This report is derived from open sources collected and processed at ISW during the reporting period. The report includes analysis on Russia in the Middle East, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, ISIS, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

ISW Intelligence Summary: September 18-25, 2015 ISW INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY: September 18-25, 2015 Reviewing the Week Compiled by Harleen Gambhir with Daniel Pitcairn This report is derived from open sources collected and processed at ISW during the reporting period. The report includes analysis on Russia in the Middle East, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, ISIS, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. * Links may not work on mobile devices or some email platforms. Iraq | Syria | Egypt | ISIS | Afghanistan | Ukraine Key Take-Away Russia in the Middle East   Russian President Vladimir Putin is racing to build an alternate anti-ISIS coalition that includes Iran and the Syrian regime ahead of his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 28. This alliance is manifesting on the ground, as Russia is constructing two new military facilities and deploying ground-attack aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems in northeastern Syria, while reportedly creating a military coordination cell with Syrian, Iranian, and Iraqi Shi'a militia commanders in Baghdad. This geopolitical maneuvering will undercut the role of the U.S. in the Middle East, while deflecting attention away from Russia's strategic adventurism in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. Russia has also begun construction of two large military bases near its border with Kiev-controlled northeastern Ukraine and is likely to reach an agreement to establish an airbase in Belarus. Russia is alternating military activity in Syria and Ukraine while creating long-term capacity that will enable it to project force and achieve its political goals on its own timeline.    Russia's escalation in the Middle East has triggered diplomatic and political reshuffling that will challenge the U.S.'s desired outcomes across the region. Russia has reportedly demanded that the U.S. coordinate its international counter-ISIS campaign with Russia, Syria, and Iran. U.S. President Barack Obama agreed to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in their first formal face-to-face talks in over a year, marking the degree to which Russia has forced its way to the top of the international agenda amidst accelerating Russian military involvement in Syria and Iraq. Putin met with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Erdogan this week, indicating that neither will immediately challenge Russian presence in Syria through military means. Leaders in Western Europe and Turkey softened their rhetoric regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's role in a political settlement of the Syrian Civil War, prompted by the Russian military presence, the ongoing refugee crisis, and in the case of Turkey a desire to advance talks for a natural gas pipeline.    Putin's anti-ISIS strategy thwarts the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. Russia's backing of Assad undercuts the Syrian opposition writ large, not just ISIS. Russia's mobilization in Syria may also neutralize Turkey as an effective anti-ISIS actor and will likely undermine the implementation of the U.S.-Turkey "ISIS-free zone." The net result will be a two-way geopolitical loss for the U.S., both to Russia and to ISIS, without the hope that their violent engagement in Syria will mitigate the threat that either poses to the West. Syria | Egypt |  Back to Top | ISIS | Afghanistan | Ukraine  IRAQ   Unconfirmed Russian presence in Baghdad: An unconfirmed report stated that a joint Russian and Iranian "coordination cell" had been established in Baghdad that included "low-level Russian generals," a development of which Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari stated that he had "no knowledge." ISW will watch for additional indicators to verify this report and identify the size and nature of the Russian presence, should it exist.   Debate over U.S. role in Iraq: General David Petraeus testified that the U.S. needs to provide greater support to the ISF, anti-ISIS Iraqi Sunni tribal fighters, and the Peshmerga during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 22. In particular, General Petraeus recommended deploying joint tactical air controllers and embedding U.S. advisers with the ISF at the brigade headquarters level. Within Iraq, Iranian proxy militias responded to unsubstantiated rumors by Anbar province officials and anonymous sources that U.S. advisers had taken an increased role in operations to recapture Ramadi, including the provision of Apache helicopters, which Anbar's governor denied. Qais Khazali, the leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, an Iranian-backed group, condemned U.S. "conspiracies" to keep the "Popular Mobilization" out of Anbar operations and rejected the purported presence of U.S. combat troops. Proxy militias likely will attempt to prevent any expansion of the role of U.S forces, including by using lethal force against U.S. forces or against the ISF.   