Independent Review Blames “Systemic Failures” & “Leadership Deficiencies” at State Dept for Benghazi Consulate Attack

BREAKING NEWS:  So much for any presidential aspirations Hillary Clinton may be entertaining for 2016. An independent review of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that claimed the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, cites “systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies” at high levels of the State Department.

New York Times:  The investigation into the attacks on the diplomatic mission and the C.I.A. annex in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others also faulted State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests from officials at the American Embassy in Tripoli for more guards and safety upgrades to the mission.

The panel also blamed American intelligence officials for  relying too much on specific warnings of imminent attacks, which they did not have in the case of Benghazi, rather than basing assessments more broadly on a deteriorating security environment.  By this spring, Benghazi, a hotbed of militant activity in eastern Libya, had experienced a string of assassinations, an attack on a British envoy’s motorcade and the explosion of a bomb outside the American Mission.

Finally, the report also blamed two major State Department bureaus — Diplomatic Security and Near Eastern Affairs — for failing to coordinate and plan adequate security at the mission. The panel also determined that a number of officials had shown poor leadership.

“Systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels within two bureaus,” the report said, “resulted in special mission security posture that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place.”

NRA Issues Statement Five Days After Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

NRA issues statement on Connecticut school shooting, says ‘we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken’ by the news.  The group has scheduled ’major news conference’ in Washington, DC area for Dec. 21 and is ’prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.’ This statement comes five days after Adam Lanza murdered 20 innocent children and six adults at the school. Um, don’t expect that ‘meaningful contribution’ to be anything other than a call for more guns.

Austin Noodle House Owner, Eddie Nimibutr, In Hot Water Over Insensitive Comments About Sandy Hook Shooting

Eddie Nimibutr, the owner of Thai Noodle House in Austin, TX, is under fire for his comments about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre, saying “I don’t care if a bunch of white kids got killed.” Um, really? He posted that mess on Friday, hours after the shooting took place. Well, Eddie Nimibutr, who was born in Thailand, has been on the receiving end of some sharp criticism about his lack of concern for the victims of the shooting massacre.

“I don’t care if a bunch of white kids got killed,” the Thailand-born Eddie Nimibutr wrote in the update he posted on Friday, shortly after the incident took place. “Fuck Post-Racial bullshit. When kids from minority groups get shot, nobody cares. When Israel launched missiles at the school on Gaza, everybody was too busy jerking off. Why should i care about people who dont give a damn about me?” Source

He deleted the post from Facebook and tried to clean it up with with a follow up post. Some people just don’t think before they spew venom, only to walk it back. I am sure his restaurant will find its customers staying away because of his indifference to such an unspeakable act of violence against innocent children. What a dumbass…..

Here’s Eddie Nimibutr’s Facebook rant:

eddie nimibutr sandy hook shooting Austin Noodle House Owner, Eddie Nimibutr, In Hot Water Over Insensitive Comments About Sandy Hook Shooting

Austin Noodle House Owner, Eddie Nimibutr, In Hot Water Over Insensitive Comments About Sandy Hook Shooting (Photo credit: Facebook)

Beatriz Cintora-Silva & Maria Cintora-Silva Identified as Two Women Killed in Weld County CO Triple Murder-Suicide

daniel sanchez Beatriz Cintora Silva & Maria Cintora Silva Identified as Two Women Killed in Weld County CO Triple Murder Suicide

Beatriz Cintora-Silva & Maria Cintora-Silva Identified as Two Women Killed in Weld County CO Triple Murder-Suicide

WELD COUNTY MURDER-SUICIDE:  Two of the women killed in the triple murder-suicide at a home in Longview Estates in Weld County, Colo., have been identified as Beatriz Cintora-Silva and Maria Cintora-Silva, according to Eddy Silva, the aunt of the women. Silva said Maria Cintora-Silva got married in the last five months and her new husband also lived in the Longmont home.

Police believe that the shooter was Daniel Sanchez, the ex-boyfriend of Beatriz Silva. The two had been in a four-year relationship that was marred with domestic violence incidents, ending with Sanchez threatened revenge after learning she had a new boyfriend. Police have not released the names of the deceased, but said two women and two men were found dead inside the home. Maria Silva’s husband is Max Aguirre.

