FREEDOM!

Captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit free after five-year ordeal

Freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit at an army base near the Kerem Shalom crossing near Gaza (AP)


Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit ( גלעד שליט‎ - born 28 August 1986) was abducted on 25 June 2006 by the Hamas terrorist organization near the border with Gaza in a cross-border raid via underground tunnels, and held in isolation without medical care or Red Cross visits for over five years until he was released yesterday - 18 October 2011 - in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian convicted prisoners, including hundreds convicted of carrying out criminal terror attacks against Israelis.

Shalit was abducted near the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel, and was held as a hostage at an unknown location in the Gaza Strip. Throughout more than five years in isolation and captivity,Hamas refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit. Red Cross Director-General Yves Daccord stated that: “The Shalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son”. Hamas, which maintains in its founding charter the directive to annihilate Israel and establish strict religious Islamic law, claimed that any such Red Cross humanitarian and medical visit could have betrayed the location where Hamas was holding Shalit hostage.

Multiple human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's confinement were contrary to international humanitarian law. The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, also called for Shalit to be released. In its 27 May 2011 Deauville Declaration, the G8 demanded the release of Gilad Shalit.

Shalit's capture was often referred to as a kidnapping, because he was not granted any of the human rights due to a captured soldier under the Geneva Conventions, which entitles them to receive visits from the Red Cross and to communicate with family members, and because a ransom, even if not of a monetary nature, was demanded for his return.

In exchange for his release, Hamas demanded the release of over 1,000 prisoners—Palestinians serving prison sentences in Israel—as well as all female and underage Palestinians convicted and serving sentences. A major sticking point in negotiations for the release of Shalit was Hamas' insistence on the release of Marwan Barghouti, currently serving five life sentences in Israel for murder.

Shalit was the first Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. Shalit, holding a rank of corporal in the IDF's Armor Corps at the time of his abduction, has since been promoted to Staff Sergeant and Sergeant First Class. The only contact between Shalit and the outside world after his kidnapping were three letters, an audio tape, and a DVD that Israel received in return for releasing 20 female Palestinian prisoners.

Welcome home Gilad! We never lost faith for you!




Today's Bird HERE



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AN OLD SOLDIER DOESN'T FADE AWAY

Obama is outclassed and outsmarted by retiring Gen. Petraeus:

Gen. David H. Petraeus closed his phenomenal 37-year Army career this week with a joint review at Fort Myer in Arlington . Service members from every branch were present, and flags of all 50 states fluttered in the breeze. A substantial crowd had come to hear the general's farewell address. Many were classmates from the West Point Class of 1974, smartly attired but enthusiastic and occasionally whooping like they were cadets. Others were people with whom he had served over his storied career, whom he recognized from the dais during his speech. The morning was sunny and clear, and the general was his usual affable, ebullient self.

In his remarks, Gen. Petraeus recalled the days when he entered the military, when the Vietnam War was winding down and the armed services were being pared down to the "hollow forces" of the 1970s. "The Army I joined as a second lieutenant had suffered enormously," he said. "In the wake of our involvement in Vietnam , our Army and much of our military were grappling with a host of very serious challenges." The senior leaders who first wore the uniform in those dark days were not discouraged. They began their careers with a sense of mission. "I know I speak for many when I say that we came away from that period vowing to never let our forces get to such a point ever again." Through his efforts, and those of countless other visionaries in and out of uniform, the hollow forces were transformed once again into the finest fighting force in the world. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the ceremony with William J. Lynn, deputy secretary of defense. Notably absent were Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, whose former position as CIA director is Gen. Petraeus' next assignment, and President Obama. Their non-appearance did not sit well with some. "Obama should have been here," a warrior who served under Gen. Petraeus told The Washington Times. "And he should have invited [former President George W.] Bush. The general saved their bacon. Twice.

"Everyone has forgotten that in 2007 we as a nation had said, 'OK, we are going to lose Iraq .' And President Bush said, 'Well what if we win?' Petraeus rode into town and assembled an extraordinary team. His personal drive, his charisma, his optimism, his can-do spirit, all of that is what gave us hope that we could in fact turn Iraq around," our source explained. "And by September of '07, the progress had been dramatic enough that it became common knowledge to the American people that things were turning around in Iraq . Eight months earlier, a lot of people, including Obama, wanted to tuck tail and have another Vietnam ."

That's not all. "Here is the guy who saved our reputation as a nation. Seriously, who's missing this? And then he went to [Central Command] and was doing great things. And Obama asked him to take a functional demotion and go back to Afghanistan and save our bacon again," we were told. "To leave his family, to step down from a regional command, to take on that burden. And he said yes, and he did it.. Petraeus was the right guy at the right time, he answered the call, and now he's being yanked out before we're ready, just like the troops are being yanked out before Afghanistan is ready."

So what's the reason for the White House about-face? "They are sending him to the CIA to keep him quiet during the 2012 election. It shows how small and scared they are. He is an honorable man, he has never expressed political ambition. But they saw him as a threat. He is an independent thinker, the finest military mind of his generation," our source posits. "What he suffers from is that he is more excellent than almost anyone he meets, to include the president. The troops love him. Strong people surround themselves with the most excellent people they can find, even those brighter and more capable than themselves. Weak people don't."

