The Terrorist’s Disneyland

From Yahoo News –Iraq a “terrorist Disneyland” if U.S. goes: expert (excerpted, emphasis added):

A U.S. troop pullout from Iraq would leave the country as a potent launchpad for international terrorism and Washington would be forced to go back in within a couple of years, a leading al Qaeda expert said on Tuesday.

Rohan Gunaratna told a security conference at Lloyd’s of London insurance market that Iraq, like Afghanistan in the 1990s, would become a “terrorist Disneyland” where al Qaeda could build up its strength unchallenged.

If U.S., British and other coalition troops withdrew from Iraq in the next year, he said, “certainly the scale of attacks that would be mounted inside Iraq, and using Iraq as a launching pad to strike other Western countries — countries in Europe, North America – would become such that after two or three years, the U.S. forces will have to go back to Iraq.”

Democrats are pushing for a time frame for withdrawal, something the White House opposes as sending the wrong message to U.S. forces, allies and enemies alike. Some Republicans are also questioning the war more publicly.

A former head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service MI6 described Gunaratna’s analysis as convincing.

“Clearly al Qaeda are focusing on Iraq now, and focusing on some sort of propaganda victory over the United States,” Sir Richard Dearlove told reporters.

“Whether that’s an actual victory or not, if they can claim in the Muslim world that they’ve done well, then that puts us in a very difficult position. This is really an aspect of withdrawal that hasn’t been properly considered. That’s why I think we can’t just let Iraq go its own way.”

The timeline politicians (on both sides of the aisle) might want to consider something many have been trying to point out, especially given their timelines have been falling “in the next year”.

While they continue to squabble over a bad idea, specialized vehicles capable of withstanding IEDs  are being held up (I’m not sure if these offer protection against the lesss frequently used EFPs).  More on the  Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) can also be found at BlackFive.

In any case, if the defeatists win, the mascot for the ‘theme park’ is a shoo-in.

Social Security Fraud and Amnesty

A recent drug bust in Lexington County, SC revealed a Social Security Number counterfeiting operation (excerpted and emphasis added):

It also is an example of how easy it is to use fake and counterfeit Social Security cards and numbers in the United States… said U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd, whose office is prosecuting the cases.

“If documents look authentic, employers take them and process them,” said Lloyd. He said new government technology being developed may make verification of Social Security numbers easier in the future.

S.C. DEA chief John Ozaluk said the investigation is ongoing…and illegal immigrants often use false names.

Indictments in the current case allege illegal immigrants used fake Social Security numbers and wage statements in a variety of ways. They got jobs at Rea Contracting and Amick Processing, a chicken packing plant in Saluda County near Batesburg-Leesville, one of the Midlands’ major employers. Amick’s has some 1,500 workers, many of whom are Hispanic.

The immigrants also used the numbers to sign up for power with S.C. Electric & Gas Co. (the power company uses the numbers to check credit), register with the S.C. Employment Security Commission, apply for leases and buy a Cadillac, according to charges in U.S. District Court.

A complaint in the case says illegal immigrants used counterfeit Social Security cards as well as “non-enumerated,” or as yet unassigned, Social Security numbers. The suspects also used numbers belonging to other people, a complaint said.

Earlier this year, Lloyd said, a lucky break led to the discovery of 17 other illegal immigrants, nearly all Mexicans, working at an Aiken-area tire manufacturing company. All were using fraudulent or stolen Social Security numbers or other fake identification.

The workers were discovered after an S.C. resident trying to file for benefits learned that she was ineligible because someone else was holding a job at an Aiken company using her Social Security number, Lloyd said. Thirteen illegal immigrant workers were deported. Four remain fugitives.

Some people are going to have some cleaning up to do if their SSNs were used for the electric bills, Employment Security Commission (unemployment?!), and the loans.  I assume the victims have been informed of the breach…but I wonder about those who will receive the unassigned numbers.  I would hope the SS Admin will clear those up prior to assignment so a newborn doesn’t get stuck with a Cadillac loan.

Ironically, if amnesty passes, as it stands, the identity theft stuff will also be waived – if they used your (or your baby’s) SSN to get work, you get to fix the problem.

