Tag Archives: free state patriot

Mark Caserta: Americans must be prepared for ISIS attack

11 Dec

mark 1

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

  • 20 hrs ago

Not only have the feigned strategies of Barack Obama been ineffectual in deteriorating the might of the Islamic State, they have emboldened radical jihadists in bringing their savagery to the United States.

The recent attack in California where 14 people were heinously murdered at an office Christmas party was just a preview of what I believe is to come as a result of the failed policies of this administration. And it’s simply a slap in the face to all Americans that this president wallows in intellectual dishonesty by not even being able to admit we are at war with radical Islam.

San Bern

Americans must now begin preparing for threats against our citizens that we heretofore had primarily associated with Middle Eastern nations. FBI Director James Comey has already revealed he has ISIS-related investigations in all 50 states. I share the belief of many that this formidable presence is busy readying sleeper cells for a coordinated attack on the United States, perhaps at an even greater magnitude than we witnessed in Paris.

I recently received a social media “terror alert” with this warning about the Islamic State. “They will use your laws to get inside your country and then use your freedoms against you.” The nature of this alert, and the fact that it was urgently sent by an individual who has studied the intricacies of Islam for decades, was quite disturbing. Even more disturbing is that our own government appears lackadaisical in providing timely, truthful information to its citizens.

isis 2

Barack Obama seemingly places being an apologist for the Muslim faith above the safety of Americans. And he appears to value protecting the narrative that he has “ISIS on the run” beyond being truthful with the American people. His words lead one to believe he is either grossly negligent or dangerously incompetent in understanding the true nature of the threat we all now face.

 

Just one day before the brutal coordinated attacks in Paris, where at least 120 people were killed, President Obama said in an interview that ISIS was not growing stronger and was, in his words, “contained.”

 

“I don’t think they’re gaining strength,” Obama told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “What is true, from the start our goal has been first to contain and we have contained them.”

san bern 2

But just last week, the nation’s top military officer, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave lawmakers at a House Armed Services Committee hearing a very conflicting report to that of President Obama.

“We have not contained ISIS,” reported General Dunford. In a column in “The Hill,” written by Kristina Wong, Dunford went on to say that ISIS has been “tactically” contained in areas but “strategically they have spread since 2010.”

 

And spread they have. The conversation about the tactics for fighting terrorism is no longer solely about “boots on the ground” or “the number of air attacks.”

 

It’s now about how do we prepare ourselves and local law enforcement for being able to proactively deal with an ISIS attack here at home.

 

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , , ,

Kevin Rice: Liberal hypocrisy rampant on gun control

5 Dec

kevin rice

“Liberals insist we disarm ourselves and rely upon government to keep us safe; while simultaneously advocating for and enacting policies which make the world a more dangerous place to live.” David Risselada

2nd amendment

There have been a number of instances where the federal government have failed to secure their own firearms. This summer a stolen federal agent’s gun was used by an illegal alien Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez to murder and American citizen, Kathryn Steinle on a California pier in front of her father. On September 29, 2015, 27 year old Antonio Ramos from Oakland was shot and killed by 20 year old Marquise Holloway using a stolen gun from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. This gun had been stolen from the sanctuary city of San Francisco by Sean Gibson during a car burglary.

An article from Crime/ Law and Order states that “Federal agents and police lose track of their gun all the time.” The article goes on to indicate that UC Berkeley Police Chief, Secret Service agents, FBI agents, and DEA agents have all left their guns in cars and had them stolen. 250 guns a year are lost by federal agents every year, according to a GAO report. Not to mention the dozen guns a year lost by the ATF who is task with preventing illegal gun trafficking. The Blog page does not contain enough space to even begin to talk about the “Fast and Furious” ATF gunwalking scandal .

With all the training and regulation that the federal and local law enforcement receive you would think they would be able to keep better track of their guns. But they want to keep track of our guns for us. What an absurd idea?

We hand over to them our tax money and they cannot keep track of it. That has to be the explanation for the trillions of dollars of federal debt. A bunch of governmental accountants cannot do the math required to balance a check book. “We will bring in about $3.25 trillion so lest spend @3.5 trillion.” Do the math it doesn’t work.

So let them take our guns put them in a database. I know the US government has the best cybersecurity in the world. No one will ever hack the national gun database to find out where the US government is keeping all the confiscated firearms or which citizen are legally allowed to own a gun. No one have every hacked a federal computer system and stolen social security numbers or stolen someone’s identity and used it to receive someone else’s federal tax refund.

