A new study estimates that a terrorist attack involving the detonation of a dirty bomb in downtown Los Angeles would cost the area $16 billion, mostly in lost revenue. By contrast, the immediate cost of such an attack, loosely defined as the cost necessary to deal with the injured and restore the area to a pre-attack condition along with revenue lost due to temporary businesses closings, is estimated at a little over $1 billion. The rest of the cost would result from the psychological impact of the attack on potential shoppers, diners and employees.
The point of the study was not to generate anxiety, according to researcher William Burns of Design Research, who co-authored the study along with researchers from the University of Oregon, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Brown University, Monash University and ABS Consulting. Rather, the investigators hoped to increase awareness of the potential impact on the public of terrorism and to highlight the importance of establishing effective risk communication as an important part of both disaster preparedness and response. [click to continue…]
Peter Ferrara penned a recent article over at the American Spectator. We think it’s a brilliant analysis of the current and future economic situation. To be completely honest, we think it’s brilliant because it agrees with everything we’ve been saying.
Unfortunately, he foresees an America that’s teetering on the edge of another recession – one that will usher us into an economic death spiral in which our debts overwhelm our ability to continue borrowing:
That is bad enough for a puny, insignificant nation like Greece, where riots increasingly leave the government dysfunctional, with the EU likely to take over the country effectively. But what is the effect when that happens to the world’s supposed superpower? America financed World War II by running up our national debt to its all-time record as a percent of GDP (for now). But that won’t be possible when we have already run ourselves into national bankruptcy.
Our potential military enemies will be quite aware of this historic vulnerability of America. Just as Reagan brought us Peace through Strength, Obamanomics will be inviting War through Weakness. With a 2013 American economic collapse that will also disable the entire West, the world’s uncivilized rogues from Russia, to China, to North Korea, to the Middle East Islamists dreaming of renewed world conquest, will all be tempted probably beyond resistance and reason to strike. They don’t need even to attack the homeland to deal America a decisive defeat. They can just decimate our suddenly overwhelmed allies, from Israel to South Korea to Taiwan to our allies in the Middle East, let alone some even in Europe.
This is one of those unfortunate situations in which we will get absolutely no joy from being able to say, “I told you so.”
There was a time when America led the world in something called courage, and France’s cowardess was the butt of jokes. That was then, this is now.
We have given up our leadership position, not to mention our balls, as once strong America sees itself weakened, seemingly on a daily basis, by a limp-wristed administration. But what is astonishing to watch is that France has stepped up to grab the badge of courage right out from under us.
Not that I think we should have been meddling in Libya necessarily, but France led the charge there, with Sarkozy acting while Obama professorially thought it over on golf course, campaign stops and vacations. And, today we see that French special forces have captured the Ivory Coast’s incumbent leader, Laurent Gbagbo.
But what I think is most astonishing is that France did something that we in America would not soon have the courage to do: ban the Muslim face veil in all public places. Religious prejudice, you say? Yes, it certainly is, and I say hallelujah.
France and most of Europe is further down the road of the Islamic invasion than the United States is. They realize they are at the tipping point at which the large and growing, mass-procreating muslim population will soon be able to vote into office Sharia-believing representatives that will endanger freedom for all non-believers.
If you think the muslim veil law is harsh, you have not seen anything yet. Even liberal Europe will be foolish only so long as until their very existence is threatened, at which point they will turn into the meanest sons of bitches you’ve ever seen with the only end result being a horrendous bloodbath.
Speaking at the London Conference on Libya in the UK capital today, US secretary of state Hilary Clinton was asked what type of shady characters are part of the Libyan rebels we have spent nearly a billion dollars to help so far. Reports have surfaced that Al Qaeda is on the ground there, and that fighters who have killed our troops in Iraq are there as well. And who are the rest? Who are we handing Libya over too?
She’s as certain of who the rebels are, as Commander-In-Chief Obama is certain what his mission is there. Here’s her answer, which reminds me of Nancy Pelosi saying that we are going to have to pass the health care bill before we know what’s in the bill.
