Frank Salvato

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Democracy Without Liberty Is Just Authority

January 8, 2008 by

-By Frank Salvato

Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is probably one of the most serious events that has happened since the attacks of September 11, 2001. She represented a move toward a Pakistan governed by political process and away from government by military rule. Truth be told, the only true stabilizing force in Pakistan is its military. It is for this reason that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was so reluctant to relinquish his military commission, a move he made in deference to his exclusively civilian role. To be sure, Bhutto was no angel but she was certainly a more attractive choice in an unattractive field.

We Americans have an extremely bad habit of looking at other nations and foreign cultures through a uniquely American understanding. We see a Pakistani military and comprehend it using the knowledge we have of our own military. We know our military to be separate from our political structure where it comes to government. We realize that the US military is extremely well disciplined and trained to a superior level. We have come to accept that when our armed forces are tasked with a mission – and when we are bright enough to keep politicians from interfering with that mission – the US military can be counted on to be successful 100% of the time. This, although a truth for the United States military, cannot be said for all militaries around the world.

In Pakistan the military is embedded into the governmental process. It has been this way ever since the country’s creation in the independence of India from Britain. While there have been democratically elected leaders in Pakistan there have also been military coups. Pervez Musharraf was brought to power by military coup and has, since, tried to walk a fine line between military rule and political rule.
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Assassinating the Democratic Process

January 2, 2008 by

-By Frank Salvato

The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto presents a cadre of possibilities for the future of Pakistan, the South Asian and Middle Eastern regions and the world. One positive result from this barbaric event would be that her supporters in the Pakistan People’s Party would press forward in a more concerted and immediate effort to bring the democratic process to fruition in the wake of her murder, thus advancing the very principles for which she was killed. But, with iniquitous forces holding considerable influence – both inside Pakistan’s government and out – the prospects for any positive outcome to this tragedy are minuscule. With the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan has become the epicenter in the global war against Islamofascist aggression.

That Pakistan is a volatile and politically complex country is an understatement. Ever since its creation in an Indian move to independence from Britain in 1947, Pakistan has struggled with its political identity while trying to lend credence to the claim of being the home of South Asian Muslims. The osmotic migration of Muslims to Pakistan and Hindus to India served to create the Kashmiri conflict. With the USSR’s Cold War intervention in Afghanistan, Pakistan saw an influx of thousands of mujahedeen who used Pakistan as a launch point for their jihad against the Soviets. With the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan many of the jihadi staging and training locations in Pakistan became more permanent and those who were drawn to jihad by the fascist rhetoric of radical Islam turned their attention toward Bosnia, Chechnya, Indonesia and the infidels of the West.

Today there are both pro-democracy and pro-Islamist factions existing throughout every aspect of Pakistani society, including its government and military structures. Because Pakistan, in its creation, was to serve as a homeland for India’s Muslim population the cohesive force behind Pakistani society is Islam. But while Pakistan’s military leaders, in their quest for power and control, adopted Islamic ideology in its attempt to seek legitimacy in their rule, the seeds of democracy were sown into the political ideology of Pakistanis early on. This ideological and political dichotomy exists today.
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A Standing Army for the United Nations

January 1, 2008 by

-By Frank Salvato

There are many disturbing issues to contemplate in the world. From the dangers of aggressive Islamofascism to the pomposity and arrogance of the American elected class (and those vying to be included) the world stands witness to myriad threats and power grabs. But two power grabs opens the door for the United Nations to both amass sovereign rights and to fund and assemble a military force under its own banner.

That the United Nations is a corrupt and ineffective institution is an understatement. The list of illegal activities and instances of institutionalized bigotry are so numerable that they weave a tapestry of embarrassment that would incite any governmental body with integrity to disband. Truth be told, they can‚t even agree on a definition for “terrorism.” As they say, absolute power corrupts, absolutely.

An example of the UN‚s corrupt leadership can be seen in the Oil-for-Food scandal, one of the larger blemishes on the face of the organization. Alas, it is a blemish that the secular-progressive press failed to expose in detail. You see, a few corrupt world leaders ˆ we‚ll cite Jacque Chirac as a prime example ˆ were utilizing their seats on the UN Security Council to hold the United States and aligned coalition countries at bay while they violated the resolutions put in place by that very organization. Their actions defrauded the Oil-for-Food program of millions if not billions of dollars and enriched Saddam Hussein in the process.
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Why Is There No Honest Discourse About Terrorism’s Roots?

