Report: U.K. Used Lockerbie Bomber as Bargaining Chip for Oil

from The Sunday Times

The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.

Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.

The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely critizised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.

The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests. ....

CIA Internal Report Hints at Impact of Harsh Interrogations on 9/11 Mastermind

(Analyst's note: A must read article.)

from FOXNews.com

Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-described architect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, looms large in a declassified CIA report on the use of enhanced interrogation techniques.

The inspector general's report, released this week, says Mohammed wasn't much help before he was waterboarded but went on to become "one of the U.S. government's key sources on Al Qaeda." Such revelations have fueled the fiery debate over the effectiveness of the CIA's tactics and whether the United States should condone methods that many deem torture.

But additional details of his interactions with interrogators may raise more questions than they answer -- potentially saying more about the captive than his captors.

Intelligence officials described to the Washington Post a scene almost out of the halls of academia, with the once-resistant high-level detainee giving "terrorist tutorials" to them in a makeshift lecture hall. He even scolded one listener for poor note-taking and his inability to recall details of an earlier lecture.

The CIA report makes it clear that Mohammed wasn't willing to divulge much before interrogators resorted to the controversial tactics.

"KSM, an accomplished resistor, provided only a few intelligence reports prior to the use of the waterboard, and analysis of that information revealed that much of it was outdated, inaccurate or incomplete," the report said.

But after he was subjected to waterboarding -- or simulated drowning -- and prolonged sleep deprivation, among other harsh interrogation techniques, Mohammed began to cooperate and apparently even enjoy revealing secrets.

Mohammed "seemed to relish the opportunity, sometimes for hours on end, to discuss the inner workings of Al Qaeda and the group's plans, ideology and operatives," a person familiar with the sessions told the Washington Post. "He'd even use a chalkboard at times."

While it is impossible to know for sure whether less coercive techniques would have gained the same information, those who defend the tactics believe the results are clear.

"What do you think changed KSM's mind?" a former senior intelligence official told the newspaper after being asked about the effect of waterboarding. "Of course it began with that."

Vice President Dick Cheney has been the most vocal proponent of the techniques, arguing that they prevented another terrorist attack and exposed other terror plots.

In an interview with FOX News' Chris Wallace to air Sunday, Cheney assailed Attorney General Eric Holder and Holder's decision to appoint a federal prosecutor to investigate whether criminal charges should be brought against some CIA interrogators.

"We had a track record of eight years defending the nation against any further mass casualty attacks from Al Qaeda," Cheney said. "The approach of the Obama administration should be to come to those people who were involved in that policy and say, 'How did you do it? What were the keys to keeping this country safe over that period of time?'"

"Instead they are out there threatening to disbar the lawyers who gave us the legal opinions -- threatening contrary to what the president originally said. They're going to go out and investigate the CIA personnel who carried out those investigations," he said.

Two of the three documents Cheney claimed would show the value of the enhanced interrogation program are now declassified.

The CIA is still reviewing the third document. It is not described as a smoking gun that will definitively link specific intelligence to waterboarding.

Click here to read the Washington Post story.

Pickens: Oil Will Reach $300 a Barrel

(Analyst's note: What we see here is strategic thinking regarding some of our national infrastructure. This is an absolutely must read article.)

from MoneyNews.com

Oil legend T. Boone Pickens, now CEO of BP Capital, says oil prices will continue to rise, possibly reaching $300 per barrel.

“Look at the history,” Pickens told Dan Mangru of Moneynews. It proves oil prices will go up, as OPEC revenues increased five times over the last five years, he says.

Click Here Now to Watch this
Never-Seen Exclusive Interview

Supply is stuck permanently at 85 million barrels per day, and demand will keep rising over the long term, Pickens says. By 2019, demand will reach 90 million barrels a day, he predicts.

“The only way if you peak on supply that you can kill demand is with price,” Pickens says. That’s what happened when oil prices hit a high of $147 in 2007.

So, 10 years from now, “the price of oil could well be $300,” he told Mangru.

To reduce our reliance on coal, Pickens suggests a “cash for clunkers”-style plan whereby power companies would get paid to retire coal plants and build natural gas plants instead.

With 22 percent of U.S. power already coming from natural gas, “the technology is in place” for that idea, Pickens says. “It would be easy to do.”

