Prologue:

Howard Hart was the Chief of Station for the CIA in the Persian Gulf – a position that took him to Iran during the fall of the Shah. After serving in Iran he spent three years as Chief of Station in Islamabad, Pakistan. During his tenure in Islamabad, Hart assisted the Afghans in their resistance to the Soviet invasion. He is the most decorated CIA official ever, receiving the Intelligence Star – among other awards – for his service. This is his latest piece. What he writes is most thought provoking.

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Iraq: Time to ring the bell

By Howard Hart

Many years ago I attended a series of Headquarters briefings for out-going CIA Chiefs of Station. Our main speaker was Richard Helms, then the Agency’s Director and one of the lions of American foreign policy in the 1960’s and 70’s. A man who was subsequently crucified in the Nixon catastrophe. Dick was essentially giving us our instructions, and in my mind his most telling directive was the quiet statement: “Ring the Bell.” Telling us to sing out when we apprehended a major disaster in the offing.

It’s time to ring the bell on Iraq.

Briefly put, in a matter of months Iran will emerge the unchallenged military and economic power dominating the area from Lebanon to Pakistan. It will control Iraq, and be in a position to shut off all oil supplies from the Persian Gulf. It will be free to provide extensive assistance to the Taliban in Afghanistan, thus ensuring a NATO defeat in that country.

It will be in a position to provide crucial support to radical Islamic elements in Pakistan – which may well result in the collapse of that already shaky nuclear-armed government. It will be free to radically increase its support to a variety of terrorist organizations targeting the US. And, in conjunction with well armed radical Palestinian forces that already exist on Israel’s borders, it will pose the greatest threat ever faced by Israel. A threat that I do not believe Israel could survive without direct US military intervention.

By the end of this month American combat units are to have withdrawn from Iraq, leaving approximately 50,000 troops behind – all of whom are to be gone by the end of 2011. As a result of the refusal of the key religious and tribal factions in the country to coalesce into anything even remotely approaching a national government, there is no government in Iraq. Nor will there be before the last American troops are withdrawn.

Even if by some miracle there were one, there is no effective Iraqi National Army or National Police Force to defend it or to enforce its decisions. Nor will such forces exist when the US withdraws in sixteen short months.

There are several key reasons why this situation will exist after we have occupied Iraq for over eight years, had over 4,400 of our soldiers killed, and expended billions of aid money – and worked mightily to create both a government and the forces to defend it.

First, Iraqi “politicians” are in the main, a bunch of narrowly self-interested, power and money-hungry, religiously antagonistic, avaricious and short-sighted people, unwilling to place national interests ahead of personal ones. Second, the minority Sunni Muslim population and the Kurdish tribals quite rightly fear that a Shia Muslim dominated government and military would treat them as third-class citizens – and perhaps threaten their very existence. Finally … there is Iran: an outlaw and bitterly anti-US Shia Muslim theocracy that is determined that post-US Iraq will be an Iranian vassal state.

Iran has covertly poured money and arms into supporting Iraqi Shias for years, and will continue to do so. Once the Americans are really gone, Iran will drop any pretense of non-interference in Iraqi affairs, and, by bribery and intimidation, ensure that whatever passes for an Iraqi government, military and police is under Iranian control.

Note: Unless the Kurdish areas of the country are protected by either US or international forces, the Kurds will face attack from both the Shia government and Iran. Iraq’s Sunni Muslims will either have to knuckle under to the Shia, or go into protracted internal warfare – which they cannot win.
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By: Louis René Beres; Frequent SUA Contributer

Jewish Press

The explicit application of codified restrictions of the laws of war to noninternational armed conflicts dates back only as far as the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. Recalling, however, that more than treaties and conventions comprise the laws of war, it is also clear that the obligations of jus in bello (justice in war) comprise part of “the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations,” and bind all categories of belligerents. Indeed, the Hague Convention IV of 1907 declares, in broad terms, that in the absence of a precisely published set of guidelines in humanitarian international law concerning “unforeseen cases,” the preconventional sources of international law govern all belligerency.