Finally, I’ve added a link to another blog who’s focus is ID Theft:  The ID Space additionally, the WordPress Identity Theft tag is also worth a look.

Armed Service Reactions on Iraq

Why giving up in Iraq is not an option – By Sgt. Maj. Gerald T. Peil

How to Lose (or Win) a War – a Soldier in Iraq training Iraqi forces in Baghdad

Items of Note – Matt, a Marine in Fallujah

Military Blogs in the War Zones – list and links to MilBlogs on the front (highly recommended).

A Baghdad plea: U.S. should stay and fight – Mohammed Fadil (Iraq the Model)

I thought about posting snippets from each, but the post would’ve been simply too massive (and I didn’t have the time to reread, copy/paste, etc). Further, this is really just providing a brief glimpse of soldier (and one Iraqi’s) reaction to the political games over here. The middle three links come from BlackFive but one is simply links to some milblogs.

In the meantime, the Democrat leadership will continue with daily conference calls with anti-war groups associated and enabled by left wing groups such as Soros’ MoveOn.org. I hope no one is surprised by this, by the way. Interestingly enough, the leadership can find the time to coordinate political strategies with them, but finds it tough to meet with Gen Petraeus.

UPDATE: Positive steps in Diyala province: The Diyala Salvation Front
UPDATE: More reaction: Anbar Sitrep from an NCO.  Also, we got a big fish in Afghanistan.

OK takes on Illegal Immigration

The Govenor of Oklahoma signed a sweeping immigration bill.

One of the bill’s highlights (for me, anyway) is the focus on id verification – House sends sweeping immigration reform bill to governor’s desk:

The measure targets employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens in order to gain a competitive advantage. Key elements of the bill focus on determining worker eligibility, including technology called the Basic Pilot program, which screens Social Security numbers to make sure they are real and that they match up with the person’s name.

Created by the federal government to verify the eligibility of government employees, use of the program is mandated in Georgia, said the author of the Oklahoma legislation, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. It is free to employers who voluntarily sign up, he said.

Public agencies will be required to use the program beginning Nov. 1 and private companies by July 1, 2008.

Mike Seney, senior vice president of operations for The State Chamber, a business and industry group in Oklahoma City, said the group initially opposed the bill but took a neutral position after changes were approved in the Senate

The measure would not affect emergency medical and humanitarian services, such as visits to hospital emergency rooms and enrollment in public schools, that are required by federal law.

Ultimately, this part of the bill goes way beyond illegal immigration. It will be likely asset in identifying and interdicting ID theft and ID fraud. While this may prevent businesses from ‘playing dumb’ when realistically knowingly hiring illegal immigrants it will also make it tougher for those who want to hide their true identity (be they a fugitive, deadbeat parent, or common criminal). The move will also afford an new layer of protection for the highly favored child identities as well as adult IDs. This year, the Utah legislature and some influential business interests just couldn’t quite stomach a similar move on ID theft.

Finally, I recently wondered if the three illegal immigrant Fort Dix Jihadis used fake SSNs to obtain work. It seems much more likely that they did (from a FoxNews Report):

The brothers entered the United States near Brownsville, Texas, in 1984, the source said, which would put their ages at 1 to 6 when they crossed the border.

The source said there is no record of them entering by way of a regular border crossing, so they are investigating whether they were smuggled into the country.

The appear to have entered a long time ago.  Hopefully, no terrorists have entered via the southern (or northern) border.   I’m sure violent criminals have (MS13, is an example).  ID verification would make it harder for them to attain employment and blend in – essentially another tool in catching them if they make it into the country.

Spinning City Power Rates

What is the difference between a power rate hike and savings? Ownership, of course! If its Rocky Mountain Power, it’s a rate hike to line fat cat pockets but if its city power, its a means of holding the line on taxes. At least that is the way Bountiful City is spinning its annual rate increase:

BOUNTIFUL — A small power rate hike will be presented to the Bountiful City Council tonight, Tuesday, as art of its tentative budget.

