The Cloward-Piven Strategy ::: End of America As We Know It

• ISAF continues efforts to reduce civilian casualties
• Mattis takes command of CENTCOM Aug. 11
• Odierno: Iraq forces ready for security challenges
• Marines volunteer at Afghan school
• Khowst governor hosts release shura for former detainees

Second Sailor’s Body Recovered In Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — A second U.S. Navy Sailor who went missing in a dangerous part of eastern Afghanistan was found dead and his body recovered, a senior U.S. military official and Afghan officials said Thursday.

The family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, a 25-year-old from the Seattle area, had been notified of his death, the U.S. military official said on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to disclose the information.

Newlove and Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley went missing last Friday in Logar province. NATO recovered the body of McNeley — a 30-year-old father of two from Wheatridge, Colo. — in the area Sunday.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press in Kabul on Thursday that two days ago the Taliban left the “body of a dead American Soldier for the U.S. forces” to recover. The Taliban said McNeley was killed in a firefight and insurgents had captured Newlove. Mujahid offered no explanation for Newlove’s death.

NATO officials have not offered an explanation as to why the two service members were in such a dangerous part of eastern Afghanistan.

The Sailors were instructors at a counterinsurgency school for Afghan security forces, according to senior military officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. The school was headquartered in Kabul and had classrooms outside the capital, but they were never assigned anywhere near where McNeley’s body was recovered, officials said. Story Continues At: Military.com

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Written by United States Forces – Iraq PAO

Monday, June 14, 2010 11:27

BAGHDAD – The first class of Iraqi Army field artillery officers graduated from a 152-day course at Forward Operating Base Constitution, Iraq, June 6.

The course, which started in January, gave 120 Iraqi Army lieutenants the fundamentals of field artillery doctrine, tactics, and and, skills and institutional knowledge needed to increase the capability of the Iraqi army.

According to Lt. Col. Patrick Martin, senior U.S. Army advisor at the Field Artillery School and Directorate, the Iraqi Army will be receiving seven battalions worth of U.S. artillery.

“The addition of these officers into the fold of the field artillery is very significant,” Martin said.

For Martin, the graduation was significant not only because these were the first Iraqi field artillery officers to be trained since March 2003, but also because the course was run almost entirely by Iraqis. With U.S. Army advisors providing a minimum amount of assistance.

“This shows the Iraqis are doing this on their own,” said Martin.  “We’re advising and observing and this is what we want to see – the Iraqis continue to take the lead and instruct on their own.”

Iraqi Staff Gen. Aboud Ganbar, the graduation keynote speaker, said he was thankful for the field artillery school.

“I feel that we have a fully capable teaching facility and school,” Ganbar said.  “To graduate the officers and fill the assigned staff for the Iraqi artillery branch, this first graduation means very much to us.”

Newly graduated Iraqi Army 2nd Lt. Omar Hamid Ajeel, agreed.

“I will serve my country honorably,” Ajeel said.  “We will decrease the amount of terrorism with our new capabilities and build a great Iraq.”

Obama to West Point grads ~  Success in Iraq and progress in Afghanistan ~ Christian Science Monitor

Mr. Obama called the US engagement in Iraq a “success,” and he said he has no doubts that the graduates before him would someday be able to say the same of …End quote.

MORE LINKS AND NEWS SOURCES:

President Lays Out Security Strategy Based in DiplomacyNew York Times
West Point Cadets are “Loyal ‘Till the End”FOXNews (blog)
Obama at West Point graduation. TranscriptChicago Sun-Times (blog)
The Associated Press -CNN -Voice of America

On Today’s  Glenn Beck Program

May 14 2010

Ground Zero Mosque  Dedication Date: 9/11/11

The World Trade Center Towers have not yet been re-built, but there is one building right across from ground zero that’s on schedule to open soon: it’s a mosque. Hey if you want to build a mosque there, whatevs, go for it – but what has people really upset is that the dedication date is set for (you guessed it) 9/11/11. We have American kids getting tossed out of school for wearing American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo (a Mexican beer holiday) because they were being insensitive. But it’s totally cool to open a mosque right across the street from ground zero on 9/11? Glenn has this story and Eric Holder audio as he continues his streak of idiotic comments. ( Transcript, Insider Audio).