There is a shameful indignity in how this hero was treated. "The president couldn't find the time in his schedule, nor could the [defense secretary] find the time to look him in the eye and say thank you in person," this warrior told The Washington Times. "It's one thing to say 'we support the troops' and trot out your first lady to do that, but this is where it counts. It would have been an appropriate gesture to come here to recognize the professional and personal sacrifice of this extraordinary man.. It would have been the dignified thing to do."

The hero remained above it all. The cannons boomed and the crowd cheered and Gen. Petraeus stood smiling in the sun.



© Copyright 2011 The Washington Times, LLC.

The Shame & Dishonor of the REAL 99%

Who are the real 99%? They are the real 1%, virtually all of whom support collectivism and the tyranny of the Mob and virtually all of whom oppose freedom of the individual and liberty (which intrinsically includes capitalism) .

The Occupy Wall Street protestors characterize themselves as representatives of "the 99%" who are not "rich" are defaming the wealthy crony-capitalists, while George Soros and his type openly supporte the anti-capitalist, Marxists and the ignorant dupes joining with them. The rest of the self-proclaimed 99%-ers are mostly disaffected long-haired maggot-infested hippies seeking more from The Machine, and their parents.

The real "99%" and the real "1%-ers" of the world are hard-working decent people, the productive class, many, if not most, of whom are TEA-Partyers) support the real 1% and that virtually all the so-called spokespersons for "the 99%" are leftists who trash the real 1% at every opportunity and who caricature the the real 1% as jingoistic, militaristic "fascists" and view Bush 43 as"BusHitler."

That's it - I'm disgusted beyond words now. You think this will swing an election for you, Obama? . . . Good Luck with that plan Barry is all I have to say . . . -

Today's Bird HERE


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Der FührerBunker Update:

"We had our chance to do some serious gun-grabbing and blew it!"






"Tyrants from Hitler to Mao to Stalin have sought to disarm their own citizens, for the simple reason that unarmed people are easier to control. Our Founders, having just expelled the British army, knew that the right to bear arms serves as the guardian of every other right."

- Ron Paul, June 26, 2006



Monday's Bird HERE


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THE BRIDGE AT EAST FARLEIGH

From the 1831 Topographical Dictionary: FARLEIGH (EAST), a parish in the hundred of MAIDSTONE, lathe of AYLESFORD, county of KENT, 2½ miles (S.W. by W.) from Maidstone, containing 1143 inhabitants. The church has at the west end a tower and spire. An ancient stone bridge of five arches crosses the Medway at the entrance to the village.


England is a beautiful country chock-a-block full of ancient history - you can't even swing a cat without bumping into some kind of monument or significant piece of architecture dating back to the Year Dot where somebody did something heroic and the friendly natives are willing and proud to tell you all about whatever it was, and of course they remember it like it was yesterday. In my explorations of the English countryside, I encountered the remarkable masonry stone arch bridge at East Farleigh, in Kent, which played a part in the Battle of Maidstone, a turning point of the Second English Civil War of 1648-49.

The Battle of Maidstone took place on 1 June, 1648. After outflanking the Earl of Norwich's main Royalist forces on Burham Heath and a diversionary feint towards Aylesford, Sir Thomas Fairfax (of Cromwell's New Model Army) and his force of approximately 6000 men crossed the River Medway at East Farleigh bridge virtually unopposed.

Early skirmishes began on Penenden Heath, located strategically to launch an attack between the two defending Royalist formations in Aylesford and Maidstone. Norwich did not realise the significance of the attack until late afternoon when Fairfax decided to use his advantage to storm the town itself that same day from the south side. The battle moved into a phase of intense fighting in heavy rain, street by street and 'inch by inch' as each Royalist barricade was ferociously forced and taken.

The battle of Maidstone involved the 17th century tactic "Pushing the Pike": a latter-day reincarnation of the deadly Macedonian Phalanx.

Pikemen


The battle lasted for the rest of the day and into the night with the Royalists retreating towards their last and final position in St Faith's Churchyard. Fairfax finally overcame fierce resistance to take command of the town of Maidstone during a raging thunderstorm just after midnight.

Today's Bird HERE

Yesterday, and Yesterdays Gone By . . .

Yesterday I stood in a churchyard in a place called East Farleigh and looked at the gravestone of my great-great-great-grandfather John, died (exact date unreadable) 1881, age 90. Also named on the gravestone is his niece Ann, who died (date unreadable) age 76.

East Farleigh is the village in Kent where my family comes from, on my father's side.

St. Anne's in East Farleigh, Kent.

East Farleigh dates back to the ancient Iron Age, there is evidence of quarry and agricultural activity there during Britain's Roman Era. In 961, East Farleigh manor was given by Queen Ediva, the mother of king Edmund, to Christ church Canterbury. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the manor is listed in the Domesday Book and was held by Bishop Odo of Bayeaux (also Archbishop of Canterbury), William's half-brother. In the Domesday Book the village is called Ferlaga; usually translated from Saxon as “the way of the passage” (over the river) or from Gaelic as a “clearing in the woods (or grass, or alder)”. By 1300 it is referred to as Fearnlega in the Book of the Church of Rochester and on a map of 1575 as East Farly.

