On a Scale

We have all been asked that question in some form or another… On a scale from 1 to 10 how would you rate…? In 1978, I received my first collegiate ring. With a stone of deep blue, it was crested on its center with the scales of justice, reflective of my degree in criminal justice. The scale of justice is held high in the one hand of Lady Justice, who is blindfolded and carrying a sword in her other hand. Blind to preference, to position, status, race or creed, wealth or poverty; she remains in our history as a noble representative of what our system of justice should be. I know many noble minded persons who have dedicated their lives to being certain that the scales of justice are, in fact, balanced before the weight of true and tested evidence can be brought before determiners of guilt or innocence. Her shelf original name in the Latin is Justitia, the Roman goddess of justice and she is often accompanied by Prudentia the goddess whose name is contracted from providentia the ability to see the future as a sage might discern how best to proceed. Representing the ideal of governing and disciplining oneself by reason, Prudentia’s accoutrements of a mirror and a snake allude to careful reflection and caution in moving forward. The Greek’s, whose gods and goddesses aligned with most of the Roman’s, called Prudentia ϕρονησιϛ (https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/tag/prudence-latin-prudentia) which is now usually translated as practical wisdom or rational choice. Together the pair would call for a careful weighing of all evidence upon the merits of each, alone and then choosing the best course for discipline.

What brought me to consider Lady Justice was a set of the scales of justice which I own. I was looking over a few items that adorn the library area of my study when it caught my eye. There sits, front and center the scales of justice and above it is the American and Christian flags, two symbols of my heritage, my faith, and my loyalty. Immediately to the left of the American flag is a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Immediately to the right of the Christian flag is a Bible from my father, which was given to him by a military chaplain, as he was recovering from wounds received when his ship was sunk off the coast of Normandy, June 6, 1944. Also there, among a few of the memories of my police and military service, stand three American Eagles from a larger set. These three are titled, “Courage Honor Sacrifice”, “Never Surrender” and “Never Forget”. The trio set the tone for what this small display means to me.

Among the books visible in the photograph are ones from the Ohio Retired Police Chiefs’ Association, a book from my time at the FBI National Academy and a book from my basic training days with the United States Air Force. More than my article or the information about me inside these books, each reminds me of people that reflect the titles carried by the three eagle sculptures.

Two retired chiefs, one who was gone before the Ohio Retired Police Chiefs Association was born and another who has been the heartbeat of the organization and the motivation behind many of my writings on honor within our ranks. They represent well Courage, Honor, Sacrifice. One was Chief George Ziga of the Alliance, Ohio Police Department and the other Chief Marion Taylor of the North Olmsted, Ohio Police Department. Near death, Chief Ziga admonished me, a young chief then, to stay true to my God, my values, my family and my profession. Anyone who ever knew Chief Ziga would tell you he represented the model for each of those objectives. Knowing Chief Taylor, his professionalism is informed by his Christian faith.

From the NA came a man, an FBI Special Agent, that I got to know while he was an instructor at Quantico. Now, a plaque and an annual service award commemorate his service which ended while on special assignment in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war in the mid-1990’s; less than ten years since I first met Livio A. Beccaccio. He is the epitome of Never Surrender. The award named for him is inscribed as follows: “The Livio A. Beccaccio Award is a living memorial presented to a FBI National Academy Associate member who has demonstrated exemplary character through an act of heroism, outstanding community service, innovation in law enforcement, or leadership reflective of that by which FBI Special Agent Livio A. Beccaccio lived.”

(http://www.fbinaa.org/FBINAA/About_Us/Awards___Scholarships/FBINAA/Members_Only/Awards_and_Scholarships.aspx?hkey=0346bbf8-a0ce-4a5b-87cc-65f5ffb87148)

Finally, from my days at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, at the tail-end of the Vietnam War, a SSgt who took on a rag-tag flight of trainees, who had been to hell and back with our first TI who suffered severely with PTSD in the days of Vietnam when such a diagnosis was unknown. He was likely tagged as ‘shell shocked sergeant’ who probably never received any help. Our second TI, SSgt Gillam was a man of character and morals who knew his own true north. He took us from not knowing which end of the rifle the bullets exited to men prepared to move on in training and ready to head into harm’s way, if so ordered. He had seen and understood the cost of Vietnam and he stands strong as a model airman to never forget our POWs & MIAs, all our veterans, but particularly those from Vietnam; nor would SSgt. Gillam ever expect us to forget 9-11. Four men who represent the strength of the U.S.A.’s justice.

The bedrock of our criminal justice system, here in America, rests upon the scales of Lady Justice. Our honor is passed as a torch from those chiefs who took their oath with their hand upon the Bible and their hearts indwelt by the God of that Bible. Our freedom comes from the sacrifices like Livio Beccaccio, thousands of other fallen officers and even more men and women who don the shield every day and stand that thin blue line. Our heritage is passed to our next generations when we remember those who fought valiantly on foreign shores and here at home to keep the flag of America flying high.

Just as the banner of red and white stripes and shining white stars on a field of blue continue to fly and represent the most blessed nation on the face of the Earth, so too must our faith in the One Lord God who made us One in Him, compel us to live by faith and not by sight. We will always know times of trouble in our land and often they come from our own actions or our failure to act. But we, as citizens of America and saints of the Kingdom of God can know that Christ has already won the final victory. He calls us to remain faithful to our calling and to take up our cross and follow Him!

