For those few readers who still remember Pizzagate, the suspect in the only act of violence that grew out of that short-lived hysteria was sentenced to four years in prison today. Edgar Welch faced 35 years maximum for a botched vigilante raid on the Comet Pizzeria in Washington, DC. During the trial, Welch ended up pleading guilty and the general consensus of the Court seemed to be that he was nothing but a dupe; hence the judge issued the mandatory minimum sentence and a near $6,000 fine to pay for damages to the pizzeria. So Welch fades into history---a sadder but wiser man.
Pizzagate was really one of the strangest Conspiracy Theories that ever gripped the Prozac Nation. The theory alleged that high-profile members of the Deep State were operating a child sex-trafficking ring out of the Comet Pizzeria in Washington, DC. This was based on some e-mails released by Wiki Leaks which referenced DNC staffers ordering pizza. Pizzagate proponents bypassed several actually incriminating e-mails to imagine that these e-mails were coded messages related to sex trafficking.
As we noted at the time, it's actually not that uncommon for political campaigns to communicate in codes---especially when dealing with campaign strategies or dealing with false allegations. Given the number of insider leaks, it's actually a prudent policy. It's something that's always gone on in American politics; one can find among Thomas Jefferson's letters coded campaign messages. There's even a decoding machine which Jefferson himself invented on display at Monticello.
That aside, Pizzagate was remarkable for having not one piece of tangible evidence to support it. Unlike other Conspiracy Theories, there was never anything like video footage, recorded tapes, eyewitness testimony---nothing beyond speculation. The theory that holds Sandy Hook as a hoax has ex-law enforcement and criminologists who question the official narrative, Pizzagate never even had that.
In fact, common sense alone would tell one that the Comet Pizzeria would be one of the worst possible locations for a large-scale criminal enterprise---especially one involved in human trafficking. President Obama used to eat there and the FBI Headquarters are less than 10 miles away. We're talking about a restaurant that was likely frequented by police, military, security, and intelligence operatives on a daily basis. When Welch attacked the Comet Pizzeria, the entire block was surrounded by police in less than five minutes.
Welch's actions led to the ongoing national debate about censoring so-called 'fake news'. Theories like Pizzagate themselves aren't especially dangerous; the problem is that they are fanned by people with national platforms who intentionally are trolling to incite actual violence and harm to others. What Welch's case really shows us is that the demagogues and trolls aren't the ones who get punished for acting on their advice. Their tools are the ones who end up dead or in prison while the demagogues sell books and go on radio shows and rake in the loot.
Don't be an Edgar Welch. Question what you hear and don't be afraid to discuss it; but don't go shooting up pizza parlors for no reason. If there's any truth to these stories, there are legal venues for addressing them.
Johnny Depp, another of what passes for talent in Hollywood these days, carried off a successful publicity stunt in Glastonbury, England yesterday by joking about assassinating President Trump. This comes while Congressman Steve Scalise is still in the hospital after another Left-Wing Anarchist attempted to mass-murder the GOP leadership only a few days ago.
While peddling a 13 year-old film of his in Glastonbury, Depp guffawed "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president? I want to qualify that I am not an actor. I lie for a living. However it has been awhile and maybe it is time."
Now it is true that Depp has no acting talent and is a pathological liar; but the bobble-headed Liberal audience didn't applaud his confession but burst into peals of laughter at the thought of Depp as the new Wilkes Booth. The fact that Booth defended an undemocratic government of slaveholders whose monuments and flags are being removed by Liberals like Depp never occurred to them. Instead, they believe that President Trump deserves to die; because he is a wealthy white male with 'offensive' attitudes about women. Unlike Depp, of course: a white male with a quarter-billion dollar net worth who is also a known wife-beater.
In spite of the relative Corporate Media blackout of the assassination attempt, the Left is becoming less and less able to conceal their disappointment that the attempt failed. At least three prominent commentators have practically said so. A theatre troupe refused to cancel an assassination-themed play and the DNC chief of New Jersey has launched a 'Hunt Republicans' campaign which is clearly trolling for violent action. Leftist hatred for Trump has reached such a level of blind irrationality that it is bordering upon actual mental illness. Normal, well-adjusted human beings simply don't fantasize obsessively about murdering heads of state for ill-defined reasons.