David Sanchez, 31, of Longmont, was arrested Sunday on on suspicion of false imprisonment, second-degree kidnapping, harassment and domestic violence after ex-girlfriend Beatriz Silva told police he had threatened and attacked her upon finding out she was seeing someone new. According police reports Sanchez met Silva Saturday near a Longmont Best Buy to talk about repaying a $1,000 loan she’d given him to fix his truck. Source

Dutch Deny Holiday Tradition of Blackface, Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, is Racist?

dutch blackface zwarte piet 300x184 Dutch Deny Holiday Tradition of Blackface, Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, is Racist?

Dutch Deny Holiday Tradition of Blackface, Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, is Racist? (Attribution: Creative Commons)

The Dutch deny that the holiday tradition of celebrating blackface, or Zwarte Piet,  is racist. But wasn’t it born from slavery? The Dutch blackface tradition, Zwarte Piet, depicts Saint Nicholas’ helpers in blackface. Some fans claim there is no racism intended, others beg to differ, saying it was born of the slave-trading past of the Netherlands and is stereotypical.

Black Pete first appeared in a children’s story written by Jan Schenkman in 1850. The portrayal of Black Pete, who joins Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas, as they travel around the country wouldn’t be so troublesome if he exhibit dim-witted behavior, much like the portrayal of blackface characters in the U.S.

 Dutch Deny Holiday Tradition of Blackface, Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, is Racist?

Black Pete first appeared in children’s book in 1850

Do You Know Where Your U.S. Senator and Senator-Elect Stand on an Assault Weapons Ban?

The following U.S. Senators are opposed to an assault weapons ban.  Mother Jones has the list of senators who support a ban, don’t support a ban and hasn’t said peep about their position in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 kids and six adults dead.

ayotte Do You Know Where Your U.S. Senator and Senator Elect Stand on an Assault Weapons Ban?

Name: Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) (Mitt Romney campaign darling)

For the ban? PROBABLY NOT

Shock factor? Nil. She fought an extension of the ’94 ban.

Comment: Spokesman: “[D]enying the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens will not change the behavior of those intent on using firearms to commit horrific crimes.”

How long response took after Newtown: 3 days

blunt Do You Know Where Your U.S. Senator and Senator Elect Stand on an Assault Weapons Ban?

Name: Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)

For the ban? NO

Shock factor? Nil. He’s a gun-lobby favorite.

Comment: “I’m sure I would vote against anything that impacts, in a negative way, the Second Amendment.”

How long response took after Newtown: 3 days

The following senators are as quiet as little mice on the subject:

NO RESPONSE EITHER WAY:

Akaka, Daniel (D-Hawaii)

Alexander, Lamar (R-Tenn.)

Baldwin, Tammy (Sen.-Elect, D-Wis.)

Barrasso, John (R-Wy.)

Baucus, Max (D-Mont.)

Begich, Mark (D-Alaska)

Bennet, Michael (D-Colo.)

Bingaman, Jeff (D-N.M.)

Boozman, John (R-Ark.)

Brown, Scott (R-Mass.)

Burr, Richard (R-N.C.)

Carper, Tom (D-Del.)

Chambliss, Saxby (R-Ga.)

Coats, Daniel (R-Ind.)

Coburn, Tom (R-Okla.)

Cochran, Thad (R-Miss.)

Collins, Susan (R-Maine)

Conrad, Kent (D-N.D.)

Coons, Christopher (D-Del.)

Corker, Bob (R-Tenn.)

Cornyn, John (R-Texas)

Crapo, Mike (R-Idaho)

Cruz, Ted (Sen.Elect, R-Texas)

DeMint, Jim (R-S.C.)

Enzi, Michael (R-Wy.)

Fischer, Deb (Sen.-Elect, R-Neb.)

Flake, Jeff (Sen.-Elect, R-Ariz)

Graham, Lindsey (R-S.C.)

Grassley, Chuck (R-Iowa)

Hagan, Kay (D-N.C.)

Hatch, Orrin (R-Utah)

Heitkamp, Heidi (Sen.-Elect, D-N.D.)

Heller, Dean (R-Nevada)

Hirono, Mazie (Sen.-Elect, D-Hawaii)

Hoeven, John (R-N.D.)

Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-Texas)

Inhofe, James (R-Okla.)

Isakson, Johnny (R-Ga.)

Johanns, Mike (R-Neb.)

Johnson, Ron (R-Wis.)

Johnson, Tim (D-S.D.)

Kaine, Tim (Sen.-Elect, D-Va.)

Kerry, John (D-Mass.)

Kirk, Mark (R-Ill.)

