I've been a little busy over a Friends of Mark Fuhrman Blog working on a $100M bond fraud in Spokane, WA. I've taken a break here in posting on the GWOT. I will post here irregularly but for the moment check out this piece at Gateway Pundit.

RBT

*****

Pigs Fly... AP Announces Iraq War Basically Over

The Wall Street Journal reported that all of the most important objectives of the surge have been accomplished.
Michael Yon already announced- "We won."

But, to see the AP admit to the great progress in Iraq is truly amazing.

Put down the coffee...
The AP is reporting that young soldiers want to get to Afghanistan to see some action since Iraq is so quiet and boring any more.
The AP:

Spc. Grover Gebhart has spent nine months at a small post on a Sunni-Shiite fault line in western Baghdad. But the 21-year-old soldier on his first tour in Iraq feels he's missing the real war — in Afghanistan, where his brother is fighting the Taliban.

With violence in Iraq at its lowest level in four years and the war in Afghanistan at a peak, the soldiers serving at patrol station Maverick say Gebhart's view is increasingly common, especially among younger soldiers looking to prove themselves in battle.

"I've heard it a lot since I got here," said 2nd Lt. Karl Kuechenmeister, a 2007 West Point graduate who arrived in Iraq about a week ago.

Read More

The commentary below is circulating on the internet and provides an excellent historical context for us to view the current rising tide of militant Islam. Let us not forget George Santayana's remarkable insight: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

A German's point of view on Islam.

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.

'Very few people were true Nazis 'he said,' but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.'

We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the spectra of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.

It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the 'peaceful majority', the 'silent majority', is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet.

And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:

Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun. Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghanis, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands world wide, read this -think about it - and send it on.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

American Congress for Truth

P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
member@americancongressfortruth.org
http://www.americancongressfortruth.org

Cross-posted from Friends of Mark Fuhrman

Michael Yon has a new dispatch up at his website. Yon’s new book, Moment of Truth in Iraq, is now available for pre-order. I just posted this comment in Yon’s latest thread.

RBT

*****

I ask where can you find the same richness in the dispatches from the MSM like what Michael Yon writes? This is why the MSM is losing credibility in the eyes of their readers and viewers. As I recently wrote on a local issue regarding my paper the Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA:

As I said at the recent meeting the $64 question is whether the S-R will abide by its Code of Ethics once affirmed. The onus is upon the S-R to demonstrate to its readers that it will follow the code and that this is not just some PR exercise. The readers are not dumb as you think. The readers will ultimately decide the credibility of the S-R as a trusted/reliable source of news, commentary, and thought of the day.

The traditional media no longer holds the preeminent position of the du jour source of the news. See the article below. We are experiencing a major communication reformation as great or greater than that of Martin Luther’s time (Hugh Hewitt’s Blog and Glenn Reynolds’ An Army of Davids). The new media does not require large capital investments e.g, printing presses and transmission networks of the traditional or mainstream media. The new medium of expression is essentially free for all to participate. The currency of the new media is the validity, reliability, and predictability of the information provided in one’s own daily life. The sources that best meet those needs will attract readers and grow Those sources which lack credibility and/or don’t correct misinformation quickly will die.

Ron the Cop
Friends of Mark Fuhman

Cross Posted at Friends of Mark Fuhrman

SCROLL FOR UPDATES:


BREAKING - FBI narrowing suspects in anthrax mail to Fort Detrick

I just posted this to the Friends of Mark Fuhrman email group. I thought it was worth a post here as I have some previous knowledge on this. FYI - In case you didn’t see this yet. This is really from the realm of little green men!

Ron the Cop

*****

WASHINGTON — The FBI has narrowed its focus to “about four” suspects in the 6 1/2-year investigation of the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001, and at least three of those suspects are linked to the Army’s bioweapons research facility at Fort Detrick in Maryland, FOX News has learned.

Read More

WOW !
Gee I wrote about this several years ago:

CHALLENGE TO THE MainStream Media TO REPORT “VACCINE-A” STORY

And yes this could be considered from the realm of “conspiracy theorists.” On the other hand there is motivation why some at USAMRID and big pharma may have wanted to push the continued development of the anthrax vaccine for other reasons. A little scare would continue and ensure the demand for anthrax vaccine production. Mind you by treaty the US wasn’t supposed to possess stocks of weaponized anthrax powder.

