Saturday, September 02, 2006

Here It Comes--An Invitation for Americans to Convert to Islam

Al Qaeda No. 2 Releases Tape Inviting Americans to Convert to Islam Saturday

September 02, 2006

CAIRO, Egypt— Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri issued a new videotape Saturday along with a man identified as an American member of the terror network, inviting Americans to convert to Islam.

The 41-minute video, posted on an Islamic militant Web site nine days before the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, had footage of al-Zawahri and a man the video identified as Adam Yehiye Gadahn, an American who the FBI believes attended Al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan and served as an Al Qaeda translator. Gadahn and al-Zawahiri did not appear together in the footage but were each featured on a split screen. Both wore white turbans and robes.

Click here for the War of Terror Content Center

It was the second time Gadahn has appeared in the same video with al-Zawahiri. In a July 7 video marking the one-year anniversary of bombings against the London transit system, Gadahn said no Muslim should "shed tears" for Westerners killed by Al Qaeda attacks.

"To the American people and the people of the West in general ... God sent his Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth ... and sent him as a herald," al-Zawahiri said in an introduction to Saturday's video.

Gadahn spoke with his face uncovered, resembling FBI photos, with his name and nom de guerre — "Azzam the American" — written in titles in Arabic and English next to him.

"We invite all Americans and unbelievers to Islam," Gadahn said, sporting a long, thick black beard with a computer terminal in the background.

Gadahn, a 28-year-old from California who converted to Islam, is wanted by the FBI in connection with possible terrorist threats against the United States, though the agency says it has no information linking him to any specific terrorist activities.

Gadahn spoke for much of the video, saying he wanted to correct the image Americans have of Islam.

He described the West as "the civilization which enslaved Africa, slaughtered native Americans, fired bombs at ... Tokyo and (the Iraqi city of) Fallujah and nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

He said America shows more concern for archaeological sites, like statues of Bhudda destroyed by Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers, "than it shows of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq."

He said "ignorance" of Islam "causes the people of the West to rapturously applaud when Israel perpetrates wholesale slaughter of Muslims in Lebanon and Palestine and leads them to give their consent to the atrocities that governments commit in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim world."

The video, issued by Al Qaeda's production wing As-Sahab, had been advertised on militant Web sites for several days before it appeared Saturday.

Besides the July 7 video, Gadahn is believed to be a masked figure who appeared in two previous videos not officially from Al Qaeda, given to ABC News in Pakistan in 2004 and a few days before Sept. 11, 2005.

In the 2005 tape, the speaker threatened new terror attacks in Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia. The 2004 tape praised the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings and said a new wave of attacks could come at any moment.

Fwd: Saint Louis TV coverage--Walid Shoebat

From the Walid Shoebat Foundation today:



Friends

For those interested in seeing one of Walid's press interviews on CBS channel four in St. Louis.  Click the link below and then the link at top for video.

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:bBYI2zOGv8YJ:www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/kmov_localnews_060828_obsession.4a4e58d9.html+shoebat+in+st+louis&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=6

Shalom

Keith

Friday, September 01, 2006

Saint Louis now knows the truth!

This in from Walid Shoebat Foundation today:


Friends

On Wednesday Walid spoke in St Louis to a crowd of 1100 people with 300 more being turned away at the door because there was no room.

For two weeks we worked hard on radio, TV and newspapers in the St Louis area. Walid was seen on three of the TV network affiliates as well as been interviewed on all the major radio talk shows in the local market, as well as a featured story in the St Louis Dispatch which is the largest newspaper in St. Louis. Once again Walid reached over a million people telling the truth about Islamic terror. Our PR department worked overtime on this one.

August is over, yet we are only beginning our autumn campaign with speeches and media in Las Vegas, Toronto, Cleveland, Nashville,Dallas, Portland OR area, South Bend IN, Los Angeles, New York, Central Florida, Maryland, San Antonio, Northern Virginia,Casper WY,Las Vegas again, New York again, Salt Lake City and back to Dallas.

Walid just recorded two TV interviews with John Hagee and they will be shown sometime in October. Walid will also be recording on Daystar, Benny Hinn and Paul Croutch. While some of these outlets may not be in line with our thinking we have decided that Walid's message needs to be heard by as many people as possible and as quickly as possible. His message is too important to allow differences of thinking to impede.

