Usa Thread

[Flashermac]

"The source of the claim that concerns over the bullet buys are a conspiracy theory or “misleading,†is a February 14 Associated Press report which did not conduct any actual investigation into why the DHS was purchasing the ammo, instead regurgitating a statement from DHS official Peggy Dixon, who claimed the bullets were bought in bulk to save money and were for training purposes only.

 

As we have tirelessly noted, however, hollow point bullets are completely unsuitable for training purposes because they cost significantly more money compared to standard firing range bullets. In one fell swoop, this fact debunks claims that the agency was attempting to save money argument and is intending to use the ammo in training exercises.

 

Military veterans and ammunition experts have also confirmed that they have never used hollow points for training purposes, expressing confusion at why the DHS is buying up so many of them."

 

Gonna shoot a lot of Mexicans?

 

"Amidst all the so-called “debunkings†of the bullet buys, the aforementioned media sources have also conveniently omitted details regarding the DHS’ purchase of 7,000 fully automatic assault rifles, as well as a $2 million dollar relationship with a contractor that recently had to apologize for producing shooting targets of pregnant women, children and elderly gun owners depicted in residential settings."

 

 

http://www.infowars....-buys-implodes/

 

 

Over to you, Cav.

[Flashermac]

Obama's Middle East policy in tatters

 

 

U.S is now less popular in the region than at the end of the George W. Bush administration.

 

 

President Obama's first journey to Israel as president comes amid earth-shattering change in Middle East, much of it for the worse. The Arab Spring, which once raised hopes of freedom and dignity, has diverged onto the dark path of Islamist authoritarian rule. In Syria, tens of thousands of people have died in a bitter civil war that might have recently seen its first use of chemical weapons. And Iran continues its march toward nuclear weapons capability, heedless of international condemnation. Obama's effort to seek peace between Palestinians and Israelis is in tatters.

 

That's why the White House has been lowering expectations for Obama's trip to Israel all this week. He will announce no new peace plan, grand design or major foreign policy initiative. His advisers are calling the trip a "listening tour." That is what you call a state visit when you have little to say.

 

Failed beginning

 

Despite downgrading the trip, many see Obama's arrival as the sequel to his 2009 visit to Cairo, where he announced a "new beginning" with the Muslim world. Four years later, that doesn't auger well for renewed efforts in Israel and the West Bank. According to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, confidence in Obama in Muslim countries dropped from 33% to 24% in his first term. Approval of Obama's policies declined even further, from 34% to 15%. And support for the United States in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Pakistan is lower today than it was in 2008 in the closing year of George W. Bush's administration. That collapse of support has not happened elsewhere.

 

In his Cairo speech, Obama pledged a relationship between America and Muslims around the world "based on mutual interest and mutual respect." But in 2013, interests are diverging, and respect is in short supply.

 

Of all the strained relationships in the Middle East, the partnership with Israel is the most important and potentially the most easily repaired. Obama is not popular in the country. A poll released last week showed he had a scant 10% approval rating in Israel, with an additional 32% saying they respect but don't like him. But the president is making significant symbolic gestures to heal the breach, such as visiting the grave site of Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism. It's being interpreted as showing support for the Jewish people's historic connection to the land of Israel, something Obama avoided in his first term.

 

Unpopular in Palestine

 

 

If Israelis don't like Obama, Palestinians are even less favorable.Washington's perceived failure to take a harder line with Israel over the final status of Jerusalem, and U.S. opposition to President Mahmoud Abbas' successful campaign for higher Palestinian status in the United Nations, have engendered a deep sense of frustration. Passions spilled over in Bethlehem this week, when young Palestinians defaced a billboard with Obama's image and burned pictures of him in the streets. Obama's symbolic nods to Israel's history are likely to raise Palestinian ire even further.

 

The hope that Obama will say the right things in Thursday's speech at Jerusalem's convention center is negated by doubts he will follow through. The president has to assure Israelis and Palestinians that he is still engaged if the peace process has any chance of moving forward. In part, this means convincing them that he still matters.

 

 

http://www.usatoday....column/2004343/

[acockasian]

If US aid to Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians stopped they would all be better off.