December 19, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

We hear a lot about the subject of terrorism today. This has been the case for mainstream America – and the world – since the horrific attacks of September 11th, 2001. Each night on the news, as if by the networks’ design, there are the obligatory stories about a car bombing or a suicide attack, perhaps a fifteen second shot of the aftermath, a condescending, concerned look from the anchor and then a commercial. “We’ll be right back with another story about Britney Spears’ crotch, right after this!” That the single biggest threat to our nation has become B-Roll news program filler should disgust each and every one of us. Then, each and every one of us is to blame that it has come to this.

Try to think back to the last time you saw the images of September 11th on television or in the mainstream media newspapers and magazines? Chances are it was either directly after the attacks or during a memorial segment commemorating the anniversary of those attacks. The truth is that the mainstream media removed the images of September 11th from our sight – the images of death and destruction, the murder of thousands of innocents, the people who chose to leap to their deaths rather than burn alive – because they deemed the images “too disturbing” for us to see.

Try to remember the last time you heard an ingenuous, learned, intelligent discussion about the root causes of Islamist terrorism on a news program or a news issues television show. Most likely it was directly after 9/11. The overwhelming majority of inspection done on the issue today centers on the treatment – or perceived mistreatment – of radical Islamofascists caught on the field of battle or those who were apprehended for being implicated in plots to slaughter innocents both here in the United States and abroad. Then, of course, we have the pseudo-intellectual network talking heads and anti-war zealots who insist that it is the radical Islamist, caught with AK-47 in hand, who is the victim of the oppression that America has to offer. It couldn’t possibly that the person pulling the trigger or detonating the suicide vest is to blame. America’s foreign policy “made them do it.”
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Talker Roger Hedgecock To Emcee Terror Symposium

December 18, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Roger Hedgecock of KOGO in San Diego has signed on to emcee the third in a national symposium series produced by Basics Project and America’s Truth Forum exploring the threat of radical Islam, Exposing the Threat of Islamist Terrorism, February 1 & 2, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.

From his days as a powerful San Diego elected political leader to his 14 years as host of “The Roger Hedgecock Community Forum,” Mr. Hedgecock has reached out to influence millions of Americans nationwide with his message of citizen empowerment. Mr. Hedgecock has guest hosted the number one ranked Rush Limbaugh radio program. He can be heard on his own nationally syndicated radio program on his flagship station AM600 KOGO, in San Diego, CA .

We are thrilled that Mr. Hedgecock has not only agreed to emcee this critical event but has dedicated a significant portion of his professional attention to the issue of our event, the threat of radical Islamist terrorism.

Scheduled to speak:
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So, What’s The Big Deal About Religion in ’08?

December 11, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

We have come to a point in the 2008 presidential election cycle where both political parties’ candidates are fielding questions about religion. While religion is a personal issue for an overwhelming majority of Americans, religion in government has been frowned upon ever since the ACLU took an active roll in purging it from the “public square.” So, it would seem at odds with the dogma of the Secular Progressive Left that religion should be an election issue at all. Yet each candidate has had to answer questions about their faith, with Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney being literally scrutinized on the issue.

If we are to believe there actually exists a “separation of church and state,” a notion that exists nowhere in the Charters of Freedom (The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and The Bill of Rights, our Founding Documents) then the issue of religion should be out of bounds when Americans publicly debate the strengths and weaknesses of candidates for elected office. If we are to believe this incorrect interpretation of the Constitution, then religion should be a private matter, exclusive to the individual.

Why then is the issue of the candidates’ religions receiving so much attention from the secular mainstream news media? What does it matter if Mitt Romney is a Mormon or that Mike Huckabee is Evangelical?

The logical answer to these questions is that the Secular Progressive Left – and especially the agenda-driven, “in-the-pocket,” secular mainstream media – is trying to scare the American people into believing that if a man of faith is elected to office he will defer to the tenets of his religion over his constitutionally mandated duty to administer and follow the laws of the land. They are trying to frighten the American people into adhering to the politically correct secular ideology of purging all religion from the “public square.”
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Henry Hyde: A True Statesman and a Constitutional Steward

November 29, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” – Congressional Oath of Office

One of the greatest responsibilities bestowed upon elected officials is that of constitutional stewardship. While each elected official has a duty to represent his constituents in a faithful manner, each swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution. We, the citizens of this Republic, through democratic elections, entrust this responsibility to those we elect and expect them to abide by the tenets mandated by the Constitution and to honor their oath to preserve it for future generations. Few have executed that oath more fully than Congressman Henry J. Hyde of Illinois.

Politics in the United States circa 2000 has evolved into what can be legitimately described as a cauldron of special interest narcissism. More often than not, those elected to office are more committed to their political parties and personal political well-being than they are to faithfully representing their constituencies. Because of this manipulation, the massaging of the truth – political spinning – has become acceptable; it has become status quo. While every elected official condemns the manipulation of truth in the political arena very few actually disassociate themselves from the practice. Where, it is said, there is honor among thieves, it would seem that there is little, if any, among America’s political class.

