Much To Be Thankful For

Much To Be Thankful For
by Brigitte Gabriel

Dear Ed,

With so much bad news on the economic front the past several weeks, our national Thanksgiving holiday couldn’t be coming soon enough. Because if we look hard enough, in the midst of the bad news, and the real impact on our savings, our retirement plans, and our jobs, we still have a great deal to be thankful for.

Before you read the rest of this email, I encourage you to take just a couple of moments and remind yourself of some of the blessings you enjoy. Whatever you think of – family, friends, faith, your job, your health – doctors tell us it does us a world of good to count our blessings and be thankful for them.

Beyond my personal blessings, I want you to know how thankful I am for you, your devotion to our country, your commitment to make a difference, and your support of ACT! for America. Those who know me well know these are not just words. Rarely does a day pass that I don’t reflect on how much each of our members means to this organization.

It’s one of the reasons I am so optimistic about our winning this fight against Islamofascism. I have met so many of you, and you bring such encouragement to me that I know we will prevail.

Now, here are a couple of exciting news items that we can really be thankful for today!

First, we can be thankful that jurors in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial returned guilty verdicts on all 108 counts! As many of you know, the first trial conducted in September, 2007, ended in a mistrial. Not this time! The message this sends to Islamists who seek to use our charitable giving laws to fund terrorism is loud and clear!

Please Click here to read the Dallas Morning News story.

Second, we can be thankful for the tenacity and legal acumen of our colleague, David Yerushalmi, who has filed suit on behalf of four plaintiffs against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Mr. Yerushalmi arranged for subpoenas to be served at CAIR’s recent 14th annual banquet.

What’s more, Yerushalmi disclosed yesterday that CAIR is no longer legally allowed to be in operation!

To read the WorldNetDaily story on this new development, please click here.

In less than a week, we have seen a major victory over terrorism financing and legal action against and exposure of CAIR. You and I know we have many challenges ahead of us, but these recent developments are a strong reminder that progress is being made, and for that let’s all be especially thankful today.

May you and yours enjoy a particularly warm and festive Thanksgiving!

Always devoted,

Brigitte

Flash Cards Designed to Teach English Translations of Arabic Have a Curious Way of Doing It

Received in an email from ACT for America.

We’ve all seen flash cards used to teach math functions and simple words. But we’re sure you haven’t seen flash cards like these!

One of our chapter leaders happened to be in a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Minnesota, and saw a package of flash cards apparently intended to help someone translate Arabic words and phrases into English.

What he saw when he bought the cards was, to say the least, far different than what he expected.

Here is a sample of some of the English words and phrases translated from the Arabic in this flash card set.

“assassination attempt”
“counter strike”
“attack”
“air strike”
“enemy”
“The army seized power”
“We buried the dead man yesterday”
“to seize power”
“martyr”
“to die in a battle”

To see a PDF image of the actual flashcards, designed by Fethi Mansouri, please click here. You will need Adobe Reader or similar software to view the image.

I guess we’re pretty straight-laced here in America. Our flashcards designed to teach English have such controversial words and phrases such as “thank you,” “could you please help me?”, and “what time is it?” I don’t think you’ll find an English translation flashcard set with words like “assassination attempt.”

One has to wonder who would need an Arabic flash card set that translates “assassination attempt” into English. Then again, maybe we shouldn’t have to wonder at all.



Guy Rodgers
Executive Director

ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org 

From ACT: FBI Works to Prevent "October Surprise"

Dear Ed,

Understandably, Americans are focused on the economic crisis facing our country. But as the article below demonstrates, the threat of Islamic terrorism never sleeps. One can only imagine the negative impact on our already shaky financial and credit markets if a terrorist attack was successfully implemented on our soil sometime during the next five weeks.

FBI hunts American citizens trained overseas for terror

Feds launch dragnet to stop 'October surprise' attack

Posted: September 29, 2008 1:00 am Eastern

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76415

As Pakistani investigators hunt the terrorists behind the massive Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad, FBI agents in the U.S. have begun aggressively hunting for Americans who have recently returned from trips to Pakistan where they may have trained at al-Qaida camps, WND has learned.

