The Times of Israel:

Six army battalions called up under emergency orders to meet growing threat on Egypt, Syria borders
Knesset approves IDF request to call up a further 16 battalions if needed

The IDF has issued emergency call up orders to six reserve battalions in light of new dangers on the Egyptian and Syrian borders. And the Knesset has given the IDF permission to summon a further 16 reserve battalions if necessary, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

An IDF spokesperson said intelligence assessments called for the deployment of more soldiers.

According to 2008′s Reserve Duty Law, combat soldiers can be called for active reserve duty once every three years, and for short training sessions during the other two. Rising tensions between Israel and Egypt and the ongoing unrest in Syria caused the army to ask the Knesset for special permission to call up more soldiers, more often.

The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the request recently, enabling the IDF to summon up to 22 battalions for active duty for the second time in three years. Already, the army has called up six of them.

“This signifies that the IDF regards the Egyptian and Syrian borders as the potential source of a greater threat than in the past,” the former deputy chief of staff, Dan Harel, said on Wednesday night.

“The army needs a better ‘answer’ than in the past to the threat,” he said, citing Egypt’s deteriorating control over the Sinai, marked by an upsurge in Bedouin smuggling of weapons and other goods. He also spoke of the growing threat of terrorism from Sinai, as exemplified by an infiltration last August in which eight Israelis were killed.

The Syrian situation was also highly combustible, Harel said, “and it could explode at any moment… and pose a direct challenge to us.”

Maariv said the army had to decide whether to cancel training sessions for enlisted soldiers or to summon additional reserve units, and it chose the latter; canceling training would mean soldiers would not be 

prepared in the case of an all-out war.

The IDF spokesperson said all the letters summoning soldiers for reserve duty were sent after the IDF received the approval of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for the larger call-up.

One of the reservists summoned told Maariv he hadn’t expected his call-up letter until next year. Leaving home for more than three weeks is something you have to prepare for, he noted.

Activists from the Reserve Soldiers Forum said they were disappointed time and again by the way the IDF treated its reserve soldiers. The law was supposed to help reservists, but it has been repeatedly bypassed and ignored, they said. “At the end, all that will remain of the law will be its title.”

Wreckovery

ADP:

April 2012 ADP National Employment Report® Employment in the U.S. nonfarm private business sector increased by 119,000 from March to April on a seasonally adjusted basis. The estimated gain from February to March was revised down modestly, from the initial estimate of 209,000 to a revised estimate of 201,000.

 

The answer is CRAVEN ACTS OF OBSEQUIOUSNESS

UPDATE AT BOTTOM

In a post on 4/28 about Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese civil rights lawyer under house arrest, who escaped to the ‘safety’ of the US Embassy in Beijing, I said:

This is not a gimme as was the reality of the decision over Osama, especially given what occurred when Bill Clinton was president (four chances to get Bin Laden, refused at the advice of John Brennan ..Obama’s Terror Security Man).

Let’s see what happens. Aggressive and public defense of freedom? Silent finesses as we take this man in? An apology to China? Craven acts of obsequiousness?

If we do no more than the minimalist actions required by the advice of John Q Adams, we should at east expect a welcoming as a hero, and a warning that the whole world is watching what happens to Chen Guangchen’s family

Here is the answer from the NYT today:

U.S. Says Blind Chinese Dissident Is Now in Beijing Medical Facility

Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident who fled house arrest last month in a dramatic escape from security forces, has arrived at a medical facility in Beijing, a senior American official said on Wednesday in the first public acknowledgment by the United States that it knew of his whereabouts.Mr. Chen will receive medical treatment, the official said.

An American statement, issued six hours after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Beijing, said, “Chen Guangcheng has arrived at a medical facility in Beijing, where he will receive medical treatment and be reunited with his family.”

The statement did not make clear whether Mr. Chen would stay in China or be granted asylum in the United States. Mr. Chen has made clear in the past, and statements from his supporters have reiterated, that his goal is to remain in China as a free person able to live a normal life under the Chinese constitution.  

Mr. Chen left the American Embassy compound accompanied by Ambassador Gary Locke, according to an American with knowledge of the situation. Mr. Chen’s supporters and Chinese officials had said earlier that he was in the American Embassy.

This guy did not escape his guards, to have the USA escort him to a hospital for the precise purpose of remaining in China. No other news report SO FAR makes any such mention of, or intimate knowledge of a ‘desire’ to remain a ‘free person’ (under house arrest?) in China. There are several extant including Yahoo and Reuters

Nor is this the only such example of our policy of defending human rights and freedom under this admin.