“We do not have any information about specific individuals from any organisation that are part of this. But of course, we are still getting to know the people [rebels] leading the Transitional National Council [TNC].”
She has no idea who there are, but still, she’s looking into going beyond air support and actually arming the rebels. Today made note that UN Security Council resolution 1973 makes it legal to give guns to rebel forces, and this is a consideration for the future.
“It is our interpretation that 1973 amended or over-rode the absolute prohibition of providing arms to anyone in Libya, so there could be a legitimate transfer of arms if a country were to choose to do that.
“We haven’t made any decision about arming the rebels, so there was no need to discuss this today. We did discuss non-lethal assistance. We did discuss other means of support … they obviously are going to need funds to keep them going.”
The Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qeada and assorted other Islamist groups are praising Allah for their good fortune of the inept American leadership.
Ron Paul says that declaring and acting upon a No Fly Zone is an “act of war” and as such he has not consulted with congress, as the Constitution calls for. Even worse, while ignoring our own congress (and in fact leaving town), he gave deference to the United Nations, and there is nothing in our constitution about getting approval from foreign bodies in order to go to war. Obama has used a U.N. Security Council resolution to legitimize U.S. bombing raids under international law. But the U.N. Charter is not a substitute for the U.S. Constitution. And the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power “to declare war.”
The rebel gains you are hearing on the news today are only thanks to a strategic tactical retreat by Ghadaffi, says Israeli intelligence website DEBKAfile. The retreat was not because the rebels are beating them, but to avoid being blown up by superior US sea-based and air power. This means that when the Libyan forces eventually reorganize and strike back at these towns, US air and sea power will need to be continued.
In the view of DEBKAfile’s military experts, the Libyan opposition’s gains are no more than a victory on paper, not the battlefield. Qaddafi and his commanders executed tactical retreats from those towns – not because they were beaten in battle but to avoid being ground down by superior US sea-based and air power. That power opened the door for the opposition rebels to recover the towns they lost in the last three weeks and pose as victors.
For Washington, the implication is clear: Continuing rebel momentum against Qaddafi’s forces depends on United States commitment to two steps:
1. Keeping up the aerial and sea-based bombardment of government forces. Nothing, otherwise, will stop Qaddafi’s troops turning around and heading back east to recapture the towns they left. Containing Qaddafi’s army cannot be left to the limited capabilities of France and Britain or any other members of NATO which has assumed token command of the Libya operation.
2. Organizing the rebels into regular combat units and furnishing them with arms, funds and military instructors. The other alternative would be for the Americans to invest increasing numbers of ground forces into Libya to defend the eastern provinces against Qaddafi reasserting control.
I’m really interested in hearing Obama speak tonight. I want to hear how he explains that Libya is more strategically important to the U.S. than Syria (and by extension Iran).
I apologize for choosing “War” for this post’s category, but I did not have one for “Kinetic Military Action.”
I’m interested if anyone has seen this in the mainstream media. Not on a website, but on the news broadcasts. I know if Christians were torching Muslims’ homes and setting fire to 50 mosques, it would be an international incident.
Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in Western Ethiopia after Muslim extremists set fire to roughly 50 churches and dozens of Christian homes.
At least one Christian has been killed, many more have been injured and anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 have been displaced in the attacks that began March 2 after a Christian in the community of Asendabo was accused of desecrating the Koran.
James Bays, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Benghazi, said there is a “thank you” rally taking place there.
People have gathered to thank Britain, France, the UN, and Qatar – the reason for it is to thank international nations that have taken part in this air campaign.
No thanks for the United States? That’s what we get for helping the Libyan “rebels” whoever the hell they are.
America has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the world.
How can one man screw up so many things in two years? The question going on is, can someone really be as inept as Barack Obama, or is he on a mission to destroy America? The answer seems to be both.
And how is he doing in Libya? Let’s review where we are at:
If we were going to act in Libya, the time to act in Libya would have been two weeks ago. Since then, Gadaffi has killed likely tens of thousands, displaced more, and hidden many of his weapons. A coalition is great news, but not at the expense of the mission.
