Tappin is in jail in El Paso, in solitary at his own request. He has a bail hearing set for Friday. If denied bail, it will be tough to mount a defense...which is why bail will be opposed with vigor. The last thing the prosecutor in El Paso wants is much probing into the real facts of the case.
Like this one: The weapons system, owned by the Iranians, he is alleged to have conspired to supply parts to was actually given to the Iranians in the 1980's by (drumroll please!!) the US Gubbermint.
Sweet.
Or this one: The batteries for the weapons system, owned by the Iranians, given to the Iranians by the US Gubbermint, were offered to Mr. Tappin by (drumroll and brass-band fanfare!!) a fake firm set up by the US Gubbermint, a firm set up to deliberately entrap potential evil-doers.
Oooohhhh, that's even sweeter!
Certainly, the federal prosecutor in El Paso will be performing the full-court-press to extract a guilty plea, of any sort, from Mr.Tappin. Otherwise, his office will be required to cough up allllll evidence they say they have against him, and in the end it may all hinge on the word of one over-ambitious federal agent running the sting who has every reason in the world to lie to the jury about his activities.
Now, OS has no opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of Mr. Tappin. But it doesn't take a genius to conclude that this republic and its freedoms under the rule of law are under much more threat from a government that gives weapons systems to mullahs and spends its energies setting up sham corporations to create defendants, than from the mullahs and their aging weapons systems.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. OS predicts that as more light is allowed into this dark and slimy corner of US law enforcement, and David Cameron's complicity and cowardice, the case will fall apart. With any luck, some law enforcement, legal and political careers will go down in flames with it.
If you're reading from the UK--keep turning up the heat. Mrs. Tappin testified before Parliament yesterday, and received wide coverage. It's a good start.
If reading from the US--keep following the story. Just like the MF Global scandal, this case has huge implications for us all. If the 'Justice Department' gets away with this one, none of us are safe in our homes and business will become increasingly perilous to conduct.
By the way, none of this, none of it, has served to restrain Iranian behavior in the least way. So don't for a moment think this case is about 'The War On Terror'. The terrorists are doing just fine, thank you.
The real war, increasingly, is on us.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Crackdown On Dissent In Venezuela Ramps Up Again: Alejandro Peña Esclusa Arrested Again
Things are not going well in Chavez's workers' paradise. The economy, frankly, sucks. Chavez is back in Cuba for more cancer surgery--that can't be good. There's a presidential election scheduled for October, and it appears folks can't wait to vote for someone else besides Chavez.
So, what's a harried dictator to do, poor chap? He can't escape to Libya, since his homeboy Mohamar came to such an unhappy end. Even worse, the pictures of how it all ended circulated widely--the folks at home could get uppity ideas about following suit, don't-cha-know. That hiding-out-in-a-drainage-culvert incident, just before the summary execution (with a bit of pre-execution torture thrown in for good measure) just doesn't sound like a good option.
Hmmm....what to do...what to do?
Of course! Ramp up a publicity campaign against 'enemies of the Revolution'! Damn, it's worked before, it's bound to work this time. After all, Fidel and his homeboys are eager to help, and we can round up people all over Latin America who think that life under Communism sucks, and are impertinent enough to talk about it in public!
Stage an 'extradition' to Cuba, with a 'stopover' in Venezuela, long enough to compose a 'confession' about local villains, and away we go!!!!
So, a North American reader asks, 'Why should we care? It's Latin America just being Latin America!'
Good question! The answers lie in the proximity and pattern of behavior.
Notice the silence in the media about this mess, taking place on the northern side of South America, where all sorts of bad actors like the Iranians and Hezboallah types are turning up? Notice the silence from the White House and the Secretary of State? A hostile state within reach of the eastern side of the Panama Canal could really create chaos.
Remember how The Left screamed non-stop about the ouster of Allende and the rule of Pinochet in Chile? For all its faults, Chile's stable and not broke. Why the lack of outrage from The Left, with Obama at the helm over Venezuela? Perhaps because they sympathize with him?
What might happen here, if things begin to go sour this late summer and fall, as they did in 2008?
What if we're next?
And, just for reference, you can read Peña's words from his previous imprisonment here.
Judge for yourself.
So, what's a harried dictator to do, poor chap? He can't escape to Libya, since his homeboy Mohamar came to such an unhappy end. Even worse, the pictures of how it all ended circulated widely--the folks at home could get uppity ideas about following suit, don't-cha-know. That hiding-out-in-a-drainage-culvert incident, just before the summary execution (with a bit of pre-execution torture thrown in for good measure) just doesn't sound like a good option.