Natural gas can easily replace foreign oil, as gas supplies are plentiful, Pickens says. “Nobody ever stands up and says, ‘Hey Boone, that’s a bad idea,’ because if they do, they’re for foreign oil.”

Switching to natural gas from diesel on 18-wheel trucks alone will cut U.S. imports from OPEC by half to about 2.25 million barrels per day in seven years, he says.

And that reduction in turn will improve national security, he says.

“We import almost 70 percent of our oil, and over half of what we import actually comes from countries that aren’t even friendly to us,” Pickens points out.

Renewable energy, including wind and solar power also is vital, he says.

“Will it work? Of course it will work. You have to get your oar in the water and get started on it and not just go: ‘We don’t want to change anything.’”

Without change, the United States will continue to rely on coal for 52 percent of its power supply. “If you want to go forward with technologies of the future, you’re going to have to get into renewable,” Pickens says.

He says wind power will become feasible when natural gas trades at $6 or $7 per thousand cubic feet. The price now stands at $3.

“You’re going to have to wait. A lot of things are waiting now for economies to recover. But as the economy recovers, prices are going to move up,” Pickens says.

In the meantime, natural gas is viable as a transportation fuel. “The cheaper natural gas is, the better deal it is for our country,” Pickens says.

New Video Shows Signs al Qaeda Fears US Closing In

from National Terror Alert

Osama bin Laden’s deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri has ordered his fighters to target Pakistan amid growing signs that its army and US drones are closing in on al-Qaeda. Military analysts and retired senior army chiefs said his call reflected growing disarray in the militant ranks following the death of Pakistan’s feared Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud earlier this month and the brutal leadership battle it has provoked. ....

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Mullen – 9/11 Plotters Still Alive And Planning More Attacks

Those who plotted the deadly attacks on World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, are still alive and planning to carry out more terror strikes, a top US military general has said. “The people behind that deadly day are still at it. They live and plan and train in safe havens along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,” Navy admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said. ....

Doctors Warning of Severe Form of H1N1 Virus

from National Terror Alert

Doctors are reporting a severe form of H1N1 that goes straight to the lungs, causing severe illness in otherwise healthy young people and requiring expensive hospital treatment, the World Health Organization said Friday.

Some countries are reporting that as many as 15 percent of patients hospitalized with the new H1N1 pandemic virus need intensive care, further straining already overburdened healthcare systems, WHO said in an update on the pandemic. ....

Homeowners take to streets: 'Lower taxes now!'

(South Florida Sun-Sentinel) "They are going berserk. People are absolutely flipping out" ...

Message to Muslim World Gets a Critique

By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has written a searing critique of government efforts at “strategic communication” with the Muslim world, saying that no amount of public relations will establish credibility if American behavior overseas is perceived as arrogant, uncaring or insulting. ....

Gadian alleges US has camps in Mindanao

By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter

A retired military officer claimed Thursday that the US military has two permanent structures in Mindanao and that American servicemen were joining Filipino soldiers in combat operations.

Retired Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian told the Legislative Oversight on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) that a permanent structure was built in Camp Navarro for the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JOSTF) Philippines after the first Balikatan exercises in 2002.

“Prior to their presence in Camp Navarro, the US military built permanent and temporary structures in the Edwin Andrews Air Base to house their personnel and equipment, which included tanks and communication equipment,” she said.

Both camps are in Zamboanga City.

The 1987 Constitution bans the establishment of permanent military facilities for foreign powers.

“Camp Navarro is guarded by US Marines. There are at least 500 American soldiers there at any given time, with or without Balikatan exercises,” Gadian added.

She said that while American servicemen could enter Philippine military camps, Filipino soldiers could enter Camp Navarro only if they were invited and only designated places. ....

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US denies troops involved in combat in Philippines

US fears Yemen next staging ground for al-Qaida

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON — American authorities are pressuring Yemen to counter a rising internal al-Qaida threat more aggressively and improve intelligence-sharing amid growing worries that the country could become the next significant terrorist staging ground.

As insurgent attacks have spiked in the embattled Middle East nation over the past year, the U.S. has bolstered counterterrorism training there, including efforts to shore up Yemen's borders and combat terror financing and arms trafficking.

Al-Qaida's increased strength at organizing and training new recruits in Yemen's vast ungoverned spaces has also led the U.S. to consider boosting financial aid and sales of military equipment to Yemen's government.