The Arab League said, sure U.S.A. and allies, go get him, invoke the no-fly zone. And, as usual, we are not asking the oil rich states to pay for any of it. Nah, it’s on us, we’ve got plenty of money! Oh, by the way, now The Arab League is upset with us going in too strong.
At first, boy-President Obama summoned up the courage to tell Gaddafi to leave the country. But now, maybe it’s okay if the Michael Jackson look-alike stays in power as long as he abides by a cease fire.
The French are leading the way. The French! If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right and as the world’s #1 superpower, let’s lead.
There is no identified mission in Libya, there is no plan for the Middle East, and Obama cannot even identify the overall problem in the area: islamic fundamentalism.
And what’s our Spectator-in-Chief doing while Libya burns, the Middle East turmoil spreads, Japan glows after drowning after shaking, the budget battle rages and the economy heads for a double dip? After a week of fundraisers, parties, golfing, appearing on ESPN with his basketball picks, he and a few hundred others are headed off to Rio for a family vacation.
And by the way, maybe this is a dumb question, but why are we always saving Islamists?
My grandfather was a Rear Admiral in the Pacific in World War II. A man of Reaganesque stature, he dedicated his life to fighting for freedom and to sustaining American exceptionalism. As my friend just told me this morning as he pointed out a WSJ opinion piece, the Admiral would be rolling over in his grave if he could see what has happened to the U.S. Navy since he passed away in the early 90′s. It’s worth your time to read the sad WSJ commentary, The Decline of U.S. Naval Power. Good luck America.
Al Qaeda is hoping the world keeps their eyes fixated on Libya, so they can work to disrupt oil and gas and work to overturn governments elsewhere. From Debka this morning:
Iraq’s biggest oil refinery at Baiji, 180 kilometers north of Baghdad, was blown up early Saturday, Feb. 26, by an Al Qaeda cell activated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Al Qods Brigades…Thursday night, Feb. 24, saw the first signs of unrest in Saudi Arabia with demonstrations by young people demanding reforms of the kingdom’s system of government and by Shiites living and working in the kingdom’s oil-rich eastern regions…They also demanded the release of detainees rounded up by Saudi security authorities among the two million Shiites living and working in the main oil centers of Saudi Arabia to nip potential unrest in the bud.
If you haven’t seen this stunning interview yet, where the Assistant Director of the Port of San Diego slips up and admits they’ve found “Weapons of “Mass Effect,” watch it now. A public affairs official interrupted the officer during the interview saying they would provide more information later, but the Department of Homeland Security, responding 23 days later, said the officer was “confused” and “nervous.”
Right, just like that mysterious missile launch off the coast of California last November was just a jet contrail. Uh Huh.
Local TV station Channel 10 in San Diego was interviewing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Port of San Diego, when this amazing conversation took place:
Blacher: “So, specifically, you’re looking for the dirty bomb? You’re looking for the nuclear device?”
Hallor: “Correct. Weapons of mass effect.”
Blacher: “You ever found one?”
Hallor: “Not at this location.”
Blacher: “But they have found them?”
Hallor: “Yes.”
Blacher: “You never found one in San Diego though?”
Hallor: “I would say at the port of San Diego we have not.”
Blacher: “Have you found one in San Diego?”
The interview was interrupted before Hallor was able to answer the question.
I’ll bet it was interrupted, and quick. You can read more about it here and here and all these here.
A powerful and controversial new movie is out today: Iranium, the Movie. The original January 6, 2011 press release begins:
Iranium, a new documentary film addressing the dangers posed by a nuclear Iran to the United States and the international community, will be released on February 8, 2011, at select AMC theaters and community centers throughout the country.
R. Arthur Beckles: Barack Obama is President of all Americans, not just of African-Americans! It’s difficult for all working class Americans – black, white, brown, etc. African-Americans who don’t want to vote for Obama, can feel free to do so. But do they think that their lot...
keith: wow. Whos got the bigger stick, My @!(k is bigger than yours, your country my country, my countries poor is richer than yours. the truth of it is that in the end the civilians are going to feel the brunt of this economic downfall. i live in the U.S. and there are over 200 multi...
