White House Briefs

Al Qaeda Releases 9/11 Video

Rumors of a September 11 anniversary attack were unfounded -- but that doesn’t mean Al Qaeda has kept quiet.

Sources:WLSCNNThe Washington PostNew York PostAl Jazeera

Watch video: http://www.newsy.com/videos/al-qaeda-head-releases-9-11-video/

By Mila Mimica

Anchor: Zach Toombs

Link provided by Newsy.com

'Today Marks the 13th Anniversary of al-Qai'da's Terrorist Attacks'

August 1998: The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in the aftermath of the August 7, 1998, al-Qaida suicide bombing.

(Click to enlarge image.)

Statement by the President on the Anniversary of the Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania

Today marks the thirteenth Anniversary of al-Qa`ida’s terrorist attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The United States joins with the people and government of Kenya, where 218 people lost their lives and over 5,000 were injured; and Tanzania, where the attack killed 11 people and wounded at least 85 others to remember and reflect on those who were injured and the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.

These attacks in East Africa stand as testament to al-Qa`ida’s commitment to use unspeakable violence to kill innocent men, women and children regardless of their religion, race, or nationality. The death of Harun Fazul, the architect of these terrible acts, on June 11, 2011, was an important blow to al-Qa’ida and its ability to threaten so many innocents around the region.

Today, the remembrance of these tragic attacks spurs us to continue to work closely with our allies in East Africa and around the world to bring terrorists to justice and to redouble our efforts to prevent these attacks in the future.

We join with our friends and allies in advancing peace and security for Americans, Kenyans, Tanzanians, and all people in building a world that is worthy of the legacy of the victims of these bombings. And as we extend our hearts and prayers to the families of those killed, we pledge that they will not be forgotten.

Photo source: http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/c31108.htm

Author: DS Records

Permission: Public Domain

Report: 25,000 Airport Security Breaches Since 2001

Since November 2001, U.S. airports have experienced more than 25,000 security breaches.

Sources:ABCGannett NewsCBNCNN

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

By Kylie McGivern

Anchor Christina Hartman

Video provided by Newsy.com.

White House Briefs

Press Secretary Carney Explains Why the President Will Not Publish bin Laden Death Photo

Video footage courtesy of www.whitehouse.gov

'The Threat to Our State and Our Nation Unfortunately Does Not Die With Osama bin Laden'

Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq

Statement from Governor Cuomo on Death of Osama bin Laden

"The death of Osama bin Laden is a historic moment that represents a major step in our country's efforts to defeat terrorism around the world and should bring a sense of justice to the victims of 9/11 and his other attacks.

"We will never forget those who were lost, their families and those who risked their lives to save others.

"New Yorkers endured bin Laden's most devastating and destructive attack, and his death brings back the horrific images and emotions of that terrible day. However, his death also reminds us of our strength, courage, and unity as a people in our response to his actions.

"The Administration's vigilance and dedication to hunt down Osama bin Laden has never wavered and I applaud their commitment to this cause. I also applaud our men and women in uniform who have fought tirelessly against terrorism and to defend freedom.

"The threat to our state and our nation unfortunately does not die with Osama bin Laden. We must remain vigilant in preventing terror acts and continue to do everything to keep our state and nation safe and secure."

Photo source: Wikipedia
Permission: Public Domain

President Obama Responds to UNAMA Attack

Statement by the President Following Attack on UNAMA

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan today. Together with the American people, I offer my deepest condolences to those injured or killed, as well as to their loved ones. The brave men and women of the United Nations, including the Afghan staff, undertake their work in support of the Afghan people. Their work is essential to building a stronger Afghanistan for the benefit of all its citizens. We stress the importance of calm and urge all parties to reject violence and resolve differences through dialogue."

'My Country is Falling Apart, U.S. Could Be Next!'

A Joker-faced Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Dutch Journalist Explains Collapse and Warns America

A World Exclusive

Three days ago, an article on Bloomberg’s “Business Week” website reported that the Dutch government had fallen. Having developed a working relationship with a Dutch resident named Maarten van Dop, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Television Journalism, I decided to look into the matter more closely. In doing so, I discovered a number of striking similarities between the Netherlands and the U.S. regarding political party divisions and the rising tide of dissent among voters. Ultimately, I asked Maarten to provide an assessment, as a journalist and resident, of what really happened to cause the government’s demise. Not only did he graciously consent, he also pointed out that the United States of America appears to be headed in the same direction and urges all Americans to pay close attention to the events taking place in his country.