It was for his refusal to compromise neither his oath of office nor the trust of his constituents that Henry Hyde stood out amongst his counterparts in Congress. I can say this because Mr. Hyde served as my congressman for many years and I am proud to have voted for him.

Professionally, his door was always open to his constituents, his attention toward their concerns genuine in nature. Where most politicians view their constituents as entities to “handle,” Mr. Hyde served his constituents as a realist, helping when he could and explaining the intricacies of tough situations and providing guidance and assistance when he couldn’t effect the desired outcome regarding their concerns.
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Multiculturalism Exposes the US to Terrorism

November 27, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

The people of the United States, for all practical purposes, like to believe we are fair-minded. We believe that everyone should get a fair shot. Most of us believe that if you work hard you should get ahead. Many of us have even embraced the ever advancing multiculturalism counter-culture, which is completely antithetical to the concept of E Pluribus Unum; “Out of many, one.” With regard to the latter, vindication has come to those of us who believe we are fair-minded while being opposed to the “Balkanization” the United States.

It would seem that in our nation’s quest to prove to the world that we are inclusive and tolerant we have, literally, allowed those who want to kill us into some of the most sensitive areas of our government, areas where they put our national security at risk.

In two recent and separate instances, individuals linked to terrorism organizations have been allowed to rise to important positions within the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition the Inspector General for the United States Agency for International Development has issued a report that states:

“…policies, procedures, and controls are not adequate to reasonably ensure against providing assistance to terrorists…[ USAID’s] policies or procedures do not require the vetting of potential or current USAID partners.”

The USAID internal audit came in the aftermath of a fierce gunbattle between Hamas and al Fatah terrorists at the Hamas administrated Islamic University in Gaza. After the battle, large caches of weapons and ammunition were displayed, recovered from inside the university. The Islamic University in Gaza received more than $140,000 in funding from USAID. Hamas is a State Department designated terrorist organization.

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Al Taqiyya: The Islamist Terrorist Weapon of Deception

November 23, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Western civilization’s delinquent knowledge of the Islamic faith leaves us naïve to many of its tenets. Many among us would be hard pressed to explain the differences between the Sunni and the Shi’ite, let alone the reasons why they have remained in conflict for almost the entire existence of the Islamic faith. This delinquency in understanding Islamic culture and doctrine makes those they consider non-believers – or kafirs – vulnerable both individually and collectively. This is especially true when we examine the Islamic concept of taqiyya.

Taqiyya is defined literally as:

“Concealing or disguising one’s beliefs, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions, and/or strategies at a time of eminent danger, whether now or later in time, to save oneself from physical and/or mental injury.”

In essence, taqiyya can be generally defined as the legitimization of deception in times of danger.

Taqiyya is alluded to in the following Quranic verse:

“Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, (they) shall have no relation left with Allah except by way of precaution (“tat-taqooh”), that ye may guard yourselves (“tooqatan”) from them…” [3:28]”

In his book, al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi al-Tafsir al-Ma’athor, Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti conveys these words by one of Sunni Islam’s most respected voices, Ibn Abbas:

“al-Taqiyya is with the tongue only; he who has been coerced into saying that which angers Allah (SWT), and his heart is comfortable (i.e., his true faith has not been shaken), then (saying that which he has been coerced to say) will not harm him (at all); (because) al-Taqiyya is with the tongue only, (not the heart).”

In most every reference to taqiyya in Islam it is held that there are only a very few times when it is permissible:
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Understanding the Wahhabist Infiltration of America

November 7, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Part of the reason many Americans don’t appreciate the significance of Osama bin Laden’s declarations of war against the United States and the West is because they are completely oblivious to the in-roads radical Islam has made within the United States. Radical Islamists (i.e., Islamofascists, Wahhabis) understand that the conflict must take place on multiple fronts: militarily, economically, diplomatically and ideologically. Because they understand the complexity of the confrontation and the ability of the West to adapt to challenges – albeit lethargically – they employ multiple tactics in their aggressive pursuit of victory. The West’s addiction to sensationalism, epitomized by our limited attention to detail, unless it plays in the superficial 24-hour news cycle, facilitates the successful infiltration of radical ideology into Western society.

Much to the chagrin of the multicultural and the proponents of diversity, those who promote radical Islamist ideology thrive on the fact that the politically correct culture of the West – and the United States in particular – deems it inappropriate to question religious practices or teachings. With this politically correct “wall of separation” in place little if any scrutiny is given to the information disseminated within any given religious institution. This directly facilitates the ideological advancement of Wahhabism, the most radical and puritanical form of Islam, within the mosques of the United States.