Anonymous: I agree with many of the above. I know people from both the US and Europe that are on disability because of health problems and the one person in Europe is receiving much more help than are the US citizens.
Sunday: BTW, before you ask why two adults only received $240 a week for unemployment, just remember that you can only receive unemployment if you were laid off. If you were fired or quit, you cannot receive unemployment. In my case, I got ill, and FMLA only applies to people who have worked at a...
EriktheRed: I like how it’s “fortunate that the crisis is confined to the E.U.”- what’s unemployment in the U.S. right now? How about the millions of foreclosures you’ve had already? Tent cities, anyone? Deficit spending at $3.5 bn a DAY? HMM!
David, Self Defense Retailer: Really? Why in the world are they doing that for Gitmo detainees? A whole soccer field? Outrageous! Maybe the EU really won’t last.
David, Stun Gun Supplier: It’s the next bubble. I wonder what Romney has to say about this. Obama’s made himself clear in his typical way. It’ll probably be worse than housing when it does.
See I told you: Who didn’t see this coming . Put a communist organizer in the White house and just wait. To bad the American populace lacks true intellect or is it just that the dummies out number the smart 20 to 1. Probably the latter. Obvious who controlls the vote with those kind of...
James: After a seriously obese person has had fat removal procedures, his/her flesh sags where excess fat used to be. World population should never have risen this high. It will be reduced. Through lower birth rates; or by more traditional means: war, disease, famine, cannabalism. I’m not a...
JoAnn: I have a real problem with Obama borrowing money to send to Greece when so many people in this country who have lost long term jobs,lost homes,living on the street, little or no food. I vote to take Obama and his family if they want to go and DROP them on a desert island some where just so...
Arkansas Slim: Update. Oil hit 105 per barrel yesterday, 2 20 12. Gas US Avg => 3.50 per gallon. Cloward Piven Theory of Economics: Tipping point of US Electorate => 51%. Nevada odds for Obama RE Election 6/10 on thier sport boards. EU/Greece set to collapse, dominos arranged. Socialistic...
kkl: America is now turning mediocre no more fun no more trips or vacations 100 bucks to fill gas tank and pasta and ramen noodles for life for usa there is no more hope no more fun just work go home work go home fill up gas tank eat shit and work no more fun thanks for nothing nobama i hope you...
Chris Marshall: Hi Janice, I just wanted to know, how would you be able to get a good investment out of the Whole Life Insurance if it costs really high? The projections usually given out by “Financial Advisors” that 12% is the usual earnings specially if it is invested in TSX or NYX...
Agent: Walt Disney funded Disney World by using the cash value in his whole life policy. You can’t say that was a mistake. Buy term for a specific need/period and buy whole for a permanent need or if you need your life insurance past age 65.
Forex Agent: As a financial advisor what I tell clients is that the main purpose of a life insurance policy is to provide a death benefit. Whether term, some sort of permanent life insurance, or a combination of the two is most appropriate depends on a number of factors including the...
Cindy: Before long they will, if not already, invade and keep track of everything you do including the privacy of your own home exploiting you and demanding that you worship them. You will be powerless to control it so you will have two choices…… ;kiss butt or commit suicide.
Space Cadet: don’t be rediculous. Glass Steagall is a red hearing. This problem is much farther reaching, from before the Nixon Administration. He took the US off the gold standard which was the pillar of the US dollar, and the reason it is the world currancy. He did that because the US...
Hervy: Very good advice, same as I give when talking to people. Clark Howard and Dave Ramsey are both good sources of information that is inline with what is written here at EC. Another good website that i tell people to go to in order to get an easy calculation of how much insurance to buy is...
BenP: This is part of the cannon fodder that will be used against Obama in 2012 and his administration. It’s not that he is horrible (he is) or worse than any other President (about the same), its that examples like these can be used to show the devil you know has got to be worse than the...