Shari Villarosa, senior State Department counterterrorism adviser, said that the security situation in Yemen has "deteriorated significantly" and that the Yemeni government's political will to battle al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations has shifted at times.

"The U.S. wants to help Yemen because we do not want to see Yemen become another Afghanistan where al-Qaida can train, plan and execute terrorist actions against us," Villarosa said. ....

Dealing With The Secret Government

by Christopher Hayes

It is now clear that we are facing an implacable enemy whose avowed objective is world domination by whatever means and at whatever cost. There are no rules in such a game. Hitherto acceptable norms of human conduct do not apply. If the United States is to survive, long-standing American concepts of "fair play" must be reconsidered. ....

Colorado Springs welcomes homes the troops

Afghan MP furious NATO troops captured taliban leader in a medical facility

(Analyst's note: We have here additional insight into the enemy we are fighting.)

from the Jawa Report

On August 26th, NATO and Afghan troops captured a taliban leader, and 5 other taliban terrorists after they were fired on from a medical clinic.

Now, an Afghan member of parliament, Khalid Farooqi, a member of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan is furious that NATO troops and Afghan troops defended themselves. Foorqi claims it is an offense to fire on a medical facility. While technically true, it is also an offense to use a medical facility as launching pad for an attack, which the taliban did. But Farooqi isn't concerned about details. BBC

A member of the Afghan parliament has criticised a Nato air strike on a clinic where a Taliban leader was being treated for his injuries.[...]

Khalid Faroqi, who represents Paktika province, said it was an offence to fire on such a facility.

Nato says that troops first made sure there were no civilians inside.

It says security forces were fired upon as they approached the clinic and responded by ordering helicopter strikes.

Blogged by iPhone.

‘Headed Home’: Sen. Hatch Writes Song Dedicated to Sen. Kennedy

(Analyst's note: This is a must read - hear -- a very nice musical touch from a friend of Senator Kennedy that proves we really can have different base beliefs about how to succeed in this country and still remain civil toward one another. You can listen by simply clicking on the title above. Just know that the "Him" being spoken of in this tribute is really Jesus Christ.)

Islamist Terrorism Suspect Arrested as German Case Widens

By Tony Czuczka

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- German federal agents arrested a 24- year-old man suspected of supporting an Islamist group that allegedly plotted attacks on U.S. citizens in Germany, the federal prosecutor’s office said. ....

Islamist Groups Threaten Free Speech Ruling

By: Jamie Glazov

FrontpageMagazine Interview's guest today is Joe Kaufman, the Chairman of Americans Against Hate and the founder of CAIR Watch.

FP: Joe Kaufman, welcome to Frontpage Interview.

A little while ago, there was a great victory for you, for the War on Terror and for freedom of speech. The Texas Court of Appeals dismissed the case that was brought against you.

But now it appears that the saga continues. The Muslim groups are pushing forward and asking the Texas Supreme Court to review the case.

What exactly is going on? Give us an update.

Kaufman: Since my legal victory in the State of Texas Court of Appeals, where the appellate agreed that I was a journalist and ruled unanimously that the case brought against me had no merit to continue, the other side has attempted to fight the ruling. First, they tried to get the appellate to reconsider its decision, but they lost that too, as the decision was upheld. Now, they are making a last gasp effort to get the Texas Supreme Court to review the matter.

FP: For some of our readers that might not know, tell us what this case is about.

Kaufman: In October 2007, I traveled to Texas to hold a demonstration against the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), outside an event the group was sponsoring at Six Flags Over Texas. I had discovered proof that ICNA was connected to the financing of Hamas overseas – an illegal act – and I wanted to expose this information to the public. During the protest, I was served with a lawsuit and a restraining order filed by seven Dallas-area Islamist groups. The groups included the Muslim American Society (MAS) and three Islamic centers owned by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT). They claimed that I had libeled them in an article I had written about ICNA’s event prior to arriving in Texas. The article did not mention one of the seven groups.

FP: What freedoms does this lawsuit threaten?