So let us turn our guns over to the liberals. Let them create a federal database for all firearms owned or resident within the borders of USA. Let them place our firearms under Federal protective custody where we must check them out to use them for governmental approved recreational activities.

I can just imagine where this could end up. I can read the breaking news article now.

“Legal gun owner killed by his own firearm: John Doe murder used Mr. Legal Gunn owner’s stolen identity to check the gun out of the federal gun storage bank. John Doe then robbed the Piggly Wiggle on his way to Mr. Gun’s home where he broke into the house to steal Mr. Gunn’s single box of federally registered ammunition.”

The liberals would just use this as another case for removing any gun ownership. But what of the law enforcement officers and their guns. In a society of strict gun control where citizens cannot arm themselves and must rely on law enforcement for protection. Where criminals have access to two available sources of guns, those purchased on the black market and those freely available from the federal government left in the cars of law enforcement. What is the average law abiding citizen to do?

If the liberals want to impose gun control they need to start in their own house. If they cannot keep track of their own guns take them away and give them to the law abiding American public. If the liberals want gun control they need to learn to control their own guns not ours. I am not aware of the statistics and they may or may not exist. But I am sure if you calculated the number of legally owned guns stolen from gun owners per capita compared to the number of Federal agent guns stolen per capita the difference would be astounding.

So to all you liberals out there. You can’t take my guns just because you lost yours.

Tags: , ,

Mark Caserta: Liberal Democrats offer false solutions

5 Dec

  • Dec 4, 2015mark 1
  • Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

A famous quote I once heard seems to define the liberal Democrat movement in our nation today. “Society’s needs come before the individual’s needs.” It seems that nearly every policy offered by Democrat leadership embodies the spirit of this quote.

I’m continually amazed at how liberals posture themselves during a campaign season as champions for the middle class, and then keep gouging them with their progressive, socialist policies.

dems turn 3

Believe me when I tell you, it’s never been about liberal Democrats being more compassionate for the lower or middle class. It’s about buying their votes! As we draw closer to the 2016 presidential election, it’s important to understand the strategy behind the empty promises offered by the left.

The next progressive step involves offering “compassionate” solutions they propose will bring fairness to the system and provide more opportunity to those being suppressed by the evils of capitalism.

Finally, progressives and the complicit liberal media combine to demonize any entity or individual who decries progressive policies as the deceitful betrothals they are. And as the voter base in the expanding government safety net increases, the liberal narrative begins to take root and no longer depends on truth or legitimacy.

Consider this. As the full weight of the Obamacare employer mandate is felt (it requires employers to provide healthcare to full time-employees), do you suppose businesses will just take the hit on their back page?

As the minimum wage increases, do you suppose restaurants, retail businesses or the service industry will simply absorb the additional costs? As the EPA continues to levy ridiculous regulations on industry, do you expect businesses to continue operating passively in the red?

nfl 1

Let me be clear – they will not. Some businesses cannot and others will not accept a narrower profit margin. Many small businesses already have slim profit margins and wouldn’t survive.

 

So who do you suppose will make up the difference? You will. You will pay more for that trip to the restaurant. You will pay more at the grocery store. You will pay more for utilities and services. We’re seeing it already.

So, when the smoke clears around that shiny new entitlement liberals handed you, you’ll find the government got their share by taxing it. Businesses got their share by charging you for it. And you got the shaft from liberal Democrats who told you it was raining as the dog wet on your leg.

So the next time a liberal Democrat promises you a free lunch, take a moment and thoughtfully consider the offer. Because in these scenarios, it isn’t business or the government that loses; it’s you.

Oh, the aforementioned quote: Adolph Hitler, April 12, 1921.

 

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags

We Recommend

Tags: ,

Kevin Rice: Obama and the Christian Terrorist

1 Dec

kevin rice

Free State Patriot welcomes Kevin Rice as the newest contributor to Free State Patriot.

About the author:

Kevin M. Rice is a master-level medical and scientific writer and Basic Science division Director at the Center for Diagnostic Nanosystems at Marshall University, with 12 years of writing experience, 6 years of editorial experience and an extensive scientific background with 12 years of basic science experience in the fields of geriatrics, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nano-technology, sepsis, ischemia, physiology, and animal based drug intervention. He has over 62 peer reviewed journal articles which have received over 868 citations and over 87 conference presentation. He is the husband the father of 4 children and is a former pastor with 7 years of pastoral experience and 25 years of ministerial experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~

12.1.15

During a White House press briefing addressing the Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic shooting on November 28, 2015, Barack Obama called the shooter, 57-year-old Robert Dear, a “Christian Terrorist.”