The rhetoric and actions this administration uses are harsher when used against domestic opposition then when we ‘confront’ those who oppose our ideas as espoused in the ‘flawed documents’. I am continually confounded by the lack of care about our processes and our future demonstrated by this administration in the portrayal of people such as Paul Ryan, and others as representing the forces of evil, while those who enforce a one child policy via state executed forced abortion (which is far past disgusting NO MATTER ONE’S FEELING ABOUT A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO ABORT) receive the kindest of words and consideration as they work to frustrate our efforts to prevent a racist theocracy from development weapons which each and every leader they have had promised would end one of our major allies (at the least …usually we are included).

………………………………

YAHOO NEWS:

A close friend of Chen Guangcheng says the blind legal activist agreed to stay inChina only to protect his family after receiving threats that his wife would be beaten to death if he left the country.

Beijing activist Zeng Jinyan told The Associated Press on Wednesday via Skype that she had just finished talking to Chen, who is in a Beijing hospital with his wife and children.

Zeng said Chen told her that he wanted to go to abroad but was forced to accept a deal to remain in China and go to law school in order to protect his family.

Zeng says Chen was told his wife would be beaten to death if he didn’t accept, but she didn’t say who made the threat.

Hillary, hello?

Mr. Preezy? Hello?

JAMES EARL CARTER? HELLO?

What is it we stand for again?

Apologies, bowing, and drones?

And The Shameless Magical Victory Tour Rolls On

The man is a national disgrace.

Pastorius comment: This is the most pathetic photograph in the history of the United States Presidency; even more pathetic than that of Jimmy Carter's Killer Rabbit.

Andy Timmons
Cry For You

Ghost of You

Headed for the Ditch

One Year Ago Today Pres. Obama Did Exactly What Any Other Pres. Would DoAnd Why He Has More in Common With So. Park's Timmy than, say, Jimmy Carter

One Year Ago Today Pres. Obama Did Exactly What Any Other Pres. Would Do
And Why He Has More in Common With So. Park's Timmy than, say, Jimmy Carter

Why was every one so happy that President Obama gave the order to get Osama bin Laden? Something any other President in our history, living or dead, would not have hesitated in doing? Why do we celebrate something that should have been reflexive?

We don't celebrate breathing. We don't act surprised when someone displays the ability to drink water. Signing Osama bin Laden's death warrant is about the moral equivalent of any other non-cognitive bodily function. It's that big of a no-brainer.

And let's not forget, Obama hesitated. He had to think about whether or not he wanted to go after Osama bin Laden. It's like weighing the moral consequences of putting one foot in front of the other and walking.

The fact that this caused him angst says much more about his character than the fact that he eventually ordered the hit.

The only explanation for why all of us were so relieved is that we weren't sure this guy had the nerve to do it. In other words, we were pleasantly surprised.

That's how low of an opinion we had of him. That he was so feckless and weak that when he did what any other man would do we patted him on the back and said, way to go Sparky!

Click on the title to read the whole thing at Jawa Report.

Obama Visits Afghanistan - What ??? Why ???

News reports Obama is in Afghanistan. He will make a speech on why he's there at 7:30 EST. So we're told.

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/05/01/breaking-obama-to-spike-the-bin-laden-football-on-national-tv-will-address-the-nation-tonight-from-afghanistan/

Bill Gives The IRS Power To: Authorize The Removal Of The Right To Own A Firearm -

From Tom Tancredo:

The collection agency for the Federal Reserve known as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is working with legislators to gain control over the rights of Americans. Without the right to due process, the IRS can simply claim a citizen owes $50,000 dollars or more to their illegal operation.

This accusation alone will give their agency the right to revoke American’s travel rights and even remove the right to own a firearm.

With the help of Representatives like Barbara Boxer of California, a bill rapidly working through Capitol Hill (passed through the Senate and is currently up for review in the House) will give the IRS power to:

• Accuse Americans of delinquency of tax payment without due process
• Revoke their passports and travel rights
• Place the accused in a centralize database
• Authorize the removal of their right to own a firearm

No formal charges are required. Simply the accusation from the IRS is sufficed to strip American citizens of their Constitutional rights.

‘Treasure trove’ of al-Qaeda documents uncovered in Germany

From IntelNews:

German police have uncovered what appears to be the most significant collection of al-Qaeda planning documents to be acquired by Western intelligence since last year’s assassination of Osama bin Laden. It has been reported that the United States Navy Seals, who raided the late bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan nearly a year ago, obtained thousands of al-Qaeda documents.

But the latest acquisition, which reportedly consists of over 100 digital documents, is described by Western intelligence sources as “pure gold”. The documents were in possession of Maqsood Lodin, a 22-year-old Austrian, who was detained by German police last year as he was returning to Europe from a trip to Pakistan, via the Hungarian capital Budapest.

During his detention, German authorities found hidden in his underwear a number of digital storage devices. One of them contained a pornographic video called “Kick Ass”, which, upon further investigation, was found to contain encrypted documents, in .pdf format, that had been disguised to look like video files.