Any one requires specified dates for venues because they wish to attend any of the mentioned cities, please email us directly with requested information. Please identify who you are and a way we can check your identity for security purposes. email only at walid@shoebat.com

G-d is opening the doors wide so that all shall hear the truth. Lets hope that all will listen.

Shalom

Keith Davies
Director

Video with a Message



Someone from Christian Bloggers visited my blog. I was browsing there, and found this video, from Jars of Clay's i am chief.

While it is hilarious, it is also very true. The dysfunctional 'love' of the music of the fifties, sixties and seventies play repeatedly on the Golden Oldies channel. And I love them...yeah yeah yeah.

But while growing up listening to the music, most of us had no idea that those many favorite songs were dysfunctional. "You've lost that lovin feeling... whoa-oh, that lovin feeling... You've lost that LOVIN feeling, now its gone....gone... gone... and I can't go on..... whoa oh oh oh... "

So in this day of disposable diapers, disposable tissues, disposable towels, disposable you-name-it, we have also become a nation of disposable spouses, and even disposable valid marriages in today's Church.

Is it coincidence that disposable pregnancy and disposable Marriage came about in the seventies? Abortion and no fault forced, unilateral divorce were both made 'law of the land' in 1973.... disposable children, disposable spouses?

Is is coincidence that so many 'Christian churches' recognize artificial birth control instead of allowing God to be the Life-giver, recognize second and third and subsequent marriages instead of heeding His Word in Malachi, in Matthew 5 and 19, Mark 10, Luke 16:18, 1Cor 7?

Where even the Church that defended marriage, causing Henry VIII to begin his own church as he began his divorce/killing spree of his six 'wives', (and raised up Saints such as St Thomas More and St John Fisher) has now by virtue of the teaching of people like Fr Wrenn found inventive ways to grant judgements of Nullity for nearly anyone who petitions the Tribunals?

I still enjoy the old songs, but I hear them with different ears for the past 20+ years.

It would be interesting to me to learn what the author's views on divorce and the subsequent second (etc) marriage versus indissolubility of marriage is, also. (Some claim to recognize indissolubility, but in reality, don't.)

God bless!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

WI Catholic Musings: "My Son's Wedding--Full wedding coverage"

WI Catholic Musings: "My Son's Wedding--Full wedding coverage"

I am so glad that you finally saw the photos, Janjan!! Thanks for stopping by~

They are a really cute couple.... grin

...and his Mom is just a lil ol green Hobbit....heheh.

God bless~

Ooohhh, BG.... You Done It Again.... !

Contratimes has come back from puter problems "(Gassed) Up And Running" and let 'er rip!

Good job, and welcome back!! You were missed, BG!

Monday, August 28, 2006

May They Rest In Peace, our men from Wisconsin

On the way home from work, the news came that a 21 yr old soldier from Two Rivers died in Iraq today. May he rest in peace, and may God hold his family close to His Heart.

Army Pfc. Shaun Novak, of Two Rivers, was killed Sunday in an explosion while he was riding in an armored vehicle, his aunt Sheila Halverson said.
--snip--
He enlisted in the Army in 2004 and was shipped to Iraq in December of 2005, his aunt said. "Shaun felt like he should serve his country. We're all very proud of him," said Halverson, adding that his grandfather had also served in the military.

When searching for this story, I learned that another Wisconsin man had also died in Iraq.

Cpl. Kenneth Cross, of Superior, was also killed by a roadside bomb Sunday in Iraq, according to Gerald Nelson, a cousin.

Cross was recently married and was living in Steilacoom, Wash., with his wife. He had served one year in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Baghdad. It was not known what unit he was serving in or where he was based in the U.S. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth Cross, live in Superior.

May he also rest in peace, and may his new young wife, his parents and family also find solace in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.


Novak was the 59th Wisconsin soldier to die in Iraq, according to the radio, and according to the article, Cross was the 60th. This is for all of them, and for all of those who have given their lives for our freedom. May they all rest in peace. May they all know that we are grateful for their service, and for the freedom that we have here.

source unknown

This was in my inbox tonight when I got home.

Subject: I HAD TO SEND THIS.....I HOPE IT TOUCHES YOU LIKE IT DID ME

They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat.
It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.

That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak.

In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home. I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment.

Was he safe and warm?? Was his cold any better?? Were my letters getting through to him?
As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot!? I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.

"It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought?? It's pure greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-11.? I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom?? Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking.

"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military."

Professional baby-killers?? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.

That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why?

Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business.

However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."

I must have been louder than I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right.

"Yes, thank you," I replied.

Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak.

The women picked up their check and scurried away.

After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode.

"Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it.

When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."

With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler.

Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth.

"We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."

As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone.

My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.

Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her.

And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.

As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference.

Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own.

It will simply say, "Thank You!"

To those who fought for our Nation:
Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground, air and navy personnel in every area of the middle east.
Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.
Of all the gifts you could give to anyone in the US Military, be it Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard, prayer is the very best one.....

Pass this prayer on, to as many as you think will respond.


"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.? Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior."

Sunday, August 27, 2006

.... "because they had the guns"

1) FOX News journalist Steve Centanni and photographer Olaf Wiig have been freed in Gaza after agreeing to convert to Islam at gunpoint in a videotape..........Militants in the Gaza Strip released two kidnapped journalists on Sunday after the men appeared on a videotape saying they had converted to Islam, Fox News reported.

2) FNC Journalists Centanni and Wiig Relased in Gaza
Coerced to Convert to Islam at Gunpoint, Both in Good Condition
By Steve Schippert
FOX News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were released in Gaza, two weeks after their abduction by a group calling iself the Holy Jihad Brigades. As part of their conditional release, Centanni and Wiig were required to make a statement on video tape that they denounced the US and Israel and accepted Islam as their faith, sure to be used for propaganda purposes.

3) The terrorist group had demanded that the United States release Muslim prisoners in exchange for the reporters — the United States refused the demand — and further claimed the hostages had converted to Islam while in captivity.

4) Both men in the tape were dressed in traditional Arabic clothing and the captors proclaimed the pair had converted to Islam.

5) Shortly before their release, a new videotape of the reporters was released by their captors, saying the two had converted to Islam.

The two men were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading statements announcing that they had converted to Islam.

At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.

6) Centanni later told CNN by telephone from Gaza City that they felt that they had to convert to Islam. "I have the highest respect for Islam, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns and we didn't know what the hell was going on," he said.

........And on and on and on, for every news story of their release, this brief statement is made, and brushed off as a if it is a bit of fluff in the entire account of their captivity and release after 13 days of captivity.

But I wonder... is it fluff? Is this REALLY an unimportant aspect of this story, or should there be much more focus on it? "Convert or Die!" Isn't that what we learned in History class so very long ago of the spread of Islam across North Africa and into Europe?

I just do not think that this is an unimportant piece that should be ignored, and I wish someone on one of the news stations would pick it up and GO with it. And I wonder how many others have... converted in place of dying while they were captives?

And if they DID convert only for saving their lives, I wonder how it will go over when they do not follow through on the 'conversion'. Will they also then be treated as Infidels or Apostates?

I have no idea what I would do in their situation, and would pray that I had enough courage to die for my Faith, if that is what it would come to. I do not fault them in any way. But it does worry me about what their captors will do if they felt that they released fellow Muslim believers...who had no real intention of conversion.

This is one of the things about this 'religion of peace' that has worried me for a long time.... and we have seen it passed off in news stories as if it meant nothing, like an incidental piece of the story. I am not convinced it was a small and unimportant aspect of the story in the least bit.

I think that we are missing a huge part of what is really going on over there!

I think that it is time that we wake up.

God bless

Thoughts of a Regular Guy...like Catholic Musings in WI

Making my rounds of some of my favorite blogs today. So much has been happening in my family lately that I have NOT had time to read and/or blog a lot for the past couple of weeks.

Got to several, and there is a lot that I agree with on each, but THIS one took me to a few posts that I had missed on Thoughts of a Regular Guy.

Before you go and read there, I have to make one thing VERY clear.

When those who have gone through this process are fighting the PROCESS, the LAW, they are NOT fighting the spouse, and they are NOT telling us what 'went wrong' in the marriage.

To attempt to guess, to attempt to place blame is gossip, and misses the point completely!

The POINT is, that no fault divorce is in itself something that needs to be stopped, and the resulting 'compassionate' thinking in the US Church Tribunals also needs to be looked at.

Others on the subject on his blog:

No-Fault Divorce October 12, 2005
Now That's Counter-Cultural! January 20, 2006
Is No-Fault Divorce Un-Constitutional? May 23, 2006
Three On Gay "Marriage" June 12 2006