“It includes a 2 percent increase,” City Manager Tom Hardy told the Clipper late last week. “It’s to cover the costs of increased power costs.”“We’re not replenishing our reserves that we had previously, but not depleting or going into the hole,” Hardy continued. However, the contribution to city services from the power department is a bit lower, “a little over a $200,000 decrease,” he said. “That’s something we’d obviously like to keep at the level it was.”

“But in these days and times, it was at about $2.4 million, and now it’s just a little over $2 million. What that represents for us is the return of the investment that we’d like to have.

“Obviously, it’s to benefit our citizens for (the city) being in the power business. I think our citizens are getting a very favorable result, and we plan to keep it that way,” Hardy said.

“The contribution we (power department) make to the city, we look at that as in lieu of taxes,” Michaelis [Power Dept. Manager] said. “They own us, and this is seen as a rate of return.”

[emphasis added]

This stuff is really laughable (seriously, I’m laughing at this). Power consumers are being over charged $2 million for their power so that the city can stick the money in its general fund and then tell citizens that this is a great deal for them.

The line about this being in ‘lieu of taxes’ is just as hilarious. We raised your rates rather than being up front and requesting a tax hike. Well, I suppose if the state raised vehicle registration fees by $100, that would be a great deal, right? They didn’t raise taxes so obviously it would be “a rate of return”. The funny thing is these seem to result in a lighter wallet and a lower bank balance. I guess Mr. Michealis forgot to mention who actually reaps the cash in the “rate of return”.

As I understand it, Bountiful power (BP) rates are roughly equivalent to Rocky Mountain Power. What is worse, is that Rocky Mountain Power is attempting to make a profit (including payments to shareholders) and must pay taxes while BP doesn’t pay taxes and isn’t a for profit enterprise. Speaking of which, I wonder how much regulatory oversight BP must deal with vs the publicly traded RMP?

I did a quick run down on the numbers and found that Bountiful households* would have around $150 extra in their pockets, each year, if they were not overcharged the $2 Million.

Nevertheless, don’t worry about this – you’re getting a “favorable result” and the city plans on keeping it that way!

Sometimes you just can’t beat the entertainment value of over-the-top spin like this.

*Used July 1, 2005 census data for Bountiful population and found an average of 3.1 (rounded down) people/household in Davis County (couldn’t get figures on Bountiful households).

Related: City Slush Fund$

UPDATE: The Lehi Mayor and Council supported an internal audit of the city power company and the Mayor also considered selling it: Lehi power dispute may be political.   This is all I could find on it, at this time (I’m not sure what the outcome was).

More on Anbar and al Masri (Update – Illegal immigation and Ft. Dix plot)

Check out the Stak Attack entitled “Iraqis vs al Qaeda in Anbar“.

Stakelbeck provides more information about Iraqi’s opposing al Qaeda and some more details about al Masri’s possible death.

The links next to the video give further background as well (I recommend taking a look at them).

In addtion, the LAT has an interesting story (I believe this relates to the same group, Stakelbeck discussed):

In Ramadi, a ragtag solution with real results

While progress continues to be made, the other side certainly isn’t going to give up anytime soon. Nor will terrorists give up in the US:

At Least 5 Arrested in Alleged Fort Dix Murder Plot (The US Attorney’s office has identified them as “Islamic radicals”)

UPDATE: Illegal Immigration category added based on the Fort Dix article:

Four of the men were born in the former Yugoslavia, one was born in Jordan and one came from Turkey, authorities said. All had lived in the United States for years. Three were in the United States illegally; two had green cards allowing them to stay in this country permanently; and the sixth is a U.S. citizen. [emphasis added]

I don’t know if the three illegals were working here. Under the realistic assumption that they were, I wonder who’s Social Security Number they used. This may be yet another example of why employers should verify SSNs.

Finally, a wrap up of information related to the Ft. Dix plot is available at Hot Air.

Moderate Muslim Struggle Censored (PBS)

PBS continues to refuse airing “Islam vs Islamists” (which it funded) as part of its “America at a Crossroads” series.

The series details the efforts and trials faced by moderate Muslims. They continue to be ignored by the media (giving Islamic extremist nuts all the PR) essentially allowing the islamofascists to define the religion.