The issue with people like this is reflected in Depp's statement: "I lie for a living." The Left holds power by lying and hypocrisy and they bitterly resent Trump's popularity because it is based on Trump's genuineness. The President simply is what he is; a flawed human being like all of us, but he doesn't pretend to be what he is not. The Left rarely ever succeeds by doing anything honestly; therefore they envy those who do.
Johnny Depp is a case in point. During Hollywood's 'Golden Age', he probably never would have been more than a supporting actor or stunt double in B-Studio productions. Or a part-time bouncer on Skid Row bars. Deep inside, he knows that he is nothing but a fake and fears that the public will realize it. That's why people like Trump who aren't fakes are such a psychological threat to Leftist egos. They are aware of the comparison and fear that others will see it too.
UNESCO, the UN body which oversees global historical and cultural landmarks confirmed today that the historic Al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq had been completely destroyed. Allied forces were converging on ISIS positions near the Mosque when the edifice exploded. ISIS officials claimed that the Mosque was bombed by the USAF, which the Pentagon denied.
Iraqi Lt. General Abdul Yarallah reported from the Front that Iraqi regulars and auxiliaries of an Iraqi Christian Militia were about 60 yards from the ISIS perimeter when the explosion occurred and that no aircraft were present. Video footage also shows tthat the explosions took place at ground level. It's fairly obvious that ISIS destroyed the shrine intentionally.
ISIS' actions here should put to rest the argument that's spread about by Western pundits that the Jihadists represent 'real Islam'. The Wahhabi and Salafist sects that preach this doctrine are regarded as cults by both Shiite and Sunni leaders. This isn't even the first instance of ISIS desecrating buildings or other artifacts considered sacred by Moslems. Iraqi sappers have found and displayed copies of the Koran which were rigged with booby-traps designed to kill unsuspecting worshippers. The destruction of the Mosque also occurred during the Islamic holy season of Ramadan.
When Syrian President Assad offered an amnesty last year, several ISIS soldiers deserted to the Syrian Army. The stories these men told were familiar to those of us in Western countries who've dealt with cults and extremist groups. The ex-soldiers stated that they were recruited by the Jihadists with promises of becoming a hero and warrior in the cause of saving Islam; only to find that they were being used by their leaders who were mostly a gang of criminals, cowards, and perverts. Some who'd served behind the ISIS lines recounted that the ISIS commanders privately sneered at traditional Islam and freely engaged in the most impious acts. Some pointed out that ISIS leaders regularly had drunken orgies with female (and sometimes young male) prisoners whom they raped; and to escape detection, these officers committed these acts inside of Mosques. One soldier stated that he denounced some of these offenses to his superior and was threatened with punishment unless he kept quiet. The cultish patterns displayed here are quite evident.
The Al-Nuri Mosque was constructed in 1172 and was famous for its leaning minaret.
Local superstition held that the angel of the Prophet Mohammad once hovered over the minaret and the structure bowed to him, causing it to lean permanently. The above photograph is from 1932, the year when Iraq gained its independence and became a popular tourist destination. Thanks to ISIS, the scene now looks like this:
Such is the sort of 'progress' which fanaticism and extremism produces in any culture.
There are some positive signs on the horizon that Conservative and Christians are finally beginning to address the growing problem of sociopolitical radicalization of Western youth. Shortly after the monumental decision by the Southern Baptist Convention to disavow the Red Pill/Alt-Right as an anti-Christian cult; the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a resolution for the upcoming Synod on Youth.
The US Bishops agreed that the most important problem facing American youth is Alienation. Cardinal Tobin of the Newark Archdiocese stated that "the clearly increasing numbers of disconnected Millennials is certainly a concern for us, as is the decline and delay of traditional marriage among the young."
"Many young people are struggling with Racism prevalent in society," Bishop Soto added in a statement to the press, "They feel angry and disconnected from the political process. The Church needs to consider how to engage these disaffected youth who feel disowned by traditional institutions."