To accurately understand the depth of infiltration of the Wahhabist ideology on American soil we need to examine the ideology and how it is advanced within the United States.

Wahhabism is a fiercely fundamentalist form of orthodox Sunni Islam. After a brief examination of its tenets it is clear that it is one of division, domination and hate.
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When War Gets Politicized

October 31, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

A recent ABC News item reported on an Israeli airstrike that took place early last month inside Syria. This airstrike allegedly destroyed a fledgling nuclear reactor being constructed deep in the Syrian desert. What makes this story more than it appears is that it exposes the fact the United States balked, flinched on preventing Syria, a State Department designated state sponsor of terrorism and an ally of Iran, from attempting to attain nuclear capability. Instead, the United States stood by as Israel set the Syrian nuclear clock back.

The airstrike is still cloaked in secrecy. The Israeli press is forbidden from reporting on it and only a few White House insiders are privy to the details which led to the action. But ABC News reported a “high ranking intelligence official” divulged that Israel had infiltrated the team constructing the nuclear facility. The operative meticulously documented the work being done, gathering evidence that would render impotent any argument that anything but a nuclear facility was being constructed. The operative also gathered evidence that North Korean nuclear technology was being exploited at the Syrian construction site.

All of this would lead one to believe that Syria has enlisted the help of North Korea to build a clandestine nuclear facility in an extremely remote location, far from the public eye.
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The United States is Not Engaged in the War of Ideas

October 17, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

The United States and governments of the West must use every means available to combat Islamofascist aggression and expansion, both here in the West and in the Middle East. One of the most critical aspects in the war against Islamofascism is the war of ideas. This aspect represents the battle between the Wahhabi, Salafist and radical factions of the Sunni and Shi’ite sects of Islam and the ideology of inalienable rights as embraced by Western Civilization.

If we in the West are to neutralize the aggressive Islamofascist threat to our way of life we must engage in the war of ideas; we must engage in a campaign of disseminating accurate and honest information about the Western culture to those who least understand our way of life, circumventing those who spread propaganda.

There are several avenues exploited by Islamofascists in the proliferation of the extremist ideology, chief among them is the madrasah. Although the literal translation of madrasah is “school,” for our purposes we will focus on the madrasahs that engage in the teaching of the Islamic religious dogma.

A typical madrasah usually offers two courses of study: a hifz course (the memorization of the Quran) and an ‘alim course leading the candidate to become an accepted scholar in the community. A regular curriculum includes courses in Arabic, Quranic interpretation (Tafsir), Islamic law (Shariah), recorded sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad (Hadith), logic (Mantiq), and Muslim history.

In a great many madrasahs throughout the world – most notably Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia – the teachings have a militant and agenda-driven bent and include ideological and political indoctrination, a constituent of which is promulgating hatred against the West and Western Civilization.
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The Muslim Brotherhood: An Association for Jihadists

October 10, 2007 by

By Frank Salvato

One of the more clandestine groups in radical Islam is the Muslim Brotherhood. Originating in Egypt in 1928, the group has been outlawed in Egypt yet it members hold seats in the Egyptian government. That this radically fundamentalist Islamist group is the parent organization to some of the most violent terror groups operating today. It thrives as a pseudo professional association for terrorists while feigning legitimacy as a political movement. So, what is the Muslim Brotherhood and why should every American be concerned about its activities both within the United States and around the world?

The Muslim Brotherhood has become a central issue in federal court proceedings now taking place in Dallas, Texas. These proceedings involve what, until now, has been portrayed as an Islamist philanthropic organization, The Holy Land Foundation. But the Muslim Brotherhood, the Holy Land Foundation and over 300 unindicted co-conspirators are enabling and funding terrorist groups around the world with money derived from people right here in the United States.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the name of a world-wide Sunni Islamist movement, which has spawned several religious and political organizations in the Middle East, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, dedicated to the jihadi credo:

“God is our objective, the Quran is our Constitution, the Prophet is our leader, struggle is our way, and death for the sake of God is the highest of our aspirations.”
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Democracy Doesn’t Always Mean Liberty and Freedom

October 3, 2007 by

By Frank Salvato

Liberty is one of the noblest concepts of all. It is defined as: freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control, external or foreign rule, captivity, confinement, or physical restraint. In an ideological sense liberty embodies the idea of free thought and free speech, the expression of one’s opinions without fear of reprisal.

Liberty is the foundation for all Western democracies and served as the main catalyst in the vision of America’s Founding Fathers. Without liberty no democracy can function.