[Plainsdrifter]

Unfortunately, the prospects for peace in the Middle East is not very promising. The Israeli political situation is too fragmented for there to be a leader strong enough to enter into peace talks. On the Palestinian side, Abbas doesn't enjoy support among all Palestinians, only a majority in the West Bank. Until this situation on the ground changes there will not be peace talks or peace followed by two states.Obama, or any US president, can only play a supporting role facilitating the peace process.

 

Another thing that is holding back peace between the two sides is the, yet to unwind, "Arab Spring."

Israel cannot give ground and watch the Palestinians turn Islamic a la The Brotherhood. The Palestinians will not enter into talks and give ground if they believe they can achieve the same result with a militant Islamic evolution. When both sides feel it is in their own interests to talk and compromise there will be peace.

[Plainsdrifter]

If US aid to Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians stopped they would all be better off.

Unfortunately that would only result in other powers stepping in with their own aid. I would hate to see Iran enter the game with aid like they did in Syria. Look at the result there.

 

With their aid, the US is only paying to remain in the game. That is why the US aids both sides of the conflict.

[cavanami]

"The source of the claim that concerns over the bullet buys are a conspiracy theory or “misleading,†is a February 14 Associated Press report which did not conduct any actual investigation into why the DHS was purchasing the ammo, instead regurgitating a statement from DHS official Peggy Dixon, who claimed the bullets were bought in bulk to save money and were for training purposes only.

 

As we have tirelessly noted, however, hollow point bullets are completely unsuitable for training purposes because they cost significantly more money compared to standard firing range bullets. In one fell swoop, this fact debunks claims that the agency was attempting to save money argument and is intending to use the ammo in training exercises.

 

Military veterans and ammunition experts have also confirmed that they have never used hollow points for training purposes, expressing confusion at why the DHS is buying up so many of them."

 

Gonna shoot a lot of Mexicans?

 

"Amidst all the so-called “debunkings†of the bullet buys, the aforementioned media sources have also conveniently omitted details regarding the DHS’ purchase of 7,000 fully automatic assault rifles, as well as a $2 million dollar relationship with a contractor that recently had to apologize for producing shooting targets of pregnant women, children and elderly gun owners depicted in residential settings."

 

 

http://www.infowars....-buys-implodes/

 

 

Over to you, Cav.

 

If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...no conspiracy theory needed...

 

15 Members of Congress Demand Investigation of Obama’s Ammo Horde

 

http://www.infowars.com/congressman-dhs-bullet-buys-aimed-at-restricting-ammo/

 

Californian Congressman Doug LaMalfa and 14 of his House peers have written a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding to know why the federal agency is buying so many rounds of ammunition and whether the purchases are part of a deliberate attempt to restrict supply to the American people...

[acockasian]

Unfortunately that would only result in other powers stepping in with their own aid. I would hate to see Iran enter the game with aid like they did in Syria. Look at the result there.

 

With their aid, the US is only paying to remain in the game. That is why the US aids both sides of the conflict.

 

Excuse me.....are you serious? Do you actually beleive this?

[Plainsdrifter]

well I don't agree with your statement that they would all be better off without receiving US aid.

[acockasian]

well I don't agree with your statement that they would all be better off without receiving US aid.

The US taxpayer would be far better off. Money spent violating the basic human rights of Palestinians could be spent in America violating the basic human rights of Americans.

 

Drone technology is getting so cheap that it is hard to be optimistic about the future for Israel as that is really not an area where there are a lot of countermeasures.

 

Do you think that Israel should remain as the biggest single destination for US foriegn aid indefinately?

[TheCorinthian]

Not true???

 

Your link??? proof it is not true???

 

I ask as their "no answering questions" is making some news

 

Sure. Google is your friend. These are just the top three to come up on the search. I think the guy saying they are not talking to him either missed the memo or just did not read (or google) it.

 

http://dailycaller.c...f-handgun-ammo/

 

http://www.cbn.com/c...ing-Up-on-Ammo/

 

http://www.foxnews.c...o-many-bullets/

 

Info on the hollow point ammo:

 

http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/ssabullets.asp