Bishop Soto is from Sacramento and has no doubt witnessed the results of this alienation first-hand. North-Central California has been the scene of some of the most violent politically-motivated demonstrations executed by elements of both the Far Left and the Alt-Right. Last year in Sacramento, an riot over the 2016 Elections between Antifa and Nazi Skinheads resulted in seven people being stabbed on the steps of the State Capitol.
Bishop Barron of Los Angeles---another hotbed of youth violence---stated that the Church's Message seemed 'opaque' to many youth, who are susceptible to the wiles of radical sophistry. The Bishop proposed a 'new apologetics' that connects the Truth of Faith with science as a way of clearing intellectual confusion. As we are all well aware, pseudoscience is a huge recruiting tool for radicals: Marxist socioeconomic theories and the Red Pill Movement being outstanding examples.
"The Church cannot, nor does she wish to, abandon young people to the isolation and exclusion to which the world exposes them." Archbishop Chaput wrote. And again, as we've noted, radicals prey on those who feel isolated and excluded. The central issue therefore is to devise a way to appeal to youth by involving them in a greater purpose. Many of the Bishops noted that a hopeful sign among young people is a thirst for greater spiritual connection; particularly through what the Church terms, the Divine Mysteries.
Dr. John Cavadini, a theology professor at Notre Dame, praised the Bishop's Resolution and offered that encouraging the young to reflect on the Sacraments and Mysteries bring them closer to Christ through cultivating spiritual discernment.
"Meditating on the Mystery of the Church is not thinking about it as a charter or a constitution of some club. Rather, it is about meditating on the Wounds of Christ from which His Most Precious Blood flowed, which is the real birth of the Church. Meditating on one's dwelling within, or even near, the Wounds of Christ brings about an intimacy of Love to which one's only response can be thankfulness to God.
"The one who loves the Church loves the Love Who had no contempt for anybody human, but did not spare Himself. He didn't back away from that solidarity, even when the penalty was death. Rather, He received the blow and so transfigured the whole of human solidarity from solidarity in sin to solidarity in His Love. The Church is the Sacrament of that solidarity in the world; a solidarity which the world cannot give itself, which does not come from the world, yet is for the world."
Cavadini is correct; and therein lies the power of the Church---its ability to unite in love rather than divide in hate, as the extremists wish to do. The Left may sneer at the Church as 'an opiate' and the Right may sneer that the Church is 'cucked'; the fact is that neither can bring solidarity or contribute to human progress because their premises never rise higher than the immediate, material world. Consequently, neither does their morality; thus the extremists on both sides have to keep their followers embroiled in a perpetual state of anger and fear to motivate them. For example, one Red Pill blogger today proclaimed that the SBC resolution would "lead to dead Conservatives" while yesterday a Left-Wing blogger announced that Trump's policies "were tantamount to Genocide." It's obvious that people like these have no interest in peace.
The Synod is scheduled for 2018 in Vatican City.
Military engineers today began the long-awaited project to construct the nearly 1,500 mile high-security border fence, officials confirmed. The project will be undertaken in two separate phases: the mountainous terrain will be constructed first, finishing up at the plain along the river.
A spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers stated that the new border fence is equipped with sensors with military outposts at intervals enabling Security Forces to respond quickly to illegal entry. Despite protests against the project, the spokesman stated that the Fence is necessary to control infiltrations of terrorists, criminal gangs, and narcotics traffic. It is projected that the fence will be completed sometime during 2018.
This isn't fake news; but before American readers get their hopes up, we aren't talking about the US-Mexico Border. The Fence is being constructed by the Pakistani Government along their border with Afghanistan. But there is the point.
RINOs in the Congress and the Administration claim that a 1,900-mile security fence would be too expensive to construct on our Southern Border. What do we suppose that Pakistan's budget is for a fence only 400 miles shorter?
These same RINOs also claim that surveillance of such a border would be impossible. What is Pakistan's surveillance capabilities relative to the United States?
The Whacko Left claims that a security fence is racist against Moslems. So why does a country of over 150,000,000 Moslems believe that vetting other Moslems is necessary?