But with liberty comes an elevated civic responsibility.

This responsibility includes being well educated on the facts surrounding any one issue, especially before opining or taking action. One must seek out fact-based information not only in an effort to validate our beliefs and ideology, but to challenge them as well. We must be responsible enough to brave scrutiny of our political and ideological positions. To abdicate this responsibility is to cheat ourselves out of a full and well-rounded understanding of the issue at hand. It also serves to foment a populace vulnerable to over-reaching governmental control, antithetical to the concept of liberty.
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The Death of a Soldier…The Life of a Patriot

September 20, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

What is a patriot? What is a hero? We throw these words around a lot these days and we bestow them on those who most often don’t come close to warranting the honor. From athletes to artists, dissenters to politicians and movie stars, our society holds some of the most undeserving people in high esteem.

So, what is a patriot? Who really should be designated a hero?

Patriot: A person who loves, supports and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion. – Dictionary.com

Hero: A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. – Dictionary.com

Last February my publication ran an opinion piece by a young US Army sergeant named Eddie Jeffers. Eddie was serving in one of Iraq’s hot-spots, Ramadi Iraq. His job was the hard job: clearing buildings, disrupting terrorist cells and operations, everything that we imagine when we think of what it must be like for our soldiers who are “in the thick of it.”

After reading Eddie’s piece the first time I realized the true definition of patriotism, of heroism. It isn’t about voicing dissent or exercising free speech. It isn’t about achieving political change or affecting the world politick. And while there may be some credence to the notion of standing up for what you believe in that’s only one component.
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Calling Out the Political Bullies

September 19, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

In the wake of the disgraceful yet defining full-page MoveOn.org ad in the New York Times, the one that denigrated Gen. Petraeus, we stand witness to the benchmark in today’s political tactical maneuvering, the Bully Tactic. Increasingly, political operatives and zealots alike are turning to the coercive tactic of bullying those who aren’t on-board with their candidates or agendas. This benchmark signals some of the darkest days in American politics.

Organizations like MoveOn.org have employed the Bully Tactic quite effectively. By utilizing deep-pocketed, agenda-driven benefactors and exploiting small donor advocates to advance their special interest causes, especially through the mainstream media, MoveOn.org has achieved it goal of placing their special interest demands above the will of the majority in our nation. By creating the illusion that they know what the “

America people” believe they, in many cases, succeed in swaying public opinion using less than accurate information and propaganda.

But MoveOn.org isn’t the only organization that employs the Bully Tactic.

CAIR and the ACLU have successfully employed the Bully Tactic, using it as a tool in litigation.
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A Single Reason for US Intervention in Iraq

September 7, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

“It is as useless to argue with those who have renounced the use of reason as to administer medication to the dead.” – Thomas Jefferson

As progress continues to be made in every aspect of the Iraqi conflict — militarily, socially and politically — the debate among the ideologically entrenched here in the United States rages on. This is in large part due to the positioning of candidates from all political parties in preparation for the 2008 elections. There is an intense desire to look both peace-loving and hawkish on the issue of the Iraqi front in the overall war against Islamofascist aggression. This is not an easy task when they are simultaneously declaring their support for the soldiers in the field and questioning the value of the mission and how well it is being executed. Meet the two-faces of the political panderer. Not very attractive, are they?

While factions of our society debate the pros and cons of US military intervention in Iraq the facts presented for the initiation of efforts there have always stood clearly defined. They were laid out in no uncertain terms, and in order of priority, by President Bush before the United Nations General Assembly on September 12, 2002:
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The Acceptance of Thuggery for Fun, Power & Profit

September 4, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

While the controversy surrounding Michael Vick continues to attract those who want to place blame on anyone and/or anything other than Michael Vick, a few stark realities present themselves all of which have an element of moral relativism. The sad fact of the matter is this; “thuggery” has seeped into every avenue of the American culture and our society is accepting it.

That “thuggery” has been accepted in professional sports is a given. From the NBA to the NFL, the counter-culture, urban bad-boy image has been accepted as “cool.” One need only look at the offenses that professional athletes are being arrested for and charged with to understand the spectrum of the problem. From Michael Vick’s guilty plea in the despicable dog fighting scandal to former Chicago Bear Tank Johnson‚s repeated weapons offenses, from Charles Barkley‚s assault charge for throwing a heckler through a window at a local bar to the Baltimore Raven’s Ray Lewis skirting murder charges through a plea deal, the idea that professional sports figures should act as a role models for our nation’s youth has been discarded and their behavior deemed acceptable as long as it generates the almighty dollar.