“A gun in the hands of just one Christian terrorist has resulted in the loss of life of a police veteran, father, and volunteer pastor; two civilians, injuries to five of Colorado’s brave law enforcement officers, and four innocent civilians.”

OBAMA AND DEAR

Obama’s rhetoric is once again directed toward the undermining of the foundation on which this great nation was founded. To call the acts of one man a terrorist attack sanctioned in anyway by the Christian populous is both ludicrous and absurd. A nation founded on the Judeo -Christina ethics of morality, forgiveness, mercy and grace is what gave rise to this man’s actions. Notwithstanding, as a collective, the Christian populous is in great need of repentance. Not simply because of the action of one disturbed individual who took it upon himself to perform an act of violence and terror, but for allowing our great nation to sink to such debauchery, disdain and ignorance of Christianity.

We have elected to the office of president, a man who lacks the moral compass or fortitude required to lead this great nation back to God. He instead sows seeds of religious discord and hatred. To what end or what purpose is served by labeling the actions of a single individual as a religiously sanctioned act?

There was no terrorist cell plotting the attack on the Planned Parenthood Clinic. There is no directed recruitment taking place by any Christian organization to radicalize people to commit such acts of terrorism. This was the action of one disturbed man. The only foreseeable purpose in the terminology used by Mr. Obama is to further the agenda of religious intolerance within the American population.

We live in a time where “that which is wrong is called right” and “that which is right is called wrong”. But we cannot place the blame on the politicians, the media, or society. We must step up to the altar and take the weight of this generation upon our own knees. Mr. Obama did not elect himself. We played a role in it, by either refraining to cast a vote and remaining silent, by voting for him, or by failing to rally enough support for a God-fearing candidate to be elected to office.

COMPLACENCY

The only way this nation can be healed is if we repent and change our course. Otherwise, we are headed for a complete annihilation of religious liberties.

Our rights as Christians are a target of this administration and many other special interest groups. It is time to exercise the remaining freedom we have before it also is challenged. We have lost the radical nature that once raged within the hearts of the early church. We have lost the motivating force that drove men to give their lives for the cause of Christ. Now we cower behind the fear of political correctness – afraid to offend someone with our beliefs.

If we are offended of Him, He will be offended of us.

If we are to be labeled “Christian Terrorists”, then let us take on the active role that we should have been fulfilling in the first place. Let’s take the battle to the front lines! We battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and wickedness enthroned in high places. Let’s plan a “terrorist attack” on the kingdom of Satan on our knees. Every hour of every day we need to have someone actively engaged in this battle for our homeland, our religious liberties, and for our spiritual existence.

Let’s speak the Word of God without fear once again! Let’s proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord to all mankind. This great nation was founded on liberty and “freedom of religion”, not “freedom from religion”.

We have allowed the enemy of our soul to rob this great nation of our religious liberty and freedom.

It is now time to take it back.

 

Tags: , ,

Mark Caserta: Obama’s ideology risks American lives

29 Nov

 mark 1

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

Nov 27, 2015

Why is Barack Obama deliberately gambling with the lives of Americans?

Following the terrorist attacks on our nation on Sept. 11, 2001, our nation’s leadership had a resolve to leverage the most powerful military force in the world in defeating the threat of Islamic terrorism.

President Bush and our military commanders initiated a “shock and awe” strategy that would eventually decimate Al-Qaida in Iraq and send a clear message to radical Islamists that the United States would not tolerate their antics.

But enter stage left, Barack Hussein Obama, vowing to deliver America from “Islamophobia,” who removes our military presence from the region, creating a vacuum for the blood-thirsty, radical Islamists known as ISIS. In the infancy of the threat from the Islamic State, the president even referred to the terrorist group as the “Jayvee team,” attempting to downplay the legitimacy of the rise of Islamic terrorism on his watch. To this day, the president remarkably refuses to utter the words “Islamic terrorism.”

 

Now, as a result of President Obama’s lack of leadership, not only has the Islamic State become the most ominous terrorist threat known to mankind – they may have sleeper cells right here in the U.S.