A coast-to-coast dragnet has been launched partly in response to leads developed in the arrest of one of al-Qaida's "fixers" in the U.S., say FBI officials. They report the bureau is in a race against time to identify Pakistan-trained sleeper cells and disrupt a possible pre-election "October surprise."

For the first time since 9/11, counterterrorism field agents have been authorized to spy on young Muslim men and women – including American citizens – who have traveled to Pakistan without any specific evidence of wrongdoing.

Controversial new investigative guidelines approved by the Justice Department allow agents to monitor suspects and conduct undercover interviews even before opening formal investigations.
FBI headquarters has ordered its field offices to aggressively pursue anonymous tips and report back any suspicious activities in their Muslim communities. The intelligence will be immediately analyzed and shared in a threat matrix to avoid a repeat of the so-called "Phoenix memo" intelligence failure, officials say.

In the weeks prior to 9/11, an alert agent in the FBI's Phoenix office noted that several radical Middle Eastern men were taking flying lessons. He drafted a memo and sent it to headquarters, which promptly buried it, missing an opportunity to act before the disastrous hijackings of 9/11.
The FBI's new rules and current sense of urgency follow the recent interrogation of al-Qaida operative Aafia Siddiqui, an M.I.T.-educated scientist who fled to Pakistan after 9/11. She was arrested this summer in Afghanistan and brought back to the U.S. after sustaining injuries from a gun battle.

According to a federal indictment, Siddiqui was found with handwritten notes that referred to a "mass casualty attack" and listed various locations in the U.S. including Wall Street, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Plum Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition, certain notes referred to the construction of "dirty bombs," chemical and biological weapons and other explosives.

Siddiqui's notes also discussed "mortality rates associated with certain of these weapons and explosives," the indictment says. Other notes referred to various ways to attack "enemies," including destroying reconnaissance drones, using underwater bombs and using gliders.
A computer thumb drive in Siddiqui's possession contained electronic correspondence that referred to specific "cells" and "attacks" by certain "cells," the indictment says. Other documents referred to "enemies," including the U.S., and discussed recruitment and training.

Officials say subsequent interrogations have revealed that possibly hundreds of American Muslims, many of them of Pakistani descent, have traveled to Pakistan in recent years to train at al-Qaida and Taliban madrassas and terror camps and have returned to the U.S. to carry out suicide attacks.

The revelation has shocked the politically sensitive FBI into abandoning its long-held policy of coordinating investigations in the Muslim community with Muslim-rights groups. Officials say it's more important than ever to track down Muslims who have traveled to Pakistan, and gather and disseminate intelligence quickly to disrupt possible terror plots before they can develop to an operational stage.

"There's some worry we may be in another Phoenix moment," one official said, "but this time we're determined to leave no stone unturned."

The formation of al-Qaida training camps inside Pakistan has been a major concern among U.S. security agencies since at least 2004, when Washington issued a rare intelligence directive to border agents to check young Pakistani male travelers –including Americans – for physical signs of military training.

As WND first reported, they were asked to look for "rope burns," "unusual bruises," "scars" and other possible injuries suffered from obstacle courses, firearms or explosives.

"Many of the individuals trained in the Pakistani camps are destined to commit illegal activities in the United States," warned the two-page DHS advisory that launched the special action.
According to another internal DHS document obtained by WND, the department more recently directed customs officers to escort passengers identified by "one-day lookouts" to secondary inspection, where they are subjected to a battery of questions to determine if they have visited terror camps in Pakistan.

American citizens of Pakistani descent also are under increased scrutiny. Over the past few years, U.S. authorities have arrested or investigated several Pakistani-American men who have trained at the camps during trips to Pakistan. One camp used photos of President Bush for target practice.

"The camps are a big concern," said a DHS official, who requested anonymity. "We are questioning U.S. citizens, as well as Pakistani nationals, as they come back to the states if the computer says they might have terrorist ties."