Lauren: Personally I think you sound like an idiot. The NIH spent 55,000 to promote a vacine that does not exist and, one of which, they would not fund to discover in the first place(yes, it’s ture look it up). If someone lives in an area with a lot of storms they already understand the...
Matt USA: I know I’m a little late to this discussion, but I think that the economic collapse scenario has changed somewhat in recent weeks. It appears that Europe will go first, followed by the United States who has gambled and lost on a TARP style European bailout. The real question for...
Kim: Marcy, Rep. Alan Grayson said in the attached youtube video in 2010 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both own stock in MERS. How much stock and when did they own it? Would this explain their current actions? Did they move loans out of MERS and into Fannie Mae for the tax payers to bail out?...
China: @Serban Enache , You Are Wrong We are In Lot Of Trouble and you Know This , Starting In 2012 We will have Many Many Different Problems , We The Government Is Paying For All This Building , We Know Our Own Citizens Can’t Afford This Type Of Live Style , but we are building it Any way...
City On a Shining Hill: “The problem with socialism, i.e., the failed economic system being adopted by so many nations in the world today, is that in funding entitlement programs voters want in their politicians and having governments fund retirement, health care, education, etc, is that...
Rider I: How the US has historically used mineral rushes to get it out of Deficits and stop foreign economic take over. In the US’s historical past the Druids have used and impressed upon the US leadership to use mineral resources to stop economic warfare, along with military take over....
Financial Collapse: Everyone needs to get this correct… (REPOST ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK) America is controlled by the 3 privately owned states (district of columbia, the city of london, and the vatican.) Each has it’s own flag, pays no taxes and has it’s own laws. All 3 are part of...
Tm Newman: I graduated with my B.A. in psych/soc a year ago. Interned teaching math and English to fourth and seventh graders. The school shut down due to lack of funding. All the kids got shipped off to public school. I can’t find a position in my field, and there are no teaching jobs in...
hefsmaster: Been a slow couple weeks since the downgrade. News wise that is. But it gave me more time to coin a phrase. You’re a true libertarian when you piss everybody off. Which explains why everybody thinks were nuts and relegated to being a third wheel in politics. Well call me and...
PeacefulPatriot: The worst is yet to come in the realm of austere measures to keep up appearances on the global markets. The truth though is quite obvious to the sane members of society, we have reached a break point and it is the Systemic collapse of the post-industrial globalization bubble. All...
Serban Enache: Pearl Harbos was orchestrated as an operation years before WW2, by the British empire in conjunction with Imperial Japan. The japanese elite didn’t surrender even when they did not have any hope of wining, let alone after Hiroshima, though I don’t agree with the two...
hefsmaster: No, despite these guys obvious failings. He is exactly right. You think japan would have attacked us without any allies. Pearl harbor is an effect from a cause. Without hitler, point is mute. By the way lee, you haven’t copied anything in a while. You a congressman?
Serban Enache: This Larry Summers has some nerve. Is he trying to say that Hitler attacked Pearl Harbor?
Gordon Shumway: Two questions: 1. Why is it a felony for an individual to print money, but evidence of a keen insight into the arcane world of macroeconomics when a bankster does the same thing, only on a vastly greater scale? 2. Since those who are running the Fed and Treasury are supposed to be...
tim: i for one will not pay a single dr bill my sickness is caused by our government let’s take it back already raped and brusied lady liberty is not what she stood for so many years lets scrap the statue that means so little any more freedom is prison in america try being disabled for 20...
tim: well about time someone in power noticed what wool us seniors have to face daily after food shopping go to my drug store same tricks and and cost is up 25 percent then dr co-pays up another 20 % what will we do when money social security doesnt go far enough to keep us healthy
Space Cadet: Does it matter how we got here? The people in charge ‘think’ they are so smart that they will finesse our way out, while staying in power and making a ton of money for their pals. We will be left to pick up the tab and clean up the mess, as usual. My neighbors just got...