Kaufman: The first Constitutional right that the groups attempted to rob me of was my right to Freedom of Assembly. As I mentioned, during the demonstration I was served with a restraining order. The groups obtained it two days prior to the protest taking place. The groups were of the belief that this order would stop me from being able to conduct a protest. As stated in a press release put out by the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), the group financing the case against me, “After he was served, Mr. Kaufman ignored the Restraining Order and held a sign that said ‘SIX FLAGS OVER TERRORISTS,’ and other defamatory signs.” These groups actually thought that what I was doing, exercising my right as an American to assemble and protest, was illegal.

The second right that the groups attempted to take from me was my right to Freedom of Speech. As I have contended all along, the case brought against me was entirely frivolous. The groups were suing me for an article I had written which didn’t even mention them. They filed a restraining order against me, when I had never threatened them in any way, which they admitted under oath on the stand. The only reason why this case was brought against me was because they don’t like what I say about groups such as ICNA or MAS. They don’t want me discussing the groups’ terrorism ties, because they know that my research and writings could assist in getting the groups shut down. Their quest is to silence me – to harm me financially and silence me.

As one of the leaders of MAS, Mahdi Bray, recently stated on his radio show [with MLFA head Khalil Meek by his side], “In order to deal with these haters, these bashers, these Islamophobes, we’ve got to be willing to spend our money in a court of law. And not necessarily because we don’t look for money, but we need to be able to say we need to spend our money and make you spend your money, and you’re gonna stop doing this to us. I mean, I think we need to set the example. I think the situation with Joe Kaufman was an excellent example…”

The third Constitutional right that the groups tried to take from me was my right to Freedom of Press. As stated by the appellate court, I am a journalist. That’s what I do. That’s my life. Not only did these groups seek to obtain an injunction from the court to “remove” from my “web blog” material that I had previously written – again material that didn’t even mention them – but they sought as well to have me restrained from publishing statements in the future that they deemed “annoying” to them. The “web blog” that the groups reference is actually FrontPage Magazine, which is of course not run by me, but by David Horowitz. Yet, according to the Plaintiffs, I “founded” FrontPage.

FP: So what might happen now? What are the prospects with the Supreme Court being asked to review the case?

Kaufman: Considering that this is a case of “first impression,” meaning an interpretation of law that has not yet been heard by a given court, the Texas Supreme Court might want to visit it. However, the appellate court was very thorough in what it wrote concerning my case. Little, if anything, was left out of its decision. I’m confident that that will at least be considered.

FP: What is ultimately at stake with this case?

Kaufman: All of the freedoms that we cherish are at stake. As Mahdi Bray said, I was used as an example – an example to be duplicated many times in the future. While a court ruled in my favor, the plaintiffs’ success came in the form of extensive legal bills and time. If there is one individual out there who is fearful about speaking out against those who support terror, because of what I had to personally endure, then the other side has won. We must fight this. We cannot give in to fear. We cannot allow the enemy to destroy what so many of our countrymen died to protect.

FP: Tell us a bit about who has given you help and support.

Kaufman: Many exceptional people helped me both legally and financially, in order for me to keep the rights that I enjoy as an American. My main legal team included: Bill Becker of the Becker Law Firm; Manny Klausner of the Individual Rights Foundation; Brandon Bolling of Cummings, McClorey, Davis, & Acho PLC; Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center; and my Texas attorneys Tom Brandon and Tom Harkins of Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP.

My support team included: David Horowitz of the David Horowitz Freedom Center; Daniel Pipes and Brooke Goldstein of the Middle East Forum; David Yerushalmi of the Society of Americans for National Existence; Steven Emerson of the Investigative Project on Terrorism; and Peter Feaman, Tom Trento and Ann Fishman of the Florida Security Council.

I’m not the type of person that likes to rely on others, but without all of these individuals I don’t know what I would have done.

FP: What can the average citizen do to help you?

Kaufman: Unfortunately, I still have legal bills that need to be paid, and depending on the Texas Supreme Court decision, they could only get higher. I would appreciate it if those who are reading about my ordeal would donate to my case. Both the Horowitz Freedom Center and the Middle East Forum’s Legal Project have legal funds set up for this purpose. Please get in touch with one of them, if you wish to help me and this cause.

And remember, it’s not just about me. It’s not just me whose freedoms are on the line. It’s all of ours.

FP: How are you feeling yourself? What are your thoughts and how are you? It’s been stressful on you no doubt?

Kaufman: I have been doing what I do every day for the past eight years. In that time, I have always been conscious of the fact that someday the groups I have devoted my life to shutting down might try to pull some stunt in order to stop me. So mentally, I’ve been ready for this.