Kohl, Herb (D-Wis.)

Kyl, John (R-Ariz.)

Landrieu, Mary (D-La.)

Leahy, Patrick (D-Vt.)

Lee, Mike (R-Utah)

Levin, Carl (D-Mich.)

Lugar, Richard (R-Ind.)

McCain, John (R-Ariz.)

McConnell, Mitch (R-Ky.)

Merkley, Jeff (D-Ore.)

Moran, Jerry (R-Kansas)

Murkowski, Lisa (R-Alaska)

Nelson, Ben (D-Neb.)

Paul, Rand (R-Ky.)

Portman, Robert (R-Ohio)

Pryor, Mark (D-Ark.)

Risch, James (R-Idaho)

Roberts, Pat (R-Kansas)

Sanders, Bernard (I-Vt.)

Scott, Tim (Sen.-Designate, R-S.C.)

Sessions, Jeff (R-Ala.)

Shelby, Richard (R-Ala.)

Snowe, Olympia (R-Maine)

Stabenow, Debbie (D-Mich.)

Tester, Jon (D-Mont.)

Thune, John (R-S.D.)

Toomey, Patrick (R-Penn.)

Udall, Mark (D-Colo.)

Vitter, David (R-La.)

Warren, Elizabeth (Sen.-Elect, D-Mass.)

Webb, Jim (D-Va.)

Wicker, Roger (R-Miss.)

Wyden, Ron (D-Ore.)

Sandy Hook Shooting Victims Jessica Rekos and James Mattioli to be Laid to Rest

jessica rekos and james mattioli Sandy Hook Shooting Victims Jessica Rekos and James Mattioli to be Laid to Rest

Sandy Hook Shooting Victims Jessica Rekos and James Mattioli to be Laid to Rest

NEWTOWN SCHOOL SHOOTING:  Two more young victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Jessica Rekos and James Mattioli, will be laid to rest Tuesday.

Jessica Rekos’ funeral services will be held Tuesday at noon at St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown. James Mattioli’s funeral will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown Tuesday and he will be buried at St. John’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Darien, Conn

Four People Found Dead in Murder-Suicide in Weld County CO

WELD COUNTY TRIPLE MURDER-SUICIDE:  Four people were found dead in a quadruple murder-suicide in a home at the Longview Estates in Weld County, CO. The Longmont Police Department spokesman said the deaths occurred at a home near  Weld County Road 3 1/2 and Highway 119. It is just east of Longmont.

 

Cerberus to Sell Bushmaster Assault Rifle Maker, Freedom Group, in Response to Newtown School Shooting

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Cerebus to Sell Bushmaster Assault Rifle Maker, Freedom Group, in Response to Newtown School Shooting (Photo credit: SkinheadSportBiker1)

NEWTOWN SCHOOL SHOOTING:  The New York Times reports private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management said on Tuesday that it would sell its investment in Bushmaster assault rifle maker Freedom Group in response to the school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School by madman Adam Lanza, that left 20 kids and six adults.

Cerberus acquired Bushmaster — the manufacturer of the rifle used by the gunman in the Newtown attacks that killed 27 people, including 20 schoolchildren — in 2006.

The private equity giant later merged it with other gun companies to create Freedom Group, which reported net sales of $677.3 million for the nine months that ended in September 2012, a 20 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

“It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level,” Cerberus said in a news release.

 Cerberus to Sell Bushmaster Assault Rifle Maker, Freedom Group, in Response to Newtown School Shooting

Police Officer Sean Callahan Dies After Being Shot by Suspect at Clayton County Motel

officer sean callahan killed Police Officer Sean Callahan Dies After Being Shot by Suspect at Clayton County Motel

Police Officer Sean Callahan Dies After Being Shot by Suspect at Clayton County Motel

FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER:  Police officer Sean Callahan dies after being shot in the head by a suspect at Motel 6 on Davidson Parkway in Clayton County, Ga.,  Monday night. Officer Sean Callahan, 24,  responded to a domestic dispute at a Stockbridge-area motel Monday night, when he was hit twice in the head by the suspect, who was also killed. He had just joined the police force four months ago.

Callahan, who had responded with another officer to the call a little after 2 p.m. at the Motel 6, was shot when they attempted to arrest the couple, but the unidentified male suspect fought back and broke free, the AJC reports. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Officer Sean Callahan.

pixel Police Officer Sean Callahan Dies After Being Shot by Suspect at Clayton County Motel