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Archive for August, 2006

Playing Us for Fools

Posted by Felicia Fee Benamon On August - 29 - 2006

There are many of us who are still resigned to thinking that we are safe from terror attacks. And that only through diplomacy will terrorists and rogue nations, like Iran, comply or negotiate when it comes to the development of nuclear weapons.  Or, in the case of Hezbollah, put down arms for the sake of peace.

They are playing us for fools! The effort to keep peace in Lebanon and to keep Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from pursuing nuclear technology will only buy time, but eventually, terrorism in whatever form will heat up again at some point. 

Iran is conducting military exercises and test firing missiles, and President Ahmadinejad’s behavior continues to be volatile with regards to his nuclear ambition.  He will not give up his quest for more nuclear power.  Ahmadinejad is busy trying to acquire nuclear technology to threaten the West and Israel, and is even responsible for the training of terrorists fighters in Iraq. That’s one more problem US troops and our allies have to deal with in Iraq.

I appreciate the job our troops are doing in Iraq; they have double the work to do in Iraq.  From the rebuilding of Iraq to fending off attacks from groups trained by Iran, they have their hands full.
Somewhere, the responsibility falls on leaders of the world to crack down on those nations who are creating more conflict.   At some point, the US and UN will have to get tougher and adopt a “take it or leave it” approach…the cease fire approach is not working.
There’s another crack in the armor of that situation, Syria isn’t willing to commit troops as part of a UN International force to bring stability to Lebanon. Syria’s President Bashar Assad 

 says he does not want to interfere with the sovereignty of Lebanon, or be seen as a hostile presence along Lebanon’s border with Syria.

But if there was a possibility of Syria and other Arab nations agreeing to commit troops (perhaps in an effort to make it look as if they are helping with the cease fire), they could end up joining forces with Hezbollah or strengthening themselves for a massive battle with Israeli forces. Syria is also known for its support of Hezbollah.
Among his latest statements, Syria’s President Assad threatens Israel, saying the Golan Heights would be taken “by Syrian hands” if Israel dares attack Syria.  Syria is becoming more militant, this opens up another front in the Middle East conflict.
We are “playing around” with negotiations. The US and the UN should come straight out and mention that Iran and Syria MUST stop supporting terror groups, or…
Hezbollah MUST disarm, or….
One option the UN could consider to deter rogue nations from pursuing a dangerous agenda; sanctions perhaps. Either way, we must be determined to stop terror or it will eat us and our allies alive. We are fools to sit back and play political games.  It will get us nowhere.
Every one of us should be watching the events in the Middle East just a little bit more closely.  Iran, no doubt, has Israel in its nuclear sights, and guess who is next, America. 
Let us not get so wrapped up in life that we cannot keep our eyes on international events. They are sure to affect us one way or the other very soon.  And Hezbollah has terror sympathizers in the US who must eventually be dealt with.  People who live in America and despise and bash our way of life DO NOT have a right to be here.  Their allegiance lies with their home country, not America. 
There are way too many people who have come here to take advantage of all America offers, and in the midst of American society, they plot and plan to bring down this country.  We should be happy to send such people back to their home country; American citizens should NOT tolerate that sort of flagrant disrespect on our own soil!
It’s time to notice the importance of fighting terrorism. We don’t want terrorism and that way of life to overtake those of us who enjoy freedom.  If we fail to act, the same will continue to occur, bomb threats on planes, brazen kidnappings of innocent people; the overall threats against the West and her allies.
Let us not be fools!
Related Reading:
Iran conducting military exercise
General: Iran Training Shiite Insurgents (in Iraq)
Assad rejects forces on Syrian border
Syria President Assad Threatens War
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Daley-Times Post, TheRealityCheck.org, Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, and other news sites like AmericanChronice.com.  Felicia also does freelance writing/reporting in her area.  She hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections.  Felicia has been a guest speaker on KYAL2K, conservative talk radio (www.k-talk.com), Salt Lake City, UT, and America Talks, conservative internet talk radio, with David Zublick (www.americatalks.com).
You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com . 
Vox Populi