I know that there isn’t some fantasy goddess who holds the scales of justice in her hands. God’s Word informs me that it is Christ who brings justice. Isaiah prophesied and Matthew recorded Jesus quoting the prophet, ““Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.” (Matthew 12:18 NKJV) Speaking of the role of police officers, Jesus also said, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4 NKJV)

It should be no wonder to us that, as I thought about those items on my shelf, those men came to mind in such a context. Each one of them were men of faith. They lived out remarkable witnesses because of that faith. Not one would claim any greatness on his own and certainly none would lay any claim to being anything apart from what they are within the Lord.

Law enforcement today is much maligned by the liberal media. Christians are too. Both are in good company since Christ, Himself, was counted among the criminals, scoffed at, beaten and abused. In America, the system may not be perfect, still though, the admonition of John Adams, a founding father and president concerning our legal system is upheld. “Better that ten guilty men go free than one innocent man convicted.” The scales of justice balance out pretty well. Compared to other places I have seen firsthand, I’m proud to live and have served in America’s criminal justice system where restoration is possible for those who choose wisely. Likewise, for those who choose unwisely, there are consequences. On a scale of 1 to 10… I’ll score a ten that I’d rather be tried for something I’ve been alleged to do here in the United States than anywhere else in the world. I praise God that my life and my family are under the protection of American police officers and I thank Him daily for every single one of them and pray for their safety.

Security Forecasting in Historical Contexts

“America will never be destroyed from the outside… if we falter…because we destroyed ourselves”

SCI on global view

The following article is produced and presented under the auspices of Security Consulting Investigations, LLC (SCI). Any reprint, reproduction or presentation of this material must provide the name of the author, the title of the article in full and an accurate portrayal of the information presented. Written permission from the author or from SCI is not required. Notification of republication or reprinting of the article would be appreciated by the author and by SCI. Our purpose is to assist the security and intelligence world through dialogue.

Dr. Ross L. Riggs

On May 18, 2016, Egypt Air Flight 804 disappears from 37,000 feet over the Mediterranean Sea. A blip disappears from an air traffic controller’s radar screen and 66 people vanish. Before noon in Belgium on March 22, 2016 three separate bombs packed with nails explode killing 32 and injuring over 300 in an airport and a metro station. According to one source, in the last 30 days (prior to May 19^,2016), “During this time period, there were 174 Islamic attacks in 23 countries, in which 1491 people were killed and 2103 injured.”[i] (A full list of those attacks are available on the website.) What are we to do? Do we wring our hands and declare All is Lost, like the frantic cartoon character in an animated movie about the ice age? Do we reject all facts that have been uncovered about terrorism in the 21^st Century? Perhaps we should simply heed a quote by a 19^th century author, “When all is lost, there is always the future.”[ii] (emphasis added)

HISTORY, recent American history that is within the last two centuries, has shown thoughtful leaders to be incredibly astute and foreseeing the very future that the world is living in during this second decade of the 21^st century. A review of some of the specific statements is appropriate. A good place to begin is with Theodore Roosevelt. In 1901, Mr. T. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States. He was the youngest man ever elected to this high office; but even still, he had amassed a great deal of experience upon the international scene before becoming president. He had been Secretary of the Navy and during the Spanish American War he organized the first volunteer cavalry unit which became known as the Rough Riders. In 1916 he penned a book titled, “Fear God, Take Your Part.” In it he foretells the tragedies we have brought upon ourselves in America and across the world. Why do I say that we have brought it upon ourselves? Very simply, we did not heed the words of such men as Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

Mr. Roosevelt wrote, “Christianity is not the creed of Asia and Africa at this moment solely because the seventh century Christians of Asia and Africa had trained themselves not to fight, whereas the Moslems were trained to fight. Christianity was saved in Europe solely because the peoples of Europe fought. If the peoples of Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries, and on up to and including the 17th century, had not possessed a military equality with, and gradually a growing superiority over the Mohammedans who invaded Europe, Europe would at this moment be Mohammedan and the Christian religion would be exterminated.” He went on to say that, “Wherever the Mohammedans have had complete sway, wherever the Christians have been unable to resist them by the sword, Christianity has ultimately disappeared. From the hammer of Charles Martel to the sword of Jan Sobieski, Christianity owed its safety in Europe to the fact that it was able to show that it could and would fight as well as the Mohammedan aggression.”[iii] A quick statement for clarity may be in order here. For those readers not well-informed regarding the history of al Qaeda or ISIS; who are known today as radical Islamists are followers of Mohammad from the late 6^th and early 7^th century and in the parlance of the early 20^th century, they would be known as Mohammedans.

In 1838, 22 years before the Civil War and 78 years before President Roosevelt’s writing, another American president warned the citizens of the United States about what could eventually destroy America. Then, a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln wrote: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”[iv] Of course, during the dark years of the Civil War and even the rocky re-start in the years following Lincoln’s assassination, America almost did destroy itself from the inside, literally.

