Hack this: Researchers turn Verizon device into ‘mobile spy station’

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As Florida Verizon customers are just recovering from the revelation that their phone records are being shared with the National Security Agency a new wrinkle appears. Verizon phones may be used as spying devices.

Verizon Florida is the largest cell phone carrier in the state. According to the Verizon Florida website, “Verizon’s powerful networks continue to meet the growing broadband, communications and information needs of Florida and Tampa Bay area consumers and businesses, as the company invested more than $347 million in its Florida wireline networks and information technology infrastructure in 2012.”

GEO Intelligence reports:

Security experts said they have managed to spy on Verizon Wireless mobile phone customers by hacking into devices sold by the US carrier, further fueling the controversy over privacy issues in the wake of the NSA leaks.

Tom Ritter and Doug DePerry demonstrated for Reuters how it is technically possible to eavesdrop on text messages, photos and phone calls made with an Android phone and an iPhone by using compromised Verizon products.

The hacking requires nothing more than a femtocell, which serves as a small cellphone tower to boost signal reception, which Verizon sells for $250; dozens of other carriers also offer the same technology.

The finding comes at a time of intense international debate about privacy after former NSA analyst Edward Snowden last month blew the whistle on a top-secret US surveillance program, known as PRISM, which has the capability to collect and store records on telephone and internet communications around the world.

The Verizon discovery, however, would put the power of spying into the hands of ordinary citizens, according to the researchers.

“This is not about how the NSA would attack ordinary people. This is about how ordinary people would attack ordinary people,” said Tom Ritter, a senior consultant with the security firm iSEC Partners.

Verizon announced it has updated the software on its femtocells to thwart hackers from carrying out a similar attack on its system.

Read more.

FBI: Zimmerman no racist

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Frances Robles and Scott Hiaason from the Miami Herald report:

After interviewing nearly three dozen people in the George Zimmerman murder case, the FBI found no evidence that racial bias was a motivating factor in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, records released Thursday show.

Even the lead detective in the case, Sanford Det. Chris Serino, told agents that he thought Zimmerman profiled Trayvon because of his attire and the circumstances — but not his race.

Serino saw Zimmerman as “having little hero complex, but not as a racist.”

The Duval County State Attorney released another collection of evidence in the Zimmerman murder case Thursday, including reports from FBI agents who investigated whether any racial bias was involved in Trayvon’s Feb. 26 killing.

[ … ]

The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI stepped in about a month after the killing, as protesters nationwide criticized the investigation. The original probe was conducted by police in Sanford, the central Florida community where Zimmerman lives and Trayvon was visiting while suspended from school.

RELATED COLUMNS:

Zimmerman Aftershock: NBC lawsuit, calls to investigate State Attorney Corey

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The name George Zimmerman is sending aftershocks across the state of Florida and the nation.

Since his acquittal on all charges stemming from the self defense shooting of Martin many actions and counter actions are anticipated. Among them: the lawsuit against NBC for “yellow journalism” and calls to investigate Florida State Attorney Angela Corey‘s misleading affidavit of probable cause, which had not disclosed significant exculpatory details.

Both are interrelated and deal with telling the truth.

In the first instance NBC employees (recently fired) selectively edited the 911 call that aired.

The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple reports Zimmerman attorney James Beasley stated that he and his team were eager to resume the [NBC] suit, which had been put on hold due to the beginning of the criminal trial. With that out of the way, they now intend to proceed. “We’re going to start in earnest asap, we just have to get the stay lifted which is a ministerial act,” Beasley said via email. Beasley did acknowledge that while Zimmerman’s victory in his criminal trial could be helpful to this civil suit, it was not a guarantee that he would win his defamation case.