______________________________

Horowitz schools radical Muslim student

Glenn played the amazing audio of David Horowitz, who was taking questions from an audience when a radical tried to engage him in a debate. It took Horowitz all of about 2 minutes before he gets the young lady to admit that she wants to exterminate Jews.

Incredible audio that shows real hatred is out there – but the media ignores it. Check out the full exchange, which Glenn plays on radio today. ( Transcript, Insider Audio). Watch the exchange HERE.

AMERICA PLEASE WAKE UP:  Glenn Beck Show

The Legacy of Operation Iraqi Freedom Video

Watch All The “Racism” ~ It is Just Appalling I Tell YOU!

Written by ~  Pfc. Jared Eastman, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:44

BAGHDAD – U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces conducted an exercise here at Contingency Operating Station Falcon, April 15, incorporating an array of techniques the ISF can utilize in future situations.

Military Policemen from 3rd Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and Iraqi Security Forces demonstrate riot control techniques during a capabilities exercise conducted at Contingency Operating Station Falcon, April 15, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jared Eastman.

The Soldiers, from 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and members of the 2nd Iraqi Federal Police Division, demonstrated their ability to assault an objective, perform first aid, evacuate casualties by either air or ground and perform riot control procedures.

“Today we had a capabilities exercise demonstration where we brought together all the partners from 2nd [FP],” said Maj. Michael Sullivan, operations officer for 5th Sqdn. “We wanted to show [Iraqi generals and dignitaries] how our partnership has evolved since we took over the mission of partnering with 2nd FP.

“We’ve been working on this since we started partnering with 2nd Federal Police,” Sullivan continued. “It has really been a great learning experience for both forces.”

The exercise included dog teams and robots that were employed as part of the brigade’s explosive ordnance disposal team, static displays and a hands-on, non-lethal class that covered rubber bullets and lasers.

“The greatest benefits for showcasing these capabilities are so Iraqi Federal Police officers have a better understanding for the skills and technology we can assist them with,” said Capt. Jonathan Heist, 5th Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt. assistant operations officer.

The capabilities exercise was aptly named, as the FP, working jointly with U.S. Soldiers, were able to impressively demonstrate their newly-acquired skills. Soldiers who have returned to Iraq for another tour say they are impressed with how the two forces are now working together.

“To come here six years after my first trip to Iraq – I’m just amazed at how far we’ve come in partnering and combined operations,” said Sullivan.

US Army veterinarians with United States Forces – Iraq answer the call to help a sick tiger cub and lion at the Baghdad Zoo.

Colorado Troops Leave Camp Ramadi?, Iraq

Written by:  Spc. Mike MacLeod, 1st Brigade Combat Team

Monday, March 22, 2010 11:50

CAMP RAMADI – As the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from here continues, a Colorado National Guard battalion cased its colors as the latest unit to end its mission in the once-restive Anbar province, March 19.

The 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery of the Colorado National Guard stands in formation at a color-casing ceremony marking the end of their deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, March 19, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Mike MacLeod.

Lt. Col. Al Morris, commander of 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, addressed Soldiers of 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist), under whom his unit fell, the Anbar Provincial Reconstruction Team, the commander of the 1st Iraqi Quick Response Force Brigade, and the Soldiers of his battalion, who were packed and ready to leave by helicopter once the ceremony concluded.

“Like many others during this time of transition, we performed a different mission than artillery for which many of us have spent our careers training,” said Morris, in a speech.

“While we didn’t trade in our swords for ploughshares, it allowed our efforts to be directed toward the reconstruction of this great nation and sending our countrymen and women home as we leave knowing we have done our part during the War on Terror,” he said.

During their deployment, 3-157th FA conducted more than 400 escort missions, 2,000 base patrols, operated Camp Ramadi’s gates and housing and oversaw its defense. Soldiers drove more than 41,000 miles on missions.

Morris said he appreciated 1/82 AAB commander Col. Mark R. Stammer’s hands-off approach that gave the battalion great freedom to accomplish their mission, and for the outpouring of support when the battalion’s only casualty was wounded by sniper fire last year.

“The outpouring of support from you and the 82nd Association back in the States for Sgt. [Martin] May and his family as he recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center was just outstanding,” said Morris.

May was shot below his right eye while providing security for a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The Colorado National Guard unit traces its lineage back to the Civil War and was part of the division that saw the most days of combat by any division in World War II.

State Department Continues Islamist Outreach

New booklet, “Being Muslim in America,” taps the wrong

messengers

IPT News
May 17, 2009
http://www.investigativeproject.org/1035/state-department-continues-islamist-outreach

With the United States battling Islamist extremists, making America’s case to Muslims around the world has never been more of a priority for policymakers. Unfortunately, the State Department continues to take a counterproductive approach: serving as a veritable infomercial promoting Islamist organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) while giving the back of the hand to the very anti-jihadist Muslims that Washington should be cultivating. The latest example is a State Department booklet issued in March titled “Being Muslim in America.”

It is part of an outreach effort that began under President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and is moving forward under President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The goal behind publication of the 64-page booklet is laudable: to arm consular officers and diplomats with information they can take to Muslims around the world to rebut slanders about U.S. “persecution” of Muslims. The booklet deluges readers with color pictures, statistical tables and individual profiles in an effort to show the world that American Muslims are a success story, noting that they have become entrepreneurs, professional athletes, entertainers, doctors, soldiers, firefighters, politicians, fashion designers, and pianists.

And as we’ll show in more detail below, many slanders against the United States come from the same groups that are portrayed favorably in the State Department booklet. The front cover has a picture of two Muslim girls playing basketball at a school near Detroit: One is wearing traditional dress, the other more modern dress. It’s no ordinary basketball game, because there’s a deeper sociopolitical message that Foggy Bottom wants to send to the world: The girls “compete fiercely on the basketball court in a sport that blends individual skills and team effort. They — along with the other men, women and children in the publication — demonstrate every day what it is like to be Muslim in America.” The booklet is replete with dozens of pictures of Muslims playing basketball, praying; talking about “diversity” at a mosque; attending interfaith gatherings “to celebrate diversity and tolerance,” and “brainstorm[ing] ways to solve problems in their community.” There is even a color-coded state-by-state map showing “Mosque Distribution in the United States.”

The purpose of publishing “Being Muslim in America” is “to disabuse people of wildly false myths of the United States — that ‘Muslims are repressed, marginalized, fill in the blanks,’ ” according to Michael Friedman, division chief of print publications with the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs, which is overseeing distribution of the publication. Although State doesn’t have a specific target number of copies that it is looking to sell or give away, Friedman said a similar 2002 State Department report titled “Muslim Life in America” had 400,000 print copies distributed worldwide and was translated into 28 languages. “It is conceivable that this one could reach that level,” he told IPT News.

In addition, both “Muslim Life in America” and “Being Muslim in America” are featured on State Department web sites, here and here.

Asked whether similar booklets had been produced for other faiths, Friedman said no. With limited funding available, decision was made to produce a publication on American Muslims because “the struggle against Islamic terrorism is a struggle for hearts and minds in the Muslim world,” he said.

Faulty Examples Showcased

Unfortunately, the substance of the booklet is so flawed that it could undermine the struggle against this form of radicalism. It perpetuates the mythology that American Muslims are united in the belief that law enforcement and the public are willing to flout innocent Muslims’ civil rights post-September 11, describing American Muslim reactions to the attacks as follows:

“A new, truly American Islam is emerging, shaped by American freedoms, but also by the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks — planned and executed by non-Americans — [which] raised suspicions among other Americans whose immediate responses, racial profiling among them, triggered in return a measure of Muslim-American alienation.”

Then:

“Sadly, suspicions of this kind are not uncommon — in the United States or in other nations – during wartime or when outside attack is feared. But 2008 is not 2002, when fears and suspicions were at their height. Context is also important: Every significant immigrant group has in the United States faced, and overcame, a degree of discrimination and resentment.”

This is an extremely tendentious, even intellectually dishonest, description of September 11 and its aftermath. From reading it, one would have no idea that there have been numerous convictions and guilty pleas on terrorism-related charges since September 11 that involved Muslims living in the United States, including terrorist plots to attack the military base at Ft. Dix, N.J., to create a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon and to attack U.S. military and Jewish targets in California.

Also omitted from the booklet is the fact that organizations like CAIR and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) were listed by the government as unindicted co-conspirators in the federal government’s prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) — in which the Justice Department won convictions of five former HLF officials for providing money to the terrorist organization Hamas. But from reading this passage in “Being Muslim in America,” one would get the impression that public concern about Islamist terror has no basis in reality and is merely the result of backward Americans’ “discrimination and resentment.”

One picture on page 15 of the booklet shows people marching under a CAIR banner and has a caption reading: “Muslims march to support volunteerism.” The identical picture appeared at the top of CAIR’s website when IPT News accessed it May 15.

In reality, CAIR was created as a front for Hamas and it has defended radical Islamists since 1994. See the IPT dossier on CAIR here.

CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad typifies this see-no-evil attitude toward jihadist terror. He has repeatedly defended the HLF. At a May 2003 forum at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, an audience member commented that the Justice Department has released reams of information showing that the HLF and another charity whose assets were frozen “have direct connections and in fact their leadership was the leadership of al Qaeda and Hamas.” Awad replied: “I am sure if we…put under the microscope, every major civic or political organization in this country, including the Red Cross, you will see that some dollars went here and there in some country, but you don’t shut down the entire operation of the Red Cross.”

CAIR officials dismissed the verdict of 12 jurors in HLF’s Hamas-financing trial as “based more on fear-mongering than on the facts” and predicted it would be overturned on appeal.

Awad has steadfastly defended Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) supporter Sami Al-Arian, despite evidence that Al-Arian served on the PIJ governing board. Al-Arian is fighting a criminal contempt charge, triggered by his refusal to testify before a federal grand jury investigating terror financing in Virginia despite a grant of immunity. He claims his 2006 plea agreement to conspiring to provide goods and services to the PIJ absolved him of any future testimony, be it voluntary or compelled by subpoena. The plea agreement itself contains no such language. U.S. District Judge James S. Moody blasted Al-Arian as a “master manipulator” at his sentencing in the PIJ support case, saying Al-Arian lied to the public about his PIJ support.

Yet, during an August 2008 forum on the contempt case, Awad argued it was motivated by bigotry against Muslims:
“And I believe he’s being punished for this, belonging to a minority – Palestinian, Arab, Muslim in America is not like the best thing to be in America today. So he’s being the victim of this malicious misunderstanding in this midst of increased Islamophobia in America.”

Click here to continue reading this article.

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

MORE THAN 1,000 SYRIAN LEADERS ATTEND PREMIERE OF GOSPEL FILM

Also: I’ll be on Glenn Beck’s radio and TV shows on Wednesday.

(Virginia Beach, Virginia, March 10, 2009) — This morning on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club,” I was interviewed about Inside The Revolution. I spoke about the Iranian nuclear threat to the U.S. and Israel, as well as the good news from Iran — that more than 1 million Shia Muslims there have come to faith in Jesus Christ over the past thirty years.

Just before lunch, I spoke to several hundred CBN employees about some of the amazing stories I have personally witnessed of how the God of the Bible is transforming lives throughout the Muslim world, and spreading the message of the gospel throughout the epicenter.

Just after I spoke, I receive an email from a friend in the Middle East with the latest piece of good news from that region. Last week, as you’ll recall, I alerted you to the fact that a major motion picture about the life of the Apostle Paul and how he came to faith in Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus was going to premiere in the Syrian capital. I also asked you to pray that God would bless the showing of the film entitled, Damascus.

Let me report that your prayers have been answered. More than 1,000 Syrian political, business, and religious leaders — along with journalists — attended and there is a lot of buzz in the region about the film.

Here are excerpts from an email I just received from one of the film’s producers, that I post with his permission:

* “It is with great joy that I report to you that the Lord, in His love and mercy, accorded us a truly historic event for the premier of Damascus, in the capital city of Syria, Damascus, where it all began 2,000 years ago. The Government took a personal interest in the production of this film, made it very easy for us, and facilitated everything we needed. The invitation for the premiere went all the way to the Presidential palace, which received it with great favor, delegating the responsibility of hosting the premier to the Minister of Culture, and designated that it should be held in the Opera in Damascus….

* “A huge [billboard] was hung in a public place for several weeks leading up to the premiere, literally seen by at least one million people every day….1,135 people attended the premier, so the Opera was…a full house. We were honored by the presence not only of the Minister of Culture, but also of other Cabinet members, very high government officials, and two patriarchs, with a third sending his inaugural speech to be delivered by his assistant.

* “The head of the Synod of the Evangelical churches of Lebanon and Syria sent his speech, to be delivered by his vice-president, who represented him….All the main actors and crew were also present, also the head of the Islamic community sent his inaugural speech, to be delivered by his right-hand man, one of the main Sunni leaders in the country….

* “All the speeches were extremely positive, and all gave honor and glory to God, and also commended the Syrian government for its support of the production of this film, and the potential it has to revive the Christian message, and transform lives, as it happened with Saul on the way to Damascus….We were honored by having with us representatives of the mainstream Christian denominations from all the neighboring countries as well….

* “The film was positively received. In fact, the crowd broke into applause at the opening of the eyes of Saul, at the baptismal scene, and also at the scene when followers of the Way were first called Christians….[Let us give] honor and glory to God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who still transforms lives, and proclaim that, from this evening on, Paul, as promised by the Lord, will appear before Kings and Presidents and will take the message to all the nations of the world, on the large as well as the small screen….

* “Twelve television stations and all the main newspapers in the country and the Arab world were represented, as part of the press group. Dozens and dozens of people were interviewed before and after the showing. Today, literally the entire Arab world is talking about this premiere and the inaugural showing of Damascus…..The English dubbing was completed…last week, and it should be ready very soon. Other languages are underway: Turkish, Farsi, Russian, Urdu, Hindi, Kurdish, and many others….Thank you so much for praying for the inaugural showing in Damascus. Please continue to pray.”

There is plenty of bad news coming out of the Middle East, including out of Iran. But let us keep in mind that the God of the Bible is faithful. He is on the move. He loves all the people of the epicenter, and His message cannot be thwarted by the kingdoms of mankind. What a message of hope as we head into the Easter season.
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COME TO ISRAEL WITH US IN NOVEMBER

Dear Friends:

It is with great excitement over God’s wonderful love and plan for Israel and the people of the epicenter that I invite you to join us for our next Joshua Fund “Prayer & Vision Trip.” It will be held November 5-17, 2009, and culminate in our first-ever “Jerusalem Prayer Summit.”

If you have never been to the Holy Land, it is hard to describe what a profound spiritual effect such a journey can have on you and your family. You may have heard others say God’s Word seemed to “come alive” in a new way when they walked where Jesus walked, from the shores of Galilee to the Mount of Olives and into the streets of Jerusalem. Well, it’s true, and I believe our 2009 Israel trip will allow you to experience this for yourself and intensify your desire to walk closely with Jesus Christ.

If you have been to Israel before, this trip will be a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of how powerfully the Lord is moving there. I will teach at key locations and answer your questions about the future of the epicenter. You will have the opportunity to meet with and pray for local pastors and ministry leaders. We are arranging for you to spend time engaged in a practical Joshua Fund ministry project to bless the poor and needy. What’s more, you will participate in a two-day conference to pray for the peace of Jerusalem at this critical hour.

We can take up to 300 people, and to make your experience as personal and special as possible, you will be assigned to one of seven buses of about 45 people. Each bus will be hosted by a Joshua Fund staff or board member or couple, or one of our close allies. You will ride that bus with your host every day, and in the process you’ll get to know the people on your bus, study the Bible with them, pray with and for them, discover Israel together with them, ask questions with them, and thus form a small community. Lord willing, I will rotate through the buses to get to know you and answer your questions. Each bus will also have a professional, licensed Israeli tour guide who know every detail of the country inside and out.

Now, that said, please realize that there are now some 90,000 people on this Flash Traffic email list. So space is going to fill up quickly. Please prayerfully consider joining us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

[NOTE: To learn more, or to register today on-line, please click on the link below]

My team and I are praying for you, and we’d love to have you join us this November.

Yours to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus,
Joel C. Rosenberg
Founder and President of The Joshua Fund

—————

In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus praises His followers for feeding the hungry and caring for those who are suffering.

For more than a year, the Joshua Fund has been financing the purchase of some 10 tons of food each month to care for the poor and needy in northern Israel through some of our trusted allies near the Lebanon border. This typically includes rice, flour, canned vegetables, cooking oil, and other staples. Because of your gracious donations, we have already purchased a total of more than 200 tons of food. This has blessed thousands of Israelis living under the poverty level. The cost of this project is $21,500 a month.

At the same time, we are helping provide food for needy Israelis under the poverty level in the town of Sderot in southern Israel, just a few kilometers from Gaza. Like in the north, we work through trusted allies. Some are Israeli Jews. Others are evangelical Christians. It is an honor to work together with both and help them love their neighbors with unconditional love. The Sderot project requires a monthly budget of $10,000.

Would you prayerfully consider making a $50, $100, or $500 donation to help us with these and similar projects? Thank you so much.

At the same time, please also pray that we can finish raising about $134,000 to complete a new ministry training center in Iraq. As I mentioned in a recent Flash Traffic, in the course of my travels to Iraq, an exciting opportunity has presented itself. Christians leaders in Iraq want to complete the building of a ministry training center inside their country. For security reasons, I can’t say too much about where it will be or who is involved in the project, but I can say we have known these leaders for years and have seen them bear much fruit. Part of the building is already complete and is being used. Finishing the rest will create urgently needed new classroom space for teaching the Scriptures and training current and future Christian leaders. There will also be facilities to accommodate guests coming from other parts of Iraq or from abroad to train or be trained. There will be office space, and communications facilities for staff and volunteers to correspond with believers and seekers from all over the country via phone, letter, emails and chat rooms. We would be deeply grateful if you would pray for us and those Iraqi Christian leaders we are working closely with. If you would like to help us financially meet this goal and complete this project, we would be deeply grateful as well.

As always, we will do our best to keep you up-to-date on the kinds of projects we are doing, and brief you on how those projects are proceeding. We will also let you know about the kinds of projects we are developing for the future. In no way do we want to pressure anyone to give financially. We fully believe the Lord will provide for the needs of the people we seek to serve. But if you or others wish to help, we welcome your support, and all financial gifts are tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a contribution to the on-going work of The Joshua Fund please make your check payable to “The Joshua Fund” and send to:

The Joshua Fund
18950 Base Camp Road
Monument, Colorado 80132-8009

Thanks so much and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you bless Israel and Iraq in the name of Jesus — especially at critical moment in history of the epicenter.
Would you consider making a donation of $50, $100 or $500 per month to The Joshua Fund to help us bless Israelis and Iraqis in the name of Jesus? Please click here to find out more, and/or to make a secure donation on-line.
To get the latest prayer requests and updates on the work of TJF, please visit The Joshua Fund’s weblog
To learn more about The Joshua Fund’s Prayer & Vision Trip to Israel, or to register today on-line, please click here
Thank you for reading. Please feel free to forward to others.

TO BOOK JOEL FOR AN INTERVIEW please contact Beverly Rykerd at 1-888-481-0405, (719) 481-0537, or (719) 440-2746 (cell), or brykerd @ ix.netcom.com.

FORT BLISS, Texas — As soldiers stream home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the biggest charity inside the U.S. military has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars meant to help put returning fighters back on their feet, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Between 2003 and 2007 — as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures — Army Emergency Relief grew into a $345 million behemoth. During those years, the charity packed away $117 million into its own reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, according to an AP analysis of its tax records.

Tax-exempt and legally separate from the military, AER projects a facade of independence but really operates under close Army control. The massive nonprofit — funded predominantly by troops — allows superiors to squeeze soldiers for contributions; forces struggling soldiers to repay loans — sometimes delaying transfers and promotions; and too often violates its own rules by rewarding donors, such as giving free passes from physical training, the AP found.

AER was founded in 1942 to soften the personal financial hardships on soldiers and their families as the country ramped up its fight in World War II.

Today, AER’s mission is to ease cash emergencies of active-duty soldiers and retirees, and to provide college scholarships for their families. Its emergency aid covers mortgage payments and food, car repairs, medical bills, travel to family funerals, and the like.

Instead of giving money away, though, the Army charity lent out 91 percent of its emergency aid during the period 2003-2007. For accounting purposes, the loans, dispensed interest-free, are counted as expenses only when they are not paid back.

During that same five-year period, the smaller Navy and Air Force charities both put far more of their own resources into aid than reserves. The Air Force charity kept $24 million in reserves while dispensing $56 million in total aid, which includes grants, scholarships and loans not repaid.

The Navy charity put $32 million into reserves and gave out $49 million in total aid.

AER executives defend their operation, insisting they need to keep sizable reserves to be ready for future catastrophes.

“Look at the stock market,” said retired Col. Dennis Spiegel, AER’s deputy director for administration. Without the large reserve, he added, “We’d be in very serious trouble.”
Navy- and Air Force-sponsored charities also are deeply intertwined with their services, but they impose controls that help safeguard their independence.

Officers in those services are expected to keep their noses out of requests for aid. Sailors should “be comfortable coming to us without any fear that the command is going to be involved,” says retired Rear Adm. Jan Gaudio, executive vice president of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Meanwhile, civilian charities for service members and veterans say they are swamped by the desperate needs of recent years, with requests far outstripping ability to respond.

According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau figures, 1.3 million veterans — or 6 percent — lived in poverty, with 537,000 unemployed.

“I have so many people who are losing their homes, they’re behind on their mortgage payments, they’re losing their jobs because of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or the medication they’re taking — and the Army Emergency Relief can’t help them,” says Outreach Director Sema Olson at U.S. Welcome Home Foundation, which finds aid for combat veterans. Story Continues Here

Why do you think OBAMA…”BACK-LOADED” this stimulus package? If he really wanted to help people & the Economy NOW…he would be spending at least 40-60% this $780 BILLION this year…Instead he is spending about 13% in 2009 on BS.

In other words: He would have “FRONT-LOADED” this stimulus package.

He’s spending more(about 37%) in 2010 and the rest in 2011…The MOST..TWO YEARS from now!

Why you ASK…

So, He looks like a hero 2-3 years from now so he can get re-elected.

If there is ONE TRUE thing about OBAMA…He is 1000% on the “Campaign trail” 24/7 365…

He can never answer the most simplistic question(s)….without using at least 100 words.

The first question he was ask the other day at his Press conference….it took him 19 minutes to answer.

BTW: His “health care plan”… right now…is NOT because he wants to help anyone and everyone….job,no job,legal, illegal, poor etc…

His doing it to OVERWHELM the heath care industry over the next 1-2 years (Including medicare & medicaid)…..

Why you ask,

So he can more easily sell the American people ON Nationalization of the health care system….Its called “SOCIALISM”….The Government tells YOU and ME where, when, what you do and go.

They (the Government) also become your kids… Mommy & Daddy…controlling all aspects of their lives.

Why do you think hes so BIG on every kid being able to go to college? Its not so they get a good education and become well rounded thoughtful people…

Its so they get 4-5 years of Liberal “Socialist Commie” professors…educating them on BS.

Go ahead and send your kid to a nice college….and see the difference what he believes now (core values) and what he does not believe in after.

Its called: Indoctrination of liberal Socialism.

Why do you think the stock market went down 280 points…just as he was signing this “stimulus package”?

The stock market knows, its not going to ’stimulate’ anything for at least 12 – 18+ months.

This “stimulus package is not to help you or me…its to help turn our country into something it has never been….From a Capitalist Democratic Society…INTO…A….”Socialist Society.

That is the CHANGE he ran his whole Campaign on… CHANGE…CHANGE…

He just never told you WHAT CHANGE WAS COMING…DID HE?

But that is it. SOCIALISM

Do you think, if he was “upfront” with the American people about this…he would have been elected? NOT

He “BACK-LOADED” this…just like he BACK-LOADED his great stimulus package.

He can play the game…better than anyone…and people thought Hilary “Had Game”…LOL

Peace,
iraqsinconvenienttruth.com