By
Today’s latest New York Times story on FBI spying on radical left political groups is not news. Last night, when I saw a hint of the story, I figured it wouldn’t be–and would be a re-hashed ACLU story that made headlines here in Detroit, this summer.
And I was right.
The Detroit papers and others around the country covered this exact story, this summer, when the ACLU released details of Michigan FBI “spying.” The ACLU filed the requests on behalf of mostly Muslim groups.
But what was disturbing about the materials from the ACLU was that the Michigan FBI, months after 9/11 was NOT spying on ANY Muslim groups (and still isn’t). And it’s “spying” was the same you or I could have done on Google. Except the FBI did a much poorer job. They had a couple of newspaper articles about an anti-war group. Big deal.
If that’s what everyone’s afraid of, they’re over-reacting. In fact, the extremist Muslim groups, like CAIR, MPAC, and ADC, should be happy to know that the FBI is allowing them to do what they want, carte blanche. And the rest of us should be very worried.
Why isn’t the New York Times worried?
*** UPDATE: Michelle Malkin also says it is rehashed. She is right.

By
Reuters reporter Philip Blenkinsop asks, “What did Germany do to free Susanne Osthoff and will the nation’s first Iraqi hostage even come home?”
Answer: , for Osthoff (a convert to Islam).
Within three days of Hamadi’s release, Osthoff was released. As the French might say, “Quelle coincidence!” (What a coincidence!)
And it’s yet more proof that Hezbollah is working with Al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq. As Shia and Sunni extremists, respectively, the groups may hate each other, but they hate us more and long ago buried the hatchet to join forces, according to The New York Times.
Also, consider the fact that a German diplomat told Reuters several weeks ago that “the Geman diplomat’s comment that told Reuters several weeks ago that “Osthoff’s kidnappers likely wanted a ransom and that the government would not hesitate to pay.”
So Germany does, in fact, negotiate with terrorists and denies justice in order to trade for hostages. Nauseating. See more .
*** UPDATE, 12/20/05: Well, today, Reuters noticed our , and suddenly came out with “their own.” Of course, we don’t expect Reuters to credit us in the blogosphere. That would be like calling terrorists “terrorists”–a big no-no in the Reuters style book (“militants” is the sanitized euphemism of choice).

By
In June, we wrote about .
Stethem was a true American hero. Only 23 years old, he was tortured, beaten, and trampled to death by the Hezbollah terrorists for the crimes of being an American, a U.S. serviceman, and refusing–to his last breath–to denounce America.
We’re sad to report that yet another prediction of ours has now come true. that Mohammad Ali Hamadi, one of the Hezbollah terrorists who murdered Stethem, would be released by the German government.
On Friday, the Stethem Family informed us that our worst fears have been realized and that Hamadi will not face justice for his brutal act of terrorism. Germany secretly released Hamadi to freedom in Lebanon.

Robert Dean Stethem, American Hero, RIP
The German government captured Hamadi in 1987. (Stethem’s other three murderers–Imad Fayez Mugniyeh, Hasan Izz-Al-Din, Ali Atwa–remain free, and are believed to be in Lebanon, Iran, or Syria.) Hamadi was carrying liquid explosives that were the same kind used in previous explosive terrorist attacks in France and Germany. Unfortunately, because Germany opposed our death penalty, Hamadi–who remains under indictment in the U.S.–was tried by the German government, not ours. He was given life in prison without the possibility of parole. But there was always an understanding that Hamadi would be extradited to the U.S. to face justice, if the Germans ever released him.
Germany kept none of its promises and showed the world that it really has no resolve in fighting terrorism. The Stethem family learned Friday that Hamadi was released to freedom. Despite a sentence of life without parole, Hamadi was up for parole twice and served only 16 years in prison. And unlike all other extraditions sought by the U.S. under an extradition treaty with Germany, Germany violated the extradition treaty and Hamadi’s extradition was not granted. Reportedly, Germany did this for two reasons 1) to gain the release of a female German hostage, Susanne Osthoff (a German convert to Islam), from terrorists in Iraq (apparently, the Germans do negotiate with terrorists); and Hezbollah has a strong connection with the ones in Iraq); and 2) in retribution for reported CIA terrorist camps in Europe. This is an outrage.
What’s worse is that Germany released Hamadi clandestinely and provided armed security to escort him to freedom in Lebanon, where his two brothers and other family members are high-ranking Hezbollah officers. Hezbollah-dominated and Syrian-controlled Lebanon–where Hamadi is a hero for murdering Stethem–will never extradite Hamadi to the U.S. to face justice.
The Stethem family is very upset. And all of us should be, too.
Germany is supposed to be our ally in the War on Terror. But actions like freeing Hamadi clearly demonstrate otherwise. The fact that the U.S. government is not making a big deal out of this also speaks volumes.
Before 9/11, Hezbollah murdered more Americans than any other terrorist group. Both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have confirmed that Hezbollah is a component of the Al-Qaeda network and is training Al-Qaeda terrorists at camps in Lebanon. Both have also reported that Hezbollah is training insurgents who murder our troops in Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently reported that Qaeda explosives used in Iraq bear the trademarks of Hezbollah “craftsmanship.”
But instead of publicly denouncing the actions of the Hezbollah and the German government in allowing a Hezbollah terrorist and murderer go free, our government is making nice with the enemy.
Top ranking federal officials–U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy III, FBI Special Agent in Charge for Michigan , ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Special Agent in Charge for Michigan and Ohio , Citizenship and Immigration Services official Carol Jenifer–recently broke pita at . They laughed with him about Hezbollah being on the State Department terrorist list, seeming to scratch their heads as to why it’s on the list. They clapped enthusiastically when he described what’s going on in Southern Lebanon as “resistance, not terrorism.”
It’s not rocket science to make correct predictions like we make on this site–that Hamadi would be set free or . Clueless, spineless appeasers like Murphy, Roberts, Moskowitz, and Jenifer, and the German government are running the show–and that makes the prospect of terrorists going free very predictable.
Robert Stethem must be looking down from Heaven and trying to make sense of what is happening here on mortal earth. He was an American patriot and for that, faced a brutal, early death. He would have been around 43, today. Around the same age, Murphy, Roberts, Moskowitz et al are patriotic only to themselves and their aggressive ambitions–and each continues to be promoted. When President Bush said, “You are either on our side or the terrorists’ side,” his own federal officials who oversee these three must not have been listening. (Moskowitz’ boss, ICE Director of Investigations , reportedly told other ICE officials that she’s glad Moskowitz “smoothed things over with the Islamic community of Detroit.” That, not catching terrorists, is the priority at ICE.)
A lot has changed in 20 years since Robert Stethem gave his life in service to America. And not for the better. There is only one thing that hasn’t changed: Robert Stethem and his family deserve justice.
And they have yet to get it.
*** UPDATE:

By
Tonight, the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team going to February’s Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, will be announced. The 23 names on the team will be announced just before the Dallas Stars-Minnesota Wild game on the Outdoor Life Network.
And there are two “men” who badly want to be among those names, but shouldn’t be–Chris Chelios and . It will likely be the last shot for both, and denying them would be well-deserved karma.
It’s been over 25 years since the in the semi-finals of the Winter Olympic Games. Since there was no Olympic Games, this year, the real 25th anniversary celebration will probably take place at the February 2006 Games (there was a commemoration at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake).

Chelios & Roenick: Keep These Goons Off U.S. Olympic Squad
Chelios–who tried, but failed to make the 1980 Team–never belonged on the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. But, unfortunately, he has served as the U.S. Team’s captain in at least two Olympics. Chelios is a punk, who threatened the life of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman during the NHL strike in the mid-’90s and, as Captain of the 1998 Olympic team, broke furniture and trashed the dorms where his team was staying in Nagano.
That should have barred Chelios forever from future Olympics, but didn’t. If ever there was a good argument to return to the class-act amateur players, like the ones who won in 1980, the spoiled, ingrate (but not Gold Medalist) Chelios is it. So is his friend and co-conspirator in the dorm and furniture trashing, , who retired earlier this year.
Chelios should take a cue from Hull, and at age 43 (senior citizenship in hockey), retire. We’re tired of hearing Chelios whine and threaten. In addition to his threat on Bettman in the ’90s, Chelios attacked Bettman again during last year’s NHL lockout (which showed Bettman knew what he was doing–the players lost big), and is now attacking the new NHL Players Association leadership.
Chris Chelios doesn’t compare to guys like my friend, Mark Wells, who returned from the 1980 Olympics with a Gold Medal, but no pro hockey career. For years after, he slaved nights as a night shift manager for Ram’s Horn 24-hour Restaurants. To hear that Chelios has a chance, yet again, to dishonor what Mark and the 1980 Olympians did in Lake Placid is sad news.
Ditto for Jeremy Roenick. In June, –you know, the fans who pay his exorbitant, overvalued salary. He said fans who say NHL players are spoiled can “kiss my ass” and added, “screw you.”
How very Olympic.
Roenick said if fans don’t realize how hard Roenick and the other spoiled NHL millionaire crybabies are working to make the game of pro hockey better, “then don’t come.” This was during the NHL lockout when fans, indeed, were not coming to any games. There weren’t any because Roenick, Chelios, and company were holding out for even more millions.
Roenick told fans, “We don’t want you at the rink, we don’t want you in the stadium, we don’t want you to watch hockey. . . . Everybody out there who calls us spoiled because we play a game – they can kiss my ass. . . . I will say personally, personally, to everybody who calls us spoiled, you guys are just jealous, and screw you guys.”
Not exactly the kind of guy we need representing America.
And here’s what Roenick told the L.A. Times about his prospects on making the team: “I better be [on it]. It would be a travesty if I’m not . . . . [T]hey better hope that I don’t get a job as a commentator on NBC or it’d be ‘Go Canada’ all the way, and I don’t want that.”
This jerk doesn’t belong on Team USA or NBC.
Please, USA Hockey, don’t put these overgrown babies, Chris Chelios and Jeremy Roenick, on the next U.S. Olympic Team.

By
So TIME Magazine picked Bono as one of its three “Persons of the Year” (along with Bill & Melinda Gates), calling him a “Good Samaritan.”
Ironically, we , last week. And obviously, we think the pop-star wears no clothing (other than his expensive tinted Chanel sunglasses).
Question for TIME: How is (Sudan–whose Arab Muslim government murdered almost all Black Christians and is now murdering the Black Muslims) being a “Good Samaritan”?
Question #2 for TIME: According to Pollstar, Bono’s U2 had the top-grossing concert tour of 2005, grossing $260 million? How much of that money versus U.S. taxpayer money went to the debt and AIDS relief he wants us to fund?

TIME’s New Definition of Good Samaritan: Spends U.S. Taxpayers’ $ on Terrorists; Spends His Own $ on Hat’s 1st Class Trip
Question #3 for TIME: What about ? How many Africans could that have fed? How many AIDS tests in Africa or AIDS drugs could that have paid for?
“Good Samaritan”? Someone’s been smoking too much Mary Jane. And it’s not just Bono. It’s the editors at TIME who chose this Chanel-glasses encrusted rock-star phony.

By
The December 19th issue of The Weekly Standard cites me and this blog, for my correct prediction ( and ) that Islamic Jihad founder, leader, and terrorist, Sami Al-Arian, would walk (he was acquitted or the jury deadlocked in all counts in his now completed federal trial). As I’ve said numerous times, I wish my prediction was wrong. Here’s what the magazine wrote:

By
*** PLEASE READ UPDATE, BELOW (scroll down).****
Sources tell us that ,” a frequent subject of this site and an obstacle in the War on Terror, may soon become the head of national security for ICE, the federal law enforcement agency charged with enforcing immigration and money-laundering laws around the country.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Director of National Security Bob Shooch has been appointed to another ICE position, leaving the seat open for the Abu Moskowitz, who badly wants it. We hope that Moskowitz’s ICE superiors–who so far have allowed him to get away with numerous ethics violations, illegal use of taxpayer resources, and inappropriate relationships with extremist Muslims who should be subject to investigation by his office, not friendship–will come to their senses. If they appoint Moskowitz to this position, they–and ICE–will be even more of a laughing stock than it has already become.

OY VEY!: Terror Sympathizer Abu Moskowitz may head ICE National Security
The prospect of Moskowitz in this position, for the many reasons enumerated in great detail on this site, is frightening. Moskowitz, the ambitious but spineless, incompetent, and unethical Special Agent in Charge of ICE for Michigan and Ohio (the heart of Islamic America), has shirked his responsibility in national security matters in his current position. As we’ve detailed, Moskowitz has maintained a close relationship with “former” Islamic terrorist (who is also an FBI award revokee), , shut down investigations into Islamic charities laundering money to HAMAS and Iraqi insurgents, prohibited agents from conducting assorted investigations into Islamic illegal immigration, smuggling, and money-laundering, etc., etc., ad absurdum.
Then, there are his agents and employees, here in Michigan and Ohio. They despise him. Since he came to town, excellent, experienced agents, analysts, and other employees (both from the former INS and former Customs) have quit, retired, or transferred in droves. At least two agents left his office to become Detention and Removal officers, with one reportedly going down two pay grades–and tens of thousands of dollars–in annual salary. Moskowitz was disinvited from the retirement party of at least one agent, because Moskowitz was the reason the agent (and many other agents and employees) was retiring.
That’s what Abu Moskowitz did here. Just wait–if given the chance–’til he does it to America.
***UPDATE: 6:27 p.m., 12/17/05–We forgot to mention Abu Moskowitz’s and his and other federal officials joking around about why Hezbollah is on the State Dept. Terrorist list. They seemed not to know, implied that it should not be on the list, and laughed about it. Over 200 dead Marines and , anyone? We also note that, at the Hezbollah Mosque, MC Osama Siblani–an unabashed supporter of Hezbollah, HAMAS, and other sundry Islamic terrorist groups–said that he and the terror-supporters in the audience had “no greater friend in the federal government than Brian Muskovich [he meant Moskowitz].”
Some of you have asked for a name and address regarding this possible appointment to voice your concern. We will provide that ASAP. Stay tuned.

By
If you are smart, you will skip “The Family Stone,” a dreadful movie about a “loving,” hippie-style left-wing family fighting with their son’s mean, conservative, uptight girlfriend, played by Sarah Jessica Parker.
The pot-smoking family consists of, among others, all the politically correct elements: a swearing, way-too-sexually-open mother; a gay, deaf son and his Black boyfriend (and their Black child)–the movie not me) makes a big deal about this mixed race relationship and the race of the baby; and a film editor son who lives in Berkeley.
Painful to watch. I wish I’d walked out. Wasted time from my life never to be redeemed. This “movie” was just plain awful.

By
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has a problem. With us.
We are Canada’s #1 trading partner. 90% of all Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The failing Canadian economy–with bloated taxes (including the regressive G.S.T.), a plague-ridden socialized national health care system (the best do not become doctors there), scores of people on welfare (New Foundland, anyone?), and a province where people who pretend not to know English insist on speaking a foreign language and want to become a foreign country–can ill afford to offend potential foreign consumers.
So why is Paul Martin attacking America on the campaign trail? Because he’s desperate to get re-elected. And a lot of Canadians–who benefit greatly from a favorable business relationship with the U.S.–hate us. Yes, Paul Martin is a political prostitute, and he’s adding fuel to the fire.

Angry Canuck: Canadian PM Paul Martin Hates America
Martin is blaming America for all of Canada’s ills. From gang shootings in Toronto to global warming, anything happening in Canada is officially our fault. It might help if Canada didn’t have gun control and law-abiding Canadians were allowed to protect themselves against criminals. Martin is mad that we won’t sign the Kyoto treaty, but why should we sign an agreement that will put our great country into economic Siberia, when other countries that produce the most pollution won’t sign it? I don’t see Martin criticizing India and China in his campaign.
It’s not like we don’t have our own legitimate beefs with Canada–like why they continue to allow pseudoephedrine to be produced in his country and smuggled here, when it’s a well-known meth ingredient. Canada won’t outlaw the chemical, despite our pleas. Canada won’t allow their border guards to be armed, causing security concerns for us on this side of the border.
The country’s terrorism investigations are so lax as to be almost non-existent. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) hasn’t done much. Take Abdullah Khadr, who ran an Al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. He’s now living free in Toronto, while our own country holds his brother–who killed a U.S. Army medic in Afghanistan–where the entire Khadr family really belongs, Gitmo. The RCMP is “investigating.” Whatever.
Remember Ahmed Ressam, the “Millenium Bomber”? He was a Canadian export to the U.S. And then, there is that little problem where Canada welcomed terrorist group Hezbollah until only recently, despite years of requests by our government and many concerned Canadians, too.
What does Martin say about this? Mum’s the word.
Ironically, Martin came to power in December 2003 promising to repair relations with the United States. But he’s making things worse. With a much stronger Canadian dollar these days, Canada can ill afford to attack the nationality of the dwindling number of U.S. tourists and shoppers.
Time for Paul Martin to put up or shut up. But he won’t. Instead, he’s escalated his attacks. When U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins asked for an end to the attacks on America, Martin told him not to dictate to him and admonished him to stay out of Canadian elections.
In America, we remember our friends AND our enemies–even if they border us to the North on our own hemisphere.

By
Despite all the anti-business, anti-capitalism propaganda around, including “” (in theaters, next week), some corporations are helping military families.
Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal reports that Boeing, Trammell Crow, Sears Holdings, Dell, CVS, Concentra, Home Depot, and Sprint are among corporations that are making it a priority to help soldiers’ spouses find jobs. According to the Journal, they are “actively seeking to hrie the wives and husbands of armed-forces enlistees.” This signals an end to previous prejudices against military spouses, who were previously considered undesirable employees.
There is even a website partnership between Monster.com and the Defense Department, www.military.com/spouse.