To understand NBC’s alleged “yellow journalism” perhaps the following quotes from from a former Monitor/NBC Radio reporter are useful. The comments were sent to WDW – FL by Don Blair, former Monitor/NBC Radio news commentator and Florida resident. Blair’s last broadcast for Monitor/NBC Radio was in 1989. Blair was responding to a column posted by WDW – FL and wrote in a series of exchanges referring to Zimmerman: “Probably that a cold blooded murderer has been set free.” … “Is he immune from a drive-by shooting?  I don’t think this man can look forward to a long…or longer life from here on out.  I will drink to his death…hopefully a painful one.” … “I’ll say it again.  I will drink a toast the day that miserable bastard is gunned down.” Similar comments were made by others on social media sites. One of the defense attorneys referred to the media as “mad scientists“. Some in the media “cry foul” on the verdict.

While Blair’s comments do not reflect on the current management or employees of NBC or its affiliates, there is a lesson to be gotten from his mind set regarding the Zimmerman case.

Florida State Attorney Angela Corey

The second issue are calls for an investigation of State Attorney Angela Corey for the misleading affidavit which lead to charge of second degree murder against Zimmerman.

Multiple emails to WDW – FL state, “Please write to Governor Scott and request that he immediately order a full and comprehensive investigation into the actions of State Attorney Angela Corey during the entire George Zimmerman arrest and trial.”

William A. Jacobson from Legal Insurrection reports:

In early April 2012, Florida State Attorney Angela Corey decided not to take the George Zimmerman case to a Grand Jury, opting for the filing of a Criminal Information which then was presented along with an Affidavit of Probable Cause.  The Court found probable cause for the charges.

It turned out, once pre-trial discovery was exchanged, that the affidavit upon which probable cause was found had not disclosed a lot of significant exculpatory details.  There was no mention of the significant injuries to Zimmerman, or of John Good’s eyewitness account that Martin was on top of Zimmerman hitting him Mixed Martial Arts style.  All the Affidavit said on the subject of the physical confrontation was that there was “a struggle.”

Read more.

Eliott C. McLaughlin from CNN reports:

The George Zimmerman investigation was hijacked “in a number of ways” by outside forces, said the former police chief of Sanford, Florida.

Bill Lee, who testified Monday in Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial, told CNN’s George Howell in an exclusive interview that he felt pressure from city officials to arrest Zimmerman to placate the public rather than as a matter of justice.

“It was (relayed) to me that they just wanted an arrest. They didn’t care if it got dismissed later,” he said. “You don’t do that.”

Read more.

The shock waves from the Zimmerman acquittal are just now being felt. Stay tuned, it will be a bumpy ride.

RELATED VIDEO: Prosecutors address the media after the verdict. Corey states Zimmerman “profiled” Trayvon Martin. Listen carefully to the media questions and statements by Corey.

What will President Obama say about the Trayvon Martin shooting now?

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Foot-in-mouth is saying something stupid, insulting, or hurtful. Normally people regret it when they put their foot in their mouth. They learn from the experience and try not to make the same mistake again. President Obama has a chance to not make another mistake in the case of the shooting of Trayvon Martin. But will he?

President Obama during a rose garden press conference when asked about the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin stated, “But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon. And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”

Now Americans know exactly what happened. George Zimmerman, after a five week trial in Sanford, Florida, has been acquitted on all criminal charges in the shooting.

The NAACP has called upon the US Department of Justice to “pursue civil rights charges” against Zimmerman. But can Zimmerman get a fair review given the above statement by the President? What about the recent Judicial Watch revelations that a little-known unit of the Department of Justice, the Community Relations Service (CRS), was “deployed to Sanford, FL, following the Trayvon Martin shooting to help organize and manage rallies and protests against George Zimmerman”?

President Obama also said in his rose garden comments on the Martin shooting, “I’m the head of the executive branch, and the Attorney General reports to me so I’ve got to be careful about my statements to make sure that we’re not impairing any investigation that’s taking place right now.” Does this apply to the DOJ getting involved at the behest of the NAACP?

Will the President come out and say it is time to move on? Or will he make this more of a political issue than it already is?