Hmmm....what to do...what to do?
Of course! Ramp up a publicity campaign against 'enemies of the Revolution'! Damn, it's worked before, it's bound to work this time. After all, Fidel and his homeboys are eager to help, and we can round up people all over Latin America who think that life under Communism sucks, and are impertinent enough to talk about it in public!
Stage an 'extradition' to Cuba, with a 'stopover' in Venezuela, long enough to compose a 'confession' about local villains, and away we go!!!!
So, a North American reader asks, 'Why should we care? It's Latin America just being Latin America!'
Good question! The answers lie in the proximity and pattern of behavior.
Notice the silence in the media about this mess, taking place on the northern side of South America, where all sorts of bad actors like the Iranians and Hezboallah types are turning up? Notice the silence from the White House and the Secretary of State? A hostile state within reach of the eastern side of the Panama Canal could really create chaos.
Remember how The Left screamed non-stop about the ouster of Allende and the rule of Pinochet in Chile? For all its faults, Chile's stable and not broke. Why the lack of outrage from The Left, with Obama at the helm over Venezuela? Perhaps because they sympathize with him?
What might happen here, if things begin to go sour this late summer and fall, as they did in 2008?
What if we're next?
And, just for reference, you can read Peña's words from his previous imprisonment here.
Judge for yourself.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Maurice Andre 1933-2012
Even if you never heard his name, if you heard a trumpet play since about 1965, you heard the huge influence of French trumpeter Maurice Andre.
Born into a miner's family in the French Pyrenees, he took up trumpet at age 12, after having been taught solfege (the sophisticated French ear-training system based upon do-re-mi) for two years.
The link above details his career, contains recorded samples, and excerpts of interviews.
Andre showed us with his life what might be possible for those who follow their calling, however improbable. Who raises a child with the idea that he (or she) will travel the world playing a tiny piccolo trumpet to bring joy to millions? Moms and Dads, your kid's rather improbable dream may well be worth nurturing. Read about his life, and keep him in mind as you parent.
He was a dedicated teacher and mentor. His recordings defined the sound and technique of the trumpet for his generation and well beyond.
He didn't win one election, stage one coup, crash a bank or brokerage, start or end a war. He played the trumpet, taught the trumpet, and moved the world in the right direction.
What would happen if we produced more people like Maurice Andre and fewer people like, say, Vladimir Putin, or Assad, or EuroCrats, or banksters like Corzine? What if?
R.I.P. Maurice Andre. May your tribe increase.
Born into a miner's family in the French Pyrenees, he took up trumpet at age 12, after having been taught solfege (the sophisticated French ear-training system based upon do-re-mi) for two years.
The link above details his career, contains recorded samples, and excerpts of interviews.
Andre showed us with his life what might be possible for those who follow their calling, however improbable. Who raises a child with the idea that he (or she) will travel the world playing a tiny piccolo trumpet to bring joy to millions? Moms and Dads, your kid's rather improbable dream may well be worth nurturing. Read about his life, and keep him in mind as you parent.
He was a dedicated teacher and mentor. His recordings defined the sound and technique of the trumpet for his generation and well beyond.
He didn't win one election, stage one coup, crash a bank or brokerage, start or end a war. He played the trumpet, taught the trumpet, and moved the world in the right direction.
What would happen if we produced more people like Maurice Andre and fewer people like, say, Vladimir Putin, or Assad, or EuroCrats, or banksters like Corzine? What if?
R.I.P. Maurice Andre. May your tribe increase.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Christopher Tappin Affair Is Going To Blow Up In The Face Of Eric Holder
Wait for it...not on the radar here in the States yet, but allllllll over the British papers.
OS doesn't know enough about the particulars of the case to offer any insight, but the way this extradition has been handled smells to high heaven.
The United States needs all the friends it can get and keep. This will poison the well against us even more.
Peter Hitchens has a truckload to say on the matter, and he says it better than OS.
To our British cousins, a plea and reminder: Holder and Obama don't speak for us, don't reflect our values. Yes, they are in power, and so many of us are doing every peaceable and legal thing we can do to end their regime this November. Please don't let them poison the well.
Demand that your government stand up to these bullies. Demand that your government demand humane treatment of Mr. Tappin. Demand that your government demand full Constitutional protections for Mr. Tappin, beginning with reasonable bail and the presumption of innocence. Any jihadist whack-job caught on our soil is afforded these things, including a lawyer at taxpayer expense.