The following was authored by Maarten van Dop

“We were never in Iraq!”

The Dutch government supported the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They accomplished the latter mainly by mouth (‘politically’), and the first by a significant material and personal contribution. About a month ago, a report was presented on Dutch involvement in the invasion of Iraq. The report was supposedly independent, but officially commissioned by the government last year. A very unwilling government was forced to concede and allow an investigation to take place, thanks to pressure of an altered political constellation. The conclusions of the report did not mince matters or words: the Iraq war was illegal for lack of an international mandate. It went on to say that information was manipulated to serve political goals and parliament was not properly informed. Normally, this would be sufficient to make any prime minister secede his reign, especially when it’s still the same person. But the extraordinary circumstances induced by the economic recession gave this coalition excuse to remain seated, much to the dismay of the opposition.

“We’ll be getting the hell out of Afghanistan!”

The next topic for debate for this coalition was Afghanistan. The United Nations has requested the Netherlands to prolong Dutch presence in the southern province of Uruzgan. President Obama and Vice-President Biden have been appealing to reconsider a decision already made: this year, 2010, Holland withdraws its people from Afghanistan. The two major fractions in government stand opposite one another regarding this request. And now it seems the party opposing prolongation, has pulled the plug. It seems that way because, in actuality, a compromise had already been found, which was leave Uruzgan, but stay in Afghanistan; no more fighting missions, only reconstruction and facilitation for the Afghans. Ironically, this time around it was the economic recession that urged this coalition to bail out. A report from the National Bureau for Statistics showed a projection for the economy that made participating parties realize there was nothing left to be gained up until the next official elections in 2011.

Contradictions & Compromises

Holland is a land of contradictions. Amsterdam is our capital, but our seat of government is The Hague. The Queen is our Head of State, but she is not our leader. Think that’s weird? Ask about our policies on drugs. Or rather: don’t. It all stems from a system of compromise, which we proudly refer to as ‘Poldermodel’ - wherein everything is open to discussion and can be thusly solved. Every contestant is rewarded their share of the stake, but nobody gets the whole deal. Those who wheel more than they deal, end up on top. The Netherlands has a multi-party political system. The current coalition, which became an interim group last week, consists of three different parties. Until the 1990’s, governing coalitions used to consist of two parties that held a workable majority of representatives in parliament. A coalition would either be center-right (Christian Democrats & Liberals) or center-left (Christian Democrats & Socialists). All other parties were relegated to the opposition. However, the Dutch political landscape is becoming increasingly splintered, and the next coalition might even have more than three partners. The more people get to have a say, the less efficient decision-making will be. It’s the conundrum of democracy. Simultaneously, the people crave ‘strong leadership’ as the political spectrum becomes increasingly dispersed. Democracy depends as much on the competence of the eligible as on the competence of the electorate.

Dutch Tea (Party)

Disapproval for the “Poldermodel’ gave way to the rise of Pim Fortuyn, who was considered by many to be an outsider. Fortuyn entered the political arena in 2002, and the world watched in amazement as he single-handedly went from virtual unknown to heading in the polls in the upcoming election. He was shot dead a week before the election took place. His party, LPF, went on to become the second largest political party in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the party was in complete disarray and the coalition collapsed after a mere 80 days of governance. Ever since Fortuyn’s murder, hosts of wannabe ‘strong leaders’ have graced the Dutch political scene. This time, the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, is heading the polls. The PVV is the equivalent of the rapidly expanding Tea Party in the Americas. If he wins big enough, and is not killed, he might well draw up to the ruling coalition. Sarah Palin would probably refer to him as a rogue politician. Thriving on nationalism and xenophobia, his main issue is to oppose the perceived ‘Islamizing’ of the Netherlands. Watch well, American Tea Party patriots. What you’re looking for is someone similar to this enigmatic leader. You’re looking for someone who will ‘unite the nation’, and we’ve got loads of those on sale.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende photo source: Maarten van Dop

Permission: Maarten van Dop

Link to article: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-20/dutch-government-falls-over-extension-of-afghan-stay-update2-.html