Minihan's World

Chinese Dissident Takes Obama Administration at its Word and Leaves Embassy

 May 2, 2012 Salt Lake City UT

US Diplomats leave Chen Guangcheng alone in a local Chinese Hospital

China is now demanding apology instead of completing 'Agreement'

Once again, the Obama Administration is in deep diplomatic trouble for the way it handled the case of the dissident Chen Guangcheng, who fled to the US Embassy in Beijing, and then got promises he and his family would be treated humanely, only to end up in a local hospital closely guarded. The major news services are all reporting the 'deal' that was made to make it easier for Hillary Clinton to speak to the senior Chinese leadership without a thorn in her side at the same time.

The US Embassy spokesmen are reporting that Guangcheng left freely for the hospital, CBS reported. 

As soon as Guangcheng had left the embassy, and was transported to the local hospital, he was immediately subjected to close guard, and, while his wife was allowed to see him, apparently he was told that he had to leave the embassy or his wife and child would be sent back to their province and possibly beaten or killed. Shortly after he left the embassy, a Chinese spokesman demanded that the US apologize for interference in China's internal affairs.  

Read the whole story on CBS, FOX, The LA Times, and ABC News.  We also provide a link to the official State Department Briefing this afternoon.

Any bets that Obama and/or Hillary will again kow-tow to the Chinese leadership? 

 

 

The real facts on Obama

April 30, 2012 Arlington VA 

President Obama's budget projects that the deficit for the current year will total $1.33 trillion, the fourth straight year of deficits over $1 trillion. Under President Obama, the nation's total public debt has reached a record $15.6 trillion.

This is an interesting video which anyone who wants the real scoop on Obama and his 'accomplishments' should see and hear.  See and hear it on YouTube. 

JT

 

 

 

 

What was achieved by Killing Bin Laden?

April 29, 2012 Arlington VA

Has the Administration over-stated its 'Great Accomplishment'?

An interesting article in USA Today, titled, "1 year after bin Laden's death: Al-Qaeda 'far from defeated" speaks to the actual value of the death of bin Laden. Jim Michaels, the author, points out, "The death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of U.S. Navy commandos a year ago was a setback to al-Qaeda, but the Islamic terror organization remains a potent threat around the world, intelligence experts say." 

However, the article also points out that a major desire to kill him emanated from his being on the Most Wanted List so long, and not necessarily because he was in 'command' on al-Qaeda. As the article continues, "In the past year, al-Qaeda affiliates have infiltrated whole provinces of eastern Afghanistan and pose a threat to the country's future, according to the Pentagon.'

'Al-Qaeda jihadists are insinuating themselves into many conflicts in parts of Africa, the U.S. Africa Command says.It is blamed for increasing bombings in Iraq and has gained strength in southern Yemen, where it has been holding off government troops and being targeted by U.S. drone strikes."

"l-Qaeda-linked terror plots continued in the years that bin Laden was in hiding and not believed to be in direct contact with plotters. Many were disrupted by foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. Police in New York have broken up several attempted al-Qaeda plots, including terrorists who tried to bomb Times Square and synagogues."He built affiliates," said Rick Nelson, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies."

So, what is the real deal on the importance of the bin Laden killing?  Is it more political? Is it the completion of a vengeance need? Or, is it nothing more than an opportunity for the Obama Administration to really DO something that would get headlines?

Decide for yourself.  Read the article here.  Then read here. 

 

 

 

TSA Allows Unvalidated Employees Access in Atlanta

April 26, 2012 Arlington VA

Airport Security Questioned on TSA 'Convenience'

The Associated Press is reporting this morning that the TSA has approved the utilization of uncleared employees, allowing them ID Cards that givem access to airport facilities, without the necessary completion of background checks.

This is apparently happening at Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, according to the piece in the Washington Post Today.  The travelling public should be concerned that virtually anyone willing to give the TSA their fingerprints to get a job could be working the planes and the runways at Atlanta. Hartsfield.  Read the whole story here.

TSA Screeners Indicted for allowing drugs at LAX Airport

Four current and four former  TSA screners have been indicted and are awaiting trial for allowing drugs to pass through screening at Los Angeles International Airport, according to today's LA Times.

As the LA Times article says, in part: "The man with eight pounds of methamphetamine in his carry-on bag stood in the snaking security line at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 4, inching toward the checkpoint, when a TSA screener approached.

But it wasn't to stop the contraband, according to prosecutors. It was to make sure it got through.

The screener, John Whitfield, allegedly told the man to get to the back of the line so he and his luggage would get to the X-ray machines when Whitfield's shift started. That way, he would be the one watching the meth show up on screen; and in exchange for $1,200, Whitfield allowed it through, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Read the rest of the story here.

Yet another example why TSA's preference for hiring out of the local unemployment offices is bad policy and leads to  situations such as these.

Comments??

TSA is up to its old tricks

April 25, 2012 Arlington VA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is apparently up to its old tricks again, doing what it chooses without regard to either logic or common sense.  her are some examples:

4-Year Old frisked twice while she and mother are hysterical. 

Here's the mother's story -- In an interview with The Wichita (KS) Eagle on Tuesday, Brademeyer said she is telling her story, which has drawn attention from overseas media after she wrote about it on her Facebook page, “because other kids shouldn’t be treated like this.”

The 27-year-old said it happened like this: She, her 4-year-old daughter, Isabella, and her 6-year-old son, Oliver, were in the Wichita airport, headed back to Montana after her brother’s wedding at Exploration Place. The children’s maternal grandmother was taking the same flight on her way back to California. The children went through security screening with no problem, but their grandmother set off the alarm. Officers asked the grandmother to sit to the side and wait for a pat-down. That’s when Isabella saw her grandmother and “excitedly ran over to give her a hug, as children often do,” Brademeyer said. Their contact lasted a few seconds, she said. But the transportation security officers “responded to this very simple action in the worst way imaginable,” she said.

There is, of course, another side to the story.  Here is the TSA Response:  The TSA says its officers followed proper procedures, and the agency denies part of Brademeyer’s version of what happened around noon April 15 at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.

The TSA wouldn’t respond to questions posed by the Eagle Tuesday, but did provide a statement, saying, “In this case … the child had completed screening but had contact with another member of her family who had not completed the screening process. While it was explained to family members why additional security procedures were necessary in this instance, TSA officers did not suspect or suggest the child was carrying a firearm,” the statement said.  “TSA has reviewed the incident and determined that our officers followed proper current screening procedures in conducting a modified pat-down on the child.” End of statement.

My comment:  What the TSA did, as usual with them, was to announce at the same time 'modified' procedures for working with children of this age to prevent future incidents.  There is where the question lies--if the TSA was simply following procedures, why change them? If the change is one of their routine cosmetic changes that won't last, but will get the press of their back, that is one thing. However, what is more probable is that they recognized that they screwed up, but still want to seem to be in charge.  Things like this, whatever the reason, should not be happening.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/24/3574162/mom-tsa-agents-at-wichita-airport.html#storylink=cpy

Then, there is the case of Congressman Canseco (R-TX) who says he was groped by a TSA inspector

Last week, a TSA agent at San Antonio International Airport patted down Francisco Canseco, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee.  The agent, an aide said, was so aggressive that he hurt Canseco — so the congressman moved the agent’s hand away.

[ Reported by Politico] A freshman Republican from Texas says the TSA got a little too friendly during a recent pat-down in San Antonio — leading to an exchange where the congressman and the TSA agent both said they were assaulted. Both Canseco and the TSA agent claimed they were assaulted, and the San Antonio Police Department got involved.  According to a Canseco aide, no citations were issued.

His side of the Story:  "The agent was very aggressive in his pat-down, and he was patting me down where no one is supposed to go,” Canseco told KENS 5 in San Antonio. “It got very uncomfortable, so I moved his hand away.  That stopped everything and brought in supervisors and everyone else." Earlier this week, Canseco was patted down again, the aide said. He asked the agent why he was being detained again so soon, feeling it wasn’t coincidental.  But eventually he was allowed to board. 

TSA's Response: The agency’s response, provided to KENS 5 (TV - San Antonio), was that the “TSA incorporates random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport. Once a passenger enters the screening process, they must complete it prior to continuing to a flight or secure area."

The Rest of the Story: Earlier this year, he and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sponsored a bill known as the STRIP Act, which seeks to prohibit TSA agents from using any trappings of law enforcement.  For instance, it would prohibit TSA agents from being called “officer” and would forbid them from wearing uniforms or badges that resemble those worn by police officers.

Surprise, Surprise -- is this yet naother case of retribution by TSA for people doing things they don't like? I wonder.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75588.html#ixzz1t46p2x7f

And then, there is the 'Note from TSA'"

Huffington Post Reports:  Ross Berenson had returned home from Los Angeles when he noticed his luggage had been tampered with. After a calm conversation with TSA workers, he was offered a complaint form to fill out. But, once on the subway, Berenson noticed that it had already been partially filled out, with a message saying "Go to hellllllllllllllllll."

This is not the first time that TSA workers have left notes in luggage, or simply refused to get serious about complaints.  When will they learn that this kind of stuff seldome stays private of quiet.