Our Supreme Court has made clear that, since he is on American soil, he is entitled to all Constitutional protections, including the right of discovery--to see all evidence the US claims to have against him.
He has the right to jury trial in a venue that will offer a fair jury. El Paso, Texas is not that venue.
He has the right to bring his own witnesses to testify, even if it is done on the taxpayer's tab.
He has the right to a public trial, in civilian court, with competent counsel, even if it's on the taxpayer's tab.
He has the right to not fear for his life while being held for arraignment or trial.
He has all these rights and more, given to him by our Constitution, modeled upon the great tradition of the English Common Law.
Raise unshirted hell with David Cameron and his toadies. If he won't listen, toss his scurvy behonkus out of office.
And, please--stop electing spoiled boys from Eton. They don't believe they have to play by the same rules as everyone else.
If you do these things, you stand up for yourselves, and your country, and us, and our country.
OS doesn't know enough about the particulars of the case to offer any insight, but the way this extradition has been handled smells to high heaven.
The United States needs all the friends it can get and keep. This will poison the well against us even more.
Peter Hitchens has a truckload to say on the matter, and he says it better than OS.
To our British cousins, a plea and reminder: Holder and Obama don't speak for us, don't reflect our values. Yes, they are in power, and so many of us are doing every peaceable and legal thing we can do to end their regime this November. Please don't let them poison the well.
Demand that your government stand up to these bullies. Demand that your government demand humane treatment of Mr. Tappin. Demand that your government demand full Constitutional protections for Mr. Tappin, beginning with reasonable bail and the presumption of innocence. Any jihadist whack-job caught on our soil is afforded these things, including a lawyer at taxpayer expense.
Our Supreme Court has made clear that, since he is on American soil, he is entitled to all Constitutional protections, including the right of discovery--to see all evidence the US claims to have against him.
He has the right to jury trial in a venue that will offer a fair jury. El Paso, Texas is not that venue.
He has the right to bring his own witnesses to testify, even if it is done on the taxpayer's tab.
He has the right to a public trial, in civilian court, with competent counsel, even if it's on the taxpayer's tab.
He has the right to not fear for his life while being held for arraignment or trial.
He has all these rights and more, given to him by our Constitution, modeled upon the great tradition of the English Common Law.
Raise unshirted hell with David Cameron and his toadies. If he won't listen, toss his scurvy behonkus out of office.
And, please--stop electing spoiled boys from Eton. They don't believe they have to play by the same rules as everyone else.
If you do these things, you stand up for yourselves, and your country, and us, and our country.
Daniel Eisenbud On Why Israel Survives As The World Around Burns
OS has always marveled at the Israelis. He's never been there, but has encountered a few along the way, survivors or children of survivors of the worst the twentieth century could conjure up against them, and yet here they are. They create artists like Perlman, orchestras like Israel Philharmonic, they develop the technology that make cell phones possible, they make the desert bloom, they have a free press, and democratic elections, and it all looks chaotic. Yet compared to Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Libya--need we continue?
On the way to somewhere else entirely, OS ran across this essay by Daniel Eisenbud at the Jerusalem Post. It's an unusual piece, actually, detailing the difference between those Israelis who will not give in to the hatred that assails them, and those who do. And, in thinking about it, OS has met a few of both Eisenbud describes.
While Israelis – the vast majority of whom have served in the military – are acutely aware of the murderous hatred that tries to permeate our borders day after day, second after second, they also know from experience that giving in to the hate is a fool’s errand.
CONVERSELY, THE most jarring hatred I have encountered since moving to this country a year and half ago – apart, of course, from that of terrorists – may also surprise you.
On the way to somewhere else entirely, OS ran across this essay by Daniel Eisenbud at the Jerusalem Post. It's an unusual piece, actually, detailing the difference between those Israelis who will not give in to the hatred that assails them, and those who do. And, in thinking about it, OS has met a few of both Eisenbud describes.
While Israelis – the vast majority of whom have served in the military – are acutely aware of the murderous hatred that tries to permeate our borders day after day, second after second, they also know from experience that giving in to the hate is a fool’s errand.
Indeed, I have found that the common denominator among Sabras is their majestic ability to rise above the odium that surrounds them and attempts to consume them.
It’s beautiful, and humbling, to behold.
CONVERSELY, THE most jarring hatred I have encountered since moving to this country a year and half ago – apart, of course, from that of terrorists – may also surprise you.
It comes from the nefarious breed of Jewish immigrant who comes already filled with rage, and the mistaken belief that Israel is somehow an acceptable venue for their hate because of the copious amounts surrounding it.
