake … Excerpts from Wahlberg’s Petition to the Governor of Massachusetts … So, why am I seeking a pardon? Why isn't it enough that I have personally risen above my past, found success in Hollywood, have served as a local and national philanthropist, and am the father of four beautiful children with my incredible wife[name redacted]? The easiest answer is that my past convictions still legally impact me to this day. For example, my prior record can potentially be the basis to deny me a concessionaire's license in California and elsewhere. If I were to receive a pardon, however, I generally could not be denied a concessionaire's license on the basis of my prior record, an important consideration given my personal involvement in various restaurant ventures. In addition, I have become close with many members of the local law enforcement community in Boston and Los Angeles, including as a member of the board of directors of the L.A. County Sheriff's Youth Foundation, which is dedicated to helping at-risk youth. But, given my prior record, Massachusetts and California law prohibit me from actually obtaining positions in law enforcement. If I were fortunate enough to receive a pardon, I would have the ability to become more active in law enforcement activities, including those that assist at-risk individuals. I am seeking a full and unconditional pardon because, under California law, a full and  unconditional pardon is the only form of pardon that will enable me to, for example, obtain a position as a parole or probation officer. I have not attached any letters from my local licensing authorities because I am not seeking a full and unconditional pardon for the purpose of receiving a firearm permit.  The crimes … The official record of the event as recorded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Superior Court is as follows: Count I: At approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 8, 1988,  Thanh Lam, a Vietnamese adult male who resides in Dorchester, traveled by car to 998 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, Massachusetts.  At 998 Dorchester Avenue, Thanh Lam left his car carrying two cases of beer.  As he crossed the sidewalk, Mark Wahlberg attacked Thanh Lam.  Wahlberg was carrying a large wooden stick, approximately five feet long and two to three inches in diameter.  Wahlberg approached Thanh Lam calling him a “Vietnam fucking shit”, then hit him over the head with the stick.  Thanh Lam was knocked to the ground unconscious.  The stick broke in two and was later recovered from the scene.  Thanh Lam was treated overnight at Boston City Hospital. After police arrested Wahlberg later on the night of April 8, 1988, Wahlberg was informed of his rights and returned to the scene of 988 Dorchester Avenue.  In the presence of two police officers, he stated: “You don’t have to let him identify me, I’ll tell you now that’s the mother-fucker whose head I split open”, or words to that effect. Count II: As a police officer arrived at the scene of 988 Dorchester Avenue, Wahlberg and two other youths who were with him fled up Dorchester Avenue toward Pearl Street. Shortly after 9:00pm on April 8, 1988, Hoa Trinh, an adult Vietnamese male who resides in Dorchester, was standing several blocks away from 998 Dorchester Avenue, near the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Pearl Street.  Hoa Trinh was not aware of the altercation outside of 998 Dorchester Avenue. Wahlberg ran up to Hoa Trinh, put his arm around Hoa Trinh’s shoulder and said: “Police coming, police coming, let me hide.” After a police cruiser passed, Wahlberg punched Trinh in the eye, causing him to fall to the ground. Police arrived and Hoa Trinh identified Wahlberg as the person who punched him.  Wahlberg was placed under arrest and read his rights.  Thereafter, he made numerous unsolicited racial statements about “gooks” and “slant-eyed gooks”.  After being returned to 998 Dorchester Avenue, Wahlberg identified Thanh Lam as the person he hit over the head with a stick. For these attacks, Wahlberg was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder, but it was later reduced to criminal contempt, which carried a maximum sentence of ten years.  After pleading guilty, he was given a two year sentence at the Deer Island House of Correction in Boston.  In the end, he only had to serve 45 days in the correctional facility. <Source> You may also want to read The Smoking Gun to see his rap sheet as a racist attacking black children: Back In The Day: Marky Mark's Rap Sheet. Bottom line … Should Mark Wahlberg the celebrity be given a pass because he managed to turn some modicum of talent into a multi-million dollar future. I say no – let him suffer the consequences of his early thuggish behavior as a cautionary tale to the thugs that become celebrities.  In all likelihood, these are not the only crimes that were committed, only the ones where he was caught and prosecuted. And, the idea of Wahlberg becoming a law enforcement officer with a badge and a gun is beyond the pale. Perhaps it is also time to watch the professionals, the lawyers, lobbyists, and consultants who might intercede on Wahlberg’s behalf. In Hollywood, it is never about personal behavior (unless you are a conservative), and everything about money and power. Perhaps we should ask the man whose head Wahlberg split open or the man that he partially blinded how they feel about rewarding the perpetrator of these heinous acts. It is time to hold all thugs – minors as well as adults – responsible for their actions. -- steve

Classical Musicians Shock Audience At Rock Concert

Classical Musicians Shock Audience At Rock Concert

Group Of Dogs Work Together To Surprise Their Family For Christmas

Group Of Dogs Work Together To Surprise Their Family For Christmas