ISIS pressures the ISF near Baiji and Baghdad: ISIS continues to place significant pressure on the ISF as the Iraqi government struggles to make progress on the political front. ISIS launched two SVBIED attacks on ISF positions at the Baiji oil refinery north of Tikrit on September 19, causing a large fire within the refinery. On the same day, the ISF interdicted two SVEST attackers in western Baghdad. ISIS also detonated a VBIED in eastern Baghdad on September 21, demonstrating that ISIS maintains lethal capabilities in various parts of Baghdad despite the heavy presence of security forces. In addition, the ISF launched a clearing operation against ISIS in the Thar Thar area, northwest of Baghdad, an area that Federal Police and the "Popular Mobilization" ostensibly cleared in late May and June of 2015. The ISF and "Popular Mobilization" have been unsuccessful in restricting ISIS freedom of movement in this zone.  Iraqi government under political pressure: Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi's reform efforts appear to have stalled, with no noticeable progress made since he dismissed 123 senior ministerial officials on September 10. The Iraqi parliament held its last session on September 16 but has recessed for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'a militias have resisted PM Abadi's reform program and teamed with PM Abadi's political rivals within the Shi'a political scene, particularly VP Nouri al-Maliki, to prevent additional reforms from passing. Qais al-Khazali, leader of the proxy militia Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), dismissed popular demonstrations as "moribund" and having reached their final stages, blaming the government for not having dealt with them appropriately. Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq suspended its affiliates participating in the popular demonstrations that began on July 31. Proxy militias no longer see either any benefit to participating in the demonstrations or any ability to influence the movement from within, and are more likely to attempt to suppress the movement through violence rather than harness it against PM Abadi. Provincial governments resisted demands by ongoing popular demonstrations to conduct major reforms, initiating only nominal reshuffling within provincial governments without diminishing political parties' influence or increasing their accountability to Iraqi citizens. Meanwhile, Turkey continued to conduct airstrikes against the PKK in northern Iraq. See: "Iraq Situation Report: September 22 - 25, 2015"; "Iraq Situation Report: September 18-21, 2015"; "Regional Conflict Between Iran and Turkey Manifests Itself in Iraq," by Sinan Adnan, September 12, 2015; "Iraq Control of Terrain Map: September 11, 2015"; "Kata'ib Hezbollah and Iranian Proxies Challenge Iraq's Proposed National Guard Law," by Sinan Adnan, September 8, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests for Iraq experts Sinan Adnan and Patrick Martin or ISIS expert Jessica Lewis McFate here.  Iraq | Egypt |  Back to Top | ISIS | Afghanistan | Ukraine SYRIA Turkey and Israel respond to Russian buildup: Regional powers active in the Syrian Civil War were forced to react to new realities on the ground as Russia continued its military buildup along the Syrian Coast. Most recently, Russia delivered at least 24 ground attack aircraft and several surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to an airfield in Latakia Province on September 20 and commenced Russian surveillance drone and manned flights from its base there, reportedly ahead of a possible air campaign. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 21 and agreed to establish a joint coordination team headed by the deputy chiefs of the two countries' armed forces in order to avoid confrontation between their aerial, naval, and electromagnetic operations in Syria. Two days later, Turkish President Recep Erdogan met with President Putin in Moscow and agreed to form a foreign minister working group on the Syrian Civil War. President Erdogan later stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could take part in a transition process in Syria, marking a significant change in Turkish rhetoric that is likely linked to mounting Russian military pressure and recent talks over the delayed Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey.    International actors soften stance on President Assad: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "has to go" in a statement on September 19. In contrast, prominent European countries continued to soften their position on the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any political settlement to end the Syrian Civil War. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stressed on September 21 that France will not demand the departure of President Assad as a precondition to peace talks, and, three days later, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that negotiations should include President Assad as well as other regional players. These comments follow similar statements by the foreign ministers of Austria, Britain, and Spain in recent weeks and likely stem from a mounting refugee crisis in Europe driven in large part by the Syrian Civil War. Russia will likely attempt to leverage these statements in order to legitimize its calls for a new international anti-ISIS coalition that includes Russia, Iran, and the Syrian regime during talks at the upcoming UN General Assembly. The proposal will likely constitute a key agenda item during a meeting between President Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which would represent their first face-to-face talks in over a year.    U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition in Syria faces new challenges: The insertion of a second batch of seventy-five U.S.-trained rebel fighters into northern Syria was marred by allegations that some members of the group defected or turned their weapons over to Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN). The U.S. Department of Defense rejected the defection claims as part of an active JN disinformation campaign to discredit the U.S. train-and-equip program, but the rumors will likely further erode confidence in the U.S.-led anti-ISIS campaign within Congress, the American public, and the international community. On the ground, ISIS continued to position itself to seize additional territory in eastern and western Syria. ISIS deployed a large number of reinforcements to Deir ez-Zour City from western Anbar Province in Iraq in alleged preparation for a major offensive against regime-held portions of the city, which may be an effort to prevent Russian build up in the area. ISIS also claimed to seize parts of the highway between Homs City and the strategic T4 (Tiyas) Airbase in eastern Homs Province after a sharp intensification of IED and VBIED attacks in Homs City that have been claimed by both ISIS and JN. See: "New Russian Activity in Syria: Istamo Weapon Storage Facility SE of Latakia," by ISW and AllSource Analysis, September 24, 2015; "Russian Deployments at Al-Assad Airport in Syria," by ISW and AllSource Analysis, September 24, 2015; "Forecasting the Syrian Civil War," by Christopher Kozak, Jennifer Cafarella, and the ISW Syria Team, September 17, 2015;  "Russian Deployment in Syria: Putin's Middle East Game Changer," by Hugo Spaulding, Christopher Kozak, Christopher Harmer, Daniel Urchick, Jessica Lewis-McFate, Jennifer Cafarella, Harleen Gambhir, and Kimberly Kagan, September 17, 2015; "Posture of Syrian Regime and Allies: September 14, 2015," by ISW Syria Team, September 14, 2015; "Military Situation on the Syrian-Turkish Border: September 14, 2015," by ISW Syria Team, September 14, 2015; "Control of Terrain in Syria: September 14, 2015"; "An Army in All Corners:" Assad's Campaign Strategy in Syria, by Christopher Kozak, April 30, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests for Syria analysts Jennifer Cafarella or Chris Kozak here.   Iraq | Syria | Back to Top | ISIS | Afghanistan | Ukraine   EGYPT   Egypt reacts to international scrutiny: The Egyptian government tried to abate mounting criticism of its counterterrorism practices in the wake of the accidental killing of eight Mexican tourists by the Egyptian military on September 13. A Human Rights Watch report issued on September 21 condemned Egypt's displacement without compensation of thousands of residents in North Sinai over two years of counterterrorism operations. In response Egypt's Cabinet of Ministers claimed residents had received compensation, and on September 23, the Egyptian military pledged to focus on improving the welfare of Sinai residents. Meanwhile, ISIS affiliate Wilayat Sinai likely is capitalizing on resentment against the Egyptian military to foster ties with local residents. On September 23, Wilayat Sinai released photos of militants distributing food aid to "areas besieged by the Egyptian military." ISIS also released a separate statement claiming the Egyptian military was responsible for a September 14 small arms attack on a wedding in Khareeza, Central Sinai.   New government, same corruption accusations: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi swore in new Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and sixteen new ministers on September 19. However, private media sources and online rumors have accused Sherif Ismail of corruption and implicated him in the same bribery scandal that lead to the resignation of Egypt's previous prime minister and cabinet on September 12. The sources of the rumors are supportive of el-Sisi, however, suggesting that the President may already be planning another corruption probe.   