The urban counter-culture bad-boy image, or “gangsta” image, prevalent in most of today‚s professional sports and modern music cultures, preys on those susceptible to its superficial allure, its façade of “machismo,” using the most base of human instincts, superiority through violence. Those who fall prey to the ghoulish magnetism of thuggery are not only proliferating this intellectually stunted societal ill but they are being used by the greed element in our society as well. Whether it‚s the selling of the next gang symbol infused product to wannabe-punk suburban adolescents or the acceptance of “collateral damage” in the form of hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent lives lost to the on-going and expanding epidemic of inner-city gang turf wars, thuggery is encroaching into the American mainstream at an alarming rate.
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Allegations Trump Adjudication Where Media Is Concerned

August 26, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

The Hill, a publication that covers congressional events in

Washington DC, ran a front page story about a lawsuit filed by Leftist blogger Lane Hudson. Hudson, notable for exposing the non-sex scandal involving former Congressman Mark Foley, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against former Senator and all-but-announced presidential candidate Fred Thompson. His complaint accused Thompson of breaking the law by violating the FEC’s “Testing the Waters ” clause. It seems Mr. Hudson now fancies himself some sort of unofficial political “watch-poodle.”

The interesting thing about this is that Hudson’s partisan and rather obnoxious complaint over Thompson’s candidacy (or non-candidacy) was filed within the context of one of the murkier FEC regulations. It is apparent that the mere mention of Thompson’s name catapulted what should have been simple blog fodder to the front page of a respectable political publication.

Another interesting aspect – and perhaps a more troubling one – is that the complaint is based on an as of yet unsubstantiated accusation of campaign malfeasance. It infers malfeasance.
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Egos Trump Action as Terror Cells Remain Uninvestigated

August 20, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Just when you thought the disingenuous blathering of the elected class, which typically affords the American people a huge helping of inaction and poor governance, was as bad as it could get, something comes along that makes their political opportunism seem almost acceptable. This time the dysfunctional behavior is between law enforcement agencies and because of it our national security hangs in the balance.

A new report by the Inspectors General of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice spotlights a dysfunctional relationship between agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It seems that ICE doesn’t like working with the FBI on cases involving terrorist financing. The report alluded to the fact that there were a few reasons why ICE had its nose out of joint with the FBI, but the one reason that made my jaw drop was that ICE agents felt slighted where acknowledgment regarding successful cases was concerned.

Unbelievable.

Continue reading “Egos Trump Action as Terror Cells Remain Uninvestigated”

00Publius Contributor - Economy/Finances - Education - Frank Salvato - Media Bias - Science - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Uncategorized

Setting Aside Political Differences for Common Goals

August 14, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

American politics has become so caustic that many engaged in the process have become blind to the fact that there are many common goals that exist between the two factions that currently hold good government hostage. Clear thinking Americans – those not slavishly beholden to opinion polls and special interest groups – understand that the overwhelming majority of us have more in common than not. To this point it will be the wise politico that will take advantage of harnessing the energy of polar opposite groups to achieve common goals.

Let’s take two issues that have a common goal but that also have supporters firmly planted on the opposite ends of the political spectrum: alternative energy sources and energy independence.
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I Don’t Dislike Democrats, I Oppose the Progressive-Left

August 6, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Too often those who opine on political matters make the mistake of directing their criticism – or accolades – toward a generalized group when in fact the comments are meant for a more specific faction commingled within that group. I, at least on a few occasions, stand guilty as charged. This type of generalization has contributed to the coarse ideological divisions in our country and has become the modus operandi of politicos and pundits alike, from all avenues of political thought. At a time when our nation is embroiled in a critical struggle for survival and in an effort to realize a more cohesive American political and social culture, I believe it may behoove those of us who scrutinize and maintain a comprehensive understanding of politics and events surrounding the elected-class to start correctly identifying the groups with which we take issue.

For the record, the Progressive-Left is an aggressive faction currently ensconced within the Democrat Party. Where most Progressive-Leftists are Democrat (some of the more extreme are Green and even Socialist or Communist), most Democrats are not Progressive-Leftists. In fact, where mainstream Democrats and Republicans are concerned, we, as thoughtful Americans, have much more in common than not, explaining why an overwhelming majority of the American public considers themselves moderate or mainstream in their political leanings.

I do not dislike Democrats. The realty of the matter is that I have many friends who are Democrats. While I have many differences with their ideology and their views for how best to execute the caretaking of our government and country, I don’t dislike them as people. In fact, I embrace and appreciate the opportunity to engage in thoughtful and intellectual debate on issues important to our nation with those of differing opinions. When two or more patriotic and sincere parties set out to express their ideas and concerns regarding the stewardship of our government and the path forward for our nation it can only be described as the quintessential American political experience.