Both the President and AG Holder are facing multiple scandals (targeting journalists, NSA data mining, IRS targeting religious/conservative groups, Benghazi security/cover up, Obamacare shortfalls in implementation, etc.). Will the President make a political calculation to take this on in order to deflect criticism away from his administration’s problems?

The President has used others to change the national narrative. Will George Zimmerman be his next strawman?

EDITORS NOTE: According to Florida law Zimmerman “[I]s immune from criminal prosecution and civil action” in the shooting of Martin.

RELATED COLUMNS:

NAACP calls on Obama admin to pursue civil rights charges…
Holder Faces Big Decision…

Zimmerman in the crosshairs: “Creepy A _ _ Cracker” shirt in front of Seminole County Courthouse

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UPDATE: ZIMMERMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY.

Facebook and Twitter are alive with photos taken of people protesting in front of the Seminole County courthouse where the George Zimmerman trial has ended and the jury is in deliberation. During an interview on The Five on Fox News, Greta Van Susteren remarked that she was nervous about some of the protesters gathering and calling for justice for Trayvon Martin.

Perhaps Greta saw the shirt worn by this black man:

This photo is posted on Twitter:

Betrayed: The High Cost of the War on Terror

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On August 6, 2011 Florida residents Billy and Karen Vaughn lost their son Arron when the helicopter he was in was shot down. Arron was a member of SEAL Team Six. Now Billy Vaughn has released his new book, co-authored by Major General (Ret.) Paul Vallely. The book is titled, “Betrayed: The High Cost of the War on Terror“. The book is being released in August.

betrayed book coverAbout The Book

August 06, 2011, 2:20 a.m.—Operation Lefty Grove is underway, a highly dangerous mission to take out another high-level Taliban operative, three months after the death of Osama Bin Laden.

In the pitch-black dark of night, twenty-five Special Ops Forces and a five-man flight crew board Extortion 17, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Seven unidentified Afghan Commandos are allowed to join them.

Ground forces have already been engaged in a three-hour intensive battle. Extortion 17’s specially trained warriors drop into the Hot Landing Zone to help their fellow warriors. But there’s a problem: the standard chopper escorts have all been directed elsewhere. Mission directions are unclear. Worse, pre-assault fire to cover the Chinook transporting our brave fighting men is not ordered.

Extortion 17 comes into the landing in this hot spot for terrorism. The Taliban shoots down the chopper.

There are no survivors.

Over the next few months as unsettling information on the tragic incident is released to the families, Billy Vaughn, father of one of the downed Special Ops warriors, becomes increasingly disturbed. He is told that the Rules of Engagement have prevented our brave defenders from protecting themselves.

Adding insult to injury, he later learned an Imam was invited to “pray” over their dead bodies. As they lay in their caskets before their last flight home, the Imam damned America’s fallen warriors as infidels who would burn in hell. The Imam boasted over their deaths with words such as “Muslims are the winners.”

BETRAYED: Exposing the High Cost of the War on Terror is a book Billy Vaughn still wishes he didn’t have to write. But his son is gone and there are still unanswered questions. He needs to know if finding the truth may prevent another father from standing in his shoes.

When this bereaved father meets retired Major General Paul Vallely, he finds an ally. General Vallely lends his expertise and in-depth understanding to this tragedy as the two describe in stunning detail the step-by-step events that led to the downing of Extortion 17.

Together they expose the military shift in policy from winning wars to “winning their hearts and minds,” which leaves America’s military in dire peril.

If not reversed, this failed strategy spanning the past two political administrations, will ultimately open the doors to our enemies on our own soil, leaving our country, our homes, and all our families unsafe.

Throughout the process of writing this book, several government officials have made it clear that they are not interested in the truth. When a high-ranking Military officer asked Billy to remain silent, Billy Vaughn asked him, “Sir, what kind of man do you think I would be if I was silent about the things that we have found out?”

Betrayed may be ordered by clicking here.