To which OS must regretfully add--yes, you do have that correct as well. OS knows a family like that, preparing to move to Israel. The mother of the family quite seriously believes, for instance, that it would be a good thing for every Iranian to be wiped from the face of the earth.
Seriously. Not making this up. It would not surprise the reader to hear that this family is seriously non-functional, would it? Rather like the Arab societies that surround Israel, consumed by their own rage at Israel, history, one another, themselves. Eisenbud is urging them to stay home, because Israel already has enough problems without them.
OS will stop now, because Eisenbud knows how to write, and you should read what he has to say.
In these perilous days, he offers wisdom.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Clarke And Dawe: 'You'd Write Anything, Wouldn't You?'
Once again from Down Under...Clarke and Dawe explain the Mainstream Media.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Venezuelan Oil Pipeline Rupture: Plenty Of Tar, Now All They Need Are The Feathers And A Rail To Ride Chavez Out On
From The Economist, which tells the tale.
ON FEBRUARY 4th Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president, held festivities to celebrate the anniversary of a failed coup attempt he led in 1992. He had busloads of public workers brought into Caracas for the occasion. Among them were high-ranking employees of PDVSA, the state oil company.
That same day, a pipeline carrying pressurised oil fractured in the state of Monagas. The crude soared 25 metres (82 feet) into the air and flowed for a full day. Anywhere from 40,000-120,000 barrels poured into a river that supplies drinking and irrigation water. Some 550,000 people now lack water at home. Although city-dwellers can fetch it from drums that PDVSA is leaving in streets, people in remote areas are going without. It may take months to clean the supply.
Venezuela has a presidential election scheduled for October...
ON FEBRUARY 4th Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president, held festivities to celebrate the anniversary of a failed coup attempt he led in 1992. He had busloads of public workers brought into Caracas for the occasion. Among them were high-ranking employees of PDVSA, the state oil company.
That same day, a pipeline carrying pressurised oil fractured in the state of Monagas. The crude soared 25 metres (82 feet) into the air and flowed for a full day. Anywhere from 40,000-120,000 barrels poured into a river that supplies drinking and irrigation water. Some 550,000 people now lack water at home. Although city-dwellers can fetch it from drums that PDVSA is leaving in streets, people in remote areas are going without. It may take months to clean the supply.
Venezuela has a presidential election scheduled for October...
Monday, February 20, 2012
Eurozone? We Don't Need No Effin' EuroZone! Iceland Stands Tall, And Is Recovering
As Robert Peston so succinctly phrased it a few years back, the bankers and government of Iceland had essentially transformed the country into a large hedge fund, backed by the taxpayers (without telling them about it).
As these things always do, it all blew up, and instead of paying to bail out the bankers, and the politicians, and the Eurocrats, the Icelanders reverted back to their traditional life of freedom, told them all to stuff it, and got on with their business.
It worked. Which is why you hear so little news of it in general.
Iceland’s approach to dealing with the meltdown has put the needs of its population ahead of the markets at every turn.
Once it became clear back in October 2008 that the island’s banks were beyond saving, the government stepped in, ring-fenced the domestic accounts, and left international creditors in the lurch. The central bank imposed capital controls to halt the ensuing sell-off of the krona and new state-controlled banks were created from the remnants of the lenders that failed.
Activists say the banks should go even further in their debt relief. Andrea J. Olafsdottir, chairman of the Icelandic Homes Coalition, said she doubts the numbers provided by the banks are reliable.
“There are indications that some of the financial institutions in question haven’t lost a penny with the measures that they’ve undertaken,” she said.
It was painful, and to some extent still is. But no one from Brussels has arrived to install their own government in a defacto coup, as has happened in Greece and Italy. Or, it may be argued, here.
Just sayin'...
As these things always do, it all blew up, and instead of paying to bail out the bankers, and the politicians, and the Eurocrats, the Icelanders reverted back to their traditional life of freedom, told them all to stuff it, and got on with their business.
It worked. Which is why you hear so little news of it in general.
Iceland’s approach to dealing with the meltdown has put the needs of its population ahead of the markets at every turn.
Once it became clear back in October 2008 that the island’s banks were beyond saving, the government stepped in, ring-fenced the domestic accounts, and left international creditors in the lurch. The central bank imposed capital controls to halt the ensuing sell-off of the krona and new state-controlled banks were created from the remnants of the lenders that failed.
Activists say the banks should go even further in their debt relief. Andrea J. Olafsdottir, chairman of the Icelandic Homes Coalition, said she doubts the numbers provided by the banks are reliable.
