"Persons of interest" on Abdo's Facebook page

From Eric Dondero:

There have been varying and conflicting reports from the mainstream media as to whether Pfc. Naser Abdo acted alone in his terrorist plot near Ft. Hood, TX.

Fox News, who originally broke the story, reported that:

two other U.S. soldiers have been questioned as part of the investigation.

John Lilyea of the MilBlog ThisaintHell.us, who has been on this story from the beginning uncovers this news:

police have an interest in Zachari Klawonn (photo), the person named at The Jawa Report yesterday. Klawonn is another conscientious objector applicant from Fort Hood

And that they’re also looking at a female soldier, Nawal McCall, who our ninja says was in Abdo’s Facebook friends list before it came down yesterday.

Rap Boy Muslim appeared on Al-Jazeera

Klawonn, like Abdo, is well-known to mainstream media, and the blogosphere. He received a great deal of attention in 2010 when he refused to be deployed overseas because of his Muslim beliefs. ABC News featured him. But hyscience.com reported:

looks like Islamo-apologist,, Muslim-appeasing, ABC got suckered again in it's fawning, anti-U.S. military, interview with a U.S. soldier complaining of Islamophobia in the military on al-Jazeera. It turns out (via Jawa Report) that CAIR poster boy SPC. Zachari Klawonn at Ft. Hood is not so squeaky-clean as the media makes him out to be.

Klawonn was expelled from school for bringing a gun to school. He also participated in a rap video that threatened his high school teachers and staff.

Ironically, no other media are reporting on Lilyea's findings on Soldier #2 Nawal McCall. (Hear an exclusive LR interview last night with Lilyea on the Andre Controversa show)

Photo credit - WaPo and (Austin) Statesman.com

Release...

Statement by the Governor on Arrest of AWOL Soldier

“Today’s arrest is a sobering reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant in the ongoing efforts to protect our communities from those that would do us harm. I am proud of the teamwork displayed between members of the Killeen community, Killeen Police Department and the FBI to recognize and report this individual’s suspicious activity, and subsequently locate and detain him. Quick and diligent efforts like these save lives, and we are reminded to be thankful for our peace officers, and their continued dedication to keeping our communities and families safe. This incident also underscores the importance of citizens reporting something that doesn’t seem quite right immediately to law enforcement.

Although details are still emerging regarding this incident, we remain sensitive to the Killeen and Ft. Hood community, which was deeply impacted by the shootings that took place not long ago. That tragic day remains vivid in all our memories, and the lives lost will not be forgotten.

It is unfortunate that we live in a world where security remains an utmost concern, but I am encouraged that lives will continue to be protected, and potential attacks thwarted, if we uphold the spirit of vigilance and cooperation displayed in this situation.”

Ofc. of the Governor website

"Radical Muslims want to attack our military installations"

Statement released at Congressman's website:

"This is another indication that radical Muslims want to attack our military installations. It is at least the eighth plot or attack against our military since 9/11 and the sixth in the past two years. We need to know what outside connection the suspects had, whether they coordinated with al Qaeda or were in direct contact with Anwar al Awlaki as we know that Major Hasan was before the Fort Hood shooting. During yesterday's Homeland Security hearing on radicalization I asked whether any of the witnesses disagreed with the notion that the radicalization of Muslim youth in this country poses a threat to our homeland security. The silence spoke volumes. We know that PFC Abdo applied for and received conscientious objector status on the eve of his first deployment to Afghanistan. Reports of the arsenal that he purchased at the same gun store as Maj. Hasan indicates this plot could have been significant. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the gun dealer who sensed something was wrong and alerted authorities."

Note - Congressman McCaul, who represents a district north of Houston, sits on the House Homeland Security Comm. He is especially concerened with border security issues.

DEVELOPING...