See: "ISIS's Wilayat Sinai Launches Largest Offensive in Sheikh Zuweid," by Yasmin Faruki, Jenna Gowell, and Laura Hoffman, July 1, 2015; "ISIS's Wilayat Sinai Attacks International Base," by Harleen Gambhir and Jantzen Garnett, June 13, 2015; "Wilayat Sinai Likely Preparing for Car Bomb Campaign," by Jantzen Garnett and Aaron Reese, March 12, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests on Egypt here Iraq | Syria | Egypt |  Back to Top | Afghanistan | Ukraine  ISIS   Changes to U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition: Russia's moves to fundamentally redefine the international fight against ISIS on its own terms come as the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition faces significant challenges. U.S. Special Envoy to the anti-ISIS Coalition Gen. John Allen (Ret.) will reportedly resign from his position by early November.  ISIS responds to Russian presence: ISIS reportedly deployed forces from al-Qaim in western Iraq to eastern Syria on September 22, likely in response to a perceived confluence of new threats from the Russian-Syrian regime alliance and the U.S.-led coalition in Syria. ISIS likely intends to consolidate its control of Deir ez-Zour and may increase operations in western Syria in order to forestall Russian and Syrian escalation in the east. ISIS will also likely reinforce its stronghold in ar-Raqqa, while planning for its potential loss, as White House and Pentagon officials are reportedly considering a proposal to supply Syrian Arab and Kurdish forces to advance against the city. ISIS may also increase cooperation with al-Qaeda's (AQ) Syrian affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) in some parts of Syria to attack the regime. Additionally, ISIS may intensify elements of its Near Abroad campaign in response to Russia's escalation. ISIS's governorate in Russia's North Caucasus region, Wilayat Qawqaz, released its first promotional video on September 23 and will likely use Russia's anti-ISIS operations in Syria as grounds for recruitment in both countries. AQ's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri recently reiterated his willingness to cooperate with ISIS in such attacks despite his condemnation of ISIS's caliphate.  Military and social expansion in ISIS's Near Abroad: Several of ISIS's regional affiliates broadened their military operations and social outreach this week. ISIS claimed its first attack in Giza, Egypt on September 20, likely reflecting growing recruitment by ISIS in Egypt's mainland. ISIS's affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula, Wilayat Sinai, also increased its outreach to local tribes, distributing food and blaming civilian casualties on the Egyptian government. ISIS's affiliates in Libya renewed attacks in major cities east and west of the ISIS-controlled city of Sirte, where the group has established checkpoints and begun burning contraband as an expression of social control. ISIS also continued its campaign of spectacular attacks against al Houthi forces in Yemen while publicizing the medical training it gives its fighters. Afghan security forces claimed to have cleared Kot in eastern Nangarhar province, the first district ISIS seized in Afghanistan. The claim is unconfirmed, however, and clashes between the two sides are likely ongoing. Groups affiliated with ISIS in Afghanistan continue to call for warring factions of the Taliban to join ISIS, an appeal that may resonate if ISIS defeats the Afghan government in Nangarhar. Pro-ISIS presence in Asia and Europe: Indications of growing support for ISIS in Southeast Asia emerged this week as Indonesia's counterterrorism chief claimed that foreign fighters are traveling to the country to train in pro-ISIS military camps. Meanwhile, large-scale raids in Berlin, Germany on September 22 underscored ISIS's continued recruitment in Europe. ISIS may use these networks to capitalize on cultural tensions raised by the European refugee crisis. ISIS is currently attempting to seize the crisis as an opportunity to convince refugees to travel to its "caliphate" instead. See: "ISIS's Global Strategy: September 2015," by Harleen Gambhir, September 18, 2015;  "ISIS Sanctuary Map: September 15, 2015"; ISIS's Global Strategy: A Wargame, by Harleen Gambhir, July 15, 2015; The ISIS Defense in Iraq and Syria: Countering an Adaptive Enemy,by Jessica Lewis McFate, May 15, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests for Counter-Terrorism analyst Harleen Gambhir or ISIS expert Jessica Lewis McFate here. Iraq | Syria | Egypt |  Back to Top | ISIS | Ukraine   Afghanistan Future NATO presence: On September 25 NATO General and U.S. commander General John Campbell sent five distinct recommendations to the Pentagon and NATO officials on the future of the U.S. and NATO mission in Afghanistan. Current plans would withdraw most of the 10,000 remaining U.S. troops by the end of 2016. General Campbell's proposed options include maintaining current force levels, reducing to interim figures such as 8,000 or 5,000, or continuing the existing withdrawal plan that would leave several hundred troops by the end of 2016. The recommendations each came with a risk assessment, as with all professional military options.   Taliban fractures into three rival groups: This week the Taliban split into three distinct groups headed by rival commanders, in the insurgency's largest fracture since the July 29 announcement of Mullah Omar's death in late 2013. Mullah Akhtar Mansour enjoys support from the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Mullah Omar's son and brother, and al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. His faction reportedly has the support of the largest portion of Taliban commanders. Several prominent and powerful hardliners from the southern Pashtun areas head the newest and next strongest faction, announced on September 19. This group opposes any negotiation with the Afghan government and includes Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi (former Taliban governor of Balkh and Herat), Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir (former Guantanamo Bay detainee), Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rahmani (former Taliban governor of Kandahar), and Mullah Mohammad Rasul (former governor of Nimruz). The faction stated its intent on September 22 to form a council of religious clerics to choose a rival leader to Mansour. Mullah Mansoor Dadullah leads the third faction, Zabul-based splinter group Fidai Mahaz, which has openly clashed with pro-Mansour forces and is rumored to receive support from ISIS. The fracture of the Taliban likely will lead to increased attacks against the Afghan government as the three factions compete to prove their power and worthiness as leaders of the Jihad.   Taliban Deh Yak offensive: Elements of the Taliban are preparing for an offensive in Deh Yak district, Ghazni province. The district is operationally important for the Taliban because it offers connections with militants in Paktika province and a route into Logar and Kabul province. The Taliban began preparations on September 20 by warning villagers to evacuate. It also began constructing road blockades to isolate the area and is planting roadside IEDs targeting Afghan Local Police convoys and outposts throughout the district. These tactics are consistent with previous Taliban efforts to isolate and consolidate control of rural district areas before assaulting a district center. See: "Militant Attack and Support Zones in Afghanistan: April-September 2015," by Lauren McNally and Saagar Enjeti, September 18, 2015; "Is the Islamic State Escalating in Afghanistan?" by Lauren McNally, April 27, 2015; The Taliban Resurgent: Threats to Afghanistan's Security, by Lauren McNally and Paul Bucala, March 20, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests on Afghanistan here. Iraq | Syria | Egypt |  Back to Top | ISIS | Afghanistan     Ukraine   Russian buildup in Syria supported from Crimea: Russia accelerated efforts to secure a strategic foothold in the Middle East and on the Mediterranean with the deployment of surveillance drones and 24 new fighter jets to the Syrian coast, where new satellite imagery has shown Russia is developing two military facilities in addition to the al-Assad International Airport in Latakia. On September 24, Russia's defense ministry announced naval drills in the eastern Mediterranean involving the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva guided missile cruiser, as well as the Saratov, the landing ship ISW's partner AllSource Analysis may have observed in the midst of loading operations in Sevastopol, Crimea on September 20. While the defense ministry claimed that the exercise was planned in 2014, Russia is likely using the drills to disguise further deployments to the Syrian coast. The Syrian regime reportedly began deploying newly-delivered Russian surveillance drones, while Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly is considering launching airstrikes against ISIS with or without U.S. approval. Such strikes may precede or follow Putin's September 28 speech at the UN General Assembly, where he will likely meet with President Barack Obama, scoring a victory in Russia's efforts to legitimize its proposal for an alternative anti-ISIS coalition that involves Russia and the Assad regime.    Russia counterbalances in Europe: Russia's new military force projection and counterbalancing efforts against the United States and its allies extends beyond the Middle East. Putin issued a decree on September 19 calling on the Russian defense and foreign ministries to reach an agreement with Belarus on the establishment of a Russian airbase on Belarusian soil. Russia's influence over Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, comparable to the control it held over ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, makes this agreement likely. A Russian airbase in Belarus would allow the Kremlin to project military force against Kyiv, as well as Poland and the Baltics, while solidifying Russia's influence over its westernmost ally. New reports suggest that Russia is also constructing two large military bases near its border with government-controlled northeastern Ukraine. The planned bases in Belgorod and Voronezh Oblasts are thought to have the capacity for 3,500 and 5,000 soldiers, respectively, in addition to heavy weapons. Taken in conjunction with the plans for an airbase in Belarus, this construction suggests that Russia is positioning itself, in the long term, to open or at least threaten to open a second front in Ukraine from the north. Such posturing serves as further indication that Russia may not draw down its military presence in southeastern Ukraine despite a nearly month-long operational pause.   See: "Ukraine Crisis Update: September 23, 2015," Putin's Information Warfare in Ukraine: Soviet Origins of Russia's Hybrid Warfare, by Maria Snegovaya, September 21, 2015; "Russian Deployment in Syria: Putin's Middle East Game Changer," by Hugo Spaulding, Christopher Kozak, Christopher Harmer, Daniel Urchick, Jessica Lewis-McFate, Jennifer Cafarella, Harleen Gambhir, and Kimberly Kagan, September 17, 2015; "Far-Right Riot at Ukraine's Parliament," by Hugo Spaulding, September 1, 2015. Direct press or briefing requests for Ukraine analyst Hugo Spaulding here. ISW will continue to provide updates on all of these issues at www.understandingwar.org. ### The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization. ISW advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. We are committed to improving the nation's ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives. Visit us at www.understandingwar.org.

CONGRESSMAN PETER KING: OUSTING BOEHNER "SIGNALS THE CRAZIES HAVE TAKEN OVER THE PARTY" ...2016: WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE REPUBLICANS...

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CONGRESSMAN PETER KING: OUSTING BOEHNER "SIGNALS THE CRAZIES HAVE TAKEN OVER THE PARTY" Posted: 26 Sep 2015 02:14 AM PDT The party has done little to fulfill their campaign promises to reverse Obama’s lawless activities, so why not change the party leadership in Congress. It can’t get much worse than it is now. King upset at Boehner’s ouster … Perhaps Peter King (R-NY) should consider that his party asked the voters for a majority in the House of Representative for the sole purpose of starting to reform a dysfunctional administration that lawlessly ignored the constitution and put forth toxic legislation … and did nothing while complaining that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blocked their actions. The party once again went to the voters and asked for a majority in the Senate … and when that was granted, did nothing that remotely resembled the campaign promises that were made. Continuing to avoid putting substantive bills on Obama’s desk to force him and his cadre of progressive socialist democrats in Congress to take a hard stand that could be used against them in the upcoming 2016 election cycle. The party’s leadership (Representative Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell) was and is feckless and ineffective and needs to be changed … So, Peter the Putz now sees House Majority leader Boehner’s resignation and retirement as a sign that the “crazies” have taken over the party. Perhaps if King was intellectually honest, he would see Boehner’s cut and run as taking the coward’s way out of an important constitutional fight -- and moving toward a cushy career filled with speaking engagements, lobbying activities, and most of all a relaxed workweek where he could live the country club life of golfing and drinking. Not that the duties of Boehner’s office kept him from being a scratch golfer and a cocktail aficionado.     Peter King: Boehner exit means 'the crazies have taken over the party' House Speaker John Boehner's sudden resignation Friday "signals that the crazies have taken over the party," New York Republican Peter King said Friday. “I think it signals the crazies have taken over the party, taken over to the party that you can remove a speaker of the House who’s second in line to be president, a constitutional officer in the middle of his term with no allegations of impropriety, a person who’s honest and doing his job. This has never happened before in our country," King said in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Friday afternoon. "He could have stayed on.” Source: Peter King: Boehner exit means 'the crazies have taken over the party' Bottom line … If Peter the Putz is not part of the solution, he must be part of the problem or a loud-mouthed bystander. It is time the party and our representatives fear the people, not the other way around. It is time for Members of Congress to uphold, protect, and defend our constitution from the progressive socialist democrats who regard it as an unnecessary impediment on the road to international socialism/communism. Peter – put up or shut up. With representatives likes these, we are so screwed. -- steve

2016: WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE REPUBLICANS Posted: 13 Aug 2015 06:13 PM PDT I was struck by the exceptional public response to a Donald Trump candidacy. A phenomenon that appears to be a result with the public’s deep dissatisfaction with corrupt, lying, and self-serving politicians on both sides of the aisle. Everywhere you turn, you find professional politicians feathering their own nests, providing perks, privileges, and profits to those special interests who fund their campaigns, provide voter support, media attention, and jobs for them and their friends. So what is the real difference between the progressive socialist democrats and the current crop of republicans? 1.  The democrats believe that the general public is a mass of unexceptional population units which must be managed by the “enlightened elite” who have greater feeling, understanding, and subject matter knowledge than the masses. And, that this command and control must be centralized and enforced from the top-down. Whereas the republicans believe in the collective wisdom of the public and the propensity for good people to do good things for themselves and their nature. Command and control must be diversified and pushed to the lowest levels of our government infrastructure where local situations demand local solutions and local oversight. 2.  The democrats believe that people can be stratified and divided into classes of victims for the purpose of creating a political coalition of voters that seeks to address their collective grievances in exchange for political power. This destructive process produces divisiveness and pits one class of citizens against another. The republicans believe that we are one people, with common problems, and that working together can benefit all in the same manner that a rising tide lifts all boats. Pretty much why we find our nation so deeply polarized as to permit flawed and marginal political candidates to reach center stages whereas in a more healthy environment they would be easily dismissed as nutters not worthy of a moment’s worth of the public’s time or consideration as credible political candidates. 3.  The democrats believe that “money and productive people” are the root of all evil. That the old Marxist dictum, “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is a valid political and social construct. With little regard for human nature and the relationship between parasites and their host organism. In what world does a productive individual have any incentive to work harder when the fruits of their labors are confiscated and distributed to non-producers with the sole purpose of creating political support for an enlightened elite? We can see the results of this behavior when productive individuals and companies move out of state or out of the country rather than submit to confiscatory taxation or endless rules and regulating designed to support a bureaucratic elite. This is little more than class warfare designed to create victims and aggressors. The republicans believe that “poverty” is the root of all evil and those who have little or no opportunity fall into an entitlement mindset and are likely to support the political party that rewards the takers over the producers. 4.  The democrats demand that poverty and misery must be shared equally among all parties to insure “social justice.” Believing that the pie is of finite size and must be carefully sized to insure everyone has a slice of the pie. The republicans believe that they should create bakers and more pies, so everyone can have their own pie – and in abundant quantities. One must question whether or not you want to be an eater, limited to your own slice of pie and then going hungry after eating – or be a baker and creating an abundance of pies so you never will be hungry. Ask yourself, why the democrats point to starving children and impose price-controls that limit the production of foodstuffs? Ask yourself why food is rotting in warehouses while children, and adults, starve? The only conclusion that can be drawn is that food and starvation are political weapons of war and can be manipulated to gain or maintain political power. 5.  