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Does Obama Wish to Cripple the CIA with Panetta?

Jim Kouri, CPP — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:50:25 +0000

On Tuesday, former Clinton Administration adviser Dick Morris told Fox News Channel that President-Elect Barack Obama’s motive for the nomination of Leon Panetta to the important post of Director of Central Intelligence is to tear that agency apart.

While I concur with Morris’ assessment (I rarely agree with the bloviating Morris), it is my hope Panetta will be either turned away during his confirmation hearings or his name will be withdrawn altogether. (more…)

Obama Nominates Leon Panetta for CIA Chief

Jim Kouri, CPP — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:57:32 +0000

In a nation already suspicious of its intelligence agencies, is it wise to appoint a former Clinton crony as Director of Central Intelligence?

Well, two Democratic officials leaked the story that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA, according to Los Angeles’ newsradio KNX. (more…)

California Man Pleads Guilty in International Child Exploitation Enterprise Case

Jim Kouri, CPP — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:51:55 +0000

Raymond Roy of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., yesterday became the sixth defendant to plead guilty for his involvement in a global child pornography trafficking enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Thomas F. Kirwin and FBI Executive Assistant Director J. Stephen Tidwell announced. (more…)

Media Complicit in Creating Economic Crisis

Jim Kouri, CPP — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:49:47 +0000

Seventy-seven percent of Americans believe that the US media is making the economic situation worse by projecting fear into people’s minds.

The majority of those surveyed feel that the financial press, by focusing on and embellishing negative news, is damaging consumer confidence and dampening investment, making a difficult situation much worse. The poll was conducted via telephone, December 4 - 7. (more…)

CAIR: AirTran Airways Refuses To Board Nine Muslims

Jim Kouri, CPP — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:52:22 +0000

On New Year’s Day, nine American Muslim passengers were not permitted to board an AirTran Airways flight going to Florida at Reagan National Airport, claims the Islamic group Council on American-Islamic Relations or CAIR.

According to the Muslim passengers, some airline passengers complained about something that the group allegedly said while boarding the plane, which led to two federal air marshals ordering the passengers to deplane for rescreening. (more…)

Amnesty International’s Anti-Israeli Complaint

Jim Kouri, CPP — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:47:23 +0000

Leave it to the folks at Amnesty International to take the side of Islamic terrorists in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. What the hell is “disproportionate response” when you are dealing with terrorists? Read Amnesty International USA’s released statement below, but have a barf bag available. (more…)

Covert Actions Necessary in War on Terrorism

Jim Kouri, CPP — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:05:25 +0000

Covert actions (as distinguished from the covert collection of information) are used to influence political, military, or economic conditions or situations abroad, where it is intended that the role of the US Government will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly. (more…)

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to Hezbollah

Jim Kouri, CPP — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:52:40 +0000

Lev L. Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Saleh Elahwal, 55, of Matawan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to providing material support to Hezbollah, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. According to the count (Count Two) of the Superseding Indictment to which Elahwal pleaded guilty, and statements made during his guilty plea proceeding before United States District Judge Richard M. Berman: (more…)

Foreign Spies Victimize US Businesses and Economy

Jim Kouri, CPP — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:33:17 +0000

[The following is based on an FBI strategy report sent to the 14,000-member National Association of Chiefs of Police.]

The foreign intelligence threat within the United States is far more complex than it has ever been historically. The threat is increasingly asymmetrical insofar as it comes not only from traditional foreign intelligence services but also from nontraditional, non-state actors who operate from decentralized organizations. (more…)

Obama Team Should Expect “Strategic Shocks” in Defense Strategy Development

Jim Kouri, CPP — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:45:16 +0000

The current defense team confronted a game-changing “strategic shock” in its first 8 months in office. The Obama team would be well-advised to expect the same.

Defense-relevant strategic shocks jolt convention to such an extent that they force sudden, unanticipated change in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) perceptions about threat, vulnerability, and strategic response. Their unanticipated onset forces the entire defense enterprise to reorient and restructure institutions, employ capabilities in unexpected ways, and confront challenges that are fundamentally different than those routinely considered in defense calculations. (more…)