You have probably seen multiple written accounts, stories and publish articles, recently about a growing international backlash.   This stems from revelations that under the specific direction of President Obama  the NSA (National Security Agency) has been spying upon a growing contingent of international leaders. 
Our allies are furious with the NSA for spying on them and their respective leaders.   Consequently U.S. credibility and trust has been deconstructed.
Indeed, by recent count the list of Allied Western nations rising in open opposition to President Obama, and his administration, stands around 35.  That’s THIRTY FIVE.
It is against that bold and visible backdrop we wish to draw back your attention.

In July of 2012, during his Term-two presidential bid, President Obama gave a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Reno, Nevada. His speech was specifically constructed to outline his accomplishments:

“Because we’re leading around the world, people have a new attitude toward America.” “There’s more confidence in our leadership. We see it everywhere we go.”
– Barack Obama July 2012

At the time many of us just about fell out of our seats. With quick dispatch, and working purely from immediate memory, we outlined the following:

[2012]  There are many administration claims that I shake my head when I hear, but this one is perhaps the worst. It is a complete and utter fallacy to proclaim President Obama’s foreign policy has been even remotely successful. This is just freestyle off the top of my head, but consider: (more…)

This should come as no surprise; it is, quite simply, only about the hundredth time people have reported on the aloof detachment of President Obama.   
Even Bob Woodward wrote an entire book in general about how disingenuous Dear Leader was/is toward fiscal policies, and more specifically his indifferent and bored outlook regarding negotiations with Congress that might actually involve work.  
Remember too, during the OBL kill/capture mission – Obama had to be dragged off the golf course; and then, according to Reggie Love, didn’t want to participate in the event preferring instead to play cards because his presence was required *near* the situation room.
(New York Times) With rebel forces in Syria in retreat and the Obama administration’s policy toward the war-ravaged country in disarray, Secretary of State John Kerry arrived at the White House Situation Room one day in June with a document bearing a warning. President Bashar al-Assad of Syria had used chemical weapons against his people, the document said, and if the United States did not “impose consequences,” Mr. Assad would see it as a “green light for continued CW use.” (more…)

Full Story HERE

After the second flag was destroyed, Lorance installed a surveillance system and sure enough the culprits were captured on video. And he says the incident went beyond damage—he was appalled at the disrespect.

The American Spectator has in its possession a construct of an e-mail sent by President Obama and DoD Secretary Hagle to all military members attacking Republican opposition to his agenda and the Government Shutdown.  A clear violation of the Hatch Act.

“Military and civilian employees of the federal government are absolutely prohibited from using government supplies, equipment, communication systems and facilities in any political activity.”   (DoD Memo)

The American Spectator has been provided with the text of a political message sent on Saturday evening, using Department of Defense communications systems, on behalf of President Obama and Secretary of Defense Hagel.
It is addressed to “all US government employees” and further specified by the DoD sender to go to “all subordinate commands,” in compliance with Hagel’s call for “the widest possible distribution.”
The message contains standard presidential lauding of public service, but goes on to attack the current government shutdown by specifically castigating the House of Representatives, saying that the House — which is unsubtle code for Republicans — should “follow the Senate’s lead…without trying to attach…partisan measures in the process.” (more…)

The Democrats want to add removal of the “Sequester Cuts” into the budgetary maneuvers.  Essentially, last year the Dem’s made a strategic blunder;  thinking they had the Republicans backed into a corner with the following proposition:  ‘Either raise taxes *OR* watch horrible cuts to Defense spending”.  
What Dem’s didn’t realize at the time was the strength of the conservative pressure on the traditional GOP.   As a consequence the “Sequester” was not seen as unpalatable as Harry Reid thought, the common sense conservative electorate shrugged off the threat and said fine let the future military spending shrink – and retain tax rates. 
The outcome was Dem’s proclaiming the Sequester was the end of the world.  It didn’t end.  And so today….. 

(Baseline for discussion stems from Reuters Article Outline ) – Some U.S. senators said they were closing in on a deal Monday that would reopen the government and push back the deadline on the hard Debt Ceiling/Spending decisions for several months, though many hurdles remained as a Thursday 10/17 deadline drew near. (more…)

GO READ HERE

https://twitter.com/mmmoonie/statuses/389507440032497664

Crowd at WWII memorial for "Million Vets March pic.twitter.com/w0afqEHS8U

— Peter Doocy (@pdoocy) October 13, 2013

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This is an update to this previous outline.   The House has voted to resume payments to the families of fallen soldiers.  However, the funding was never stopped in the first place.  The emergency death benefit was included in the original “Pay Our Military Act”; and it was affirmed as such by Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. 
Someone, within the administration,  interpreted used the opportunity to cut off the death benefit to prove a political point.   Now, in essence, congress voting specifically to fund something they had previously funded.  Why?  To save “someone’s” face.   Grrrr.
WASHINGTON DC – The House voted unanimously on Wednesday to restore the financial payments the Department of Defense makes to the families of fallen U.S. soldiers.
Members easily passed the bill after the Pentagon said it can no longer make the payments because of the government shutdown. The Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act, H.J.Res. 91, was approved in a 425-0 vote.
The bipartisan bill was quickly developed and rushed to the floor this week after the Pentagon said it could no longer make “death gratuity” payments to families after October 1 because of the government shutdown. (more…)

The “Death Gratuity” is an emergency financial distribution ($100k) to the family of a service member killed in action.   It’s typically sent to families within three days to help cover funeral costs or travel to meet the flag-draped coffins of their loved ones.

Sunday night was not a good night for troops on the ground. A Marine was killed during a combat patrol. A platoon from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment helicopter assaulted onto target. In the end, four died—two Rangers, two attachments. There were so many wounded by the command detonated IEDs and suicide bombers that the platoon was rendered combat ineffective. For those of you that have served, it was the nightmare you hope you’d never have to face: it was a mas-cas.

But because of what I can only describe as one of the grossest failings of our government during the current shut down (and that’s saying something, I know), the tragedy of Sunday night’s actions are just beginning.

According to sources inside of Special Operations Command, this morning at roughly 0930 there was a video teleconference. In the conference, liaison personnel who were already tasked with the almost impossible job of telling these families their son or daughter has been killed in action, now have to tell them something else: that their government has failed them and they will not be getting any governmental assistance until the government shutdown is over.  (continue reading)

Five servicemen were killed in Afghanistan this past weekend.  The DoD has released the following statement:

“Unfortunately, as a result of the shutdown, we do not have the legal authority to make death gratuity payments at this time.  However, we are keeping a close eye on those survivors who have lost loved ones serving in the Department of Defense.” – Nate Christensen, a spokesman for the DoD

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