According to FBI Director James Comey, there are over 900 ongoing investigations of ISIS activity in America. According to numerous reports, the Islamic State, which vows to destroy all who refuse to adhere to Sharia Law, has terrorist “sleeper cells” all across the United States just waiting for activation.

 

In less than two years, ISIS has expanded into what Director Comey calls a “chaotic spider web.”

 

“Those people exist in every state. I have homegrown violent extremist investigations in every single state. Until a few weeks ago there was 49 states. Alaska had none which I couldn’t quite figure out. But Alaska has now joined the group so we have investigations of people in various stages of radicalizing in all 50 states,” Comey said.

Now, one would think the rationale would be to control our borders and restrict the rampant entry of unknown individuals into our nation. But this president is far from being rational where protecting America is concerned.

 

Despite lacking an authentic vetting process, Obama plans to admit some 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States. Now if you were a terrorist looking for a secluded entry point into the U.S., wouldn’t you consider entering under the guise of a Syrian refugee? In fact, following the recent terrorist attack in Paris, a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the slain assailants leading investigators to believe one of the terrorists did indeed enter as a Syrian refugee.

 

Obama’s weak-kneed strategy against ISIS is failing miserably, yet he refuses to change his approach. And now, he plans to clear a path for potential Islamic terrorists to enter the U.S. and risk attacks on innocent citizens – maybe your family!

 

It’s time for Congress to step up and squelch this president’s radical ideology before we have a tragedy of devastating proportion.

 

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , ,

Doug Smith: Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war

14 Nov

doug smith

Doug Smith: Author, historian and lead contributor to Free State Patriot

11.14.15

 And Caesar’s spirit, raging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war, That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Marcus Antonius

Julius Caesar Act 3, scene 1, 270–275

300px-Punch_-_The_Dogs_of_War

When faced with barbarous, murderous intent on the part its enemies, a civilization is left with 2 roles it can play in the great drama of life.

  1. The Victim

Maybe they will not hate us so much if we are nicer, if we don’t call them murderers, if we refuse to raise the sword or the shield.  Barbarians, whether they run Auschwitz, or immolate people, or behead prisoners, or make sex slaves of women and children, will follow a simple rule. “Age quod Agis”.  (Do what you do best)  Eventually they will get around to you.

  1. The Fighter

You don’t have to hate your enemy, or pity him, or love him. But you must kill him.  You must keep on killing him, until you kill all who intend to kill you, or break his will to kill you anymore. These are the bare bones realities of victory and defeat. If you are to be victorious over your enemy, you must defeat him or kill him. And he must KNOW he is defeated. In 1945, our enemies knew it.

Now there are those who formulate grand ideas of how it “should work” in campus coffee shops, or faculty lounges. These folks have never heard a bullet “Whiz” past their heads (sorry Hillary, fictional stories don’t count), or faced the reality of a determined enemy trying to kill them, personally. They do not believe you ever truly need to defeat an enemy. If you understand him, and help him understand you, he will cease to be an enemy. Or a barbarian.

They cling desperately to their faith that it should work, so it must.

History has shown that they are desperately wrong.

We left North Korea as a blight on the world stage in 1953. They have not played nice.  When the Russians invaded Hungary in 1956 we ignored their pleas for help and left them to the Gulags for 3 decades.  We abandoned Southeast Asia in 1975 and permitted the Killing Fields and the slaughter of millions.  In 2009 we began to announce and carry out an abandonment of the Middle East.

None of these choices worked out well. No matter how nice we are, the barbarians at the gate will still be barbarians. Barbarians will still rape, pillage, plunder, and murder.

No words or promises of ours can make them cease to be barbarians. But we can close the gate and push them away from it.  We can protect civilization and let the barbarians live in the savagery which they choose. We can decide the time for words has passed, and the time has come for the sword.

Sadly, some of our gatekeepers cease to see it as their duty to keep safe those behind the gates.

Now, it has been that said people fall into 3 categories.

Sheep, who will not defend themselves from danger, but simply huddle together, and leave the stragglers to their fate.

Wolves, who will attack the sheep and eat them at their leisure, happily feeding on the stragglers which the flock abandon.

And there are Sheepdogs.

They live and wander about quietly among the sheep. Sometimes herding them away from danger, watching all around them. And they kill wolves, or drive them off.

More often than not, for the past century, Sheepdogs have worn American flags.

So, cry Havoc! And let loose the Dogs of War.