Yet, his words were not just foretelling the peril of those Civil War years. A much deeper and long-term warning is also captured in his words. By the shear arrogance of the citizens of the U.S. to believe that their shores were inviolate, that no force would ever dare reach out a hand again against the greatest nation in the world that had been born in the conflict and fiery conflagrations that were World War II; we failed to understand what was going on in the rest of the world. Across the seas Islam was continuing to make in-roads across the Middle East and into the Balkans and tearing at the soft-underbelly of Europe, all-the-while, much of Africa was in flames from the radical Wahhabi Muslims.

Of course, in those post-WWII years, Americans did worry that Communists would seek to find some way to destroy their nation. Communism loomed so large in the minds of Americans that the U.S. became myopic and saw no other threat to the American way of life except the Communists. Thousands upon thousands of young men and women would die to repel that threat in far-flung nations across the globe.

Another popular president voiced those concerns of Communism very succinctly and in doing so, he brought that threat to what appeared to be its end. Astutely, he redirected America’s mindset to begin to see a different threat, as yet unperceived in 1980. It was the same Mohammedans that President Roosevelt had forewarned the U.S. about sixty-four years earlier. President Ronald Reagan went before the American people on a weekly radio address May 31^st, 1986, almost exactly thirty years ago. He declared the following:

My fellow Americans:

History is likely to record that 1986 was the year when the world, at long last, came to grips with the plague of terrorism. For too long, the world was paralyzed by the argument that terrorism could not be stopped until the grievances of terrorists were addressed. The complicated and heartrending issues that perplex mankind are no excuse for violent, inhumane attacks, nor do they excuse not taking aggressive action against those who deliberately slaughter innocent people.

In our world there are innumerable groups and organizations with grievances, some justified, some not. Only a tiny fraction has been ruthless enough to try to achieve their ends through vicious and cowardly acts of violence upon unarmed victims. Perversely, it is often the terrorists themselves who prevent peacefully negotiated solutions. So, perhaps the first step in solving some of these fundamental challenges in getting to the root cause of conflict is to declare that terrorism is not an acceptable alternative and will not be tolerated.

Effective antiterrorist action has also been thwarted by the claim that—as the quip goes—”One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” That’s a catchy phrase, but also misleading. Freedom fighters do not need to terrorize a population into submission. Freedom fighters target the military forces and the organized instruments of repression keeping dictatorial regimes in power. Freedom fighters struggle to liberate their citizens from oppression and to establish a form of government that reflects the will of the people. Now, this is not to say that those who are fighting for freedom are perfect or that we should ignore problems arising from passion and conflict. Nevertheless, one has to be blind, ignorant, or simply unwilling to see the truth if he or she is unable to distinguish between those I just described and terrorists. Terrorists intentionally kill or maim unarmed civilians, often women and children, often third parties who are not in any way part of a dictatorial regime. Terrorists are always the enemies of democracy. Luckily, the world is shaking free from its lethargy and moving forward to stop the bloodshed.

Nearly a month ago in Tokyo, the leaders of the major Western democracies hammered out an agreement on tough measures to eradicate this evil. Ironically the progress made in Tokyo is now imperiled by a lack of consistent support at home. For nearly a year now a handful of United States Senators have held up approval of a supplementary extradition treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom. This agreement, when ratified, would prevent terrorists who have kidnaped, killed, or maimed people in Britain from finding refuge in our country. Today these killers are able to do just that by labeling their vile acts as political. Well, in Tokyo the democracies declared there is no political or any other justification for terrorist acts and those who commit them should be brought to justice. The world is watching. If actions by a few Senators allow terrorists to find safe haven in the United States, then there will be irreparable damage. Refusal to approve the supplementary treaty would undermine our ability to pressure other countries to extradite terrorists who have murdered our citizens. And rejection of this treaty would be an affront to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, one European leader who, at great political risk, stood shoulder to shoulder with us during our operations against Qadhafi’s terrorism.

Some members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have gone so far as to prepare a substitute treaty permitting those who have murdered British policemen and soldiers, for so-called political reasons, to avoid extradition. Well, this substitute is not a compromise; it’s retreat. Its passage would be a victory for terrorism and a defeat for all we’ve been trying to do to stop this evil. One concern about the treaty is that it may set a precedent for other treaties, which will then be used against those who simply oppose totalitarian regimes. We can never permit that to happen. Our country will always remain the beacon of hope and freedom to all oppressed peoples.

I therefore urge the Senate to promptly approve the revised treaty and reinforce the momentum building against terrorism. With good sense, courage, and international cooperation, our struggle against terrorism will be won. And the United States will lead the way into a freer and more peaceful tomorrow.

Until next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you.[v]

America has been blessed with some very brilliant leaders. These three presidents stand head and shoulders above many who have sought and won this highest office in the land. Many citizens are discouraged by what they see in the politics of today. The effective leadership that is so critical for this nation and the world in these days seems almost non-existent in the halls of federal government. Those currently holding high office and those aspiring to it are not made of the mettle that is so needed in these days. A recent article that involves Israel’s battle against terrorism may help to provide some encouragement to the many Americans who hear the Dodo birds of that same Ice Age movie, stalking along behind the weaker of their flock, menacingly repeating, ‘Doom On You, Doom On You.’