Read More

Update I:

Michelle Malkin weighs in with these notes:

The anthrax case, the media, and the innocent

To All Rocketsbrain Readers:

Friends of Mark Fuhrman Blog and email group

Terresa of Noisy Room and Media Mythbusters Blog now has our joint blog up and running. I will be cross-posting previous Spokane et al post over there:

Friends of Mark Fuhrman

Also if you're not already subscribed to the Friends of Mark Fuhrman Yahoo egroup, you can join here:




Click to join friendsofmarkfuhrman

This is the unofficial fan site of Mark Fuhrman Radio Show that was squelched in my opinion by the “usual suspects.” This blog and email group are dedicated to pursuing among other things the River Park Square fraud et al in Spokane, WA and other related topics that you will never read about in the Spokesman-Review. Read regular updates from Fuhrman Show regulars, Larry Shook, Tim Conner, Cherie Rodgers, former Spokane Mayor John Talbott, Dick Adams, “Ron the Cop” and others.


Ron the Cop
Friends of Mark Fuhrman

AKA RBT

To All:

This comment is from the thread at S-R's HBO thread re the former S-R Ombudsman Steve Blewitt. Two regular HBO commenters, Sam and Bob, asked relevant questions of me.

I just posted this comment. It's self-explanatory. I doubt it will remain long.

UPDATE: - It's was pulled. Apparently blog moderator Dave Olivera was overruled as he was going to let it stand.

Ron the Cop
Friends of Mark Fuhrman

*****

Here's the link to the thread.

DFO,

Please bare with me for a moment and allow me to answer both Bob and Sam. The issue of the S-R Ombudsman is just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger game afoot. Strike this comment if you feel it necessary.

Bob and Sam

I'm truly honored by your confidence in my skills & abilities. Yes, this is a very complex conspiracy fraud case involving many Machiavellian players who have compromised their professional ethics and breached the publics' trust. When this is boiled down though in simple terms, this nothing more than a common confidence game like a "pigeon drop." The IRS in as much said so when it concluded that the "casino was rigged" when it disallowed the nonprofit tax exemption status for the first bonds.

Actually many people before me have already done the groundwork. Disregard the editorial comments of Camas Magazine, the documents in their archive speak clearly and stand-alone on their face. Base on my read there are people who should be in the slammer. What needs to happen now is for the feds to do their job, not become politically co-opted in the process, impanel a federal grand jury, summon and interview witnesses under oath, if warranted then issue indictments of the principals and bring this case to trial. Anything less will be a travesty of justice.

As I said in my letter to the editor some months ago the inaction and passivity on the part of US Attorney Jim McDevitt spoke volumes to me as to why no federal criminal investigation gained any traction. McDevitt's potential involvement was well known and yet this was first broken on the Mark Fuhrman Radio Show. Mr. McDevitt subsequent recusal will now allow this process to proceed.

And to my new friend cub reporter Jimmy Olsen, Sam, there has been a method to my apparent OCD madness in my persona as Lt. Columbo. I'm sure I've given you a considerable case of cognitive dissonance. One was to open a legitimate public debate. Another was to draw out the principals to force them to play their hands in the open. The third was to draw flak while other actions were being pursued. Unfortunately for my many new friends here at HBO, because of the uniqueness of HBO and the S-R Blogs, they became a forum to carryout this mission. I have now accomplished my goals.

As I said there are other areas being actively pursued beyond the current federal criminal review. I'm not at liberty to discuss them here and now. I will post "new" news when appropriate here when DFO initiates a relevant discussion on Spokane and in my blog. I will now come out from undercover and sign any further comments with my real signature.

As to why Sam, I moved to Spokane for its many fine attributes however there is one thing sorely lacking that is clearly evident to me in my short tenure here. I feel compelled to help restore a healthy political/governmental landscape and a true free market place where businesses will choose to locate here.

And to close:

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing"?

Det. Ron Wright (Retired - Badge No.1)
Riverside PD, CA

PS I will continue to comment as "RBT" in matters of neo-con tinfoilery:-)


Posted by rocketsbrain | 22 Feb 4:20 PM

HT The Belmont Club'


Mughniyeh Killed in Damascus

Imad Muganiyeh, known to Americans as the man who killed Navy diver Robert Stethem; the man who tortured and killed CIA station chief William Francis Buckley, and possible mastermind of the 1983 Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut died in car bomb explosion in a posh suburb of Damascus. Hezbollah has blamed Israeli agents.

Read More

Just received this from Atlas Shrugs' egroup. Don't know if it's factual or not. As in Rathergate we believe it to be true regardless of the facts:-)

RBT

Check this PC(spit) list for the marines.

The following directive was issued by the commanding officer of all naval installations in the Middle East . (It was obviously directed at the Marines.)

To: All Commands
Subject: Inappropriate T-Shirts
Ref: ComMidEast For Inst 16134//24 K

All commanders promulgate upon receipt. The following T-shirts are no
longer to be worn on or off base by any military or civilian personnel
serving in the Middle East :

1. "Eat Pork or Die" [both English and Arabic versions]
2. "Shrine Busters" [Various. Show burning minarets or bomb/artillery
shells impacting Islamic shrines. Some with unit logos.]
3. "Napalm, Sticks Like Crazy" [Both English and Arabic versions]
4. "Goat - it isn't just for breakfast any more." [Both English and
Arabic versions]
5. "The road to Paradise begins with me." [Mostly Arabic versions, but
some in English. Some show sniper scope cross-hairs.]
6. "Guns don't kill people. I kill people." [Both Arabic and English
versions]
7. "Pork. The other white meat." [Arabic version]
8. "Infidel" [English, Arabic and other coalition force languages.]

The above T-shirts are to be removed from Post Exchanges upon receipt
of this directive.

In addition, the following signs are to be removed upon receipt of
this message:

1. "Islamic Religious Services Will Be Held at the Firing Range at
0800 Daily."
2. "Do we really need 'smart bombs' to drop on these dumb bastards?"

All commands are instructed to implement sensitivity training upon
receipt.

SCROLL FOR UPDATES

I should preface this post with a comment from a previous post here to explain my passion re seeking "The Truth":

IMHO the S-R is being used as an instrumentality of an ongoing criminal enterprise to conceal the illegal acts of its owners [River Park Square and other projects] through its own self-censoring of stories and censoring of alternative info and reader comments. The systemic level of political/governmental corruption in Spokane is the worst I've witnessed in my 35-year law enforcement career.

RBT

*****

Dear Dr. Tallent [new S-R Ombudsman]

I thought I would welcome you to the "club." I hope your tenure is longer than Steve Blewett's. Notwithstanding what Mr. Smith has told you, Mr. Blewett's departure probably had more to do with him actually considering a complaint filed by award winning investigative reporter Tim Connor re Mr. Smith's shooting from the hip re the River Park Square mess. You may be interested in reviewing the reporting and documentation that both Tim Connor and Larry Shook have amassed at their online magazine:

www.camasmagazine.com

I suspect you will be hearing directly from Mr. Connor in the near future.

Since I've been relegated to the realm of little green men, I'm forwarding my complaint directly to you. I have my doubts it will reach you:-)

Again welcome to the club. I'm including a draft bio to show I'm a "wacko" that has the education, training, and experience to have a professional opinion on RPS.

Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
Riverside PD


PS: Here's the link to the Orange County Register's web page (Orange County, CA) re the Mitch Gold multi-million dollar charity fraud that was national in scope in which I played a small part. See in the right margin:

RAID REPORT: A police detective describes what he saw during a raid on a Mitch Gold boiler room.

*****

From: rocketsbrain
Date: Jan 25, 2008 1:44 PM
Subject: A complaint for the new S-R Ombudsman
To: Gary Graham


Mr. Graham, Managing Editor
Spokesman-Review

Re: News is a Conversation - Censorship

I thought my comment [below] was civil and to the point re having an ethics code. No point in having one if those involved are won't follow it. Mr. Smith immediately pulled my post and sent me a personal rant unbecoming of that of an Editor of a paper that is soliciting comments. In what's becoming common place he again called me a a wacko much like he has award winning investigative journalists Tim Connor and Larry Shook as well as former Sheriff Bamonte and others. Mr. Smith essentially libeled award winning investigative TV journalist Tom Grant a while back in the S-R Blogs for which he issued an apology of sorts.

i still think you're a whacko. you have no credibility with me on this issue and my blog will not be a place for your repeated digressions.

I think I made my point:

Without a commitment of those involved to abide by the Code, this is an exercise in futility.

If you're going to have a Code of Ethics then it's incumbent for those involved to abide by the Code. I do believe I have the professional education, training and experience to have an opinion re RPS et al and the lack of investigative zeal on the part of S-R. Mr. Smith attempts to marginalized me in a vary paternalistic manner. It would be more appropriate to let my comments stand and let the readers decide for themselves as to my veracity and my qualifications and thereby to decide the worth of my opinion. This assuming if I don't violate the normal blog etiquette and general conventions re obscenity, name calling, and/or personal threats. To do otherwise IMHO is censorship plain and simple which violates the very core values of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Cheers,

Det. Ron Wright (Retired)

*****
Personal note from Mr. Smith
*****

you are at it again. no dice.

you may cmment on substance, you may make suggestions for changes in the code.

but i won't let you beat your dead horse. especially on things you know nothing about.

and, trust me, i still think you're a whacko. you have no credibility with me on this issue and my blog will not be a place for your repeated digressions.

you call it censorship. fine. take that charge wherever you want. but if you don't watch it, you won't be posting on the blog at all.

we are clear on that, correct?

steve

*****

Wow! That was quick. My comment in Mr. Smith's thread on soliciting comments on the new S-R Code of Ethics was censored already!

RBT

*****

More from the S-R ethics debate.

RBT

*****

Bruce,

You asked the $64 question.

My question is: what is the process of the newspaper when stories are perceived by readers as biased, when it can be simply explained away as a difference of perception? How is this accountability to readers to be actually assessed?

Sorry if Mr. Adams and I digressed a bit but both of us have had our comments in this thread, censored, without a trace. I won't go into specifics but feel free to visit my blog for more information (Click on my screen name below). Naturally we are a little gun shy when it comes to discussing a Code of Ethics. Without a commitment of those involved to abide by the Code, this is an exercise in futility.

Ideally an independent Ombudsman is what you're asking for but the last S-R Ombudsman perhaps was straying to close to the "darkside" and was abruptly terminated. We are watching closely how this new Ombudsman will respond to reader complaints and criticisms.

Both Mr. Adams and I along with others believe the S-R has failed in its responsibility to its readers on stories where the S-R owners have an active involvement/interest. Mr. Smith has with a broad brush dismissed us as loons. He has called us conspiracy theorists, wackos, and little green men without refuting our challenges. Kinda like what attorneys do by blowing smoke to the jury when they can't dispute the facts.

It's a fine line that Mr. Smith must walk. Will he bend to the interests of the owners or will he exercise his journalistic independence based on the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists. It's humane nature not to bite the hand that feeds you. Sophe was dead on with this quote:

While minimizing bias and telling the truth are ideal, it is not reasonable to believe that employees would take on the owners of the paper, biting the hand that feeds them. Nor should reporters be expected to do so. This is an inherent conflict of interest. An independent resource for such reporting should be obtained, one that the owner or editor cannot just terminate upon displeasure.

This is why I linked to the OCR story on the Mitch Gold fraud. One to demonstrate that I do have the training, education, and experience to a professional opinion. Secondly to show how a major paper of record took the leading role in a very complex fraud that many governmental agencies were reluctant for a number of reasons to deal with.

Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
Posted by rocketsbrain | 24 Jan 8:05 PM

Update I:

More re Mr. Smith and hypocrisy re professional journalistic ethics

Mr. Smith and I had another exchange of opinions in S-R Blog HBO. I sent this along as an update to Dr. Tallent the new S-R Ombudsman. See the bolded comment.

*****

Dear Dr. Tallent,

Please see this excerpt of the thread at S-R HBO where Mr. Smith's comments re blogs were cross posted. Mr. Smith is again attempting to marginalize me in an attempt to dismiss my professional opinion re the S-R coverage on RPS. It would be refreshing if Mr. Smith would refute anything that Tim Connor and Larry Shook have documented at their site re the RPS et al fraud.

If Connor and Shook are so wrong with their reporting/documentations why is it that the Cowles Companies haven't sued them for libel? The answer is they can't. They can't afford to be cross-examined during the depositions. The "truth" will come out.

Det. Ron Wright (Retired)