In many cases, when the elected class engages in honest debate, where the true goal of the matter is the well-being of our country and our people, it produces a positive and quality product. Honest, impassioned debate is what established the floors of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate as two of the greatest debating platforms in history.
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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - Islam - Islamofascism - Media Bias - Military - President - Religion - Security/Safety - Uncategorized

Emphasis on US Mideast Policy Should Be Liberty, Not Democracy

July 30, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

The recently released Benchmark Assessment Report mandated by the US Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (HR2206/PL110-28) states that the common goal for both the US and Iraqi governments is a democratic Iraq that can govern, defend, and sustain itself, and be an ally in the War on Terror. All of these goals are achievable. The problem is, while some are achievable within a reasonable amount of time, where US intervention is concerned, at least one goal should be considered lofty: the goal of achieving a functional, democratic Iraqi government.

There are myriad reasons why US troops should not be prematurely withdrawn from the Iraqi battlefield. Two of the chief reasons revolve around genocide and the overall war against Islamofascism.

Embracing the reality that history has provided us, the premature withdrawal of US & Coalition Forces would create a perfect opportunity for nefarious forces to initiate the genocide of millions of purple-fingered Iraqis who braved death for democracy. Foreign terrorist entities, such as al Qaeda, along with encroaching foreign governments and Ba’ath Party loyalists, would take the opportunity of a US withdrawal – the chief stabilizing force committed to the region – to cull Western leaning Iraqis in one of the worst genocides since Hitler’s campaign to eliminate Jews from the face of the earth.

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00Publius Contributor - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - Islam - Islamofascism - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Uncategorized

Iraq: Reid’s Political Opportunism Is Showing

July 24, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

If you needed anymore proof that Democrat leaders in Congress are playing politics with the war against Islamofascism all you had to do was listen to a recent Capitol Hill press conference where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was fielding questions. When asked repeatedly whether the Iraqi people would be safer as a result of the anti-war/troops-out-now lobby getting its beloved US retreat, Reid responded by asking if there were any more questions. The Democrat Party that championed freedom, liberty, honesty and civil rights for the everyman, everywhere, is dead. The Progressive-Left has killed it and buried it in an unmarked grave somewhere in the deserts of Iraq.

As stunningly callous as Reid’s elitist response was, that wasn’t the half of it. In fact, the short exchange between Reid and ABC News correspondent Jack Tapper could very well serve as the defining moment for the 110th Congress’s Democrat leadership.

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00Publius Contributor - Frank Salvato - Islam - Islamofascism - Military - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Uncategorized

Al Qaeda Strengthens, US Political Resolve Weakens

July 15, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

Conventional wisdom is that whatever happens between Israel and radical Islam will also be the fate of Western nations, especially the United States. The continued appeasement of Hamas and Fatah by the Israeli government and its failure to thoroughly defeat Hezbollah in last summer’s war validates the contention that without strong political resolve it is impossible to be victorious over radical Islamofascists. As Congress moves forward in its renewed attempt at forcing the US military out of Iraq we would be wise to examine Israel’s current situation more carefully as it is a precursor of things to come.

DEBKAfile, a publication specializing in intelligence ignored by the mainstream media, reported that on July 8, 2007, Hamas and Fatah officials met in Stockholm to begin what should be a fairly expedited negotiation toward reconciling the differences that brought them to civil war in Gaza. The report stated that under the watchful eye of Iranian and Syrian ambassadors, Hamas operations Chief Imad al Alami met with PLO ambassador to Sweden Eugine Makhloof in an effort to hasten that reconciliation.

When this reconciliation concludes Israel will find itself in a most precarious situation. It will have militant Hamas, armed and funded by Iran, at its southeastern border complete with coastal access and Fatah, newly funded by the naïve actions of Israel and the international community, on its eastern border at what forms a choke point for Israel between the West Bank and the Mediterranean. To make matters worse, Iran’s proxy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, sits ominously on Israel’s northern border, as does Hezbollah-heavy southern Lebanon.
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00Publius Contributor - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Uncategorized

Pelosi, Reid Bank on America’s Sitcom Attention Span

July 14, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

It’s becoming quite the gamble. Once again, Democrats in Congress – led by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi – are betting that the Sitcom Attention Span (SAS) of the American people will save their hides, this time from their dismal performance during the first six-month in control of the House and Senate. But as the old adage goes, fool me once, shame on you. . .