From Eric Dondero:

U.S. Army Private First Class Naser Abdno, who was arrested today in Killeen, Texas near Ft. Hood, was a featured participant in a 2010 press conference in opposition to the Wars in Iraq and Aghanistan. (Photo h/t PFC Abdo - BNI)

From War Resistor's website, October 8, 2010:

NINE YEARS INTO AFGHAN WAR, U.S. VETERANS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Speakers included:

10. Nasser Abdo — U.S. Army Private First Class, and Conscientious Objector [written statement] [link removed]

From War Resistor's League website, press release Oct. 7, 2010

On Thursday morning on the ninth anniversary of the U.S.-NATO invasion of Afghanistan, a cross-section of veterans, community groups, and global justice organizations held a press conference in support of the united message that the ongoing U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is “bad for Afghan people of all genders, bad for U.S. soldiers, and bad for the people of the U.S.”

IVAW organizers also read a statement from current U.S. servicemember and Conscientious Objector Naser Abdo about Islamophobia in the U.S. that has followed the attacks on 9/11 and its connections to war from the perspective of a Muslim C.O.: “To a soldier, the association of terror and Islam serves the purpose of falsely justifying ones actions in combat by stripping Muslims of their humanity. The association of terror and Islam is what we now refer to as Islamaphobia…it is as if the US public is just recently following a trend that has been rampant in the military for years. Only when the military and America can disassociate Muslims with terror can we move onto a brighter future of the religious collaboration and dialogue that defines America and makes me proud to be an American.” [emphasis added]

Sidenote: The War Resister's League is listed as a supported group by the left-libertarian group AntiWar.com.

UPDATE!!

Libertarian Republican contacted Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), and spoke with media person Sarah. After consulting another office worker, she flatly denied that Abdo was ever a member of their organization.

UPDATE!

Libertarian Republican attempted to contact Ali Issa spokesman for the War Resisters League in NYC. He was unavailable for comment.

UPDATE!

From Raw Story approx. 4:00 pm cst:

Pfc. Nasser Abdo, the 21-year-old soldier arrested Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to attack Fort Hood, had ties to a number of prominent anti-war organizations, including Iraq Veterans Against the War and Courage to Resist, Raw Story can confirm.

"We have worked with him in the past, but he was not ever a member of this organization," the spokesperson said. "We have had three interactions with him in the past: We supported his application as a conscientious objector; we publicized a statement by him condemning Islamophobia; and finally, he lended his support to our 'Operation Recovery' campaign last Veteran's Day. Besides that, we do not have a concrete link with him.

DEVELOPING...

From Eric Dondero:

From LR, July 22 "Muslim, AntiWar activist in US Army charged with Child Porn":

From MSNBC "Army: Muslim soldier opposed to war is AWOL" July 21:

The Army says a Muslim soldier from Fort Campbell who won conscientious objector status but then was charged with possessing child pornography has gone AWOL.

Spokesman Rick Rzepka said Wednesday that Pfc. Naser Abdo has been absent without leave since the July 4th weekend. Abdo, a 21-year-old infantry soldier, had applied for conscientious objector status last year saying his Muslim beliefs prohibited his service in any war.

On his refusal to be deployed to Afghanistan:

“As a Muslim, we stand against injustice, we stand against discrimination, and I feel it's my duty as an individual to do this.”

Abdo has been charged with possession of 34 images of child pornography...

Now, just breaking from Fox News:

Pvt. Nasser Jason Abdo, an AWOL soldier from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was arrested by the Killeen Police Department near Fort Hood...

Abdo was allegedly found with explosives and jihadist materials at the time of his arrest, a senior Army source confirms to Fox News... after someone called authorities to report a suspicious individual.

Additionally, two other soldiers have been arrested.

UPDATE!!

Gun store owner turned him in

CNN is reporting that Adbo was arrested with a weapons cache in his room. And that he had purchased "three boxes of 12-gauge ammunition and a magazine for a pistol" at a local gun store. The gun store owner reported him as a "suspicious individual."

UPDATE!!

Made "threatening statements to attack Army post"

From NBC News:

NBC News’ Pete Williams learned the solider was said to have been overheard making threatening statements to attack an Army post, possibly Ft. Hood.

UPDATE!!

Associated Press confirms suspect is Muslim

(AP)Police say an AWOL Muslim soldier from Fort Campbell, Ky., who had been granted conscientious objector status has been arrested in Texas on a child pornography charge.

UPDATE!!

Police now confirm suspect planned "to kill people"

(CBS) When police questioned Abdo at his motel, he made references to a plan to kill or injure people...

Paul would tie; Palin and Perry behind

by Clifford F. Thies

The current Harris Poll shows that two named Republicans would defeat President Obama, and a third would tie.

The strongest Republican, according to the poll, would be former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who leads Obama by 6 points, 53 to 47 percent. Next is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who leads by 2 points, 51 to 49. Third is Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who is tied, 50-50, with the President.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who has the highest name recognition among those paired against the President, comes in tied for fourth with several others, with an 8 point disadvantage. Texas Governor Rick Perry, with very low name recognition, also comes in tied for fourth. But, given his low name recognition, there's a lot of upside potential for Perry.

Also interesting is that among Republicans, Romney and Giuliani were tied for the most preferred candidate, with Palin third, Perry fourth, Congresswoman Michele Bachman of Minnesota fifth, and Paul sixth.

Mob buster to Mob movie aficionado

by Clifford F. Thies

Rudy 'Hizzoner' Giuliani will host the AMC Channel's mob movie marathon during the week of Augusr 1 - 8. The classics that will be featured during the week are Godfather, Godfather II, Scarface, Carlito's Way, The Untouchables, Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas, and Pulp Fiction.

In addition to sharing his love of these movies, Giuliani will share some of his own escapades with organized crimes. Prior to being elected mayor, during his time as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani indicted eleven organized crime figures, including the heads of New York’s so-called “Five Families” on charges including extortion, labor racketeering, and murder for hire.

Giuliani also played pivotal roles in the Justice Department's prosecutions of Wall Street financiers Ivan Boesky and Michael Milkin, the two of whom formed the basis of the movie character Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street."

(After his 22 month time out, Milkin has devoted himself to medical research, especially in the area of prostate cancer, establishing himself as one of the foremost do-gooders of today. And as we all know, Rudy himself is a recovered prostate cancer patient.)

As Mayor, Giuliani continued to fight organized crime, famously riding shot-gun on a garbage truck when a task force took on the mob in New York City's private trash removal industry. He also instituted an innovative street crime policy, going after "turnstile jumpers" and the like, and helped to turn New York into one of the world's safest big cities.

Check local listings for the times the movies will be aired.

From Eric Dondero:

Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Mike Ross announced his retirement from Congress two days ago. Ross has represented southwest Arkansas (Magnolia, Hope and Texarkana) for 6 terms. Ross was thrown into the national spotlight in 2009 as an anguishing "conservative" Democrat with rambunctious constituents at town halls urging him to vote No on ObamaCare.

The District has been trending Republican for years.

Almost certain to run for the seat is the GOP's 2010 sweetheart of a candidate Beth Ann Rankin. She is a gospel singer from Magnolia, 1994 Miss Arkansas, and currently an AR Tea Party leader. Though, Rankin turned in a less-than-expected showing to the popular Ross in 2010, losing by 17 points.

Roll Call quotes a GOP strategist in Little Rock:

“I think it’s a tossup district that leans Republican,” said Richard Bearden, a Little Rock-based Republican strategist and lobbyist. He noted that in redistricting the 4th district lost two Democratic-leaning counties while picking up Republican turf.

Also possible GOP contenders - Rep. Matthew Sheppard and Army Reservist Tom Cotton.

Editor's note - I had the pleasure of meeting Beth Ann at a Tea Party rally near Texarkana back in April.