FBI Director Robert Mueller earlier this month cited the threat posed by the Pakistani terror-training camps while briefing Congress about the bureau's expanded investigative powers, which officially go into effect Oct. 1.

"We know that in western Pakistan now that there are camps in which individuals are being trained. The U.K. knows that very well because individuals who were involved in the 2005 attacks and later attacks had traveled to Pakistan for training in the camps and then come back," Mueller testified before the House Judiciary Committee. "I believe the American public would want us to do what is necessary to try to identify persons who had traveled to Pakistan, whatever their heritage, whatever their background, whatever their ethnicity, to determine who has gone to Pakistan to obtain that training and may be coming back to the United States to undertake an attack."

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., complained the new investigative rules would give FBI agents license to racially profile citizens.

FBI officials noted that the Marriott blast, which killed both U.S. Defense and State Department officials, signaled new techniques by al-Qaida-trained suicide terrorists. The dump-truck bomb they used was so massive, leaving a crater 30 feet deep and 60 feet wide, that it managed to severely damage the building even from beyond the concrete barriers protecting the perimeter of the building.

Also, investigators said that the hotel – a high-profile target that was used by Western diplomats as well as the CIA – had been targeted at least twice previously for attack, just as the U.S. embassy in Yemen had been hit in minor operations before this month's full-scale attack.

The repeat attacks indicate the terrorists are testing security, experts say. It also indicates they will keep coming back to the same target until they are successful in destroying it.

In the U.S., the World Trade Center was first attacked in 1993 and then again in 2001. A target the hijackers intended to strike but failed to hit on 9/11 was the U.S. Capitol. Terror analysts believe the Pentagon remains an al-Qaida target as well, since it was only partially damaged in the 9/11 operation.

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ACT for America

P.O. Box 6884

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

http://www.actforamerica.org/
ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

ACTION ALERT!!!

Visit our News page

ACTION ALERT !!

Free Speech Protection Act

Dear Ed,

Earlier this year New York passed legislation protecting authors from what has become known as “libel terrorism,” lawsuits claiming defamation filed in foreign jurisdictions and intended to
intimidate authors and publishers. Since then, legislation modeled after New York’s bill, entitled the Free Speech Protection Act, was introduced with bi-partisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate.

We received word on Friday that Senators Specter and Schumer have filed the Free Speech Protection Act, with minor changes, as an amendment for consideration to be included in the Senate Defense Authorization bill (S. 3001).

The decision to allow amendments like this to be voted on for inclusion in the bill is made by the "managers" of the bill (Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and for the GOP John Warner in Senator John McCain's absence). Senator Levin has to agree to allow a vote on our amendment. Levin, Warner and other Senate leaders are negotiating over which amendments (if any) will be allowed for consideration, and so far, only amendments directly related to the
defense bill have been considered and voted on.

It is therefore URGENT that Senators Levin, Warner, and other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee hear from the grassroots right away. We need you to contact these members and urge them to include the Free Speech Protection Act as an amendment to the Senate Defense Authorization bill, S.3001. Tell them protecting
American authors who write about terrorism is crucial to our national security and the war on terrorism.

Following is a link to a listing of the members of this committee.


* Please email, fax or phone Senators Levin and Warner and respectfully ask them to include this vital legislation as an amendment.


* If any of these Senators is YOUR Senator, it is especially important for you to make contact with them as soon as possible, preferably by phone.

http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm


Getting this legislation passed will help ensure that American authors who have the courage to write about terrorism will not be subject to intimidation lawsuits filed in foreign jurisdictions.
Protecting our precious free speech rights is a crucial front in the war on terrorism.

So please, take action as soon as you can!

Thank you.

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ACT for America

P.O. Box 6884

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

www.actforamerica.org

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies
that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

Powered by ScribeFire.