Terrorist crimes, as part of a broader category called crimen contra omnes (crimes against all) by the lawyers, mandate universal cooperation in apprehension and punishment. As punishers of “grave breaches” under international law, all states and state-like authorities are expected to search out and to prosecute, or extradite, individual perpetrators. Regarding Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), the latter’s obligation under law to extradite terrorists to Israel would have obtained even if there had been no Oslo Accords.

There is, then, really no need to probe further the precise language of the Accords.The PA’s multiple violations of extradition expectations under international law existed and continue to exist independently of Oslo.

The important though controversial principle of universal jurisdiction is usually founded upon an authoritative presumption of solidarity between all sovereigns in the fight against international crime. Moreover, the case for universal jurisdiction may be strengthened whenever extradition is difficult or impossible to achieve. It is also built into the four Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949.

Traditionally, piracy and slave trading were the only offenses warranting universal jurisdiction. Following World War II, however, states have generally recognized an expansion of universal jurisdiction to include crimes of war; crimes against peace; crimes against humanity; torture; genocide; and crimes of terrorism. For the most part, this purposeful (although sometimes abused by anti-Israel elements) jurisdictional expansion has its origins in certain multilateral conventions, in customary international law, and in certain pertinent judicial decisions.

Terrorism is assuredly not the only major crime in which Arafat and many of the subsequently released Palestinian prisoners were actively complicit. Related Nuremberg-category crimes, including crimes of war and crimes against humanity, were also committed by these persons. In this connection, readers will recall that units of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) served enthusiastically with Saddam Hussein’s forces in occupied Kuwait during the first Gulf War, making them, and Yasir Arafat personally (the legal principle of command responsibility is known as respondeat superior, or “Let the Master Answer”), responsible for multiple mean crimes.
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By Leah Roberts; Assistant SUA Editor

Socio-Cultural Intelligence

A New Discipline in Intelligence Studies

Author: Kerry E. Patton

BOOK REVIEW

This long awaited book teaches the importance of social and cultural knowledge relating to the collection and analysis of intelligence. It is directed toward the Intelligence Community but traverses the boundaries between military, humanitarian missions, and public health, among others. The book outlines the importance of identification, understanding, and methodologies in defeating or building human systems and networks.

Patton’s SOCINT approach outlines the necessities in formulating strategies from active, passive, formal, and informal systems and network manipulation. He includes real-world examples from his personal experiences living amongst people of a profoundly different culture in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

A delightful bonus is the inclusion of critical thinking methods which are sorely forgotten in some other books. This book gives life to an entire new discipline that applies to many professions; no matter what you work toward. It gives a much needed understanding of how your target audience, opposition, or other groups you are trying to work with, think and live because of their social and cultural/ religious beliefs. This gives anyone who reads it, a definite advantage when dealing with global politics, global business,and cross-cultural processes.

If you understand Patton’s approach, you will be capable of implementing SOCINT into any field in addition to intelligence and national security as well as bio-medical defense.

Available at Amazon.com

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Leah Roberts graduated from Saint Louis University’s Master’s program in Biosecurity, Summa Cum Laude. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. Leah is an independent researcher with a concentration on chemical and biological weapons threats and writes geopolitical and threat assessment profiles for a variety of countries. In addition, Leah is a teaching assistant for the Saint Louis University Institute for Biosecurity.

Leah is also the Assistant Editor for Stand Up America and is an investigative journalist/writer specializing in global confrontations, counter-terrorism, and global cultural issues.

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About the Author

Mr. Kerry E. Patton

Mr. Patton is the Northeast Regional Director for Stand Up America US and hosts Stand Up America Radio Live each Sunday from 3 to 4 PM and you can listen live here.

Mr. Kerry E. Patton is an internationally recognized security, terrorism, and intelligence expert. He has assisted and continues to assist in the research and development for an upcoming “National Security” degree program for a major University as well as serves as a Director, researcher and curriculum developer for a new U.S. Army Special Operations program out of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center School. Read more.

Available at Amazon.com

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Editor’s Note:

Coming soon to a city near you, and already common in New York City, streets blocked five times a day for Muslim prayers. This video gives you a great view of what is happening in Paris.