RELATED VIDEOS:

Florida: Beware of the terrorists among us

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Hezbollah flag.

Hezbollah (the party of Allah) supported by Iran is a terrorist organization that is fighting with the Assad regime in Syria.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, “Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political group in Lebanon with a militant wing the United States defines as a terrorist organization. With significant support from Iran and Syria, Hezbollah maintains an extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network in Lebanon, where the group is often described as a ‘state within the state’  … [T]he U.S. government considers Hezbollah a global terrorist threat and a menace to regional stability.”

In the report “Los Zetas and Hezbollah, a Deadly Alliance of Terror and Vice“ Terence Rosenthal writes, “When Americans think about the illegal drug trade and black markets in Mexico, it is probable that they do not associate them with terrorism, or Islamic fundamentalism. One would think that drug cartels like Los Zetas, the most sophisticated and second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico would have enough allies and connections not to need the assistance of an organization like Hezbollah based halfway across the world in Lebanon. However, there is proof that Hezbollah, as well as elements of the Iranian Quds force are functioning with cartels like Los Zetas, the most sophisticated drug cartel in Mexico. The combination of power hungry cartels like Los Zetas, and terrorist organizations like Hezbollah who want a presence in North America, in or near the United States inhibit U.S. companies from wanting to conduct business in Mexico, and should not remain unnoticed.”

Los Zetas beheadings.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center known Los Zetas cells are in Miami, Gainesville and West Palm Beach, Florida.

The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) assesses with high confidence that in 2009, Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) were operating in the United States in at least 1,286 cities spanning all nine Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) regions, based on law enforcement reporting.

Moreover, NDIC assesses with high confidence that Mexican DTOs in at least 143 of these U.S. cities (see Appendix A) were linked to a specific Mexican Cartel or DTO based in Mexico—the Sinaloa Cartel (at least 75 cities), the Gulf Cartel/Los Zetas (at least 37 cities), the Juárez Cartel (at least 33 cities), the Beltrán-Leyva DTO (at least 30 cities), La Familia Michoacán (at least 27 cities), or the Tijuana Cartel (at least 21 cities). NDIC assesses with high confidence that Mexican DTOs will further expand their drug trafficking operations in the United States in the near term, particularly in the New England, New York/New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida/Caribbean Regions.

Rosenthal notes, “Since 2005, Iran and Hezbollah have developed a presence in Latin America, opening 17 cultural centers, and forming relations with the Mexican drug cartels. 200,000 immigrants from Lebanon and Syria, many of whom are illegal residents, live in Mexico, and have established residence with the help of drug cartels like Los Zetas, the most technically advanced of Mexico’s drug cartels.”

“The lure of criminal activity and the drug trade, coupled with the presence of Hezbollah and Iranian Quds forces in neighboring Mexico present the United States with a major threat at its borders,” writes Rosenthal.

Beware Florida of the terrorists amongst us.

The below video report about the Hezbollah Venezuela connection is courtesy of Tom Trento from The United West:

Disney adding same-sex parents to channel watched by children

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With the recent Supreme Court Decision on DOMA, it appears that the Disney Channel, which is for family viewing, is redefining the family. TVGuide.com reports in part:

Exclusive: Disney Channel Breaks New Ground with Good Luck Charlie Episode

In a first for the Disney Channel, next season an episode of Good Luck Charlie will feature a family with two moms.

Producers are currently casting the couple, with production set for next week. The episode will air in early 2014 as part of Good Luck Charlie‘s final season. Because Good Luck Charlie is coming to a close, the characters are only expected to appear in this one episode. Click here to read more.

Bizpacreview.com reports, “The LGBT lobby has been pressuring Disney lately to feature characters from its community in family-oriented programming.  Once again LGBT activists are pushing their agenda on Disney.”