Sheepdogs.

With American Flags.

Who kill Wolves.

Tags: ,

Mark Caserta: Who is qualified to question God’s word?

13 Nov

And why is it so important for liberals to refute the Bible?

mark

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

11.13.2015

bible 1

If anything, our nation longs for a moral compass with steadfast principals which offer hope for eternity rather than the frivolity of temporal gratification.

Anyone truly understanding God’s Word should know Jesus’ message was one of hope in the midst of hopelessness. Driven by a love we couldn’t possibly understand, the Son of God subjected himself to the frailty and passions of man, yet remained sinless. This sinless nature allowed Jesus to amass the sins of mankind and freely offer his life as a cleansing sacrifice for those who would call upon the name of the Lord.

If we aren’t to believe the entire Bible is the inerrant, Holy Spirit inspired Word of God – then what parts should we discard? Are we to believe that a Holy God, who spoke the world into existence, is capable of making a mistake? If so, then how can we be certain of our eternal salvation?

My experience has been that any scripture that impedes a lascivious lifestyle and narrows the path to righteousness will be brought to question. Often, liberals will attempt to discredit the infallibility of God’s Word by taking scripture out of context to validate their argument. It’s truly interesting how liberals challenge scripture that restricts them but leverage it if it empowers them.

None of us is qualified to “pick and choose” what parts of the Bible are true. Doing so would be the height of arrogance and hypocrisy. I submit that if even one word is false, we have no hope.

All of us who trust and believe in God’s Word share an eternal hope – not by our works, but by His Grace. And frankly, anything less than receiving the Bible in its entirety is much too great a risk to lose an eternity in Heaven.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , ,

Mark Caserta: Russia’s influence growing at US expense

7 Nov

Is Russia winning the modern day Cold War?

mark

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

  • Nov 6, 2015

putin 1

Russian President Vladimir Putin is rapidly returning his nation to international prominence and easily upstaging the Obama administration in the Middle East. In a recent BBC column, diplomatic and defense editor Mark Urban reports that just one month into Russia’s Syria intervention, it has deployed a strike force of 34 combat jets and 21 helicopters that have conducted approximately 1,000 flying attack missions. He added that U.S.-led forces have averaged around six strikes per day during the last year.

Some may recall when Obama was caught on camera at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit shaking hands with Dmitry Medvedev, assuring the outgoing Russian president that he will have “more flexibility” to deal with issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election. While I viewed this as a ploy by President Obama to protect his re-election from what might be considered poor judgment, Russian leadership viewed it as weakness and an opportunity to restore Russian power.

 putin 2

In an online U.S. Politics and Policy column in Financial Times by Demetri Sevastopulo, he reports that Russian warships and submarines are operating at levels not seen in two decades, according to the new head of the U.S. Navy. “Their submarine force and their navy are as active as they have been in a long time, 20 years or so,” Admiral John Richardson said in an interview. “How are we going to posture our forces to make sure that we maintain the appropriate balance and are suitably engaged?”

But being “suitably engaged” has never appealed to Barack Obama.

Just last week, despite vowing there would be “no boots on the ground” in Syria, White House press secretary Josh Earnest confirmed the president’s decision to send 50 special forces troops to Syria in an “advisory” role to help rebel forces in the fight against ISIS.

putin 3

This feeble action of sending only 50 men into harm’s way sends a deafening message to our allies and enemies that Barack Obama isn’t taking the war on ISIS seriously. It’s simply a gratuitous attempt to appease critics and could pave the way for Russia to augment its influence and partnership in the region.

It’s been nearly a quarter century since the fall of the Kremlin. Ronald Reagan’s “peace through strength” policies are largely credited for precipitating the downfall of the Soviet empire. But the ebbing of our nation’s strength is creating a vacuum of power other nations desire to fill.

 Will America ever return to being a “shining city upon a hill,” as portrayed by John Winthrop? Well, if it’s to happen, it will require bold, inspiring, truthful leadership – and someone who values the virtues of Capitalism.

And this administration fails on all counts.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , , ,

Mark Caserta: US future depends on support of Israel

29 Oct

mark

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

I firmly believe that a major contributing factor to the prosperity of the United States has been our relationship and support of Israel.

Genesis 12:3 clearly depicts the benefits of supporting God’s people.