From Youtube

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By Scott W. Winchell, National Editor-in-Chief, Stand Up America US

As we begin the work week after the Labor Day holiday, we are quickly approaching the 9th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday. So much has happened since that beautiful Tuesday morning that went so wrong, and I remember so well, and today. So much has been said, and so many theories still abound. “Truthers” still think it was an inside job, Newsweek writers think we over-reacted, Obama cannot bring himself to call them terrorists, or that we are in a fight against Islam, and I miss all the flags flying that Fall.

Since then, two wars have been waged and both still plague us. Muslim pirates hi-jack ships off the horn of Africa, they have blown up trains in Spain, India, and Great Britain, and they have committed almost 16,000 attacks worldwide since that day.

War looms in the Middle East, again, and Islam is behind the rhetoric of war. Iran is about to become a Nuclear power, North Korea has it already, and Hezbollah threatens Israel, and is present on our border in Mexico, and Hamas is still in charge of Gaza. Terrorist camps exist in every single state here in the USA, and a Mosque is planned for Ground Zero to open on the tenth anniversary, one year from now.

In that time, Islam has just about swallowed Europe. It has taken over most of Africa. Mosques are popping up in every state in the Union, and Saudi money funnels to them in astonishing numbers. In Detroit and its surrounds the klaxon of “Allah hu Akbar” rings out five times a day. It seems we as a nation have learned so little, and remember even less. It is so very sad, that in nine years, Americans still do not understand the dangers of Islam, or at least as much as they should.

Many patriotic Americans openly support them, quoting the Constitution and Freedom of Religion, yet they will not even try to understand what Islam really is. People still think al-Qaeda is the only enemy, yet so many terrorist groups still follow the true doctrines of Islam and threaten us in our own back yards. Its amazing how people swallow the propaganda that Islam is a peaceful religion and not the cult of control through an ideology of control, and that the majority of Muslims are peaceful and the religion has been hi-jacked. The truth could not be more opposite to mainstream thinking.

With all of this in mind, a Facebook conversation sparked a memory I have of a friend of mine who lost his brother that day. His name is Jim Ogonowski, and it was his brother John who was the pilot in the cockpit of American Airlines Flight #11, the first plane to hit the WTC. I haven’t seen or heard from Jim in quite a while since I left the Boston area, but when the conversation comes up, he and his brother John are always present in our discussions and memories, as are the almost 3,000 people who died innocently that day and their families, friends, and loved ones.

Jim wrote a letter one-year later to his brother, and I thought it to be just as poignant today. To me, it brings back the deep feelings we all had that year, and I think it is time we went back, in our minds and hearts, and remember how united we became then. How liberals and conservatives spoke in one voice, how we all flew our flags proudly, how we all came together at Ground Zero, and the Pentagon, and that field in Shanksville, PA.

Please read it below:

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To: John.Ogonowski@godside

Subject: Sept 11, 2001 to Sept 11, 2002 a Year in Review

Hey Brother John,

I haven’t seen you in one year, and what a year it has been.

Your last day with us last year started like so many before. You woke at 5am to be in Boston for an 8 o’clock flight. You quickly showered and dressed, looked in your 3 sleeping daughters, kissed your wife, and headed out the door. As you drove out your driveway and down by uncle Al’s house, you gave him your customary 2 short toots of your horn, that was the last communication anyone in the family would have with you.
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By SARAH RYLEY of the Sunday Times of London

New York Post

At least five Iranian companies stationed in Afghanistan are covertly funding Taliban militants, paying them salaries of $233 a month with a $1,000 bonus for killing an American soldier, according to the Sunday Times of London.

Blowing up a US military vehicle is worth $6,000, making insurgents better paid than any Afghan police officer or soldier.

“Iran will never stop funding us, because Americans are dangerous for them as well,” said a Taliban treasurer, who travels from the mountainous Wardak province to an Iranian construction company that operates out of Kabul to pick up the cash.

“The money we get is not dirty. It is for jihad,” he said.

The treasurer said he has picked up almost $79,000 in the past six months.

Afghan intelligence and Taliban sources told the Times that the firms – set up with foreign aid money within the past six months – provide cash for a network of district Taliban treasurers to pay battlefield expenses and bonuses for killing the enemy and destroying their vehicles.

The Iranian companies win contracts to supply materials and logistics to Afghans involved in reconstruction. The money often comes in the form of aid from foreign donors.

Profits are transferred through poorly regulated Afghan banks – including Kabul Bank, which is partly owned by President Hamid Karzai’s brother Mahmood – to Tehran and Dubai.

From there, the money returns to Afghanistan through the informal Islamic banking system known as hawala.

”This means the companies involved in funding the insurgency can cover their tracks easily. It makes it harder for us to trace the cash flow,” a senior Afghan intelligence official said.

He said the Iranian companies had been formed with the intention of winning contracts funded by foreign aid so that donors’ cash could be channeled into the insurgency.

The Iranian embassy in Kabul refused to respond to the allegations.

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The fix was in: Ground Zero mega-mosque building owners nixed $18M offer before taking Islamic supremacists’ $4.8M one

From Jihad Watch

Every day brings new revelations of how shady and dishonest the leaders of the Ground Zero mega-mosque initiative are, and how fishy the whole endeavor has been from the beginning. “Mosque building owners nixed $18M offer before taking $4.8M one,” by Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein in the New York Post, September 5:

The original owners of the Ground Zero mosque site mysteriously spurned dozens of higher bids before selling the prime downtown real estate at a bargain-basement price.

The Pomerantz family, which had owned the building since the late 1960s and fielded offers after the patriarch died in 2006, rejected at least one bid that was nearly four times what prospective mosque builder Sharif El-Gamal eventually paid, The Post has learned.

El-Gamal did offer what could be viewed as a sweetener to his $4.8 million bid in July 2009—a job as a property manager for a son of the family, Sethian Pomerantz.

New York developer Kevin Glodek was livid when he found out the building sold for a fraction of what he offered in 2007 – $18 million cash – and wondered whether money changed hands under the table, according to sources close to the deal.

Glodek and his partners wanted to build a 60-story condo tower with retail space on the Park Place site, had inked a purchase agreement and even had keys to the existing building, according to sources and documents obtained by The Post.

But Kukiko Mitani – whose late husband, Stephen Pomerantz, owned the property – and her brother-in-law, Melvin Pomerantz, a trustee to the estate, went silent at the end of 2007 and Glodek’s deal disappeared, sources said.

Glodek, who owns the ChefsDiet food delivery service and several Manhattan properties, declined to comment.

The property is now at the heart of one of the most divisive issues in the country—whether it should be the location of a $100 million mosque and community center. The location two blocks from Ground Zero has been called insensitive, and questions have been raised about whether extremists will help fund the project. Recent polls show that 70 percent of New Yorkers want it moved.

El-Gamal had his eye on the property for years before buying it in 2009.

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Editor’s Note:

The Low Road

Calling Generals “Birthers”? That’s the left’s way of supporting Obama no matter the law of the land, no matter who has the true gravitas of a life’s experiences, and a proven record of leadership. Calling your opponent’s names when they disagree with you is the ultimate “low-road” in political discourse.

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True Leaders

Men who stand up for the rule-of-law and the Constitution. Men who defend LTC Lakin, and like him, uphold their oaths, even in retirement:

Major General Carroll D. Childers ARNG (Ret.)

Major General Paul E. Vallely US Army (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney USAF (Ret.)

Major General Jerry R. Curry US Army (Ret.)

More to come I am sure!

(Note: LTG is a three-star Flag Officer, MG is a two-star Flag Officer)

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The High Road – The CONSTITUTION of the United States of America!

Its simple folks, when Flag Officers come forward and support a fellow soldier, a fellow Command Officer, its called honor, dignity, love of country, loyal and allegiant, and most of all patriotic. Simply, its living up to their oaths, one that does not go away after retirement.

...support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Its all about the Constitution, and the rule-of-law! When the press and short-sighted Americans start to worship their leaders, defending them regardless of the law, its called the rule-of-man. Star power has no place in our land, and is exactly the opposite of what our founders so ingeniously created for us for all time.

STAND UP AMERICA- Support our troops who have been incarcerated wrongly, the mean and women who defend us all! The people who live up to their oaths.

Its time for every soldier, every officer, and every American, to stand up and support these patriotic leaders, not the usurpers of patriotism, the ones who abase our proven leaders. Time to show your true colors as our men and women in uniform fighting as they have for over 200 years for our rights and liberty.

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Major General Curry Supports Lakin and McInerney

Courtesy of YouTube

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