The democrats claim that education is the key to the advancement of society and the improvement of individuals. The republicans do not disagree. So the difference revolves around the control of the curriculum and the conditions under which education is imparted to the young. With the exception of parochial schools operated by religious entities and private schools operated for the benefit of the wealthy and politically connected, the democrats tend to believe that children should be educated by the government, with a government-mandated curriculum, and to support the social and political needs of society as determined and dictated by the elite ruling class. The republicans believe in the free-market approach where funding vouchers are provided and children can attend the schools that offer the best education. The runs counter to the democrat-supported unions who believe that the money that would fund vouchers needs to remain in a public school system that is administered and influenced by unions and administered by their captive politicians and supporters. One must wonder why increasing educational funding does not produce better test scores and why today’s union-dominated educational institutions continues to pump out another decade’s worth of functional illiterates who cannot tell time with a conventional watch, can’t make change without a calculator, read at a junior high school level, and cannot communicate effectively? 6.  The democrats believe feelings should assume primacy over facts and that bad actions done with good intentions are far superior to good actions that create disadvantage for some politically-protected class. How else can you explain a total disregard for science in the face of political manipulation of public policy using science to justify draconian and freedom-restricting legislation? The republicans agree that facts trump feelings, but appear to be all too willing to go along with political manipulation that advances their agenda. 7.   The democrats allow the tyranny of the minority to dictate legislation and behavior of the majority. The democrats make allowances for those who would disrupt our nation with their divisive actions and criminal behaviors rather than demanding individuals meet societal norms. Republicans believe in the constitution, due process, and equality under the law – but there have been grievous historical exceptions. Why the democrats support thuggery and those who disrupt schools is symptomatic of pandering to a victim-class that forms the core coalition constituency of the democrat base. The democrats jump up-and-down about a statistically irrelevant number of black thugs shot by white law enforcement officers, but refuse to crack-down on domestic terrorist gangs that slaughter hundreds of blacks in inner cities governed by democrats. 8.   The democrats are better communicators than the republicans. How else can you explain why the democrats who founded the KKK and promoted racism managed to paint the republicans as racists and bigots? How else can you explain why the democrats fete eugenics and minority abortions at Planned Parenthood while blaming republicans for a war on women? Especially Hillary Clinton’s war on women that was designed to give a pass to her sexually abusive husband? Using Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, most of the democrat communications appears to be designed by radical community organizers, whereas most of the republican communications appear to be designed by 21-year old policy wonks. The republicans point to family values and purge the transgressors. The democrats make no such claims about family values and reward their deviants with political accolades while containing to excoriate the republicans. The democrats point to white militias and scream domestic terrorism, white supremacy, and racism. The republicans are afraid to point to the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panthers and scream domestic terrorism, black supremacy, and racism. The democrats are bold, brash liars. The republicans as timid, weak-kneed liars. 9.   The democrats are anti-America and all about the dysfunction America has brought into the world. Heedless of a religious war that has been going on for centuries. Mindless of our feckless democrat administration’s weakening of America and emboldening of our enemies under Carter,Clinton, and Obama. The republicans are for a strong defense – as long as the profits are flowing to their crony capitalist friends. But, in the final analysis, the democrats cannot be trusted to defend America and Americans, here or abroad. 10.  Both parties feature politicians who will lie to the American public – but none so virulently malignant as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Truth be told, the republicans – however bad – are not as detrimental to our nation as the progressive socialist democrats. Bottom line … We are so screwed by the corruption in both political parties and the fact that they are both offering deeply-flawed candidates like a corrupt Hillary Clinton and a cronyist Jeb Bush. And, to be fair, Donald Trump is just as corrupt and a liar than either one of the frontrunners. Pay attention and open your mind lest we be screwed for another four years and lose the freedoms for which men and women fought and died. We are so screwed. -- steve