David Caton of the Florida Family Association states, “However, it appears from the choices that the Disney Channel made that they are reluctant to include same-sex characters on a regular basis.  Disney made the decision that these characters will only have one episode which is the last episode of the final season.  Disney has clearly limited these characters on this channel.  Additionally, Disney announced the episode more than six months before it will air.  This may mean that Disney is gauging public reaction.”

The Florida Family Association is asking parents and viewers of the Disney Channel to send an email to Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks President, Disney/ABC Television Group, to voice their opinions.

According to the FFA website, “Florida Family Association hired two aircraft to pull banners  for  20  hours  the  day  before  and 10 hours the day of Gay Day.  The banner warned tens of thousands  of  families  about  the  offensive gay pride event in the Magic Kingdom on June 2, 2012.  Thousands of LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexuals,  Transgenders)  converge on the Magic Kingdom the first Saturday of every June to demonstrate their same-sex affection to a captured audience of children with the mission of using  their  large numbers to legitimize their lifestyle.  Florida  Family  Association’s  team in the park estimated that attendance by mainstream families was down approximately 50% to 60% over the average attendance  of  the last  ten  years.”

To view the survey results click here.

Florida exceeds national average in: Rapes, Robberies, Assaults, Thefts and Burglaries

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According to NeighborhoodScout.com Florida has more rapes, robberies, assaults, thefts, motor vehicle thefts and burglaries per 1,000 citizens than the national average.

Florida Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports show that in 2011 there were 769,399 violent crimes, 98,199 property crimes, 671,200 property crimes, 984 murders, 5,274 forcible rapes, 25,622 robberies, 66,319 aggravated assaults, 170,171 burglaries, 461,408 larceny-thefts and 39,621 vehicle thefts.

In Florida there is a 1 in 194 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim.

Belief.net reports, “According to Neighborhood Scout the city of Sanford has a crime index of 3 – which means the city is safer than 3% of the cities in the US. A score of 100 is safest. A score of 3 wouldn’t make you feel so secure would it? The specific area where this happened was the gated community of Retreat at Twin Lakes but from another article taken off the web I found this …police had been called to the 260-unit complex 402 times from Jan. 1, 2011 to Feb. 26, 2012. Looking at these stats puts things into a little bit of a different perspective.”

Perhaps that is why over 1 million Floridians hold a concealed carry permit. Many Florida communities have formed neighborhood watches.

In Sanford, Florida there is a 1 in 164 chance of becoming a victim of crime of violent crime and a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim.

While the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports an overall drop in the crime rate of 6.5%, citizens remain concerned as they increasingly become the targets of violent and nonviolent crime.

One issue in Florida is black crime.

In 2012, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an annual report titled, “Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys“. The annual report done by the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys found:

“Homicide remains the leading cause of death across the state of Florida for black males between ages 15-34. The black male population is the only subgroup for which homicide is the leading causes of death. Unintentional injury, the second leading cause of death for this age group, accounts for fewer than half the homicide deaths among black males. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for black males between ages 15-24, and HIV/AIDS is the third leading cause for those between ages 25-34. Among those aged 35-44, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death compared to white and Hispanic males.” [Emphasis added]

The Blaze reports, “A 2007 special report released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, reveals that approximately 8,000 — and, in certain years, as many as 9,000 African Americans are murdered annually in the United States. This chilling figure is accompanied by another equally sobering fact, that 93% of these murders are in fact perpetrated by other blacks. The analysis, supported by FBI records, finds that in 2005 alone, for example, African Americans accounted for 49% of all homicide victims in the US — again, almost exclusively at the hands of other African Americans.”

Crime in Florida is now top of mind given the high profile coverage of the George Zimmerman case. One thing under reported is black crime in Florida.

Exclusive interview with Egyptian activist Cynthia Farahat (+ Video)

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Cynthia Farahat

Florida radio talk show host Tom Trento interviews Egyptian activist Cynthia Farahat on the imploding and exploding events in the Middle East. During this exclusive interview Farahat provides key insights into what is happening in Egypt and its short and long term implications on the United States and its allies.