The Andre Controversa Show Presents:

Andrea Lafferty

Our first guest is Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition. She'll be discussing the federal grants that have been awared to Chinese scientists at Chinese universities.

Your tax dollars at work.

Other guests TBA

Host Andre Traversa

Co-Host Jim Lagnese

Show time 7PM CST Thursday

Call in at 949-203-4821 or stream here.

Ros-Lehtinen's office - financial crisis no time to send money to countries "that undermine U.S. interests

From WaPo, "Clinton, in letter, blasts bill restricting foreign aid" July 28:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is blasting a House bill that would impose strict new requirements on U.S. aid to countries including Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen, warning that she will urge a veto if the measure reaches President Obama’s desk.

The bill “would be debilitating to my efforts to carry out a considered foreign policy and diplomacy, and to use foreign assistance strategically to that end,” Clinton wrote Tuesday to members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Republican response:

Brad Goehner, a spokesman for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), the committee chairwoman, said in reaction to the letter: "It's disappointing, particularly given the current debt crisis, that the Obama administration is fighting to keep sending taxpayer money to foreign organizations and governments that undermine U.S. interests."

On a field trip to Pawnee City Hall, a little girl named Lauren Berkus meets Ron and interviews him for a school report. Ron tells her all she needs to know about government.

Michael Munger on the Republican Myth of Government.

Ron Paul, a Lifetime Member of the Libertarian Party, discusses the philosophy of the LP during his run for President in 1988 as a Libertarian. August 26, 1988 http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww…. Watch the full interview:http://thefilmarchived.blogspot.com/2010/09/ron-paul-on-running-for-us-presid… In the 1988 presidential election, Paul defeated American Indian activist Russell Means to win the Libertarian Party nomination for president. Paul criticized Ronald Reagan [...]

(Listen to the back story of this petition here.) Petition for Redress of Grievance to Indiana Senate via Senator David Long, President Pro Tempore Sign the petition here! If you are an inhabitant of the State or own property subject to property taxes located anywhere with the State boundaries of Indiana you are represented by the [...]

If spending has increased in American schools, how has this affected test scores? This is from the documentary Waiting for Superman.

Since there wasn’t a lot of money for uniforms back at Millville Grade School, the preferred method for identifying team members during the basketball games at recess was the time honored “shirts and skins” designation. It was a pretty simple and recognizable system for determining who was on who’s team, unless my old buddy Stinky [...]

Michael Munger on Destination vs. Direction Libertarians.

Phyllis Klosinski and her husband Mike have been fighting for property rights through the court system for many years. Her recent ruling in the Court of Appeals, Klosinski vs. the Cordry Sweetwater Conservancy District, has ramifications for every property owner in the state of Indiana. Her about her fight against an out of control government [...]

Econstories.tv is a place to learn about the economic way of thinking through the eyes of creative director John Papola and creative economist Russ Roberts.

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Itamar Gelbman. He is a very unique Republican candidate running for Congress in Texas CD - 15 (north and west of Austin). Gelbman is a native of New York City, but grew up in Israel. He served in varying capacities, with the Tel Aviv police deparment and worked with the Israeli Defense Forces.

He is a libertarian, and member of the Facebook Libertarians in Support of Israel group.

From his website:

I am committed sustaining our strong relationship with Israel.

I will support Israel in its fight for survival and defend their good and right name in the U.N. assemblies.

And on America fighting Terrorism:

We will stand tall in defending our citizens. We will not raise a white flag because a crazy man in Yemen wants to hurt our women and children or another wants to build a nuclear bomb in Iran.

We will ensure co-operation between the different agencies inside the U.S.A and agencies of our allies across the globe such as Australia, Brittan and Israel.

We will ban any person who is affiliated with known terrorist groups such as the Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, etc, from entering in the U.S.A.

He is a supporter of the flat tax, extending corporate tax credits, and what he calls a "Heros Tax Credit" for military personell. He is also a diehard defender of the 2nd Amendment.