Israel launches ground attack into Gaza to defend themselves. A Russian missile shots down a civilian passenger airliner killing 290 people including 23 American Citizens. The Southern U.S. border is under siege, and against the backdrop the State Department responds thusly:

Great piece by former colleague Alyssa Mastromonaco who defines smart, savvy and fashionable http://t.co/zJGlE5XKp6 via @washingtonpost

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) July 18, 2014

With U.S. priorities like this, is it really any wonder why President Obama would choose to continue his scheduled fundraising tour ?
(more…)

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday called for a halt to “dangerous” levels of violence in Libya after militia clashes in Tripoli closed the country’s main airport, destroyed most planes parked there, and prompted the United Nations to evacuate its staff.
In some of the worst violence in months, at least 15 people have been killed in clashes in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi since Sunday, and a Libyan official said several Grad rockets hit the Tripoli International Airport on Monday, damaging the control tower.
With its new government struggling to impose order since the 2011 rebellion that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is sliding deeper into turmoil with rival brigades of former rebels battling for political and economic power. (more…)

Yeah, safe to say -at this point- Russia did it.

#BREAKING: Putin says airplane disaster would not have happened if Kiev had not renewed military operation against rebels in east Ukraine

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 17, 2014

#BREAKING: Russia's Putin says Kiev bears responsibility for crash of passenger plane because it was brought down in Ukraine: RIA

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 17, 2014

Remember this is NOT the first time Russia has shot down a passenger airplane and tried to deny it.   1983 KAL-007 took years before the “Soviets” admitted it.

The Israeli military launched a ground operation into Gaza late Thursday, the government said.  The much-anticipated operation follows some of the most intense fighting in the 10 days of bombings and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas.

FULL STATEMENT – press release issued by #Israeli military announcing it's initiation of ground operation in #Gaza pic.twitter.com/tnfpUfOpOR

— POWER987News (@POWER987News) July 17, 2014

Just now on @Channel2News: Egypt announces that Hamas is reponsible for this conflict.

— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) July 17, 2014

https://twitter.com/DannyNis/statuses/489861421568512000
With Egypt’s el-Sisi supporting Benjamin Netanyahu against Hamas this time things might be substantially different. If Israel is allowed time to work through the border region used by Hamas terrorists the IDF can fully dismantle and destroy the network of underground border tunnels.

MAJOR UPDATE – U.S. Intelligence confirm a surface to air missile was used to shoot down MH-17 Passenger Plane.

In addition a recent release of ground conversation between Russian groups and Ukrainian Rebel separatists friendly to Russia show they talked about shooting it down and discussed after:

Igor Bezler: We have just shot down a plane. Group Minera. It fell down beyond Yenakievo.
Vasili Geranin: Pilots. Where are the pilots?
IB: Gone to search for and photograph the plane. It’s smoking.
VG: How many minutes ago?
IB: About 30 minutes ago.

After examining the site of the plane the terrorists come to the conclusion that they have shot down a civilian plane. The next part of the conversation took place about 40 minutes later. (more…)

(Via Wall Street Journal) Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hasn’t spoken to his family since he was released from captivity in Pakistan, according to an Army official.

Sgt. Bergdahl has refused to see his parents or speak to them on the phone, the official said. The decision by Sgt. Bergdahl, who returned to regular duty on Monday, suggests a deeper estrangement between the soldier and his parents than the military understood when he was released. Still, officials said, they don’t know the precise cause of the tension or when it began. (more…)

Al Marj is located just North of Benghazi on the road to Darnah…
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) — Faraj al-Shibli, who was suspected of involvement in the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, has been found dead, a Libyan source and locals in the town of Marj said.

Al-Shibli, whose name is also spelled Chalabi, was last seen being detained by local militia in Marj two days ago, a Libyan source said.

It is unclear what happened to al-Shibli since then, but his body was found on Monday in Marj, which is in eastern Libya.

  Locals in Marj also confirmed that al-Shibli’s body was found Monday.  (read more)

Cleaning up Zero Footprint ?

Another example of Palestinian supporters violently attacking a peaceful Pro-Israel rally in LA.   Ask yourself when was the last time you heard of Pro-Israel groups attacking Palestinian Rallies;  like the one in front of the White House last week….  Or the one in front of the DC Embassy of Israel last week… or, well, you get the picture, it doesn’t happen.

(Via WFB) [T]he peaceful pro-Israel rally, organized by the Israel-American Council (IAC), took a violent turn at around 5:30 P.M.

Several men in a pick-up truck waving Palestinian flags pulled into the crowd and began shouting obscenities and spitting on the pro-Israel demonstrators, according to accounts provided by two employees of Advance Security Concept (ASC), which had been hired by the IAC to provide security.
The four Palestinian supporters eventually emerged from their truck with “sticks” and a “tire iron” and began attacking the pro-Israel faction after a heated argument, according to written accounts by the two ASC officials that were obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. (more…)