Food for thought on a Wednesday Morning...
Keith Barry, a former commander of the Navy SEALs, was released from prison this week after a signed confession from a former admiral re-opened the investigation into his case. Barry was given a Dishonorable Discharge and sentenced to three years in prison in 2014 on a sexual assault charge.
The San Diego Tribune reported that former Rear-Admiral Patrick Lorge, the presiding officer at Barry's trial, presented a signed confession to Barry's lawyers admitting that he believed Barry to be innocent and the Court-Martial conviction was obtained under pressure from Obama Administration officials. Lorge names former Judge Advocate General Nanette DeRenzi and the current JAG Commander, Vice-Admiral James Crawford as those responsible for tampering with the Court-Martial. Both were Obama appointees.
According to Lorge's Affidavit, then 'Vice-Admiral' DeRenzi told him that "sexual assault convictions were needed under pressure from Congress and President Obama." Lorge further stated that DeRenzi "stressed that every few months military commanders were making decisions in sexual assault cases which were openly being questioned by members of the Congress and the President...and just how tenuous a commander's position in such cases was."
Vice-Admiral Crawford, then Deputy JAG, told Lorge that Barry's acquittal "would mean the end of Lorge's career."
Since Lorge's confession was made public, another former Naval Officer who served on Barry's Court-Martial submitted a formal Testimony corroborating Lorge's statements.
Nanette DeRenzi retired from the Navy in 2015 and now works for Jefferson Solutions, a government contractor. Crawford was appointed by Obama to succeed her as Judge Advocate General, and still holds that post. Though Defense Secretary Mattis worked for the Department of the Navy and must be aware of these things, he has taken no steps whatsoever to remove Admiral Crawford nor to punish him in any way.
According to the Testimony, Lorge decided to come forward as an act of conscience and admitted his own guilt.
"I would ask you all to forgive my failure in leadership and right the wrong that I committed against Senior Chief Barry" he stated to the press, "We must now allow Justice to prevail and declare this man innocent."
Barry is the second innocent serviceman in the last month freed from prison after Pentagon misconduct was exposed. In light of these two cases, a full investigation ought to be opened into politically-motivated courts-martial during the Obama Administration. But this is unlikely as long as James Mattis---who was, and still is, part of that system controls the levers of power.
After months of talk and little action, President Putin has finally stood up to the Pentagon Deep State for its crimes against the people of Syria. The Allies have declared a de facto no-fly zone in Syria west of the Euphrates River and cut military co-operation with the treacherous Coalition.
According to a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense, "any flying objects of the Coalition including manned or unmanned aerial vehicles discovered west of the Euphrates River will be followed by Russian ground and air forces as hostile targets."
Russia's actions comes after a cowardly and intentional attack on a Syrian fighter-bomber by a US F-18 outside of Raqqa this weekend; the fifth savage attack on Syrian regulars and the fourth since President Trump took office. However, Trump has clearly lost control of the Deep State Obama/Clinton satraps in the Pentagon. Putin---as he has always done---is resisting the aggressor and doing what American leadership is unable or unwilling to do.
The two greatest threats to Civilization at this point in history are the Jihadi Cult and Western Cultural Marxism. Russia has recognized the need to fight the first; and that it is time to fight the second as well. Under Putin's leadership, the anti-Jihad Alliance came into being; as did unprecedented humanitarian aid to countries suffering under the economic jackboot of heartless Western Liberals. Putin rescued the people of Crimea, Donbas, Ossetia, Chechnya, and now Syria from seeing their countries exploited and ruined---or turned into Beltway/Wall Street vassalages. It's to be hoped that the no-fly zone will soon be implemented over the rest of sovereign Syria as well.
The arrogant Pentagon is pretending not to be intimidated; but their confederates in Australia have already fled back to the safety of Down Under.
In a related bit of good news, after two days as an MIA, Syrian commandoes rescued the pilot of the downed plane, unharmed, after a daring mission behind ISIS lines. Capt. Ali Fahd is reportedly recovering and reunited with his family.