“There are indications that some of the financial institutions in question haven’t lost a penny with the measures that they’ve undertaken,” she said.
It was painful, and to some extent still is. But no one from Brussels has arrived to install their own government in a defacto coup, as has happened in Greece and Italy. Or, it may be argued, here.
Just sayin'...
Yet Another Alarming, Completely Misleading Headline: Iran To Stop Selling Oil To The UK And France
Well, for openers, most of Western Europe has been shopping for oil elsewhere for quite a while now.
That's in the body of the story, which actually tells us that Iran is being squeezed from all sides. They can't refine their own oil, because they've been so intent building nuclear reactors and processors they've never gotten around to building something rather more simple. Like oil refineries.
These clowns export crude, and import every drop of gasoline they burn. Sheer genius, is it not?
What's not mentioned in the article is this simple fact: The oil is pumped out of the ground, and pumped onto tankers, who then carry it to the purchaser at any number of destination ports. In the meantime, there is a worldwide, daily, liquid, fluid market in crude oil. That tanker of oil may change hands a dozen times between the port in Iran and the destination port. Sometimes, if there's a glut, the tanker sits anchored at sea until such time as someone decides to buy the contents. In short, once it's on the boat, the Iranians have no say in where it ends up. They ship oil at a contracted price, and get paid for it by the initial purchaser, who then sells it on to the next party, who then sells it on...
Meanwhile, we have a substantial part of the most lethal naval fleet in the history of mankind posted up in the Straits of Hormuz, keeping guard over this craziness. We haven't built a refinery in the US in over three decades, because the same Federal government that sends aircraft carrier groups to the Straits of Hormuz to 'safeguard the oil supply' won't allow anyone to build a refinery on US soil, and routinely discourages anyone from tapping into the sea of oil, gas, and coal that lies underneath the surface of this country.
Someone, somewhere, please listen up: This is madness--it's going to impoverish most of us, and get a lot of people killed to boot.
OS has a friend whose son has just graduated from US Army Airborne training. It's a proud moment for that family. OS holds his breath, wondering what sorts of perils the boy will face because the leadership of this country is so completely incompetent.
That's in the body of the story, which actually tells us that Iran is being squeezed from all sides. They can't refine their own oil, because they've been so intent building nuclear reactors and processors they've never gotten around to building something rather more simple. Like oil refineries.
These clowns export crude, and import every drop of gasoline they burn. Sheer genius, is it not?
What's not mentioned in the article is this simple fact: The oil is pumped out of the ground, and pumped onto tankers, who then carry it to the purchaser at any number of destination ports. In the meantime, there is a worldwide, daily, liquid, fluid market in crude oil. That tanker of oil may change hands a dozen times between the port in Iran and the destination port. Sometimes, if there's a glut, the tanker sits anchored at sea until such time as someone decides to buy the contents. In short, once it's on the boat, the Iranians have no say in where it ends up. They ship oil at a contracted price, and get paid for it by the initial purchaser, who then sells it on to the next party, who then sells it on...
Meanwhile, we have a substantial part of the most lethal naval fleet in the history of mankind posted up in the Straits of Hormuz, keeping guard over this craziness. We haven't built a refinery in the US in over three decades, because the same Federal government that sends aircraft carrier groups to the Straits of Hormuz to 'safeguard the oil supply' won't allow anyone to build a refinery on US soil, and routinely discourages anyone from tapping into the sea of oil, gas, and coal that lies underneath the surface of this country.
Someone, somewhere, please listen up: This is madness--it's going to impoverish most of us, and get a lot of people killed to boot.
OS has a friend whose son has just graduated from US Army Airborne training. It's a proud moment for that family. OS holds his breath, wondering what sorts of perils the boy will face because the leadership of this country is so completely incompetent.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Lambing Season At Greenhill Farm: Beauty Breaks Through
OS's favorite young photographer lives in Northern Ireland, where she attends school, and helps run the family farm.
She also tries to supervise and document the lives of a pack of the most charming border collies and sprollies on the planet. The Goofy Factor is off the meter.
The third shot down is off-the-meter lovely.
Beauty breaks through, and reminds us of Grace, and points us Heavenward.
Enjoy Sunday.
She also tries to supervise and document the lives of a pack of the most charming border collies and sprollies on the planet. The Goofy Factor is off the meter.
The third shot down is off-the-meter lovely.
Beauty breaks through, and reminds us of Grace, and points us Heavenward.
Enjoy Sunday.
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