From ACT! for America

Westerners must mount a united front against Islamic law

Our esteemed American Congress for Truth blog editor and ACT for America news site manager, Jerry Gordon, posted his commentary on the American Congress for Truth blog recently, regarding the Daniel Pipes commentary below. In reference to the prospect of sharia law gradually making its way into our legal system, Jerry wrote:

“I have argued that the way Sharia will insinuate itself into our law would be through arbitration and mediation of domestic and financial disputes through an extra-judicial arbitration system condoned by our courts. That would entail setting up separate a Sharia law section of the American Arbitration Association overseen by Islamic law panels. The Texas appeals court decision reaffirms my view and should be a warning to all about how Sharia will spread through the proverbial legal back door.”

Jerry was referring to a 2003 Texas appeals court that referred a divorce case to a local tribunal called the Texas Islamic Court.

Daniel Pipes, in his story below, documents an instance where opposition to the wishes and wants of Islamists proved successful. In doing so, he makes the case for the core mission of ACT! for America, that of organized, informed resistance against the rising tide of Islamofascism.

"Westerners must mount a united front against Islamic law"

by Daniel Pipes, Jewish World Review, February 19, 2008

Westerners opposed to the application of the Islamic law (the Shari'a) watch with dismay as it goes from strength to strength in their countries — harems increasingly accepted, a church leader endorsing Islamic law, a judge referring to the Koran, clandestine Muslim courts meting out justice. What can be done to stop the progress of this medieval legal system so deeply at odds with modern life, one that oppresses women and turns non-Muslims into second-class citizens?

A first step is for Westerners to mount a united front against the Shari'a. Facing near-unanimous hostility, Islamists back down. For one example, note the retreat last week by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in a dispute concerning guide dogs used by the blind. [emphasis added].

Muslims traditionally consider dogs impure animals to be avoided, creating an aversion that becomes problematic when Muslim store-owners or taxi drivers deny service to blind Westerners relying on service dogs. I have collected fifteen such cases on my weblog, at "Muslim Taxi Drivers vs. Seeing-Eye Dogs": five from the United States (New Orleans, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Brooksville, Fl.; Everett, Wash.); four from Canada (Vancouver, twice in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Alberta); three from the United Kingdom (Cambridge, twice in London); two from Australia (Melbourne, Sydney); and one from Norway (Oslo).

News accounts quote Muslim cabbies rudely rejecting blind would-be passengers, yelling at them, "No dog, No dog, Get out, get out"; "Get that dog out of here"; and "No dogs, no dogs." The blind find themselves rejected, humiliated, abandoned, insulted, or even injured, left in the rain, dropped in the middle of nowhere, made late for an appointment, or caused to miss a flight.

Islamist organizations initially responded to this problem by supporting anti-canine cabbies. The Muslim Association of Canada pointed out how Muslims generally regard dog saliva as unclean. CAIR on one occasion echoed this assertion, claiming that "the saliva of dogs invalidates the ritual purity needed for prayer." On another, the head of CAIR, Nihad Awad, declared that "People from the Middle East especially ... have been indoctrinated with a kind of fear of dogs" and justified a driver rejecting a guide dog on the grounds that he "has a genuine fear and he acted in good faith. He acted in accordance with his religious beliefs."

However, when the police and the courts are called in, the legal rights of the blind to their basic needs and their dignity almost always trump the Muslim dislike for dogs. The Muslim proprietor or driver invariably finds himself admonished, fined, re-educated, warned, or even jailed. The judge who found a cabby's behavior to be "a total disgrace" spoke for many.

CAIR, realizing that its approach had failed in the courts of both law and of public opinion, suddenly and nimbly switched sides. In a cynical maneuver, for example, it organized 300 cabbies in Minneapolis to provide free rides for participants at a National Federation of the Blind conference. (Unconvinced by this obvious ploy, a federation official responded: "We really are uncomfortable ... with the offer of getting free rides. We don't think that solves anything. We believe the cabdrivers need to realize that the law says they will not turn down a blind person.")

And, finally, last week, the Canadian office of CAIR issued a statement urging Muslims to accommodate blind taxi passengers, quoting a board member that "Islam allows for dogs to be used by the visually impaired."