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

 bo bn 4

For years, Israel has been a critical ally to the U.S. in the Middle East, where hostility toward the Israeli people has been rampant. And now all indications from the Obama administration suggest that President Obama is abandoning our steadfast relationship with Israel despite their partnership in democracy in the region.

Obama’s incessant push for a nuclear deal with Iran was perhaps the tipping point for ongoing relations with the Israeli people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal with Iran “a bad mistake of historic proportions,” as reported in a July Fox News article.

“Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons. Many of the restrictions that were supposed to prevent it from getting there will be lifted,” Netanyahu said before a meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister in Jerusalem. “Iran will get a jackpot, a cash bonanza of hundreds of billions of dollars, which will enable it to continue to pursue its aggression and terror in the region and in the world.”

While it’s true that some of the nuclear restrictions remain in place for the next 25 years, time does not dismay Iranian leadership in their vow to destroy Israel. Following the deal which involved the U.S. and five other countries, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taunted Israel with a threat of colossal proportion.

Referencing the 25-year time frame in an Iranian state-run media report, the Ayatollah predicted the extinction of Israel by the end of the deal’s terms. “I’d say (to Israel) that they will not see (the end) of these 25 years,” said the Ayatollah, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. “God willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years.”

But there is no new news here. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Iranian leadership has sought its destruction and referred to the U.S. as the “Great Satan” for our support of the Jewish people.

Obama’s disdain for Israel is very troubling. Following the wave of violence where innocent Israelis were being stabbed in the streets by anti-Semitists, the Obama administration accused Israel of participating in terrorism while acting to protect their people.

 bo bn 2

“Individuals on both sides of this divide are – have proven capable of, and in our view, are guilty of acts of terrorism.” State Department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters following the spike in violence as reported by Kellan Howell in the Washington Times.

I believe in many ways the U.S. is now experiencing the repercussions of abandoning our support of Israel. Our next president must work diligently to re-establish our bond with the Jewish state.

Our future hangs in the balance.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , ,

Mark Caserta: Hillary’s testimony may yield truth about Benghazi

24 Oct

mark

Mark Caserta: Free State Patriot Editor

  • Oct 22, 2015

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is slated to testify today before a special House committee chaired by Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., regarding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack. I fully expect this much anticipated testimony could significantly impact Hillary’s campaign for her party’s presidential nomination.

In an article this week in the Los Angeles Times by W.J. Hennigan, Gowdy was quoted as saying the investigation “has taken on new importance” after receiving Ambassador Stevens’ emails leading up to the attack.

 MONICA 3bb6

“If you want a window into Libya and what was happening in the weeks and months before these four were killed, why would you not look at the ambassador’s emails?” he said. “He was a prolific emailer.”

An Associated Press release this week reported that emails from Ambassador Stevens to the State Department show that additional security was requested for the area almost from the moment the ambassador arrived, but were virtually ignored. According to the release, in one of the Ambassador’s emails he joked, “Maybe we should ask another government to pay our security upgrades because our government isn’t willing to do it.”

In fact, multiple email trails continue to haunt the former First Lady.

clinton 3benghazi 1

A piece in the Wall Street Journal by Peter Nicholas and Byron Tau reported that 300 emails recently released by the State Department revealed that Hillary had received emails from her top aides warning about the dangerous security conditions in Benghazi prior to the terrorist attack.

You may recall, following the incident, President Obama and members of his administration attempted to blame the attack on a “spontaneous protest” resulting from an obscure, anti-Islamic video. It was several days before the administration finally admitted it was, indeed, a terrorist attack.

Hillary’s testimony before the committee will surely be more awkward than her 2013 testimony. Rep. Gowdy and his committee have pursued and acquired additional facts which will be difficult for her to explain.

Since leaving the administration, then-defense secretary and CIA chief Leon Panetta has divulged that he knew that Benghazi was a “terrorist attack” right away. In a 2014 interview with MSNBC, Panetta said he sensed it from the beginning.

 hillaryOBAMA FOREIGN POLICY

“I didn’t have any specific information, but the fact was, when you bring grenade launchers to a demonstration, there’s something else going on,” Panetta said. “And I just, from the very beginning, sensed that this was an attack – this was a terrorist attack on our compound.”

Now, I’m sure most liberal Democrats share Hillary’s position of “What difference, at this point does it make?” and would like for Benghazi to just go away.

But for the families of the victims who lost their lives, the difference is the closure of finally knowing the truth.

And we surely owe them that.

benghazi firstbenghazi

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.

Tags: , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →