Random Attacks

For John, BLUF:  There are people who find violence a solution to their problems.  Civilization can tolerate only so much violence.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Islamists Keep Stabbing People. Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

Here is the sub-headline:

Many in the West seem resigned to violence that once shocked us.

From The Free Press, by Peter Savodnik, 6 June 2024.

Here is the lede plus five:

Last week, a 25-year-old Afghan man went on a stabbing spree in a marketplace in Mannheim, in southwestern Germany, killing a police officer and wounding five other people.

In a video of the attack, the man, whose name has not been released, can be seen repeatedly stabbing several people—including the police officer, in the back of his head and neck—until another police officer shoots the assailant.

All we know about the dead police officer is his name was Rouven L., and he was 29, and he was trying to stop an attack on Michael Stürzenberger, a well-known blogger who has been critical of Islam. (Stürzenberger was wounded, but not critically.)

It took four days for anyone with a uniform or in office to say publicly what was obvious, which was that this had something to do with Islamism.

“Islam belongs to Germany, but Islamism does not,” Justice Minister Marco Buschmann tweeted Tuesday. “It is a deadly form of fanaticism. There is now clear evidence of an Islamist motive for the crime in #Mannheim.”

This latest violence is part of a gathering storm of Islamist stabbings, riots, and violent demonstrations engulfing the West, with Europe at the center of the maelstrom.

The question for the public is if this is just noise or if it is a serious trend, a trend that needs to be dealt with.

The examples shown in this piece are in Europe.  Do we have the same issues here in the United States.  That is to say, is this Islamists against Europe or is it Islamists against the West?  In either case, it this becomes a serious threat to Citizens anywhere it is the duty of the United States Government to (1) stand against it and (2) to differentiate between those who wish to impose Islam by force from those who wish to attract converts by their excellent example.  The first are criminals and the second are our respected fellow citizens.

We, as Citizens, have a responsibility to distinguish between conduct and belief.  We can think someone is just an evil person.  We are not free to take action against that person.%nbsp; We can say they are evil, but we can't take action against the person.  It is about civilization.

Regards  —  Cliff

Protecting the Federal Attorney

For John, BLUF:  Government officials should feel safe while executing their duties.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Federal marshals won’t provide a security detail for confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins despite recent threats against her life

Here is the sub-headline:

Recent e-mail to prosecutor:  “You’ll probably die.”

From The Boston Globe, by Reporter Andrea Estes, 17 December 2021, 6:15 pm.

Here is the lede plus three:

Federal marshals have declined a request from newly confirmed US Attorney Rachael Rollins for a full-time security detail, rejecting her arguments that recent threats show she could be in danger, according to two people with direct knowledge of the security discussions.

Rollins, the first Black woman to serve as US attorney for Massachusetts, has said threats against her have grown more vicious since her Senate confirmation vote earlier this month during which Republicans attacked her as a dangerous, pro-criminal prosecutor. A blatantly racist e-mail sent to the Suffolk district attorney’s office on Dec. 9 warned that “SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE IS PLOTTING TO PUT ONE IN YOUR FACE OR HEAD!!!

“You’ll probably die ... I don’t have the (nerve) to outright kill someone ... but keep going and you will find one (who does have the nerve) ... I hope,” said the e-mail, which Rollins turned over to the US Marshals Service for investigation.

But the Marshals Service, which protects federal officials, declined to provide Rollins with a security detail after investigating the threats, the two people said. One author of a threatening e-mail apologized, the two people said, and marshals concluded Rollins was at low risk.

I szympathize with Ms Rollins having to deal with death threats.  However, there are some 30,000 federal officials who could receive protectoin from the US Marshal Serice. On the other hand, in its infinite wisdom, the US Congress has only authorized 3,067 marshalls, plus 4,700 Court Security Officers.  I pray that none of those threatening Ms Rollins have the courage, or stupidity, to try to kill or injure her.

The other thing I noted in the article was that Ms Rollins is taking a pay cut to move up to being the Federal Attorney for the full state of Massachusetts.  As the Suffolk district attorney she earned $191,000 pa.  Plus, a car, a driver and a security detail.  As the Federal Attorney she will earn $172,500, and will lose the car, driver and protection unit.  Is this a comment on Suffolk county and profligate ways, or a comment on the Federal Government, deep in debt?  Or does it mean that the Federal Government should have different pay scales for different parts of the nation?

In the mean time, regardless of our political leanings we should counsel our friends and neighbors not to use inflamtory language about our elected officils.  It is OK to call for impeachment or to circulate recall petitions.  It is not OK to threaten elected or appointed officials or their familites with physical violence.

It doesn't matter if you follow Émile Loubet or Émile Zola, one needs to have some moderation in one's approach to politicians.  Remember, the most stiupid remark of the Twentieth Century was by a member of the Frankfurt School, Professor Herbert Marcuse:  "Tear down the Weimar Republic.  Whatever replaces it has to be better."

Let us not tear down this Republic.  Whatever replaces it will likely be worse.

Regards  —  Cliff

Unequal Responses to Demonstrations

For John, BLUF:  I believe some Americans are careless with their use of the term domestic terrorism.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Jan. 6-BLM Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is the sub-headline:

A Resource on Violent Political Unrest, Continually Updated

From RealClearInvestigation, by The Editors, 9 September 2021.

Here is the lede:

Many in the political and media establishment consider the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot to be one of America’s darkest episodes.  Others say the nationwide protests last summer over George Floyd’s murder were worse.  With polling indicating Americans see two sides to the story – and major media dwelling on only one – RealClearInvestigations has developed the database below allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.  Further context can be found here.

Note that the original article, created by RealClearInvestigations, may be republished for free, with attribution.

I am hoping that we, as a nation, will have a period of peace, in which we can pull back from positions that see evil on the part of others.  A period of peace would be good for all of us.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

SPLC Strikes Out, Again

For John, BLUF:  In a previous Blog Post I linked to Reporter Glenn Greenwald talking about how near everyone has memory holed the reason US Domestic Terrorist Omar Mateen shot up the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  Now comes the Southern Poverty Law Center.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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SPLC Uses Anniversary of Islamic Terror Attack to Demonize Conservative Christians

From PJ Media, by Reporter Tyler O'Neil, 14 June 2021, 10:05 AM ET.

Here is the lede plus one:

Five years ago on Saturday, a radical Islamic terrorist opened fire in Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others.  He pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) during the attack, and ISIS later claimed responsibility.  Yet, because Pulse is a gay bar, leftists have memory-holed the terrorist’s intentions and blamed “anti-LGBT hate” for the heinous attack.  On Saturday, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) used the anniversary of the shooting to demonize conservative Christians and efforts to restrain the excesses of the transgender movement.

In a fundraising email, the SPLC noted the horrific Islamic terror attack, saying, “Today, we remember those we lost. We grieve for their families and friends.  And, we honor them by keeping up the fight against anti-LGBTQ hate.”

To quote Agent Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much."

This is the kind of thing that discredits efforts to fix our race problem.  The Southern Poverty Law Center may have been doing God's work in the beginning but today it is just hustling money and putting bad spin on the views of those who don't worship at its altar.  Sad.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The FBI Changes Its Stance

For John, BLUF:  The idea that someone would travel from Belleville, IL to the Nation's Capitol for the purpose of invoking the police to shot him, seems a little off the wall.  There are plenty of police between the two locations.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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FBI admits GOP baseball shooting was domestic terrorism after previously deeming it 'suicide by cop'

From The Blaze, by Writer Breck Dumas, 14 May 2021.♠

Here is the lede plus two:

The FBI has "quietly" admitted that the 2017 shooting by a far-left radical who tried to murder several GOP members of Congress at a baseball field was, indeed, domestic terrorism, The Washington Examiner reported.

Last month, current FBI chief Christopher Wray was confronted by Republican lawmakers over the agency classifying the shooting as "suicide by cop" under a previous director.

The Examiner found in an FBI-DHS report released Friday detailing 85 "FBI-Designated Significant Domestic Terrorism Incidents in the United States from 2015 through 2019" classified the shooting at an Alexandria, Va., baseball field by a supporter of former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as "domestic violent extremism."

Catching up.

I am sad to say I am not shocked here.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  One wonders if Mr Breck Dumas is descended from Writer Alexandre Dumas, or his son, Alexandre, fils?

The Non-Neutral Bureaucracy

For John, BLUF:  The sad thing is that I was not surprised by the FBI determined the Congressman Steve Scalise shooting was "Suicide by Cop".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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An outrage from the FBI

From The Washington Examiner, by Columnist Byron York, 23 April 2021, 08:44 AM.

Here is the lede plus three:

AN OUTRAGE FROM THE FBI.  On June 14, 2017, a team of Republican lawmakers went to an athletic field in Alexandria, Virginia to practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity.  As they worked out, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle and pistol approached and opened fire.  Representative Steve Scalise, the House Republican whip, was gravely wounded.  A lobbyist was also seriously hurt, and a congressional aide and Capitol Police officer were wounded, as well.

The shooter, James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, was an active Bernie Sanders supporter who hated Republicans and particularly hated then-President Donald Trump.  "Trump is a Traitor.  Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy.  It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co.," Hodgkinson posted on his Facebook page.  He thought of himself as part of the Resistance.  He joined Facebook groups like "Terminate The Republican Party" and "Join The Resistance Worldwide!!"

Hodgkinson came to the Washington area in 2017, living out of a van parked in Alexandria.  He brought his guns and developed a plan to attack Republicans.  He went to the baseball field with a list of several GOP members of Congress in his pocket, along with physical descriptions of some of them.  Before the attack, he asked Republican Representative Jeff Duncan, who was leaving practice early, whether the players on the field were Republicans or Democrats.  Duncan said it was the Republican team.  A short time later, Hodgkinson opened fire.  After a rampage of nearly ten minutes, he was killed by Capitol Police and Alexandria Police.

The attack was a clear act of violent, politically-motivated domestic terrorism.  There was simply no doubt about that.  And yet last week, Republican Representative Brad Wenstrup, who had been at the practice, revealed that the FBI concluded Hodgkinson was simply trying to commit "suicide by cop."

Interestingly, we were in Belleville, Illinois, at the time.  Our youngest, a lawyer in the Department of Justice, called us and gave us a heads up, in case there were like-minded individuals in Mr Hodgkinson's home town.

My conclusion is that while the FBI still carries guns, and can arrest you (and spy on you in contravention of the Bill of Rights), they are not a serious organization.  The likes of FBI Personnel such as Former Director James Comey and Agent Peter Strzok make that obvious.

The current witch hunt for ["right wing"] extremists, while marking the attack on the GOP Congression Baseball Team as "Suicide by Cop" is deplorable.

Now I have to ask myself if I violated my own admonition to show respect while critizing; "Do so respectfully".

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Why Is The National Guard Still In DC?

For John, BLUF:  We need some adult leadership in DC.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Capitol officials to bolster security on March 4 over QAnon threats

From The Hill, by Reporter Cristina Marcos, 2 March 2021, 03:07 PM EST.

Here is the lede plus one:

The top security official overseeing the House informed lawmakers this week that security will be heightened on Thursday due to a QAnon-linked conspiracy theory that former President Trump will be inaugurated on that date.

Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett said in a memo that Capitol Police will have additional personnel on duty throughout the Capitol grounds in addition to the continued National Guard presence.

And here is the same story, from The Sun.

Yes, QAnon has been talking up some big event on 4 March, which would have been Inauguration Day right up until the passage of the 20th Amendment, back in 1933.

So what is going on in the minds of folks responsible for the security of the Capitol Building?  What chatter are they hearing that the rest of us are not?  And what is their track record?

• They missed the move to Occupy Capitol Hill on 6 Janaury.
• They told us about protests at all 50 State Capitols, plus the District of Columbia, on Inauguration Day, which never happened.
• The explanations of what did happen on 6 January have been, from both Government and the media, slow to emerge and muddled, aside from blaming President Trump, which now appears off, an Impeachment notwithstanding.

So, the 18 Federal Intelligence Agencies of the Intelligence Community, which violated the Civil Rights of Trump Campaign Staff during his first run, and perhaps President Trump himself, seem totally out of their depth at this point in dealing with QAnon.

Assuming there is no major event on 4 March, and I don't expect one, when will the National Guard Units deployed to the Nation's Capitol return home?  And when will we start asking questions about what we knew and when we knew it?

Regards  —  Cliff

Fears of Domestic Surveillance

For John, BLUF:  The Democrats in power seem to be gearing up for more domestic surveillance.  We have been here before, and it wasn't pretty.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Tulsi Gabbard:  Domestic-Terrorism Bill Is ‘a Targeting of Almost Half of the Country’

From The National Review, by Writer Brittany Bernstein, 23 January 2021, 10:05 AM.

Here is the lede plus three:

Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic representative from Hawaii, on Friday expressed concern that a proposed measure to combat domestic terrorism could be used to undermine civil liberties.

Gabbard’s comments came during an appearance on Fox News Primetime when host Brian Kilmeade asked her if she was “surprised they’re pushing forward with this extra surveillance on would-be domestic terror.”

“It’s so dangerous as you guys have been talking about, this is an issue that all Democrats, Republicans, independents, Libertarians should be extremely concerned about, especially because we don’t have to guess about where this goes or how this ends,” Gabbard said.

She continued:  “When you have people like former CIA Director John Brennan openly talking about how he’s spoken with or heard from appointees and nominees in the Biden administration who are already starting to look across our country for these types of movements similar to the insurgencies they’ve seen overseas, that in his words, he says make up this unholy alliance of religious extremists, racists, bigots, he lists a few others and at the end, even libertarians.”

Ms Gabbard is giving us the straight word here.  In the name of domestic tranquility the current Congress and Administration could initiate domestic spying and cause Citizens to restrict their Free Speech in order to avoid drawing attention to themselves  This is the antipithy of the American Way.  This would make us more like some Cold War Socialist nation.

some of the names associated with this kind of talk, such as Former FBI Director James Comey (he who calls for burning down the Republican Party) and former CIA Director John Brennan, are scary from a Civil Rights point of view.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Misidentifying the Problems

For John, BLUF:  The kidnap plot against Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer seemed, initially, to swirl around the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, only to find that the plotters disliked President Trump just like they disliked Governor Whitmer, making the two elected officials like peas in a pod.♠  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Alleged Whitmer Kidnap Plotter Wanted to Hang Trump, Other Republican Politicians

Here is the sub-headline:

This man is the second one in the plot who hated Trump. I bet the others hated Trump and Republicans.

From Legal Ibnsurrection, by Ms Mary Chastain, 29 October 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

An unsealed FBI search warrant revealed that Barry Croft, who allegedly wanted to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, wanted to hang President Donald Trump and other politicians.

The search warrant gave the FBI permission to search Croft’s Facebook account:

"Left" and "Right" have become worthless terms.  We need better terms to be able to understand each other.  Here is how Day by Day handled this label issue today.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  I am shocked, shocked, to find the Mainstream Media actually published, early on, these smears against President Trump.  They are, after all, being soooo careful about not publishing the evidence against Mr Hunter Biden.

Attack on the Governor

For John, BLUF:  I admit that is campaign year is as disappointing as 1964.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Biden Blames Trump for Gretchen Whitmer Kidnap Attempt, Without Evidence:  ‘Why Can’t the President Just Say Stop?’

Here is the sub-headline:

Former Vice President Joe Biden blamed President Donald Trump on Thursday for a foiled kidnapping plot by a group of extremists who intended to abduct Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

From Breitbart, by Joel B Pollak, 8 October 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

Though it did not name a specific political ideology, the FBI’s criminal complaint alleges that the members of the group “talked about creating a society that followed the U.S. Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient.”  Two apparently met at a Second Amendment rally.

One member of the group, Brandon Caserta, was seen in an online video in front of an anarchist flag.

Not just Vice President Biben, but also Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is point to the President.  Is this to say the FBI, and DOJ, is in the hands of the Democrats, protecting a Democratic Party Governor from the evil Republicans?  I hope not.

Looking three dimensionally, don’t Far Left and Far Right bend back and touch, sort of like a wrist band or bracelet?

The difference between the Nazi crowd and the Communist crowd wasn’t the number killed, but the number of Jews killed.  The Nazis killed more Jews because they believed Margaret Sanger.  The Communists killed more Ukrainians (and others) because—food.

The inability to distinguish between Anarchists and other political philosopies is not helpful.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Short Range Future

For John, BLUF:  Reporter Michael Yon brings a fresh set of eyes to the problems in Portland.  As General David Petraeus once asked:  "Tell me how this ends."  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Dispatch 15:  Return to America:  Ebbs and Flows

From Michael's Dispatches, by Reporter Michael Yon, 5 October 2020.

Here are three key paragraphs on Portland:

Ebbs and Flows: Media reports about Portland fighting abating.  The authors of those articles often attach unstudied analysis in the form of wishful thinking.  Not to be confused with positive thinking.

I do not sense the Portland fighting will suddenly abate and vanish.  My current feel is that ANTIFA/BLM in Portland has eroded its support base.  BUT, the Antifa terrorists still are energetic, highly emotional, and their moods will be affected by, yet transcend, 2020 elections.

My sense is this will go on no matter the results of the elections.  Potential terrorists without a cause have been assigned a cause.  Local government here is amazingly weak-minded, feeble-minded, creating a vacuum that terrorists have filled.

The Media, the Fourth Estate, seems to be ignoring the long term issues of what is happening in Portland.  The danger is that it will not wind down as winter comes.  The additional danger is that it will spread to other parts of the nation.  I think we are playing with fire here and we don't realize it.

Regards  —  Cliff

Portland, the Future

For John, BLUF:  Aside from Andy Ngo, no one seeemed to have been reporting on the underside of protests (and associated rioting, looting and burning) in Portland and other locations.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Dispatch 13:  Portland Peril:  Mayorial Election:  ANTIFA and KKK are terror organizations

From Michael's Dispatches, by Reporter Michael Yon, 30 September 2020.

Here is the lede plus three:

I've been talking with various law enforcement here in Portland.  Morale very low.  Chance they will walk off after next Mayorial election in November?  I do not know, but that number is significantly higher than zero.

Current Mayor, Ted Wheeler, is weak and indecisive.  Too weak to clean up this town.

Challenger, Sarah Iannarone, overtly sympathizes with the terror group euphemistically known as ANTIFA.  I was at their BLM/ANTIFA protest Saturday night where they called for mass arson and genocide against white people, demanding, "White people!  We got your attention now!?"  (Answer:  Yes.)

During my Monday interview with John Batchelor and Gordon Chang, we talked offline about John's experiences from the 1960s counterculture.  John cautioned that he knows people who were arrested and it "ruined their lives."  John said this numerous times:  "Ruined their lives."

Mr Michael Yon is a former Special Forces soldier and a free lance reporter from Afghnistan to Iraq and beyond.  He is well qualified to talk about terrorism and insurgency.

I wonder if lives will, indeed, be ruined in these days of no consequences for those arrested.  It doesn't appear that way these days, but memories are long and records can be squirreled away in many places.

I recommend folks follow Michael for a while to see what he uncovers and intuits about the situation.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

"No Police, No Peace"

For John, BLUF:  Freelance Reporter Michael Yon is back in the United States and prowling around the Portland area.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Michael Yon Online Magazine

Here is the sub-headline:

Dispatch 12: Return to America: Portland -- No Police, No Peace

This will be a blog worth following for a while.  Michael Yon know insurgency.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Killing of Bobby Fassnacht

For John, BLUF:  it was 50 years ago this last Monday, and it accomplished nothing positive, but created a lot of pain.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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It was 50 years ago today — the Sterling Hall bombing.

From The Althouse Blog! by Professor Althouse, 24 August 2020.

The Blog Post consists of copies of two tweets on the event, from UW-Madison, and the comments. I actually knew Bobby Fassnacht.  He was my Wife's Cousin.  We had just returned from 3+ years in Germany.  It was shocking. He might have had his young son with him.  He had taken him to work before.  Fortunately, not this time.

Our Government treated this more like war than crime.  The "POWs" were released early.  I am, sadly, convinced we learned little.  And not a lot changed as a result of the death of Bobby Fassnacht.  In late 1973 I went back to Southeast Asia, flying missions in Cambodia, which failed to defeat the Khmer Rouge.  As a result I have frequent chances to apologize to my fellow Lowellians that I failed to end the war on a positive note.  One in five here in Lowell are Cambodian Refugees or the descendants thereof.  Including two City Councillors, a State Rep and the Chairman of the Republican City Committee.  And, last term, a member of the School Committee.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

A Mystery Unfolding

For John, BLUF:  I try to be careful of conspiracy theories, although I might joke about connections from time to time, but this catches my interest.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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They Tell No Tales

Here is the sub-headline:

From Da Tech Guy, by baldilocks (Ms Juliette Akinyi Ochieng), 29 February 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

A mystery has taken hold of me.

Phil Haney was a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security – an agency that investigated him nine times and found nothing untoward.  And this very same agency scrubbed its own records that Haney had been using to investigate Islamist terror networks in the United States.

Vaguely, I remember his name from my early days of blogging. He’s back in the news again; unfortunately for being dead.

This didn't smell right to me and it doesn't to baldilocks.

As I recall, "da tech guy" live north of Worcester, but baldilocks lives out in California, where this crime happened.

Read the rest of the short post to see her thinking.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Cartel Government in Mexico

For John, BLUF:  I don't think President Trump is wrong to be worried about Mexico and I am very happy every time he moves to help Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrado (AMLO), who I think is trying to do the right thing for Mexico, which includes getting control of the internal crime problems.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Mexican Cartel Rules City After Gunbattle

Here is the sub-headline:

Operation to free Ovidio Guzmán was unprecedented in scope and sophistication

From The Wall Street Journal, by Reporters David Luhnow, José de Cordoba and Santiago Pérez, 18 October 2019.

Here is the lede plus three:

A son of the infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is captured. Cartel gunmen respond with a vicious attack on soldiers and civilians across a major Mexican city, killing at least eight people. The government gives in and releases the son, a top figure in the cartel.

One of the most violent and harrowing days in Mexico's long fight against drug cartels unfolded late Thursday as members of the Sinaloa cartel wreaked havoc across Culiacán, a modern, middle-class city of around 800,000 residents, in response to what appeared to be a botched attempt to arrest Ovidio Guzmán.

Heavily-armed gunmen riding in convoys engaged in more than 70 separate firefights with Mexican security forces, set fires to vehicles, shot at government offices and engineered a jailbreak that freed 55 prisoners, with six recaptured, officials said. By nightfall, it was clear that the cartel was in charge of the city.

The article notes that this was the third major gunbattle of the week.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrado (AMLO) has his hands full.  And there are implications for these United States.  At some point the Cartels will look north for additional profits and power.  We need to be reading more by Researchers like Dr Robert J Bunker.  People may be worried about threats to the US Homeland originating from Syria, but we should also be looking closer to home.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mass Murder as Domestic Terrorism

For John, BLUF:  I checked The Center On Terrorism website and din't see a link to the data mentioned.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Let's tackle mass shootings like we do terrorism

From The Hill, by Opinionator Courtney La Bau, 1 September 2019.

Here is the lede plus two:

Mass shootings are a uniquely American tragedy.  I have worked in the extremism and counterterrorism space for a long time, as a federal contractor for the Department of Homeland Security and as a national security expert for several think tanks around the world.  I have sat in prison cells and interviewed convicted terrorists.  I have sought to understand the nuances of violent hate whether it manifests in an ISIS-inspired bombing in Sri Lanka or a white supremacy-driven shooting in El Paso.

What I have seen is a common narrative: hatred, the notion of superiority and cleansing, and mobilization to violence in the name of an ideology.  But in the United States, we’ve chosen to fight back a lot harder against the kinds of violent extremism perpetrated by foreigners or those with a certain color of skin.  We created a vast toolkit to counter al Qaeda and ISIS, but we do nothing to prevent these homegrown extremists who happen to be white from accessing weapons of mass destruction in our country.

Though the radicalization process might be the same across the extremism spectrum, the numbers do not lie.  The Center on Extremism released statistics showing that 73 percent of extremist-related murders in the U.S. over the last 10 years (through 2018) were committed by right-wing domestic extremists.

Except the Global War on Terrorism isn't working.  The current Administration is working on a way to pull out of Afghanistan, but without having eliminated terrorism.

The other thing is that gun violence in certain neighborhoods in Chicago, and other cities, is a major source of terror for individuals and families.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Look More Broadly

For John, BLUF:  Bad analysis usually doesn't solve hard problems.  Blaming guns and "White Privilege" for all mass killings is an example.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Racially-Motivated Attack The National Mainstream Media Is Ignoring

From Bearing Arms, by Mr Tom Knighton, 6 August 2019.

Without getting into details, the point of Mr Knighton is that racially-motivated attacks, gun and other, is not just a one way transaction.  We need a broader view of the social and cultural tensions.  Put another way, it isn't just about Deplorables and irredeemables.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Off Narrative

For John, BLUF:  A lot of violence around.  Could there be some underlying social and cultural issues?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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4 dead, 2 wounded in Southern California stabbings

From the Associated Press, by Reporter Robert Jablon, 8 August 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

A man who was “full of anger” went on a two-hour stabbing and robbery rampage in Southern California, killing four people and wounding two others, authorities said Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Garden Grove man was taken into custody after he came out of a 7-Eleven in Santa Ana, southeast of Los Angeles, and dropped a knife along with a handgun that he had taken from a guard, police said.

So, not all violence is "gun violence".  Or, alternatively, if you are stabbed to death it really isn't violence.

On the other hand, this is outside the bubble of "White Supremacy", given the ethnicity of the knife wielder and the victims.

There is obviously nothing to learn here.  Even Democracy Now passed over the story this morning.

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff

Beto Exploits El Paso Tragedy

For John, BLUF:  Nothing shows what a good President you would be like exploiting a national tragedy for personal political gains.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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WHAT ELSE IS HE GOING TO DO?  Beto exploits tragedy for sake of politics.

A blog post at InstaPundit, by Author Sarah Hoyt, 6 August 2019.

Did anyone read the manifesto of the El Paso shooter?

The Dayton shooter?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff