Project Veritas, Progressive Academia, and Our National Security

James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas has unveiled a new shocking video. Officials from Barry University in Florida, a private and Catholic institution founded in 1940, appear more than willing to approve the inception of a campus club that would raise money to support ISIS, the very terrorists who are killing indiscriminately Muslims, Christians, and gays in Iraq, taking over regions that were formerly freed by our American soldiers.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3017455/Barry-University-officials-approve-club-raising-money-ISIS-video.html#ixzz3VtVglW1o

According to the Vice President for Student Affairs, as quoted by the Daily Mail Online, “Barry University would not approve any group supporting a terrorist organization.” But other universities have revealed in previously released videos that they have no problem with ISIS and Hamas being on their campus.

This video contradicts our National Security Strategy which was released in February 2015 from the executive office. It addressed security, prosperity, values, and international order. One of the important issues in the report involves “combating the persistent threat of terrorism.” Yet colleges are sanctioning and willing to support terrorist groups.

“This new National Security Strategy positions the United States to safeguard our national interests through strong and sustainable leadership.” Apparently, this strong and sustainable leadership, in partnership with Congress, has “helped the world recover from a global economic crisis and respond to an array of emerging challenges.”

One such challenge is the “potential proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons,” posing a great risk. I do hope Iran got the message that they must stop in their tracks any non-peaceful nuclear arming.

Because we are a “global force for good,” we must “lead with a purpose,” in line with the 2010 National Security Strategy:

-          Secure the U.S, its citizens, and U.S. allies and partners;

-          Grow the U.S. economy in an “open international economic system;”

-          Respect “universal values at home and around the world;”

-          International order based on rules “advanced by U.S. leadership,” promoting “peace, security, and opportunity through stronger cooperation to meet global challenges.”

What are the top risks to our interests?

-          “Catastrophic attack on the U.S. homeland or critical infrastructure

-          Threats or attacks against U.S. citizens abroad and our allies;

-          Global economic crisis or widespread economic slowdown;

-          Proliferation and/or use of weapons of mass destruction;

-          Severe global infectious disease outbreaks;

-          Climate change; (Who knew suddenly climate changing from season to season could be

           such a threat!)

-          Major energy market disruptions; (Maybe closing so many coal-fired power plants may not have been such a good idea)

-          Significant security consequences associated with weak or falling states (including mass atrocities, regional spillover, and transnational organized crime).” 

The Arab Winter comes to mind under this rubric and the drug cartel members coming unimpeded through our porous southern borders.

According to this report, America must lead “with strength,” “by example,” “with capable partners,” “with all the instruments of U.S. power,” and “with a long-term perspective.”

Since the last National Security Strategy in 2010, five recent transitions have been identified as significantly changing our security landscape, the academic progressivism not withstanding:

1.      “Power among states is more dynamic,” i.e., India’s potential, China’s rise, Russia’s aggression, impacting “the future of major power relations.”

2.      “Power is shifting below and beyond the nation-state.” Weak governments or authoritarian regimes have to deal with technology, growing middle class, and unruly “youth as a majority in many societies.”

3.      “Increasing interdependence of the global economy,” creating vulnerability through interconnected systems and sectors “susceptible to the threats of climate change, malicious cyber activity, pandemic diseases, and transnational terrorism and crime.”

4.      “Struggle for power among and within many states in the Middle East and North Africa.” The report points out “religious extremists” and “rulers that reject democratic reforms, exploit their economies, and crush civil society.”

5.      “Global energy market has changed dramatically.” Apparently we are now “the world’s largest natural gas and oil producer” and “we are leading a new clean energy economy.” I am not sure if this clean energy can yet supply our large economy and keep our factories running, our lights on, our heat on, and the A/C constantly powered. The report points out that our energy security has been worsened by the “European dependence on Russian natural gas and the willingness of Russia to use energy for political ends.”

In the meantime, can someone tell the U.S. academia that supporting terrorists such as ISIS or Hamas on their campuses and financing their mayhem goes against our national security strategy and interests?

Copyright: Ileana Johnson 2015

Brigitte Gabriel Explains Islamic Jihad

Warriors for freedom: Judge Jeanine Pirro and  Brigitte Gabriel
Photo: Ileana Johnson 2014

Brigitte Gabriel, founder and CEO of ACT for America, opened their annual conference in Washington, D.C. on September 10, 2014, with a rousing speech and a five minute lesson on Islam.

The ACT for America conference was held around September 11 in order to remind our government that they work for the American people and have a duty to protect them from Islamic terrorism. The conference also educated members of Congress about the threat of Islam and honored chapter leaders from various states for the incredible amount of work that they do as soldiers on the ground.

“ACT for America is non-profit, non-partisan, and the nations’ largest grassroots organization devoted to promoting national security and defeating terrorism. ACT for America has 280,000 members organized in more than 890 chapters nationwide and 11 countries worldwide.”  The goals of ACT for America are confronting terrorism, preserving the U. S. Constitution, securing the border, energy independence, empowering women – protecting children, and supporting Israel. http://www.actforamerica.org/

Brigitte Gabriel spoke at the Global Anti-Semitism Summit at the United Nations in New York City on September 9, 2014. She addressed the 500 people in attendance with passion and conviction, in defense of Jews worldwide and against the evil of anti-Semitism. She proudly wore a Star of David necklace given to her by the husband of a woman who passed away. She considered Brigitte the champion of freedom from terrorism.

Brigitte described the demonization by the MSM that Jews have committed genocide against the Palestinians, yet the Palestinian population has increased more than 600% since 1948. “Israel must be the most incompetent mass murder in the history of the world,” she said.

She spoke about the double standard Israel is subjected to every day. It is held to a standard that no other country in the world is held. Human rights are respected in Israel, yet the Human Rights Commission at the United Nations spends most of its time investigating and condemning Israel while they gloss over and ignore the continued human rights violations in Iran, Cuba, China, North Korea, and many other brutal and repressive regimes. 

Why is it that the Jewish people do not have the right to exist as a state? Why are the Jewish people denied their history and connection to their land dating back 5775 years?  It is anti-Semitism and morally repugnant, she said. Israel has the fundamental right of self-preservation.

Hamas has been waging war on Israel for decades. It is the same war that ISIS wages now against the world. The difference is focus, Gabriel said. ISIS wants a worldwide Caliphate and “They commit genocide in the name of Allah.”

“ISIS is persecuting members of every community they encounter; ISIS is slaughtering Syrians, Lebanese, Christians, Sunnis, Alawites, Kurds, and Yazidis, terrorizing anyone who does not submit to their version of Islam.”

Hamas rejoiced at the death of Israeli children while they glorified the death of their own children. They love death more than they love their own children. “They use them as human shields, wrapping them in nails and strapping bombs on them to detonate in crowded Jewish neighborhoods and shopping centers. They used my own family as human shields by firing rocket propelled grenades from above our shelter, leaving the area quickly and abandoning us to the devastation of return fire.”

Dr. Michael Savage said in his September 15, 2014 broadcast, “If a religion preaches death, dying, and destruction, it is not a religion, it is a death cult.”

Hamas uses schools, mosques, and other civilian locations to fire rockets at Israel. Jews don’t hide behind civilians, they defend themselves. They learned from history that if someone wants to kill them, they mean it. They are now armed and ready to fight for western civilization, for the all of us. “Those who seek the extermination of the Jews are not going to stop with the Jews. That should have been the lesson of the Holocaust,” said Gabriel.

Islamic terrorism has turned the entire world into their target. “Evil dwells where courageous men become bystanders, when the informed become silent.  ACT for America stands up and defends the Jewish people. Make sure that people of all faiths can live in peace and harmony and that Jews are never persecuted again.”

Gabriel explained that terrorist organizations, whether they call themselves ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Boko Haram, or the Muslim Brotherhood, operate from the same doctrine and ideology.  And the beheadings and killings of Christians and journalists do not indicate that they want to “coexist.”

Expressing her concern over ISIS finding well trained recruits and suicide bombers with lightning speed, she brought up the very real possibility that these operatives have already arrived into our country through our porous southern border, and could walk into a mall and shut down our economy with a small operation of suicide bombers.

Giving the listeners a five minute history of Islam, she explained why “They are not the extreme version of Islam.” They did not change recently from an ideology to a violent ideology, it happened long time ago.

According to Brigitte Gabriel, Prophet Muhammad tried to preach and recruit followers in his city, Mecca, for 12 years and failed. People did not want to follow him. He then went to Medina, a Jewish hub at the time, to preach his message. If they would accept him, his own people would accept him.  In order to preach to the Jews, Muhammad incorporated a lot of the Old Testament into his preaching such as praying two times a day, not eating pork, fasting for Ramadan like the Jews do for Yom Kippur, washing hands before prayers, etc. But the Jews of Medina refused to accept him. That became the turning point into militarism, attacking Jews, killing them, or expelling them from their city. At this point, she said, “Islam changed from a strictly spiritual movement to a military/political movement clothed in religion.”

“The Muslims base their annual calendar not on the day when Muhammad received his revelation from the Angel Gabriel but on the day when Muhammad became a military warrior, twelve years later in Medina. That is when the official Islamic calendar began.”

Prophet Muhammad called the Jews “dhimmis,” second class citizens, who stayed alive by either paying the “jizya,” the protection tax, or by converting to Islam. Jews had to wear a necklace to prove that they paid “jizya.” 

Jews and Christians were not allowed to pray publicly or ring their church bells, or to build churches and synagogues. Jews were called “Negis” under Islam. An explanation of “Negis” (loathing, impure) is included here. http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2010/halal-haram-and-negis/

The second Caliph of Iraq invented the yellow star of the Jews in the 9^th century. Jews were required to walk down the street on the opposite side of the Muslims. The yellow star of the Jews was not a Nazi invention, said Brigitte Gabriel; it was a Muslim invention which the Nazis borrowed 1,000 years later. Christians were forced to wear a belt, the “zunar.”

Gabriel ended her history lesson reminding the audience that the Crusades were launched to liberate Jerusalem. “After 300 years the Crusaders failed and dissipated because they could not defeat Islam. Islam spread to India, China, and central Europe. By 1600, Islam covered more surface than the Roman Empire did at its peak.”

Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) abolished the Islamic Empire (Ottoman Sultanate) in 1922 after a rule of 1400 years. “This is why the Muslims want to rebuild the Caliphate. Most people do not understand that this is what drives ISIS. If ISIS disappears today, another organization will spring up to rebuild the Caliphate. This is what drives our Islamist enemies.” Islamists are not builders and peaceful “coexisters,” they dedicate their lives to the destruction of our civilization. The peaceful majority of Islam is irrelevant.