According to German newspaper Die Zeit, which first reported on the finding in March, many of the documents were training manuals written in several different languages, including Arabic, German, and English. But intelligence experts are mostly interested in a collection of documents entitled “Future Works”. These contain notes from what seem like al-Qaeda brainstorming sessions on plans for possible terrorist plots in Europe. Among them is a suggestion to “seize passenger ships and use them to put pressure on the public”, according to Die Zeit.

A subsequent section in the document discusses the idea of ordering passengers in the hijacked ship or ships to dress in orange-color jumpsuits, similar to those used by the United States in the Guantánamo Bay prison in Cuba. That section is somewhat obscure, but Die Zeit interprets it as a plan to stage public executions of passengers as a way of pressuring Western governments to release al-Qaeda-affiliated detainees.

Other plans, according to the German newspaper, discuss the possibility of carrying out armed suicide raids in European cities, similar to the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed nearly 200 people in India’s most populous city.

The paper quotes “intelligence sources” who argue that the documents —most of which date to 2009— show that al-Qaeda has been considering plans to carry out several low-profile attacks as decoys to preoccupy Western intelligence services, while secretly planning a large-scale, high-profile attack reminiscent of 9/11.

"Any incoming missile will be destroyed or redirected to hit a target which we specify before it could harm the holy land of the Islamic Republic of Iran”

Iran claims it can redirect any missile anywhere to any target they wish.

Commander Stresses Iran’s Ability to Deceive Incoming Enemy Missiles

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s top air defense commander on Monday underscored that the country enjoys the capability to deceive incoming enemy missiles and redirect them towards new targets.

Speaking to FNA, Commander of Khatom ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said that Iran’s air defense unit has already switched on a project to develop systems which can deceive enemy missiles and it will put it into the operation when necessary.

“These systems will appear on the scene and do their tasks in time of threat,” Esmayeeli stated.

“Any incoming missile will be destroyed or redirected to hit a target which we specify before it could harm the holy land of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the commander said.

“This is an electronic warfare capability by which we are the side who defines the program for the enemy missile.”

Iranian military officials had earlier announced that the country had developed the technology to reprogram and redirect incoming enemy missiles, and Esmayeeli’s remarks pertained to the mass-production of systems equipped with this technology.

Last November a senior Iranian air defense commander announced that the country planned to equip its air defense units with a state-of-the-art electronic warfare technology to be used for detouring enemies’ guided missiles. 

Really?

Really?

Not even the USA would make a claim such as this.

I hope they believe this crap all over the mullocracy

Fox:

5 arrested for allegedly trying to blow up Ohio bridge

URGENT: Five people described as anarchists were arrested Monday in a Cleveland-area park for trying to blow up a bridge, sources tell Fox News.

The public was never in danger from the explosive devices, which were inoperable and controlled by an undercover FBI employee, according to sources close to the investigation.

A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, according to an FBI press release.

Court documents say three of the suspects are self-proclaimed anarchists who formed a small group and considered a series of plots over several months.

According to the complaint, the suspects initially planned to use smoke grenades to distract law enforcement so that they could topple financial institution signs atop high rise buildings in Cleveland. However, the plot later called for the use of C-4 explosives, authorities said.

The FBI and the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force are involved in the investigation.

"The safety of the citizens of the Northern District of Ohio is and continues to be our primary focus," Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI, said in a statement Tuesday.

"The individuals charged in this plot were intent on using violence to express their ideological views. The Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to detect and disrupt any terrorism threat, domestic or international," Anthony said.

It is unknown if the bridge incident was connected to Occupy Wall Street's plans for nationwide protests Tuesday.

Newsmax:

US on Alert for Terrorists With Body Bombs on Planes 

American and European authorities say they are on alert for al-Qaida terrorists who may try to blow up U.S.-bound aircraft with body bombs, ABC News reports.

Security at several airports in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, and the Middle East, has been increased, particularly on planes bound for America, and federal air marshals have been shifted overseas in advance of the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden, a year ago Tuesday.

American and European authorities have been increasingly concerned that al-Qaida, particularly the Yemen affiliate, has been designing non-metalic body bombs that would fit into the stomach cavity that could get past airport screeners.

Medical experts told ABC that there is room in the stomach area for surgically implanted explosives."The surgeon would open the abdominal cavity and literally implant the explosive device in amongst the internal organs," Dr. Mark Melrose, a New York emergency medicine specialist, told the network.

U.S. officials publicly say there is no threat, but the White House on Monday said there is concern that Yemen's al-Qaida branch continues to be the greatest threat to the U.S.

Specifically, al-Qaida Yemen's chief bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri has been designing body bombs to get past airport security. Asiri in 2009 placed a bomb in his 23-year-old brother's body for a suicide mission aimed at Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Muhammad bin Nayef. The bomb exploded prematurely and the only casualty was Asiri's brother. He is also tied to other bomb plots around the world.

Bruce Cockburn
Lovers In A Dangerous Time

Soul of a Man

Get Up Jonah