That said, it’s not fun getting sued, especially when considering the money it takes to fight it. As well, it’s not pleasant to know that you have a restraining order hanging over your head, especially when you know that you have never threatened anyone in your life. And most importantly, it’s not good to know that the bad guys could file a bogus lawsuit and restraining order and actually have it considered by a knowledgeable judge in a court of law.

Whatever the case, I did not get involved in this field thinking that it was going to be an easy ride. I got into it, because I took the terrorist attacks against my country, the United States of America, personally, and I’m not about to let seven Dallas-area extremist groups get to me enough to quit. I am in it till the end, and I’m extremely proud of what I do and what I have accomplished.

FP: Joe Kaufman, thank you for joining Frontpage Interview.

As Mr. Kaufman mentioned, the Freedom Center is actively involved in this case; it has been providing legal assistance and has been helping pay for local counsel in Texas working on Mr. Kaufman’s defense.

Americas Freedom - Tea Party Speech

(Analyst's note: This is an absolutely must read - see video. Remember that she is 11 years old and working without a teleprompter. Just click on the title above.)

Giving China help with cyber warfare - Plan may make it easier to hand over militarily critical exports

(Analyst's note: This report is troubling.)

FROM JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN

The Obama administration is considering easing U.S. export controls to China even though the director for national intelligence is warning about Chinese cyber warfare threats to U.S. military information systems. In addition, there are increasing reports of Chinese military buildup to match U.S. capabilities, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

The one group jubilant over the White House decision to undertake yet another comprehensive review of U.S. export control laws toward China is the U.S. business community.

"The U.S. has one of the most robust export control systems in the world," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said last week. "But it is rooted in the Cold War era of over 50 years ago and must be updated to address the threats we face today and the changing economic and technological landscape."

Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council and a former U.S. Commerce under secretary who was in charge of export controls, applauded the White House initiative. Through the NFTC, the Coalition for Security

and Competitiveness, or CSC, similarly supported the initiative.

.... The question of loosening controls, however, centers on whether rewarding Chinese behavior is appropriate or whether it is oriented more toward aiding business at a time of global economic recession. ....

Audio -- Court using 'socialization' to challenge religious beliefs

Audio -- 1 million sign petition against Obamacare

Town-hall clash! Arrest threat over Obama 'Joker' poster Officer threatens arrest: This ain't America no more

(Analyst's note: An extremely troubling report and video.)

By Drew Zahn

Editor's note: Earlier reports that Officer Wesley Cheeks Jr. is a police officer were in error. Further investigation has revealed Officer Cheeks is a trained member of the Fairfax County Public Schools' trained School Security Officer team.

A depiction of the sign banned by Officer Cheeks

"This used to be America," argued a protester outside a health-care town hall meeting in Reston, Va., after a security officer threatened him with arrest for holding up a sign with a picture critical of Barack Obama.

The officer's response?

"It ain't no more, OK?"

A video of the town hall held earlier this week by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., shows an unnamed protester standing on school grounds carrying a sign that read "Organizing for National Socialist Health Care – The Final Solution" and depicted Barack Obama in the Joker's makeup.

Officer Wesley Cheeks Jr. then told the protester that even though others were holding signs, his sign was unacceptable because of the depiction of Obama.

"But you got this with a picture," Cheeks said, explaining why the protester was being singled out from the others. "That's the difference. This has got a picture on it. That don't have a picture on it.

"Sir, leave the picture down," the officer said. "If you put the picture back up, you'll be charged with trespassing."

Video of the exchange can be seen below:

Federal Reserve Board fights to keep its secrets Warns disclosing where money went would cause 'irreparable harm'

By Drew Zahn

Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve Board, despite being ordered to disclose to whom it awarded roughly $2 trillion in discount "stimulus" loans, is fighting to keep the information under wraps as a protected "trade secret."

Earlier this week, a U.S. district court judge rejected the Fed's argument that the names of borrowers are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and ordered the board to release the information by Monday, Aug. 31.

The Fed's board of governors, however, has now filed a motion asking the judge to delay enforcement of the order, seeking time to appeal and arguing that disclosing which banks borrowed the funds could lead to a backlash from the banks' customers and stockholders.