Cynthia Farahat is an Egyptian political activist, writer and researcher. Co-founder of the Misr El-Umm (2003-06) and the Liberal Egyptian (2006-08) parties, which stood for peace with Israel, secularism, and anti-Islamism, she was under long-term surveillance by the State Security Intelligence Service before seeking political asylum in the United States in 2011.

Ms Farahat worked with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty in Cairo, and the Center for Security Policy and Coptic Solidarity. She has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and received an award from the Endowment for Middle East Truth in 2012, and the Profiles in Courage Award from ACT for America in 2013.

She is an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Forum and co-author of two books in Arabic and, among other journals, has published in the Middle East Quarterly, National Review Online, Front Page Magazine and The Washington Times.

Watch this exclusive interview with Cynthia Farahat courtesy of TrentoVision.TV and The United West:

EDITORS NOTE: Please contact Tom Trento at The United West for more information on his program and guests. WDW – FL is not responsible for the content of this broadcast.

RELATED COLUMNS:

Cairo newspaper sends personal message to Obama
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood members murder seven, injure dozens on way to anti-Morsi protests
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood supporters attack Christians in Luxor, murder four, injure 32
Chilling video: Pro-Morsi supporters threaten suicide bombings and death to Christians
Egypt’s military takes charge with Morsi in custody; other Brotherhood leaders being sought
Egypt: Muslims burn down 23 houses belonging to Christians
Muslim Brotherhood claims interim Egyptian president is Jewish

Was FL Senator Bill Nelson less than truthful about Benghazi?

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Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) sent out a May 7, 2013 email reply to a constituent about the Benghazi attack. In the email Senator Nelson states:

Thank you for contacting me about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. I was one of the first to call for hearings to get to the bottom of what happened. I questioned members of the Administration as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and, more recently, as a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. [Emphasis added]

Senator Nelson was not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee when he sent the email. He is currently on the Aging,  Budget, Commerce, Armed Services and Finance committees. On November 15, 2012, Tom Curry, NBC News national affairs writer, reported that when Senator John McCain (R-AZ) called for a special Benghazi panel, “A Democrat in the Intelligence Committee, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, flatly rejected McCain’s proposal: We have all the relevant committees, including the one that I sit on which is Intel. We’re having a hearing on that tomorrow and he (McCain) sits on the Intel Committee as ex officio (as the senior Republican member of the Armed Services Committee).”

Senator Nelson goes on to state:

The military’s initial response began within minutes of the first incident in Benghazi. An unmanned, unarmed surveillance aircraft was moved over the Benghazi compound. Secretary Panetta and Gen. Dempsey conferred first with the President, and then with senior officials including Gen. Carter Ham, U.S. Africa Command. During those meetings, Secretary Panetta ordered two fleet antiterrorism security team (FAST) platoons to prepare to deploy. The Secretary also issued verbal prepare-to-deploy orders for two special operations teams. In the 12 hours between the start of the attacks and the evacuation from Benghazi, DoD postured forces to meet any contingencies that might develop. The independent Accountability Review Board found that the interagency response was timely, and that no alternative or additional armed U.S. military assets were available within a timeline to be effective in Benghazi. [Emphasis added]

Testimony since this email was sent portrays a completely different picture of what happened in Benghazi. On the ground military assets in Libya were not deployed in a timely manner. Those assets in Europe and the Mediterranean that could have been deployed were told to stand down.  The handpicked Accountability Review Board included as Chair, Former Under Secretary of State Tom Pickering. Note the subpoena referenced in a letter to Pickering in mid-May by House Oversight Chair, Darrell Issa:

Your refusal to allow staff investigators to interview you is inconsistent with your commitment to be “tough and transparent.” I hope you will reconsider your position in order to assist the Committee in gaining a full and complete understanding of the ARB’s work, and to help us address concerns career State Department officials and others have raised. In light of your continuing refusal to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview, however, I have found it necessary to issue a subpoena to compel your appearance at a deposition. This subpoena creates a legal requirement that you appear in room 2157 of the Rayburn House Office Building at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013, and that you answer questions fully and truthfully. It remains my preference for you to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview, and if that should also become your preference, please notify my staff and I will consider lifting the subpoena.

Nelson’s letter concludes with:

Congress must do its part to ensure that Americans working abroad are safe from attack. Earlier this year the Senate passed legislation that I cosponsored allowing the transfer of $1.1 billion to enhance security at U.S. Embassies. I remain concerned about the spread of extremism in North Africa, and I assure you that I will keep your views in mind as Congress works to address these issues. [Emphasis added]

On May 16, 2013 Glenn Kessler from The Washington Post fact checked the underfunding of security for Benghazi and found, “During hearings into the attack last fall and this month, State Department officials were specifically asked if a lack of financial resources played a role in the attack. The answer was no.” A key finding in the ARB report was: “Security in Benghazi was not recognized and implemented as a ‘shared responsibility’ by the bureaus in Washington charged with supporting the post, resulting in stove-piped discussions and decisions on policy and security. That said, Embassy Tripoli did not demonstrate strong and sustained advocacy with Washington for increased security for Special Mission Benghazi,” Kessler reported.

Was Senator Nelson pushing the administration’s talking points? His email indicates discrepancies that he should have known about before he sent it.

Zimmerman in a 2010 race-related beating pushed to discipline same officers who investigated Trayvon Martin shooting

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Justin Collison, son of Sanford Police Department Lt. Chris Collison

As the prosecution rests in the George Zimmerman trial and the defence begins presenting its case it is important to remember what Matthew Boyle, investigative reporter for The Daily Caller, reported in its column, “In 2010 race-related beating case, George Zimmerman pushed to discipline same officers who investigated Trayvon Martin shooting“.

Boyle reported:

In late 2010 and early 2011 George Zimmerman, the Hispanic Sanford, Fla., man who shot and killed 17-year-old black teen Trayvon Martin, publicly demanded discipline in a race-related beating case for at least two of the police officers who cleared him after the Feb. 26 altercation, according to records obtained by The Daily Caller.

In a letter to Seminole County NAACP president Turner Clayton, a member of the Zimmerman family wrote that George was one of “very few” in Sanford who publicly condemned the “beating of the black homeless man Sherman Ware on Dec. 4, 2010, by the son of a Sanford police officer,” who is white.

The DC has confirmed the identity of the Zimmerman family member who wrote the letter but is withholding that person’s specific identity out of concern for the family’s safety.

On Dec. 4, 2010, Justin Collison, the son of Sanford Police Department Lt. Chris Collison, was involved in a bar fight at The Wet Spot bar in Sanford. During the fight, which moved from indoors to outdoors, the younger Collison struck Ware.

Read more.

ABC News reported:

RELATED COLUMNS:

Cop’s Son Turns Himself In After Seen Beating Homeless Man

Florida National Guard to begin furloughs due to sequester

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rick scott

Governor Rick Scott

Governor Scott has repeatedly called for an end to the National Guard furloughs (forced leave without pay), which start Monday, July 8th. The Governor offered the state’s budget experts to assist the Department of Defense in finding ways to save federal money that do not result in a loss of pay for National Guard military families or jeopardize state preparedness and response capabilities during hurricane season.

In a letter, Governor Scott points out that the National Guard offered to take funding reductions from other areas in their budget that would not impact personnel. The Guard also requested to take reductions before or after hurricane season so as to not affect emergency response capabilities. Unfortunately, both requests were denied by the federal government. Now, Florida National Guard members will begin taking leave without pay beginning Monday, July 8, 2013.

Florida Today reports, “Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio say there’s nothing they can do right now. Congress agreed to the across-the-board sequestration cuts as part of a 2011 deal to raise the nation’s debt limit. They affect almost every area of the budget, including defense programs that help coordinate National Guard activity in every state.”