CAIR's capitulation contains an important lesson: When Westerners broadly agree on rejecting a specific Islamic law or tradition and unite against it, Western Islamists must adjust to the majority's will. [emphasis added]. Guide dogs for the blind represent just one of many such consensus issues; others tend to involve women, such as husbands beating wives, the burqa head coverings, female genital mutilation, and "honor" killings. Western unity can also compel Islamists to denounce their preferred positions in areas such as slavery and Shar'i-compliant finances.

Other Islam-derived practices do not (yet) exist in the West but do prevail in the Muslim world. These include punishing a woman for being raped, exploiting children as suicide bombers, and executing offenders for such crimes as converting out of Islam, adultery, having a child out of wedlock, or witchcraft. Western solidarity can win concessions in these areas too. If Westerners stick together, the Shari'a is doomed. If we do not, we are doomed.
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ACT for America

P.O. Box 6884

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

http://www.actforamerica.org/

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

Disturbing News from ACT! for America

Visit our News page

RevolutionMuslim.com

Dear Ed,

An ACT! for America supporter in New York recently came across a group of Muslims who were handing out flyers. She got in line to take one and alerted us to what was being distributed.

We direct you to http://www.revolutionmuslim.com/.

On the home page you will see at the top right a drawing of an automatic weapon that appears to be an AK-47. Scroll down the home page and you will read the following:

“Our mission is to one day see the Muslims united under one Khalifah and under the commands of Allah (SWT).”

[This is part of the worldwide agenda of militant Islam: to establish sharia law and unite the “umma” – the Muslim world – under one ruler, the caliph. Implicit in this, but not stated, is the rule of Islam over all people, as this is the only path to world “peace.”]

“We pray that we may witness the dismantlement of western, secular dominance across the world as we hold it to be pagan and idolatrous in the majority of its presumptions. We seek a resurrection of the just example set forth by centuries of Islamic rule throughout the ages and we hold it to be self evident for the objective soul and mind that Allah is One and that Muhammad ibn Abdullah is His Prophet and that the religion offers the solution to all of the world’s ills and afflictions.”

[This is the call for the destruction of democratic governments and the establishment of the political rule of Islam.]

In the “Radical Review”, January 2008, Volume 1, we read:

“Rise up and ride the peak of Revolution, the time has come to triumph over those that wish to deceive…Rise Up Ya Muslimeen!”

It is important to emphasize that this is not an Islamic organization in the Middle East, but in New York City. And, if their “hit” counter is to be believed, over 769,000 people have visited their website.

Yesterday, we laid out an ambitious, aggressive plan for ACT! for America to go on the offensive against the rising tide of Islamofascism that threatens us. Earlier today, our sister organization, American Congress for Truth, sent out an email describing Stephen Coughlin’s analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood memorandum that calls for “civilization Jihad” — the destruction of Western civilization from within.

We are not fabricating these threats. We are not exaggerating these threats. They are real — and growing. It is going to take an organized, aggressive effort to begin rolling back these threats. It is going to require action on the part of all of us who are now informed as to what we are up against. After all, if we don’t act, who will?

Some of you reading this email have already responded with a financial contribution to help fund the 120 day campaign Brigitte Gabriel announced yesterday.

To those of you who have, THANK YOU!

If you haven’t yet acted, can we count on you to act today? Please click here to make an online contribution for this 120 day campaign. As of 9:00 A.M. this morning we are 17% of the way to our goal. Your response today will help us reach it.

It’s so easy for us Americans to think that what is happening in the Middle East won’t touch us, or that the “cultural Jihad” that has overwhelmed Great Britain could not possibly happen here.

That’s precisely what militant Muslims hope we will think. I’m sure that’s what many British citizens thought, fifteen years ago. Now they witness the Archbishop of Canterbury stating that the imposition of Islamic sharia law in Great Britain is “unavoidable” and necessary for “social cohesion.”