Click the film’s link (above) for more information and links to others who are addressing the issue. Michelle Malkin has also put up a Vent regarding the issue which includes the film’s trailer. Finally, click here for a post I put up about the PC police (it includes a couple of links with further background about the film and PBS’s meddling).

UPDATE: Gaffney interview with further details of PBS meddling etc.

Military Bogging (Update – Guidlines Suspended)

It looks like the Army may make it tougher for soldiers to blog.

I understand the need for operational security (opsec), but I’m not aware of any major problems associated with soldier’s blogs compromising opsec. The Army may disagree with that statement, but I wish they would make that case when issuing the new rule. Right now, I think it is a bad decision which will further rob those on the homefront access to front line information from those on the ground. Nevertheless, I’m open to the possibility that there is an inherent problem of these blogs endangering opsec (soldier’s lives) but I just don’t see it, yet. Blackfive has several posts on this and Hot Air has called the policy “half smart” and provides a good overview with several links.

At least, there are still several other bloggers who’ve embedded with front line units (Michael Yon has put up some more dispatches which are well worth reading: here and here) and now Jeff Emanuel has joined the fray. Additionally, MNF-I still has its youtube site.

Meanwhile, al Qaeda has lost another senior leader and there are rumors that al-Masri (al Qaeda’s chief in Iraq ) may have been taken care of as well. Al-Masri’s death rumor came out a couple of days ago, but I’m taking a wait-and-see on the latter, he’s been rumored to have been killed on other occasions as well.

UPDATE: Good news! The Army will not stop ‘milblogging’ after all – Milblog guidelines relaxed? BUMPED/UPDATE: Senators get milbloggers’ back

Support the Troops, Even On Your Backside

The vast majority of Americans want to support our troops but sometimes feel like they don’t know how.

Often, they don’t feel like they know what they should send in a care package (don’t want to send stuff that can’t be used or would be a nuisance) or don’t know anyone who is deployed (no place to send the package to) or are ‘too busy’ to go to a rally etc etc.

If you can’t, for whatever reason, find the time to do any of the above, check out:

America Supports You

Click on the “Make A Difference Box” for a myriad of donation and support options. Trust me, you will find something that fits you will love to support.

For a local (Utah) flavor check out:

Operation Give – It is run by Chief Warrant Officer Paul Holton. I’ve had the pleasure of talking to him on several occasions. He’s a genuinely good man. DefenseLink also recently ran another article about Op Give.

For those who want to do more, America Supports You has several ideas. Additionally, I talked to a deployed soldier on 10 day leave and he noted:

1. Everyone in Utah can find someone (or a unit) to send care packages to – every church (LDS, Catholic, Protestant etc) has members who are deployed. If there is no one at you local church branch, go up to the next level. Contact the family and prepare a care package for the soldier (or their unit). Sounds like a good youth group project.

2. Please stop sending female hygiene products (unless specifically asked to). His outfit is sick of them (and doesn’t have a use for them).

If you still can’t find anyone in your church or community, check out anysoldier.com.

Finally, if you send messages of support, please limit it them to that. If you don’t support the mission or want them home now, fine, just keep it to yourself – they don’t want to hear it! Send a simple, uplifting message.

Another Child Rapist

Sorry for those of you with low bandwidth (dialup). You’ll have to deal with my summary or patiently wait for the video stream. I would recommend watching the video as it has several shots of him:

The perp, Juan Cruz-Hernandez, repaid a family who befriended him by raping their 12 year old daughter, repeatedly, for a year. Now, he’s on the run but his threats continue.

Cops consider him a textbook child predator.

He stated he would kill the victim’s family, if she informed anyone of what he was doing. Once the family became aware of what was happening they called police but Cruz-Hernandez fled before detectives could arrest him. The victims family does not want to go on TV or be identified because Cruz-Hernandez’s family continues to threaten anyone in Utah who goes to police or the media. The victim is now 15 years old and coping as well as can be expected.

Cruz-Hernandez is believed to be in LA or San Fransisco, California but his wife and child remain in Utah.

Anyone with information should call the tips-for-cash hotline at (801)799-INFO.