All that remains of the original Saxon church is a little tufa stonework on the outside of the north-west corner.


In the church they have a book with all the records of all the baptism, weddings and funerals of my direct ancestors, on my father's side. To clear up any confusion - 'Sean Linnane' is the name I write under - this pseudonym is derived from my middle name - John - and the Gaellicized version of my mother's maiden name. I am Irish on my mother's side - Anglo-Irish as a matter of fact - and English on my father's side. The English side of our family can be traced back at least 700 years.

Around the year 1120 A.D., the Normans rebuilt the Saxon church, but before they set to work they built an inn, to house and feed the workers. That inn survives to this day, although it was rebuilt due to a fire in the late 1800s.

The Bull Inn, East Farleigh, Kent. My great-great-Grandfather (also John) owned this pub.


I went into the Bull Inn and had an interesting conversation with the present owner; apparently there is some kind of controversy regarding my family and the pub fire. As a Crusader and a Masonic Knight Templar, it was not proper for me to take a drink before entering the hallowed ground across the street. Once that portion of the pilgrimage was complete, I returned to the bar, and took up the subject of the Burning of Bull Inn.

The Saloon Bar at the Bull Inn, East Farleigh.


The publican says of the fire that it occurred under mysterious circumstances, and it is belief of the local populace that the fire was started by my family. I admitted having heard tell of some kind of misadventure, but the timeline does not jive with the departure of my father's family to Australia in the late 1890s. When asked by the publican if my family was "transported" (i.e. convicts) I set the record straight: we WENT to Australia we were not SENT to Australia.

The Bull Inn in 1890. There are still enough of my kinfolk living in East Farleigh to swing an election.


My grandfather used to say of our family; "We are nothing special or royal or anything like that, just ordinary hard-working, middle class people, slightly well-off." It was interesting just to walk around the streets and fields where they still grow hops and tobacco, and reflecting about my ancestors who walked those same streets, working those same fields, brewed beer and operated pubs throughout that area. It was very poignant.

"STORMBRINGER SENDS"

MATA HARI . . .

. . . Executed this Day in 1917

Mata Hari 'drew every man's lustful admiration and every woman's envy'


Mata Hari, the archetype of the seductive female spy, was executed on 15 October 1917 by a French firing squad at Vincennes, outside of Paris.

She first came to Paris in 1905 and found fame as a performer of exotic Asian-inspired dances. She soon began touring all over Europe, telling the story of how she was born in a sacred Indian temple and taught ancient dances by a priestess who gave her the name Mata Hari, meaning "eye of the day" in Malay. In reality, Mata Hari was born in a small town in northern Holland in 1876, and her real name was Margaretha Geertruida Zelle. She acquired her superficial knowledge of Indian and Javanese dances when she lived for several years in Malaysia with her former husband, who was a Scot in the Dutch colonial army. Regardless of her authenticity, she packed dance halls and opera houses from Russia to France, mostly because her show consisted of her slowly stripping nude.

She became a famous courtesan, and with the outbreak of World War I her catalog of lovers began to include high-ranking military officers of various nationalities. In February 1917, French authorities arrested her for espionage and imprisoned her at St. Lazare Prison in Paris. In a military trial conducted in July, she was accused of revealing details of the Allies' new weapon, the tank, resulting in the deaths of thousands of soldiers.

Mata Hari was convicted and sentenced to death. On October 15 she was awakened her in her filthy cell in the Prison de Saint-Lazare and told that this was the day she would die. She dressed in her best - stockings, a low-cut blouse under a dove-grey, two-piece suit. On her head she perched a three-cornered hat at a jaunty angle, over her shoulders she slung a vivid blue coat like a cloak to keep out the cold October air. In a black car with its window blinds down, Margaretha Zelle was driven at speed through the still streets of Paris - a place she loved with a passion - to a damp muddy field in Vicennes.

She stood alone in the sodden field on the outskirts of Paris, her fashionable ankle boots firmly planted in the mud churned up by the cavalry who drilled there. No, she would not be tied to the stake, she told her executioners politely. She refused a blindfold, faced the barrels of the firing squad without flinching. The 12 soldiers in their khaki uniforms and red kepis raised their rifles. She waved to the two weeping nuns who had been her comfort in prison and on her last journey. She blew a kiss to the priest and another to her lawyer, an ex-lover. The sun was coming up when the shots rang out. Zelle slumped to the ground. The officer in charge marched forward and fired a single bullet into her brain, - coup de grace.

An extraordinary life was over

There is some evidence that Mata Hari acted as a German spy, and for a time as a double agent for the French, but the Germans had written her off as an ineffective agent whose pillow talk had produced little intelligence of value. Her military trial was riddled with bias and circumstantial evidence, and it is probable that French authorities trumped her up as "the greatest woman spy of the century" as a distraction for the huge losses the French army was suffering on the western front. Her only real crimes may have been an elaborate stage fallacy and a weakness for men in uniform.



Today's Bird HERE


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