Abraham Lincoln once wrote that America, if she is ever destroyed, would not be destroyed from an enemy from “without” – an invader – but from an enemy from “within.” We are wise to consider those words in the light of what is already happening here in America.

Thank you for your support and for your love of America. We’ll keep you posted on the progress of our 120 day campaign over the next several days.

Guy Rodgers

Executive Director
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ACT for America

P.O. Box 6884

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

http://www.actforamerica.org/

Muslim Prayer at Iowa statehouse raises concerns

Imam offers prayer at Iowa Statehouse asking Allah for "victory over those who disbelieve"

Over the past few months we have sent out reports and articles providing insight into “Cultural Jihad” – the Islamist subversion of a society from within. Cultural Jihad is at a very advanced stage in countries like France and Great Britain, and it is on the march here in America.
What is insidious about Cultural Jihad is that it is not obvious, like acts of terrorism are. But its “end game” is the Islamization of a society and the replacement of existing law with strict Islamic sharia law.

The news story below reports how a Muslim imam opened the Iowa legislative session with a prayer that included an appeal for “victory over those who disbelieve” and “protection from the great Satan.” The “great Satan,” of course, is the United States. “Victory over those who disbelieve” is consistent with Islamic teaching that Allah is to be dominant over all religions, government, laws and people. This is to be accomplished through “Jihad” – which can take the form of violent conquest or cultural subversion and ultimate subjugation.

That some Muslims are becoming so bold as to proclaim their ultimate objective and declare us their enemy – in such a public forum as a state legislative opening session – speaks volumes as to how far Cultural Jihad has already advanced in America.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is why we continue to issue warnings, alerts and information. This is why we are calling concerned citizens to action and organizing across the country. Those who wish us harm, those who wish to steal our liberties and change our society, are not only “over there.” They’re in our midst. If you’d like to assist our efforts with a financial contribution, please click here.

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Muslim opening prayer at Iowa Statehouse raises concerns

By: Erin Ballou, Pilot Tribune Staff
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, January 24, 2008

The Iowa Legislature started just over a week ago and some people were upset before the first issue was ever addressed.
When the session began, a Muslim Imam began the prayer in the Iowa Legislature. This is where the controversy begins.
The prayer asked of "Victory over those who disbelieve," and "Protection from the great Satan" among other things.

Pastor Steve Smith of the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City is among those concerned about the Muslim prayer. Rev. Smith admits that he doesn't know about all the levels of Muslim but knows that the Jihadists believe those in the U.S. are the great Satan.

Rev. Smith also wants to point out the mention of "victory over those who disbelieve." He feels "this is a request in the Iowa Legislature for God to grant the Muslims victory over every non-muslim. Not a request for salvation." Smith takes it as a gesture not of prayer but more as a political statement, especially with the wars that have been going on in the Middle East.

"I'm not concerned about a Muslim Imam opening the Legislature in prayer but it concerns me with the statements that were made. He interpreted this prayer from his understanding of Islam."

Here is the text of the opening prayer, as transcribed by Radio Iowa:

Imam Muhammad Khan of the Islamic Center of Des Moines spoke first in Arabic.

"I seek refuge in God against the accursed Satan in the name of God, most gracious, most merciful," Khan said in English. Khan made no specific mention of the war in Iraq or foreign affairs, but he called God the "master of the day of judgment" and asked for "victory over those who disbelieve."

"As we begin this new year...in a world with trials and tribulations, we ask you to open the hearts of our legislators and policy makers to make the right decisions for the people of Iowa," Khan said. "...We ask that you guide our legislators and give them the wisdom and knowledge to tackle the difficult problems that face us today in order to eliminate the senseless crimes on humanity. Help them, Lord, to solve the complicated problems in the State of Iowa so that we can be a model to the world."

Khan's prayer lasted about four minutes and he closed with a few words for legislators.

"On behalf of the Muslim community of Des Moines and Iowa, I wish you all the success in this year for making the right decisions for us," Khan said. Khan was the guest of State Representative Ako Abdul Samad of Des Moines, who is also a local Muslim leader.