Professor Boaz Ganor was quoted in an article in the International Jerusalem Post asking the question, “How should we deal with this new wave of terrorism in Israel?” The conclusion to which the professor arrived is applicable across the world stage as well as for Israel. First he makes the point that terrorists must continually be evolving and reassessing the crimes that they commit against humanity. They cannot remain at a singular line of attack or a monochrome plan of terror. In the same way, those who battle terrorism, counter-terrorist officials, must also be continually re-assessing, evolving in their methods. Professor Ganor explains it this way: “Terrorism is a dynamic phenomenon. Both sides – terrorists and security officials – are constantly in a learning competition, processing and internalizing the enemy’s methods of operation. They try to pinpoint the enemy’s ‘underbelly’ and match it with effective methods. Therefore, not every change in terrorism’s modus operandi constitutes an escalation.”[vi] The professor not only hits on the issue of this continuing counter-balancing dance that must be orchestrated among those who kill and maim and those who try to stop them; but, also on the effect that media plays in depicting every new nuance of a terrorist organization’s tactics as an escalation. The heartbeat of the issue resides in asking ourselves, “What is it that we have learned from history that can aid us in preventing terrorist attacks in the future?” Professor Ganor replies, “Doing so requires preventive measures to drain the murky swamp from which extremism, violence and terrorism grow; thwarting measures, which are aimed at foiling terrorist attacks before they are carried out and operative measures designed to bring terrorist attacks to an end quickly and minimize their damage.”[vii]

Return to the observation that the not-yet President Lincoln made regarding the destruction of America. He said that if America is to be destroyed it would be from within. In my most recent book, “Stretching the Thin Blue Line: Policing America in Times of Heightened Threat” I conclude that one of the single most critical factors in stopping terrorist acts against our country is strengthening the home and the appropriate male leadership of the fathers in each home. If America is to be destroyed it will be from within. If it is to be saved it will be from within. Americans must return to their faith and to seek the face of their Father and the strength of the home will grow from that relationship. Yes, we need operative measures designed to bring terrorist attacks to an end quickly; but again, as I make the case in my book, we can also have operative plans that will allow us to stop terrorist acts before they begin.

There need not be a cry of ‘All is Lost!’ There need not be the specters of evil swooping down over our society, eerily repeating, ‘Doom On You!’[viii] On the international stage there must be a coordinated, cohesive all-out Allied offensive that strikes at the armament and personnel of the enemies of civilization. There must be the same coordinated, comprehensive fiscal attack to drain these entities of every nickel they have in the financial markets, and even if it seems as if the terrorist organizations are an instantly replicating and reproducing Hydra of Lerna that bursts forth a new head every time one is decapitated; know that the one who perseveres will ultimately be victorious. We must not, as the Bible directs us, lose heart in doing good. America must learn from history. There is nothing new under the sun, as King Solomon long ago surmised. Within such a historical context, leaders can find the fore-knowledge of what is going to be the most effective means for combating the evil that is lurking upon our doorsteps. Professor Ganor used the analogy of draining the murky swamp where the extremism, violence and terrorism grow and that drain plug is in the hand of every father who is raising his family and the ideals to which he ascribes. We will win back our safety and our security when we allow the God of the Bible to do what He said He would do for us in Malachi 4:5-6, “I will send you Elijah… and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”[ix]

[i] http://thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=Last30

[ii] http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/christiann122675.html

[iii] http://www.wnd.com/2015/10/even-teddy-roosevelt-warned-of-islamic-danger/#g37K6g21jYst5oYK.99

[iv] http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamlin143183.html

[v] http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=37376

[vi] The International Jerusalem Post, April 8-14, 2016.

[vii] The International Jerusalem Post, April 8-14, 2016.

[viii] IMBd.com/Disney Pixar/ICE AGE

[ix] Malachi 4:5-6

RLR Bio

How Many Politicians Does It Take to Destroy a Country? A few thoughts on the untimely crash of Ukraine’s Parliament

And, the president of the country is trying to wage a war against a life-blood neighbor who is the second most powerful nation in the world, who controls Ukraine’s natural gas flow and must do so with not one single member of his own party in the Parliament.

Some have referred to Ukraine’s newest President, Petro Poroshenko as a man without a party because ever since his elevation to the position of President of the embattled Ukraine at the end of May; his own political party, the Solidarity Party, has not been represented in the Parliament. If it is difficult for any country’s leader to get legislation passed through a democratic process in which his own party is less represented to some degree, imagine being the president of a country and there is not one single representative in the entire parliament who sides with you! Poroshenko has had to rely on a shaky coalition of pro-Western politicians to prosecute the war.

In 1858, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Presidency, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that has been given the name, ‘The Nation Divided’ speech in which Lincoln quotes the Bible; Mark 3:25, in which Jesus admonishes the Jewish leaders, “…and if a house against itself be divided, that house cannot be made to stand.” (Young’s Literal Translation) Lincoln went on to say that he did not believe that this government could not any longer endure going on half free and half slave.

When the framers of the U.S. Constitution went about finding the right examples for a model of government, they opted for a republic, that being democratically elected representatives making the laws for the people. They decided on a two house system, an upper and a lower. The upper being the Senate with a set number of two senators from every state. To balance out the legislature based on population, the lower house, the House of Representatives was decided by a formula to determine representation by population.