Demand the money managers come clean by signing the petition in support of an audit of the Federal Reserve now!

"The immediate release of these documents will destroy the board's claims of exemption and right of appellate review," the motion said. "The institutions whose names and information would be disclosed will also suffer irreparable harm."

Bloomberg LP, which sued the Fed on behalf of its Bloomberg News unit for not complying with a FOIA request last year, disagrees.

"Our argument is that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the banks' interest in secrecy," said Thomas Golden, a lawyer who represents Bloomberg.

"What has the Fed got to hide?" said Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders in an email reported by Bloomberg. "The time has come for the Fed to stop stonewalling and hand this information over to the public." ....

A Big Victory!

(Analyst's note: Another letter from a friend.)

From: tphillips@afp-mail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:02:37 -0400

Ever wonder if we can win tough public policy battles like health care and cap-and-trade?
Well, today we scored a big victory on a crucial issue that looked impossible just a few months ago.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the outrageously mis-named Employee Free Choice Act -- or Card Check -- is NOT going to be brought to a vote this year!

Card Check would effectively take the secret ballot away from American workers when it comes to deciding whether or not they want to join a union. It would take a cherished freedom away from millions of Americans, and at Americans for Prosperity we've been fighting it tooth-and-nail throughout the year.

A few months ago, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and their Big Labor allies were confident of passing this legislation, which would dramatically expand the power of unions by giving them millions of new union members along with their "forced dues."

We launched a "Save Our Secret Ballot" effort with rallies in key states like Pennsylvania (where union organizers aggressively attacked us), North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia. We urged grassroots activists like you to call and email your Senators and House members. AFP was one of several free-market groups who took up the fight to stop this union power grab. TO SEE PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF OUR GRASSROOTS EVENTS CLICK HERE .

Faced with this grassroots uprising, the big-government side had to back away -- and today they did.
So, we should take heart! Yes, we face a big challenge on stopping the health care takeover. Sure, the cap-and-trade battle is not easy. But, if we fight aggressively, fight hard and remain committed we can win -- just like we won the Card Check battle.

Today, I was in Wisconsin where Americans for Prosperity Foundation hosted a series of Town Hall meetings across this great state with special guest John Stossel of ABC's "20/20". AFP Foundation provided citizens with a forum to discuss a government takeover of health care. The crowds were huge and energetic: 1,900 in Madison (last night), 500 in La Crosse today and over 1,200 earlier this evening in Wausau, which is the home district of House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who has refused to hold town hall meetings with his constituents.

Over 1,900 packed our town hall event in Madison, Wisconsin
You could feel the electricity in the room from seniors, small business owners, young couples, students, all committed to making sure the government keeps its "hands off our health care." CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS.
Crowd of over 1,200 in Wausau We've got a long way to go on the health care and cap-and-trade battles. Several Senators are now saying Congress will stay in session deep into December in an attempt to wear us down.
While we gird for the long road ahead, let's take a moment to savor a victory for freedom today on the Card Check issue.
Then, let's get up and back to the fight for freedom!
Sincerely,

Tim Phillips
PS: You may have seen AFP's very own Phil Kerpen on Glenn Beck's FOX News show on Monday and Tuesday as Phil exposed the influence of the Apollo Alliance of big environmental groups, labor unions, and social justice community organizers on the stimulus bill. If you missed it, you can watch it here!



Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 700,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 25 state chapters. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

Identy Theft Avoidance - Census Bureau

(Analyst's note: Just received this note from a friend. It is an absolutely must read item.)

To all, something to be aware of in this world of stealing identities.


(PLEASE NOTE: I really think you should take a GOOD,HARD look at this. I was contacted by phone by the Census Bureau some time ago & I asked enough questions to ascertain that it was indeed the Census Bureau plus it said on my pho. ID that the # calling was from the Census Bureau in our County seat. I had a difficult time persuading them that I was suspicious since this was the FIRST time in 25 years that I had been contacted by any method from them~~Lee)

This information is being distributed by the Dallas / Ft. Worth IBMer Organization to warn it's thousands of members of fraud associated with the 2010 Census (some pre-census activity is already underway). However, this warning is for ALL citizens so you may want to pass it on to everyone you know.

2010 Census Cautions
by Susan Johnson - August 3, 2009 12:07 pm
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

** If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a hand held device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don?t know into your home.


** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are Supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org