Israel: On a never ending cycle of defending herself

Posted by Felicia Fee Benamon On August - 22 - 2006
Israel: On a never ending cycle of defending herself

by Felicia (Fee) Benamon
There is some speculation over which side, Israel or Hezbollah, won this latest battle.  I am certain Israel was not the clear victor, yet Israel’s resolve to succeed against her enemy, never dies down.
It was not long before Hezbollah broke the UN induced cease fire, firing 10 rockets which hit Southern Lebanon. The weekend commando raid conducted by Israeli troops near Baalbek, Lebanon (Hezbollah’s haven) was not the event which threatened the shallow cease fire (no matter how much the media, the UN, and Israel’s enemies spin it).  Israel’s Olmert has had to spend time defending the operation saying it was an act of defense; Israel does not want Hezbollah to rearm.  The UN’s Kofi Annan, doesn’t believe it, but that’s not a huge surprise.  
There was hardly any mention of Hezbollah’s rocket attacks.  No rebuke was given to Hezbollah for their actions. But go figure, Israel again, is blamed for breaking the cease fire as the country takes steps to defend itself.  
Israel agreed to the cease fire, and has made strides time and again, to find some type of reckoning in the situation. 
And Iran, another potentially explosive situation, has threatened to “wipe Israel off the map,” as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad puts it.  Just how does the international community deal with that kind of mind set?  Iran’s militant view against Israel is fueling Hezbollah and the “call” to participate in “jihad” instead of reaching out in peace.
It is a continuing cycle, Israel having to retaliate due to attacks on her soldiers or civilians by a terrorist organization.  Many countries of the world see Israel as the aggressor.  
Israel is a democracy which seeks only to live in peace.  But if there is a threat or strike against her people, Israel is obligated to act and defend against any attacks.
There is, no doubt, a favored view of Hezbollah at the UN.  Otherwise, Hezbollah would have been labeled for exactly what it is, a terror network.  Hezbollah ignored the cease fire, and the whereabouts of the 2 kidnapped Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, are still unknown.   
President Bush has said that Israel has a right to defend herself.  If true, then the cease fire has no purpose than only to buy more time for Hezbollah to ratchet up more of their old tricks. 
The media continues to stoke public scrutiny towards Israel by showing suffering Lebanese who didn’t leave the area of the fighting.  And there is scarce reporting on Israeli casualties or suffering.
Even as Israel, in their kindness, dropped leaflets to warn citizens of Lebanon to leave, some people ignored the warning.  But the media chooses to show repeated images of the suffering of those affected by the bombings in Lebanon, and how Hezbollah is stepping in to offer free housing to those who are now homeless. 
Hezbollah is now trying to show itself as a legitimate organization by helping those who are downtrodden, but the fact is, the only way they could help their fellow man would be to disarm, and look for a means of peace with Israel. But of course, they staunchly refuse.  Hezbollah have only themselves to blame for the deaths and destruction of so many lives in Lebanon.  Hezbollah provoked Israel, and is still on the warpath. But will the UN acknowledge that? No.
At the inception of the cease fire agreement, Hezbollah’s leader Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah agreed to the cease fire, but would not accept all the terms. He should be made to accept the cease fire terms in full, be forced to disarm, and held accountable for the aggression against Israel by the kidnapping of Israel’s soldiers.
Kofi Annan’s remarks, in regards to both the Lebanese and Israeli governments agreeing to the cease fire read:
“I am happy to announce that the two leaders have agreed that the cessation of hostilities and the end of the fighting will enter into force on 14 August.”
How about the “cessation of hostilities” in regards to Hezbollah?  More than likely, Kofi Annan won’t pressure Hezbollah to disarm.  The cease fire keeps Israel in constant defensive mode.  It is no doubt, biased in favor of Hezbollah. 
The only logical answer would have been to let Israel finish off Hezbollah.  This conflict will now come down to political games and pointing the finger at Israel because of their perceived move against Hezbollah in Baalbek, Lebanon which strained the cease fire.
Enough!
It’s high time to get real.  Dirty politics has been the reason for allowing so much terrorism to run rampant and unchecked.  It’s time to crack down on the real perpetrators of terror and make them accountable. Let’s start with Hezbollah please.
Related Reading:
Hezbollah rockets hit south Lebanon, Israel says (after cease fire):
IDF officer killed in commando raid in east Lebanon…:
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Daley-Times Post, TheRealityCheck.org, Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, and many more.  Felicia also does freelance writing/reporting in her area.  She hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections.  Felicia has been a guest speaker on KYAL2K, conservative talk radio (www.k-talk.com), Salt Lake City, UT, and America Talks, conservative internet talk radio, with David Zublick (www.americatalks.com). 
You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com.
Vox Populi

Common sense needed in the War on Terror

Posted by Felicia Fee Benamon On August - 15 - 2006

An advertisement for Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center movie included the following…

…pictures of a falling World Trade Center, firemen rushing to safety, with the narrator saying, “Every generation has a defining moment…” Then these words flashed on my television screen, “This was ours.”
As I listened to the commercial, I realized we are too caught up on melancholy emotion, meanwhile our enemies are plotting to strike again. September 11, 2001 was not a day to look back on as just some “event” that happened, but it should be an everyday, HUGE reminder that terrorism in such deadly form (or greater) is capable of being executed even today. If anything, we should be mad, and stay that way!
We are failing to awaken from our complacency.  One example I have witnessed lately came from a local news story in which the Department of Homeland Security gave a new armored vehicle to the Germantown, TN police force.  The purpose is to make sure that Germantown law enforcement will be ready in case of a terror attack. Granted I think armored cars rolling around our cities and towns are a bit much, it was the comments from two people regarding whether the Memphis area would be targeted by terrorists caught my attention:
Posted By Daralene Jones
Germantown Rolls Out Armored Vehicle
Germantown, TN- Nearly 5 years after terrorism shook the United States, fears of a repeat of September 11th have shifted to the backburner for some. “I don’t think about that,” Rachel Tremble of Germantown says. “I don’t think they’re going to target a small city like Memphis. They’re only going to target big major cities,” Darnell Logan of Memphis says.

But Memphis and Shelby County can’t afford to rule out the possibility of another terrorist attack. It’s on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of possible places terrorists might hit in the future. “This is really going to enhance our capability to respond, whether it’s here locally or somewhere else in the region,” Inspector Rodney Bright says.

The small armored vehicle will play a huge part in helping Germantown police chip in, if terrorists strike in or around the Bluff City. “It’s good to be prepared, but i don’t think Germantown is a major threat,” Tremble says.

For security reasons, we couldn’t go inside the $184,000 vehicle. But we can tell you it’s resistant to bullets and explosives. And Germantown police say it will also be used to help fight crime locally. For example, if there’s a hostage, hazmat, or other situation on the city streets that requires the SWAT unit .

Before the armored truck rolled in, Germantown Police had to rely on a white van, with no layer of protection from potential danger on the outside. Germantown will share the armored vehicle with six other surrounding counties. Memphis is scheduled to get one in the coming months. Homeland Security will also foot the bill for that one.

(See: Germantown Rolls Out Armored Vehicle below)

***

The man and woman who mentioned that they are not worried, that terrorists are likely to target only big cities is a big indicator that we’ve become complacent.  Where is our fortitude and awareness?  Are we that secured in our own world that we can’t see beyond our neighborhoods?  We are at war.

Those comments also reminded me of an incident that happened recently in Memphis where an Egyptian student attending the University of Memphis was arrested for wire fraud and possessing a fake social security number. His apartment was also raided, where items related to flight training were found, including a pilot’s uniform, and a layout of the Memphis airport. He has since been sentenced, and will spend 13 months in prison. After serving his time, he is to be deported.

This is a clear indication that terrorists will not stick selectively to big cities.  It is a fatal flaw to think that our enemies haven’t noticed the smaller towns.  They are our neighbors, and have taken up residence in every area of America.  

Using common sense

Our enemy is stealth, and the methods of attack, unconventional.  And our response should be level headed, and different.  Not predictable or too overpowering.  This brings me back to the comment I made about the use of armored cars in our cities and towns, being “a bit much.”  Those armored trucks, in my opinion, should be widely used by our armed forces in terrorist hotspots, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our troops are truly the people who need them the most. I believe, currently, these trucks may only be available to military police, but all of our  troops on the ground, need them more than we do.  Armored vehicles are not needed on our streets.  We need to invest more in our troops!  They should be our top priority!
Terrorism is a constant threat, but the way we are dealing with it is over the top. The uncovered and foiled plot to blow up planes from Britain to America, using liquid chemicals, has caused even tighter security measures. Sharp objects were the only items of scrutiny in the past, now it’s lipstick and lip gloss?! 
A crackdown on simple items like deodorant, lotions, toothpaste, hair gels, shampoo, drinks, electronic items, and even ketchup, has me wondering how far we will go to alter our lives out of fear that terrorists will strike. 
People may still pack these items in their luggage (provided if items are non-perishable, and the flight isn’t long), but not in their carry-on.  Otherwise, it’s trash.   
A helpful strategy to fight terrorism would be, if Western countries thoroughly screened people who come into the country in the first place.  Restrictions should not be put on domestic citizens who want to enjoy life without unnecessary security measures put in place.
America’s immigration system, for example, is so flawed and messed up, it’s ridiculous.  If only we would get control of the insanity that exists as an immigration system now, and start prohibiting anyone who wants to come here on student visas and getting tough on illegal immigrants already here, then we won’t have to worry about such plotting.  But of course, politics is standing in the way.  Other countries can and should adopt this method as well.  It is the only way to keep our societies secure and at the same time, citizens will not feel like they are in a police state.
The one thing accomplished by the 24 terrorists who were involved in the plot, was that they succeeded in altering British and American lives by creating frustration and unease, thus giving the U.S. another excuse to squeeze the reins even tighter on airport security.  We shouldn’t give them the pleasure of doing so!
Western societies should be TICKED OFF to learn someone attempted such an awful act, and start getting tougher!
America is supposed to be the “land of the free, home of the brave.”  But we aren’t acting like it.  We’ve become the land of “giving up freedoms in exchange for a false peace.” 
Don’t be lemmings America.  Use common sense. 
Let us also not thrive on emotional events from our past.  Let’s allow the events of 911 to teach us about our present situation, and that we must stay alert.
I pray complacency will not be our undoing.
Related Reading:
Germantown Rolls Out Armored Vehicle:
About the BearCat (pictures):
U of M Terror Suspect Sentenced:
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Daley-Times Post, TheRealityCheck.org, Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, and many more.  Felicia is currently branching out, and hopes to do more freelance writing, and eventually carry a column in her local newspaper.  She hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections.  Felicia is also an occasional guest speakeron KYAL2K, conservative talk radio (www.k-talk.com), Salt Lake City, UT. 
You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com.
Vox Populi

Blueprint for Democrats: Deceive and Conquer

Posted by Bernard Chapin On August - 10 - 2006

To condemn as false the entirety of the left’s attacks on their opponents, the past, our culture, and capitalism, is to overstate the case, as (amid the sweltering cauldron of fabrication which so often is their argumentation) a few gray areas exist wherein the rhetoric is more true than false.

Perhaps the best example of one such area is in the conservative habit of refuting their claims while denying that we think they’re unpatriotic. The fact is, nearly all of us realize they are unpatriotic because they hate their homeland and cheer for it to fail in every endeavor. That we systematically deny this understanding is due to varying reasons. In the case of this reviewer, it stems from a libertarian aversion to censorship which is a topic which must come up after labeling certain positions as sedition. Therefore, to preserve the marketplace of ideas for everyone (or what political correctness has left us of this marketplace), it is often best not to call a traitor a traitor.

Eminent conservative theorist David Horowitz and co-author Richard Poe have no such qualms about stating the obvious, and aggressively do so in their recent release, The Shadow Party: How George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Sixties Radicals Seized Control of the Democratic Party. The text examines the relationship between a queen, a queenmaker, and a legion of fanatical pages and squires. For those readers familiar with his oeuvre, they will undoubtedly agree that Horowitz delivers here his usual survey of history, biography, and political commentary along with the type of powerful analysis rarely offered by his peers.

Their subject is both grim and all-encompassing. The book’s central theme is that an unwritten partnership exists between George Soros, whom the authors dub the Lenin of the Shadow Party, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The two of them are the heroes and apex, the Cesare Borgia’s if you will, of those elites who foment revolution from above while the grassroots radicals they finance destabilize the nation from below. Their goal is to bring about an “orderly revolution” through which Mrs. Clinton, their Trojan Horse, will be legally elected and bring about a severe deconstruction and reconstruction of the nation. They believe that what cannot be accomplished by her hand will be enacted by the courts who began treating the Constitution as a fuzzy concept decades ago.

George “Lenin” Soros is an uber-tycoon and legend of the financial world who, unfortunately for us all, turned his attention to politics in later life. His views were formed and inspired by his former teacher Karl Popper, whose notion of an “Open Society” remains on his lips today, and is the name he chose for his foremost institute and foundation. The Open Society is essentially one wherein none of the leaders believe in eternal truths and where the politicians and populace do not regard themselves as being superior to the citizens of any other nation. That the United States is no such place quickly became apparent to him; yet, regrettably, that no other country on the planet fulfills these utopian criteria has never become apparent. It did to Popper though who stated that his optimism about the world soared after every visit to our shores, and even once claimed that a particular visit relieved him of depression. This eventuality makes no difference to Soros who despises George W. Bush and has made pronouncements equating him with Nazis. Soros, despite his affection for the Clintons, has dedicated his fortune to stopping those who believe in our goodness and transcendence. More than anything, he craves a way to “puncture the bubble of American supremacy.”

Why would a billionaire tycoon be so hateful towards a nation which generously granted him citizenship? Well, it seems that for Soros the personal really is political, and a large section of The Shadow Party is devoted to uncovering the exact workings of his personality. This is actually a much easier task than one would expect as his psyche is comically transparent. Soros was born a Hungarian Jew who escaped Auschwitz during the Second World War by posing as the god-child of a government official. From there the story turned horrific, as it was this particular official’s task to confiscate property from the—soon-to-be dead—Jews. Young Soros duly accompanied his protector on his rounds while doing side work running deportation messages for the Nazi-installed Judenrat. His bosses there existed to smooth over many of the difficulties among the Jewish population which inevitably arose as they were methodically robbed, beaten, sealed in ghettos, and earmarked for extinction. Their work was invaluable to men like Adolf Eichmann as they removed many of the obstacles which could have delayed the factory-style exterminations that he coordinated.

According to Soros, the experience left him with the will to survive, but, to the rest of us, it is very clear that it left him with an eternal case of guilt. His need to placate this guilt is probably the reason why he so longs to become “the conscious of the world,” and yes, it is humorous that he actually walks around using such language for self-description—which goes to show that comprehending the motives of others is not always that difficult an undertaking.

Soros uses his money to fuel his megalomania and has created mischief all over the world. Whenever Soros chooses, his immense fortune can be pointed like a siege engine in the direction of whatever front radicals are in most need of reducing. The Open Society is so vague an apprehension that it can simultaneously be violated by our nation along with murderous regimes like Slobodon Milosevic’s in Serbia. Vanity seems to have something to do with Soros’s actions as President Clinton, who lavished attention and power upon him, was deemed a great leader while President Bush, who has ignored him, is considered the bane of civilization.

The one shortcoming of this book is that it is far more about George Soros and the radicals of the sixties than it is about Hillary Clinton. Those looking for her biography are advised to search elsewhere, but the authors do demonstrate that Hillary’s political machine (”Hillaryland”) has been forged partly by the funds of Soros and is harmony with his aspirations. Her unofficial think tank, The Center for American Progress, may be run by John Podesta, but Horowitz and Poe believe that the junior senator from New York is the one who makes all of its real decisions.

In Hillary Clinton, the radicals have the candidate they always wanted. She has hidden her far left inclinations well since first being elected in 2000. Her think tank exists to rebuke her critics, and also to have operatives in place to quickly morph into an administration should she win in 2008. Soros has had many successes over the years, and placing her in the Oval Office would even outshine his victory with the McCain-Feingold Act.

Although, from what we know about Hillary Clinton, it is unlikely that she would ever consent to be the pawn of anyone, but, in this case, she shares the same ideology as the behemoth who champions her. It is greatly hoped that an electoral victory in 2008 will not result in her playing Stalin to the Shadow Party’s Lenin on a gargantuan stage known as the world.

Bernard Chapin is a writer from Chicago and author of Escape from Gangsta Island. He will be completing a new book concerning women in December of this year. His email address is veritaseducation@gmail.com.

Vox Populi

Go get 'em Israel!

Posted by Felicia Fee Benamon On August - 8 - 2006
Israel is doing what it should do, eliminating the threat of Hezbollah and Hamas from its borders.  Israel has taken flack for doing what the U.S. would do in response to any aggressive action by the enemy; we would hunt those down who is responsible.  Now is not the time to play cease fire games.
I’m shaking my head as the U.S. tries to draw up a plan for a lasting peace in the Mid-East. We should know by now that peace will not come when terror organizations like Hezbollah continue to exist.
The tactics used by them are deplorable.  They were the aggressor against Israel in the beginning. If it were not for the kidnapping of 2 Israeli soldiers and the rocket attacks, Israel would not be advancing into Lebanon right now.
Instead of collaborating with the U.N. to put together a peace plan and cease fire, Secretary of State Condi Rice should state the truth, that Hezbollah should be eliminated.  The Bush administration should not have to feel like they have to fall lockstep behind other nations in calling for some sort of peace plan.
If President Bush is serious about going after terrorists and the countries that harbor them, as he stated soon after 911, then he would let Israel finish the job.
Israel has made it their mission to root out Hezbollah, even giving civilians time to leave before their massive campaign against Hezbollah. Their goal is not to harm citizens of Lebanon.  They are acting in the most humane way in this war. You think Hezbollah would extend the same courtesy to Israeli civilians?! I think not!
Civilians were told time and again to leave Lebanon, and if people ignored that warning and refused to leave, I have no sympathy. I truly believe that if only Lebanese civilians realized why Israel is targeting Lebanon, and realize that the reason for many of their problems has to do with Hezbollah, then there would be no outcry about a cease fire.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora screams for an immediate ceasefire. Yet, he has failed to uproot and dismantle operations of Hezbollah in Lebanon, allowing them to operate freely, so Israel is doing it for him. 
In this ongoing campaign, Israel has been blamed for deaths across Lebanon.  Specifically for the death of civilians in Qana, a village in Lebanon.  But as the Israeli army investigates, the findings point to Hezbollah:

Lebanese website blames Hizbullah for Qana deaths

 

Anti-Syrian elements in Lebanon openly point finger at Hizbullah as guilty of killing of dozens of civilians in order to curtail plans for disarming group. ‘Hizbullah has placed rocket launcher on building’s roof and brought invalid children inside in bid to provoke Israeli response,’ they write
Roee Nahmias

 

Is Hizbullah behind the tragic incident in the village of Qana that claimed the lives of some 60 people? While the Israeli army continues to investigate the circumstances leading to the building’s collapse, some in Lebanon do not hesitate to point the finger at the Shiite organization and claim it is to blame for the death of dozens. 

The Lebanese website LIBANOSCOPIE , associated with Christian elements in the country and which openly supports the anti-Syrian movement called the “March 14 Forces,” reported that Hizbullah has masterminded a plan that would result in the killing of innocents in the Qana village, in a bid to foil Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s “Seven Points Plan”, which calls for deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and the disarming of Hizbullah.
(See: Lebanese website blames Hizbollah…below for more details)
***
One has to surmise that Hezbollah is not incapable of using deplorable tactics to sway the outcome of their war against Israel. For that reason, they should be removed from this earth. We should NO MORE, placate the evil that exists in the form of terrorism!  Hezbollah is not an organization which exists to help the people of Lebanon, like it is believed to be, but a murderous organization.  The organization of Hamas falls into the same category among the Palestinians.
One main tactic used by terror groups is that they use children, whether it is indoctrination of extreme beliefs to take up martyrdom for “the cause,” or they are strategically placed, as in the Qana case, in harms way for propaganda against their enemies…using children as human shields.
Another tactic; firing from among civilians, and in this case, from where I’d least expect them to, from Christian areas of Lebanon.  In the mainly Christian area of Wadi Chahour in Lebanon, Hezbollah set up position in the town to launch rockets at Israel, so says an Australian journalist who obtained photos of Hezbollah fighters (See: Photos that damn Hezbollah below).  It’s a disgusting, sneaky tactic.
This is why Israel has rained down attacks on Christian areas in Lebanon. They are simply firing back at Hezbollah fighters.  Certainly, Israel has no beef with Christians, and has no reason to strike in those areas of Lebanon.
Israel must strike back at enemy combatants no matter where they hide.  The condemnation should be put on Hezbollah for conducting their sleazy war amidst civilian populations. But the U.N. seems to be biased in favor of Hezbollah.
It has been said that Hezbollah fighters have taken up position behind the U.N. and the U.N. seems to be playing Big Brother to Hezbollah and the Arab cause.  Israel recently came under fire from the U.N. for the bombing of a U.N. post on the southern Lebanese border, killing 2 U.N. observers and leaving 2 more displaced.  Israel has apologized and expressed regret for the deaths of the observers, but one has to wonder why the U.N. post was hit.  Perhaps Hezbollah was present?
These terror organizations want only to see the blood of their enemy, Israel, and are not interested in living in peace.  They will use whatever tactics necessary to bring down their opponent.  The only solution is to uproot these terror organizations, to fight back.
Israel is fighting for her life, and let’s be reminded that terrorists will not stop with Israel. Al-Qaida’s second in command Ayman al-Zawahri issued a statement for all Muslims to expand their war on “tyrannical Western civilization and its leader, America.”   
Al-Qaida, he says, believes “all the world as a battlefield open in front of us.”
Is this not a reason to stand firmly against terrorism?  Those of us in the U.S. used to have the same mentality of Israel, to fight back, and not to appease. But we have grown weary and complacent when it comes to the War on Terror. Israel now is setting the example, and we should not tie their hands, but stand firmly behind them.
So, as I watch Israel’s war with Hezbollah unfold, I am chanting, for good reason…”GO GET ‘EM ISRAEL!”
Related Reading:
Lebanese website blames Hizbollah for Qana deaths:
Photos that damn Hezbollah:
Canadian Soldier Says UN Position Used As Cover By Hezbollah:
Al-Zawahri: ‘All the World Is a Battlefield’:
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Daley-Times Post, TheRealityCheck.org, Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, and many more.  Felicia is currently branching out, and hopes to do more freelance writing, and eventually carry a column in her local newspaper.  She hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections.  Felicia is also an occasional guest speaker on KYAL2K, conservative talk radio (www.k-talk.com), Salt Lake City, UT.  You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com. 
Vox Populi

Healthcare isn't what it used to be, Part II

Posted by Felicia Fee Benamon On August - 1 - 2006
As I indicated in an earlier article, healthcare in America is in a downward spiral.  Even more disturbing is the fact that the government can strong arm its way into our lives and determine what treatments we should undergo. 
Such is the case of 16 yr. old  Abraham Cherrix, who, after suffering through chemotherapy to treat his Hodgkin’s disease (a form of cancer), decided to go herbal for his healing.  He sought the help of a doctor in Mexico who helped him with his new herbal diet.
His cancer returned, and doctors recommended that he use radiation and more drugs to treat the cancer. Abraham decided against it.  His parents did not force him to undergo more radiation treatments either. What happened?  The Department of Social Services got involved.  A social worker brought the case to court and asked that Abraham continue treatment doctors prescribed. The Judge’s temporary order was a shocker.  He finds Abraham’s parents neglectful in their support for their son, and orders them to share custody with the Department of Social Services!  Abraham would be living at home, but Social Services would have a hand in how his treatment went!
“I did not know the government could do this,” said Abraham.
Just recently, Abraham and his family were back in court again, and the ruling stood.  Abraham was ordered to the hospital to undergo treatment.  His parents will appeal the ruling. 
Surely a 16yr. old is mature enough that he is capable of knowing what is best for his body.  In this shocking case, the government is making decisions for us now!  It’s alarming that it has come to this. 
We, as Americans, should be able to choose what course of treatment is best for us and our bodies. The doctor, for example, can prescribe a treatment, but that doesn’t mean we HAVE to take it. 
Take care of your body…you only have one
If we are to enjoy freedom in this country, we should have the freedom to live and to choose what goes into our bodies, and how we obtain health…which brings me to talk about this next report.
I stumbled upon some reading that spoke of the connection of great health to those who are wealthy.  I couldn’t believe what I was reading. That somehow, wealthy people tend to be healthier than the rest of us.  That analogy is so far from the truth!  Included in the article, were links to 5 ways to “buy your way out of death.”  I’ll spare the nauseating contents and let you to read it below.
The article also mentions how pharmaceutical companies are all too happy to push the latest cutting edge drug. That’s the problem in society now; we think drugs are the miracle that will cure us.  Or that they are the fountain of youth.  What are not widely mentioned are the side effects from those drugs… the side effects that leave people sicker than when they sought help. 
One does not need to be wealthy to enjoy optimal health.  If that were the case, then an explanation is needed for why certain celebrities have died prematurely.
It’s all about lifestyle choices, how we choose to live, and what we put into our bodies.  Also, it’s about having a well-balanced diet and using portion control.   Let’s not forget exercise, an activity which anyone can do to live longer. 
If money is to be spent making better health choices for the body, it surely doesn’t have to clean out the bank account.  Natural remedies, such as an internal cleanse to flush out toxins and waste buildup in the body (See colon cleansing info. below) is one way to better health.  Or at least, adding fiber to the diet for cleaning of the body.  To me, that’s far more beneficial than spending an astounding amount of money on countless drugs with harmful side effects.  Just simply find a natural alternative to drugs. 
We have an unrealistic view of what it takes to obtain optimal health, and our attitudes towards human health and healthcare SURELY isn’t what it used to be.
Healthcare fraud
Many in the healthcare industry have dropped the ball.  Excessive fraud is on its way to becoming the norm these days:

Thursday, 06/29/06

Hospital operator Tenet settles probe for $725 million

Case tied to overbilling Medicare prior to 2003

Associated Press

DALLAS — Tenet Healthcare Corp. has agreed to pay $725 million to settle federal investigations into the hospital operator’s alleged overbilling of certain Medicare payments before 2003, the company said today.

The settlement will be paid over a period of four years and end all federal investigations by the Department of Justice and several U.S. attorneys, Tenet said.

…”Health care is a heavily regulated industry,” he said in a prepared statement. “Regulators depend on providers to be trustworthy and to set and abide by their own high ethical standards. Some of this company’s past actions did not measure up to the high standards that we have imposed on ourselves since these issues first arose.”

Tenet also said it will waive its right to pursue $175 million in certain past Medicare payments.

In May, Tenet settled a three-year legal battle that included two trials by agreeing to pay a $21 million fine and close or sell a San Diego hospital accused of making kickbacks to doctors for referring patients. Federal prosecutors had accused its Alvarado Hospital Medical Center and its former chief executive of making excessive relocation payments to doctors who based their practices at the hospital from 1992 to 2003. Prosecutors said the hospitals disguised the payments to doctors as office improvements and overhead.

(See: Hospital operator Tenet settles probe for $725 million below):

***

Now this is when it becomes all about the money.  The problem of healthcare fraud is growing.  And it is the taxpayer who suffers. Giving kickbacks to doctors who refer patients is only one of many methods of healthcare fraud. The emphasis is taken off of taking care of the patient, and quickly put on how to make a quick buck, or increase profits. 

Many organizations, and even the Department of Justice, are devoted to stopping healthcare fraud. The Dept. of Justice has in place the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC), but it doesn’t stop the fact that the number of fraud cases are increasing.  And to me, it’s quite shameful.  Sadly, it all comes back to one thing…the love of money. 

A fit nation is a strong nation 

As a society, we really need to put more emphasis on the patient having the ultimate control over his/her body.  Medicine is there if one decides to use it, but it should not be mandatory. If one can get well and obtain optimal health using alternative medicines, or natural remedies, then it should be promoted.
The reason for many disorders may be because the body is lacking something, or that our bodies are out of balance, and the answer is not always to pump our bodies with more drugs.
I wonder why we aren’t being told about more natural remedies that could help us?  Perhaps  the reason is because it would cut into profits of the drug industry.  This definitely makes one think.
It’s time Americans take back their health…let’s watch what we put into our bodies, and remember to get adequate exercise.  Remember, a fit nation is a strong nation. 
  
Related Reading:
Teen fights to treat cancer with herbs:
Virginia teen loses fight to treat cancer his way:
How to buy your way out of death:
Information on colon cleansing, and a host of other important information:
Hospital operator Tenet settles probe for $725 million:
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Daley-Times Post, TheRealityCheck.org, Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, and many more.  Felicia is currently branching out, and hopes to do more freelance writing, and eventually carry a column in her local newspaper.  She hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections.  Felicia is also an occasional guest speaker on KYAL2K, conservative talk radio (www.k-talk.com), Salt Lake City, UT. 
You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com.
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