Threats

Well violent Political Islam was at it again recently. First we have an Afghan immigrant and an unknown number of accomplices attempt to make bombs and launch an attack on September 11th. What is disturbing about the case is that an Imam who was working with the FBI also tipped off the suspect. Then we have a U.S. convert to Islam attempt to set off a car bomb in Springfield, IL. A Jordanian national attempted to set off another car bomb in Dallas, TX. This in addition to some other US citizen arrested last month on terrorism charges have admitted to planning to attack the Marine Corps base at Quanitco, VA (probably not the smartest plan ever).

These type of plots show the danger of the individual jihadists. The people are not tied to a specific group, are self funded, and have radicalized on their own or through the mosque. Add this to the number of young men that have gone to Somalia to fight for al-Shaabab. Add to the list of threats are the anarchist, socialists like the ones that have been tearing up Pittsburgh the last few days and the eco-terrorists that struck last week and burned a building down. That leaves us with a significant terrorism threat in the United States.

Something else that should be taken into account is the continued threat of Mexican Drug Trafficking organizations who are currently at war with the Mexican military and police on the border of the United States. This violence threatens to spill further over into the United States.

The Joint Terrorism Task Forces have their work cut out for them and have been very busy as of late. Maybe now the Department of Homeland Security will recognize the real threats and not the imagined ones.

Our Friend Hugo

This guy would be laughable if he was not so annoying. So this week we find out he has enlisted Iran's aid in exploiting Venezuela's uranium resources he gets vetted by Hollywood celebrities young and old.

We need a new batch of leadership

This is not a jab at the Prez for a change but for our congress persons. I just heard that members of the senate and their staff spent 7000 days overseas in the first three quarters of the year. Fine I can understand travel is needed to meet with foreign leaders see the troops from your district whatever. But I do not see the need to visit vacation resorts on the public's dime.

Here is my thought thanks to my beautiful bride for her input. Congress is only paid when they are in session. They also only get the same benefits as normal government employees, including travel, medical, dental, retirement etc. Also term limits for everyone two terms and you are done go home. We have to get rid of the new royal class that the politicians and their staffs have become regardless of party.

Af/Pak update

The Taliban just cannot help themselves while it is argued they maybe making progress in Afghanistan these guys maybe crapping where they eat. While I deride the Pakistanis sometimes for their unwillingness to go after the Taliban in North and South Waziristan, and for for letting the Taliban set up in Quetta. I do admire the local tribal Lashkars for fighting back. While Shiite Muslims are a minority in Pakistan they do not see the large scale suppression like they do in other Sunni countries except in and around the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA).
Back in the States we have three senior senators calling on the Administration to do what is necessary to win in Afghanistan. I do agree that Afghanistan was mismanaged and not handled correctly after the Taliban and AQ were ejected so quickly back in 2001-2002.

What I do find interesting though is the central role Pakistan continues to play in fueling jihad. It seems Pakistan and the FATA in particular fuel the world wide jihad by providing training, inspiration and in some cases immediate satisfaction in allowing jihadis to fight the infidel. I hate to say this but until the FATA is dealt with nothing will change in Afghanistan and the Sunni jihad world wide will continue to grow.