The United States of America has a population in 2012 of 313.9 million citizens. (Sources include: United States Census Bureau, World Bank) Although there are six (plus an others category) of listed political parties; in the current Congress only three parties are represented and they are the Republican, Democratic and Independent parties. Of the Independent there are only 2 in the Senate and they have come alongside the Democrats to make a majority. In the House of Representatives only the Democratic and Republican parties are represented. (Wikipedia)
For a country as complex as the United States with a citizenry of 313.9 million and an estimated 37.5 million additional non-citizens living legally in the U.S. (2006 figure by migrant information.org) and another 11.7 million illegal immigrants. (Pew Research Center)
For a country as complex as the United States with a citizenry of 313.9 million and an estimated 37.5 million additional non-citizens living legally in the U.S. (2006 figure by migrant information.org) and another 11.7 million illegal immigrants. (Pew Research Center)
To complete this short history, geography, political and mathematics review, keep the figures simple that for a country of roughly 360 million people the federal law making branch of the government consists of 541 law makers. One hundred are Senators, four hundred and thirty-five are voting members of the House of Representatives and six are non-voting representatives include the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and five delegates, District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the North Mariana Islands. (ballotpedia.org)
That brings the ratio of citizens to lawmakers to about 673,000 to 1.
Many Americans declare that Congress is broken, it never gets anything done correctly and so on, yet laws do get passed, a great many of them actually and an extremely large amount of business is handled. Also, very cleanly (relatively) and without violence (usually) at regular intervals every so many years, there is a peaceful introduction of those who the voters believe will do the job better than the last set. Then the process continues without skipping a beat.
America’s house may have a great many differences of opinion but we are not divided.
That brings up now the condition of Ukraine, the focus of this short essay. Once again Ukraine is politically in shambles. The country which follows (more or less) the president in Kiev is doing battle with a foreign invader, Russia – one of the most powerful countries in the world. Battling Russian separatists that are armed and aided by Vladimir Putin’s regime in Moscow, the battles go on. Now, in the midst of this crisis, the ruling coalition that is supporting the president is non-functioning and to be dissolved which could lead to early elections and now basically nothing will get done in a bureaucracy that wasn’t succeeding in doing much to begin with. Here is where the numbers and the mathematics become important.

Remember that America has 535 Congressmen (male and female) for 360 million citizens, a ratio of 673,000 to 1 and are divided basically into two parties. Ukraine, on the other hand, has 450 Parliamentarians for a country of 45.6 million citizens. Their ratio is approximately 101,000 to 1 (citizens to representatives).
Those 450 Parliamentarians are divided into 10 political parties
For a country whose population is 1/8 the size of the United States in population which would equate to roughly the populations of California and New Jersey together versus the entire US population, it has about the same number of law makers. However, instead of being more efficient and more personal because of the smaller person to legislature ratio, it is in complete disrepair because ten different political parties are all vying for power! And, the president of the country is trying to wage a war against a life-blood neighbor who is the second most powerful nation in the world, who controls Ukraine’s natural gas flow and must do so with not one single member of his own party in the Parliament. A nation divided against itself, will not stand.

In conclusion, to answer the question posed in the title of this essay: “How many politicians does it take to destroy a country?” The answer is, one – if the people let him get away with it.

Night of the Murdered Poets

But this Resurrection Morning, April 20, 2014 I write with a very heavy heart because you see, another type of discovery was made this time just outside of Jewish synagogues in the Crimea.

Soviet Anti-Semites Deny Jewish

Heroism in War time circa 1946

“In January 1948 Solomon Mikhoels, a popular actor-director of the Moscow State Jewish Theater and the chairman of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, was killed in a staged car accident. Mass arrests of prominent Jewish intellectuals and suppression of Jewish culture followed under the banners of campaign against “rootless cosmopolitans” and anti-Zionism. On 12 August 1952, in the event known as the Night of the Murdered Poets, thirteen most prominent Yiddish writers, poets, actors and other intellectuals were executed on the orders of Joseph Stalin, among them Peretz Markish, Leib Kvitko, David Hofstein, Itzik Feffer and David Bergelson. In the 1955 UN Assembly‘s session a high Soviet official still denied the “rumors” about their disappearance.

In 2012, Yad Vashem began releasing more than a million new testimonial pages about Jews in the Soviet Union that are expected to help researchers measure the scope of persecution and extermination of Jews in the former Soviet Union.^“(1)

Right now, as I write these words, there are Christians at the Garden Tomb just outside of Jerusalem celebrating the most magnificent act of love and grace the world will ever know – it is Resurrection Morning in Jerusalem! Praise Be to God! But this Resurrection Morning, April 20, 2014 I write with a very heavy heart because you see, another type of discovery was made this time just outside of Jewish synagogues in the Crimea. According to a USA Today report, as Jewish worshippers left the synagogue they were met by people handing out flyers to each of them. They were being ordered to report to the Russian authorities and register their families, the addresses, a list of all of their property and proof of citizenship. They were warned that if they failed to do so they would have their passports and citizenship revoked and their property confiscated. The only thing missing was the time of their curfew and their being ordered to wear a ‘Jude’ star identifying them as Jewish. Where is the worldwide outcry? According to the media U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made known his displeasure at the announcement. Heaven forbid that the U.S. Secretary of State boil over and call the anti-Semite acts the horrific crimes against humanity that they are! Whether they are carried out by Putin himself or some radicalized group of Russian citizens of Crimea acting on Putins orders, it might even warrant hearing some measured disdain from President Obama himself. The Nation of Israel did step up, as they always do, and rightfully declared the horrid nature of this crime, but the world seems to turn a deaf ear (See: Chamberlain – comma, Berlin – comma, Hitler – comma, 1938 – comma, Peace in Our Time – comma…)

I do not write this to rain on anyone’s Easter Parade. Today, in the Christian world is a time of celebration of our Savior, but it is also a day to remember that our Savior, the Son of God determined to come to earth as a Jewish carpenter. Maybe, as we celebrate here in the United States this Resurrection Morning in just a few hours, just maybe, this should be a picture in our minds..

.

with the declaration… “NEVER AGAIN”

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust_in_Russia

Security Update North Korea

“… they can begin with merciless military attacks against the United States…”

PENNINSULA MOVES CLOSER TO SHOOTING WAR

Continuing analysis by Security Consulting Investigations, LLC Dr. Ross L. Riggs, Director

5 April 2013

The Associated Press reported today that an order has been issued by the highest military command in North Korea that they can now begin with “merciless” military strikes against the United States. Even with the U.S. selling an additional 60 F-15 fighter aircraft to South Korea and moving a Terminal High Altitude Area (missile) Defense system into Guam, the North Korean government seems resolved to antagonize the government of South Korea and the United States pressing for war.

The F-15s will be equipped with sniper locating equipment and advanced radar systems. Trucks being supplied to South Korea will be equipped with Mine Resistant Ambush Protection. B-1 bomber pilots stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas are practicing for long distance flying missions.

According to some defense experts, all of the threats thus far have been mere saber rattling. There are those, however, who fear that the neophyte dictator of North Korea may be pushed by his own overly inflated ego to put up or shut up and if so, he will more than rattle a saber, he may affect the first blow; re-igniting the war that fought to a cease-fire sixty years ago.

He… Shall Laugh

However, there is a concern that Kim has backed himself into a fool’s corner by his determination for arbitrament by the sword and may be required to, as the colloquial saying explains it, ‘put up or shut up.’

Psalm 2:1-5 “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. He that sits in the heavens shall laugh and shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak to them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure.”

Kim Un Jong declares State of War March 2013

(http://news.msn.com/world/n-korea-says-it-has-entered-state-of-war-against-s-korea?ocid=ansnews11)

The passage from Psalm 2 is perhaps the most appropriate caption for this picture of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un who ordered his country’s missiles to be aimed at Hawaii, Los Angeles, Austin Texas and Washington D.C. and in the next instance on March 29th declared that North Korea was in a State of War with South Korea. In part, the statement itself is redundant since North and South Korea have been only on a ‘cease fire’ or armistice since July 29, 1953. There never was a ‘winner’ in the Korean War however, Kim’s statement yesterday indicates his willingness to reconmmence hostilities. During the war in the 1950’s United Nations troops from across the world battled not only North Korean forces but Communist Chinese as well. Millions of Chinese troops did what the North Koreans could not and that was to hold the advance of the U.N. troops, led by the United States from entering and controlling North Korea. One must wonder whether China, although belligerent and at war with the U.S. already in a ‘cyber-warfare’ that is costing billions of dollars in losses; would be willing to enter into a shooting war with the U.S. and South Korea along with othe U.N. forces that may be required to fulfill their obligation under the armistice to protect South Korea from renewed military offensives.

The United States has maintained troops in South Korea specifically at the Demilitarized Zone since the armistice began. The 38th parallel has been the enforced ‘no-man’s land’ for 60 years as of July 27th of this year. The bellicose Kim appears once again to be ‘blowing smoke’ as far as his declaration that the missiles aimed at the U.S. would be “merciless” in their attack against the American people and his threats to reinvade South Korea. However, there is a concern that Kim has backed himself into a fool’s corner by his determination for arbitrament by the sword and may be required to, as the colloquial saying explains it, ‘put up or shut up.’ To save face, he may very well act foolishly.

A large concern will be whether the Chinese once again come to the aid of their Communist neighbor and secondly, will Kim flex his nuclear muscle and bring with him his minion from Iran, Ahmadinejad?

Yesterday, B2 bombers based in Missouri flexed a little of the U.S. might as “the strategic stealth bombers flew from Whiteman Air Force Base in the U.S. state of Missouri to drop inert munitions on an island off the southwestern coast of the Korean peninsula before heading back to their home base – a 20,000 kilometer non-stop trip.”1

One can be certain that as tensions mount around Israel, as Syria continues to implode with all of the consequences that will bring for Israel; the fact that Christ is coming again soon is more obvious than ever. An exciting time to be about the Lord’s work as no doubt He will be calling many to Himself in these last days and Satan will be battling strong for every single soul. May we all geared up as Paul admonishes in Ephesians chapter 6 and best we all be ‘prayed up’ ready for battle. “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah 6:8 – Let us answer with Isaiah, “Here I am Lord, Send Me!”

1 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2013/03/mil-130328-voa01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e765%2exb0ao042ml%2ep3p

It’s an Honor

“Thank you for serving!” That was refreshing even to dad’s ears, especially since dad is from the Vietnam era.

10 MARCH 2013

There he stood… tall and strong, somehow much older than his 19 years. The crease of his maroon beret, the proud symbol of a U.S. Airborne combat solder, was sharp and it fell exactly so over the side just touching the top of the ear. Everything about him showed that he took pride in his accomplishment and in serving his country. Of course, for dad also a veteran, his son is great source of pride in him. A father once said, ‘No matter what your children do, part of it rests on the parents. And that is regardless whether it is good or bad!’

daniel 325 1st brigade red falcons hhc

What struck Dad on this day were two things. First, the number of people in public who took the time to walk up to his son and say “Thank you for serving!” That was refreshing even to dad’s ears, especially since dad is a Vietnam era vet. Then came the second, most amazing response that he heard his son say each time he received a ‘thank you.’ With a polite smile and a nod of his head, the son simply replied, “It’s an honor.”

On this particular day, the principal and teachers at Tuslaw Elementary School facilitated a surprise for two of their students, the niece (in kindergarten) and nephew (1st grade) of a soldier. What a joy to see the excitement in their eyes when their hero appeared!

A surprise visit from his soldier uncle and newest aunt!

Thank You to all our men and women in uniform! It’s an honor to be served by you.

An American’s Response to His Government

“God forbid that we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion.” – Thomas Jefferson[i]

To what was Thomas Jefferson referring? A dozen years following the Declaration of Independence, a dispute exacerbated by poor economic conditions led some folks, particularly of Massachusetts, to rebel. The outbreak of violence, known as Shay’s Rebellion, stirred leaders to call a convention to establish a Constitution rather than the Articles of Confederation and to promote inter-state trade. The rebellion was quickly quelled and only a few lives were lost; eventually President Washington pardoned those convicted of treason citing that it was ignorance not malevolence that encouraged them to action.

Still, one wonders how a man like Jefferson who sought always after a peaceful life surrounded by nature and his love of architecture could promote rebellion within the U.S.

Thomas Jefferson feared the lethargy of the people over a rebellion conspired by discontent. He believed that usually the discontent will be from the ignorance of some, they being misinformed of the propriety of certain government actions. He writes:

“The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.”[ii]

Lethargy of the citizenry should be feared more than insurrection. How lethargic is the population of the U.S. in 2013? (Notice, I did not ask if they are lethargic.) In today’s modern world, men often believe themselves well informed if only they drink of the pablum of mainstream media. It is possible however, with some effort to be accurately informed on the issues of state. If they are well-informed and thereby discontented, assured of the legitimacy under the Constitution of their stand; would Jefferson still be inclined to give them a free pass for rebellion? I believe he would based on his own writings wherein he has questions himself on the legitimacy of the actions of some and even questions concerning the Constitution. (Contrary to popular understanding, Jefferson was not involved in the writing of the Constitution directly though his thoughts on limited federal government and power in the hands of the people is certainly part and parcel of the document.) His strongest argument in support of revolution, however, is not a desire for anarchy but his fear of the lethargy of the people. That would be America’s death sentence.

Jefferson is often quoted from this same letter about the tree of liberty and it needing to be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants. A realist, Jefferson saw that revolt was more critical than peace if that peace is promoted by the people’s lethargy. He reasoned that if an uprising of the people cost a few lives then a few in consideration of the greater citizenry was not critical. Few quote the next sentence from the ‘tree of liberty’ portion of the letter. Please, allow me:

“It is its natural manure.” [iii]

[i] http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/tree-liberty-quotationx

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Ibid.

A Matter of the Heart ~ While the President Slept

RICAN EMBASSIES AND AMERICAN PERSONNEL OVER SEAS

THREAT LEVEL—HEIGHTENED

EXPECTED VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE PERSONNEL ON ANNIVERSARY OF 911

HIGHEST RISK: AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEVENS—BENGHAZI LIBYA

CURRENT STATUS: UNKNOWN BELIEVED ENROUTE TO EMBASSY FROM U.S.

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION: ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT SOURCE PRESIDENT WENT TO BED/NO ALERT GIVEN

The Heart of the Matter

~ While the President Slept

RIGGS MINISTRY MINUTE

http://www.docriggs.com

15 September 2012

PARODY– in part

11 SEPTEMBER 2012 – MINUS -48 HOURS

NATIONAL SECURITY INCIDENT REPORT AND SECURITY WARNING

AMERICAN EMBASSIES AND AMERICAN PERSONNEL OVER SEAS

THREAT LEVEL—HEIGHTENED

EXPECTED VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE PERSONNEL ON ANNIVERSARY OF 911

HIGHEST RISK: AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEVENS—BENGHAZI LIBYA

CURRENT STATUS: UNKNOWN BELIEVED ENROUTE TO EMBASSY FROM U.S.

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION: ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT SOURCE PRESIDENT WENT TO BED/NO ALERT GIVEN

LOCK DOWN ORDER: NONE

SECURITY BRIEFING: NONE

PREVENTATIVE DEFENSE ACTION: NONE

11 SEPTEMBER 2011 + PLUS + 48 HOURS

REPORT –AMBASSADOR STEVENS—DECEASED REPORTED THAT AMBASSADOR STEVEN’S BODY DRAGGED THROUGH STREETS—BENGHAZI—SEE VIDEO

INDICATIONS—AMBASSADOR POSSIBLY SODOMIZED PRIOR TO DEATH (INDEPENDENT NEWS)

NOCK LIST—OTHER EXTREMELY VITAL DOCUMENTS—MISSING

MARINE ‘SEAL TEAM’ MEMBER: KIA

TWO OTHER EMBASSY PERSONNEL: KIA

ACTION BY PRESIDENT: NONE—INDEPENDENT REPORT SAYS HE WENT TO BED

CONSEQUENCES OF A HARDENED HEART
STATEMENT AND QUESTION: JEREMIAH 17:9
THE HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN ALL ELSE AND IS DESPERATELY SICK; WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?
RESPONSE: JEREMIAH 17:10
“I, THE LORD, SEARCH THE HEART, I TEST THE MIND, EVEN TO GIVE TO EACH MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF HIS DEEDS.”

RESULT:JEREMIAH 17:13
… ALL WHO FORSAKE THEE WILL BE PUT TO SHAME. THOSE WHO TURN AWAY ON EARTH WILL BE WRIT-TEN DOWN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER, EVEN THE LORD.
Actions have consequences. Often times the consequences of one person’s actions impact a great many people , some not even initially affiliated with the issue—such as a generation’s posterity not yet born can feel the consequences of poor financial planning by a government and its people; years after the incidents have occurred. Persons given positions of leadership by the people and endorsed by the divine, one God of the universe whose Bible states that He sets up governments and kings to bless and to discipline a people.
The consequences of the ill-advised military actions against Libya where the President stated he was ‘leading from behind’ have led to this violence against our citizens. Also, the President’s lack of a Middle East strategy as well as a lack of policy for the Middle East has left a void filled by the Muslim Brotherhood at their earliest convenience in multiple areas including Cairo which also attacked our Embassy there. The military assault by NATO/UN forces against Gaddafi in Libya has exacted a toll that has grave consequences for the United States of America as a nation, for the families of Ambassador Stevens, the Navy Seal and two others that were killed in the attack the was militarily executed and planned long before any alleged movie-trailer came out concerning Islam. It was an excellent use of misdirection, propaganda, and staged dupes acting in concert with the media to create a firestorm capable of covering the military action against the pal-ace and against the U.S. ‘safe-house’ that was a rendezvous point for our employees and ex-pats. The treasure-trove of secret information stolen will impact our ability to wage war in the middle east in a very negative way.
One news commentator challenged the public, “If we can’t see the difference between good and evil, if you can’t see the that President continually lies to your face… Oh my gosh, America, character matters!”1
Recently the Democratic National Convention actually ‘booed God’ and His Word says “All who forsake thee will be put to shame…” Judgment will come and with it, consequences. Just because some of us stood strong, the consequences of their actions can harm us and we could, as a nation, fall because of their stupidity. What will we say to our grandchildren when they are living in a 3rd word United States and they, with hungry bellies and questioning eyes, ask us, “Why?”

Will you draw a line in the sand? Are you willing to stand up and be counted for what is right? Will you take a stand in your local community, your school district, and in the voting booth to take back America? One national organization put it this way recently: At this election, it is time to “Go All In”

A political candidate for President in 2008 asked the question… ‘When the phone rings at 3 a.m. , who is going to answer it?” The events of this past week have given us the answer to that question—no one. Sadly, even if our current President had have answered the phone, he would not have known what to say.

We have heart disease. So very many Americans truly love this country and have served it or are serving it very well. But many have atherosclerosis when it comes to our heart for America. Slowly, over time, our disenfranchisement with all that is going on in Washington and trouble locally and around the world, our heart and its arteries begin to harden, to block the blood flow. The blood must flow to the brain so we can think, to the heart so we can feel and to the body so we can take action. Fixing what needs fixed in America and not touching what doesn’t takes brains that are on full gear. To stand strong against the fiercest of enemies takes a heart that beats strong with love of country, of God, of family. Then, for Americans to stand up and take action, it requires blood flow to every muscle group. We cannot let the blood flow be blocked.

A current day comedian known by most as “Larry the Cable Guy” is on a commercial. Larry looks at the camera and asks, “Do you know what it is I love about this country?” In a split second with a great big grin, he says, “Trick question! I love everything about this country!” Loving it doesn’t mean Americans don’t see where it needs fixed but they do love it. God is willing to help Americans heal their land but they must turn to Him and they must trust Him. One of the best statement of such trust comes from the prophet, Habakkuk. He, too, saw the big trouble the nation of Israel was in. Here is his statement of trust:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of alive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, I will exult in the Lord. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet., and makes me walk on my high places.”²

“I know whom I have believed, and He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”³

_______________________________

^{1 Beck, Glen The Blaze}

^{2 Habakkuk 3:17-19}

^{3 2 Timothy 1:12}

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Soviet Anti-Semites Deny Jewish

Heroism in War time circa 1946

In 2012, Yad Vashem began releasing more than a million new testimonial pages about Jews in the Soviet Union that are expected to help researchers measure the scope of persecution and extermination of Jews in the former Soviet Union.“(1)

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with the declaration… “NEVER AGAIN”

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PENNINSULA MOVES CLOSER TO SHOOTING WAR

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In 2012, Yad Vashem began releasing more than a million new testimonial pages about Jews in the Soviet Union that are expected to help researchers measure the scope of persecution and extermination of Jews in the former Soviet Union.^“(1)