Videos of Governor Scott calling for the National Guard furloughs to end during a press conference at the state’s emergency operations center a few weeks ago are here and here.

Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon sent a letter to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson on the effects of the National Guard furloughs. The letter is available here.

In an email to WDW – FL a retired veteran writes, “This has impacted our son, a special agent for the FBI. This year he will loose 10% of his pay with a daughter who will start college this fall. Nice. He is working on a top priority investigation (all secret, of course) but can not get any exemption from the unpaid days off. Our overall security is on the decline!”

Black racism in Florida: “Polar bear hunting” is illegal

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Are you familiar with the Knockout Game? It is a racially motivated violent game that targets whites. In Florida it is called  “polar bear hunting” and it is illegal.

How is it played?

You start with a group of blacks that number anywhere from 3 to 30 people. As a group, they search for white people, preferably alone, elderly and somewhat defenseless. If they can’t find any, Asians are the next ethnic group targeted. When a target is selected, at least one of the blacks approaches the target and then suddenly sucker punches them in the face as hard as they can. If the victim is knocked out, the person that hit them wins. If the victim is not knocked out, then you continue to hit and kick them until you’re too tired to hit anymore or until the person is dead.

Knockout has become all too common in St. Louis, Missouri. In the past two years, there have been at least 100 Knockout victims, some of which have died. In 2011, one victim was Matt Quain, who was jumped by a group of black teens and beaten, suffered numerous abrasions to his face along with a broken jaw. One of the teens involved in the attack was Demetrius Murphy, a member of one of the most heinous groups in St. Louis known as the “Knockout Gang”.

Below are videos on YouTube showing knockouts. Warning the images in these videos are disturbing:

Colin Flaherty has documented this epidemic of black mob violence in his new book “White Girl Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence and how the media ignore it.” Flaherty documents, “The Midwest state fair with a ‘Beat Whitey Night?’ Or the Black Beach Week that turns a town into a ‘living hell?’ Or the school principal who blamed Asian students for being racist after suffering years of abuse? The eleven episodes of racial violence on the Fourth of July 2012? Some involving more than 1000 black people?”

Knockout is a racial hate crime that is being ignored and swept under the rug by black social leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson Sr. and the media. If a group of whites played Knockout and targeted blacks, Sharpton, the media and the national press would be giving it the coverage of the George Zimmerman trial, but since it’s blacks targeting whites, everyone just turns their heads and says nothing.

According to US and World Report, “A poll released Wednesday [July 3, 2013] by Rasmussen found African-Americans are more likely to be viewed as racist than whites. Thirty-seven percent of poll respondents said “most black Americans” are racist, compared to just 15 percent who said most whites are racist and 18 percent who said most Hispanics are racist.”

Hunting “polar bears” adds fuel to the black racist fire.

Watch the Colin Flaherty video documenting knockout gamers:

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St. Lucie (FL) Commission to change zoning laws to accomdate Islamic cemetery

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Creeping Sharia reports:

Board of County Commission St. Lucie, Florida

The St. Lucie County Commission on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on a rezoning request to allow for an Islamic cemetery.

In a 6-0 vote June 20, the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission,with three members absent, approved a request by Adel Nefzi to rezone about 5 acres on Christensen Road south of West Midway Road to institutional from agricultural residential for the purpose of building a private cemetery for Baraka Center, a nonprofit Islamic educational and cultural center.

About 20 residents objected to the rezoning.

As usual, ignored by those who supposedly represent them.

Also, Nefzi received a conditional use to build a cemetery, as cemeteries regardless of religion, are not permitted under the county’s zoning code

Islamic faith prohibits Muslims from being buried next to non-Muslims.

The Islamic faith also tells Muslims not to take Christians and Jews as friends and commands Muslims to fight non-Muslims until they accept Islam.