The list of accomplishments the Democrats have racked has been anything but what they promised during the 2006 election. They failed to end the Iraq War. They failed to reform the earmark process. Instead of “draining the swamp of corruption” they seem to have taken to bathing in it. They failed to produce meaningful immigration reform. They failed in securing the nation’s borders in a post-9/11 world. Oh wait, these aren’t accomplishments, are they?
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00Publius Contributor - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - GOP - Immigration/Immigrants - Media Bias - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - The Law - Uncategorized

We Blame the Politicians But We Put Them There

July 5, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

With the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S1639) now stalled – permanently, we hope – at the debate stage in the US Senate, we can come away with one lesson learned from this course of events, an unsettling number of politicians in Washington DC ignored the “baggage” that is their constituency. In light of this undeniable truth, it is understandable that outraged Americans would be looking to the section of the Declaration of Independence that talked about dissolving government. But when one takes a break from pointing fingers – and perhaps raising some toward their elected officials – it would be wise to remember who allowed this to happen.

Let me be perfectly clear, I am not about to apologize for the actions of those who have betrayed their constituencies. In fact, I believe that any elected official who doesn’t hold and respect the inclinations of his constituency in the highest regard should be removed from office. While the positions that elected officials hold need to have a degree of latitude when it comes to enacting the will of the people, it should never be the case that an elected official would be obliged to ignore or look down upon the positions of his constituents.

But the blame for getting to this pathetic and disturbing point simply doesn’t lie – exclusively – with the creatures that dwell inside the beltway or in the State Houses. A major portion of the blame needs to lie with We the People. It lies with you and me.
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00Publius Contributor - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - Immigration/Immigrants - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Uncategorized

Prove to Us That You’re Still On Our Side

June 26, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

There is little doubt that a heated debate is taking place over the issue of immigration reform. The alarming aspect of this debate is less the where, when and why it is taking place and more about who the debate is between. With an overwhelming majority of Americans from every political party in opposition to the current proposal being floated by select senators and the White House, it appears – incredibly – that the debate is actually between the people and our government.

Our nation is a Democratic Republic, a Representative Democracy. The electorate casts ballots to elect individuals to represent them in

Washington DC. In turn, these elected officials are bestowed the authority to place votes representative of their constituents. In theory, these elected officials are charged with learning about and debating the issues so that the concerns of their constituents can be heard and the best interests of their constituents safeguarded. In the end, they cast their votes on pieces of legislation as representatives of their constituencies.

This is how it is supposed to work.
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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Frank Salvato - Islam - Islamofascism - Media Bias - Military - Security/Safety - Uncategorized

Radical Islam’s “End-Game”

June 17, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

A friend of mine said recently, “We shouldn’t even be there. Let them kill each other. I mean, that would solve the problem. Right?” I thought about that statement as I read the news coming out of the Gaza Strip. As Hamas and al-Fatah literally battle to the death for supremacy in their region, it is crucial that we take the time – right now – to understand what it is they’re fighting about. The truth is our lives depend on it.

To look at the situations in Iraq and Gaza as separate conflicts is to view them in a naïve and overly simplistic way. True, the battles taking place in Gaza are more akin to a civil war, if in fact a civil war can take place without a recognized country to govern. And the battles taking place in Iraq are almost completely instigated at the hands of al Qaeda terrorists hell-bent on creating chaos with violence while destroying any chance of democracy in that nation. But what the less visionary among us are deficient in understanding and neglectful or deceitful in not addressing is the reason they are fighting, their goal, their end-game.

Many anti-war activists and members of the American Fifth Column insist that the reason radical Islamist terrorists – insurgents or militants as they like to call them – have taken to jihad against the United States and the West is because of the encroachment of our culture into the 7th Century Middle Eastern culture in which they exist. They point to Osama bin Laden’s 1996 fatwa against the US and the West citing the presence of Western military personnel and installations as the catalyst for al Qaeda’s Islamofascist aggression.
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00Publius Contributor - Crime - Frank Salvato - Judges - Media Bias - Society/Culture - The Law - Uncategorized

The Incredible Judicial Disparity: Berger v. Libby

June 11, 2007 by

-By Frank Salvato

If you needed any more proof that the American judicial system is completely – and alarmingly – subjective, look no further than the disparity between the sentences imposed on Sandy Berger and

I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby. In Washington DC’s version of The Peoples’ Court, it would seem that the deciding factors in how severe a sentence one gets depends on political party affiliation, the severity of the crime be damned.

This past Tuesday US District Judge Reggie B. Walton, a Bush 43 appointee, sentenced former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby to 30 months in prison and fined him $250,000 for obstruction of justice and lying to a federal agent. Walton said he saw no good reason to allow Libby to remain free pending appeal. Walton also required Libby to serve two years probation upon release from prison.
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