Rev. Smith has urged others who may be concerned to contact their representative.

When asked about the prayer, Senator Steve Kettering replied in an e-mail that he had not heard the prayer, which did not take place in the Senate chambers.

"I cannot tell you what was said. I have received e-mail regarding this, but since it did not occur on the Senate side I do not have much information," Kettering said. "I should point out that the senate had a Catholic priest for their opening."

Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake said that he agrees with the concern being shown over the Muslim prayer.

He said that he has registered his concerns with the proper authorities.

As the father of two sons who have fought terrorism in the military, Worthan said the phrases mentioned earlier also jumped out at him and he said he shares concern for the same reasons as the constituents he is hearing from.

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ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

Score a Victory for Free Speech

Last week, our colleague Joseph Shahda posted an article that was very disturbing. A terrorist web site Ekllaas, hosted by the Tampa-based Internet Service Provider HiVelocity, had circulated a rumored petition campaign to its members, to be spread across other terrorist forums, to try and knock off a Coptic Christian anti-Islamic Arabic language chat room from Paltalk.

The leadership here at ACT! for America and American Congress for Truth, deeply concerned about this matter, decided to contact PalTalk to encourage them to dismiss this Islamist effort to stifle free speech.

Today, in response to our letter, Paltalk confirmed to us that they are not going to ever submit to any petition directed against constitutionally protected freedom of speech. Further, they asserted they will never bow to the pressure of the petition submitted by Muslim activists to shut down a Christian chat room that criticizes Islam. In fact, Paltalk emphatically told us that the Muslim activists spread the false rumor about Paltalk closing the Coptic Christian room if 1 million signatures were obtained for their petition. This amounted to classic Islamic ‘taqiyyah’ – deception used to advance the cause of Islam.

We are of course delighted to hear that Paltalk, the most prominent voice chat room service in the world, will not bow to Muslim activist pressure to shut down Christian rooms that these activists find “offensive.” We would like to thank Paltalk for their strong stand to protect Constitutional Free Speech Rights.

One side benefit of this exchange: Palktalk said they would love to have Brigitte Gabriel host a weekly program on its large network.

Islamist assaults on free speech have become a staple in their arsenal. As we reported last week, legislation has been introduced in the New York legislature to protect journalists, authors and publishers from intimidation lawsuits filed in foreign courts. Such efforts at intimidation have been dubbed “libel terrorism.” We will soon provide you an update on the status of this legislation and what you can do to help ensure its passage.

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ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

Email from Brigette Gabriel/ACT! for America

Our “New Year’s Resolutions”

An Important Message from Brigitte Gabriel

Dear Ed,

I can scarcely believe it, but 2008 is here. For many, the start of the year is a time for reflection on the year that has passed, and then looking ahead to what the new year may hold.

Looking back, my heart swells with gratitude as I reflect on how far we’ve come this past year and how your support has helped make our accomplishments possible. It is so encouraging to me to know that there are thousands and thousands of concerned citizens just like you, who understand what’s at stake and who are willing to stand with us as we forge ahead in our mission to defend our freedom and liberties from the rising tide of Islamofascism.

Looking ahead to the new year, we in ACT! for America and American Congress for Truth have some New Year’s “resolutions” we would like to share with you, and it is our hope that you will be able to “join hands” with us to help us make these resolutions become reality.

Resolution #1
We resolve to make 2008 a year in which, for the first time during the war on Islamic terror, an organized network of American citizens and local chapters will successfully rise and begin rolling back the advancing tide of Islamofascism in America.

To that end we will work to triple our membership, triple the number of local chapters, and provide education, conferences and training programs to help every supporter of ACT! for America speak out more courageously, persuade others more compellingly, and act more effectively.

Resolution #2
We resolve to do everything we can to make sure that the issues of national security, the threat of Islamic terror, and the advancement of Islamic cultural Jihad, are high on the list of concerns voters have before they cast their votes on election day.

To that end we will launch grassroots petition drives and educational efforts that will raise public awareness of the threats we face and the means by which we can protect ourselves against those threats.

Resolution #3
We resolve to work with our congressional allies to draft, lobby for and eventually pass legislation that will improve our national security and more effectively protect us from the threat of Islamic terrorism.

To that end we will identify the most important public policy changes that need to be made, enlist the support of key Members of Congress, and launch a nationwide grassroots educational and lobbying campaign to secure passage of this vital legislation.

Resolution #4
We resolve to provide millions of American voters with well-documented information as to how candidates for President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives stand on a broad range of issues related to national security, Islamic terrorism, and the political correctness that aids the advance of Islamofascism in our country.

To that end we will thoroughly research and publish the voting records of U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators. We will also survey all nominated candidates for federal office, compare their responses to their voting records and public statements, and produce voter information flyers that we will distribute nationwide prior to the 2008 general election in November.

Resolution #5
We resolve to expose political correctness and the many ways in which it dangerously and foolishly ignores, excuses, dismisses, or rationalizes the many different threats we face from the spread of Islamofascism.

To that end we will provide our members and friends with education and information as to how to recognize such acts of political correctness, and how to effectively expose and challenge those actions.

As I look ahead to this year, I have immense optimism that we will make great strides in our fight against Islamofascism. Why?

Because we have the “people power” that so many organizations would love to have. Yes, we provide important, valuable educational and informational resources. Yes, we have the ear of the media, such as nationally syndicated radio and TV talk show hosts.

But what enables us to turn information and education into action is the fact that we have thousands of members and supporters, just like you, who take action when action is necessary.

Last summer, when we needed to generate phone calls to Capitol Hill to ensure passage of the “John Doe” bill, you responded and over 100,000 calls and emails flowed into Congress.

When we launched the “Stop Ahmadinejad” petition, you responded, and over 11,000 people signed the petition in just 72 hours.

When we asked for people to sign up to either lead or help start a chapter, over 2,000 of you responded. No other organization dedicated to fighting Islamofascism has accomplished this.

These are just a few of the action items you responded to, and we will need your continued support and your help throughout this new year – whether it’s forwarding email alerts to others, signing petitions, getting involved in an ACT! for America chapter, contacting your Member of Congress, making a contribution online, mailing a contribution (P.O. Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456), or passing along vital voter information materials to your friends and family.

If each and every one of us resolves to take some form of action this year, then together, we will accomplish a lot.

Let us rise together in defense of America,

Brigitte Gabriel

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ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam.

Latest from ACT for America

The story below is important to pass along for three reasons. First, as the last paragraph notes, it reveals the mindset and intent of al Qaeda and its allies. Second, we cannot afford to become complacent, no matter how calm circumstances may appear around us. And third, it is essential that, in next year’s elections, America chooses a President who understands the long-term threat arrayed against us and has the experience to deal with it. These are some of the key reasons why ACT for America plans next year to research candidate stands on national security and Islamofascism and to distribute voter information flyers to voters across the country. - ACT for America

Jihadis Post Scenario for the Defeat of the United States

By Abdul Hameed Bakier, Erich Marquardt
http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373415

On May 14, jihadi forum users Abu Kandahar and Roslan al-Shami posted a five-point scenario for the collapse of the United States and the rise of the Islamic ummah, entitled, "The Next Strikes in the Heart of America, When and How." It appeared on the al-ommh.net forum, although at least one other jihadi forum, alhanein.com, reposted the scenario. The posting outlines a scenario for attacking the United States, although the sheer size of the operation suggests that it is jihadi propaganda and not an actual plan that could be operationalized. The alleged operation is dedicated to Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State of Iraq.

The first stage in the scenario involves multiple terrorist attacks on three major U.S. cities, preferably with nuclear weapons, using an unspecified number of trucks. The scenario places priority on attacking New York City because it is the central artery of the U.S. economy and it would prove that the mujahideen are capable of recurrent attacks on the same target. The second city to attack is Los Angeles, an important West Coast "atheist" city. The third "city" to be attacked is Florida because, they argue, it is an East Coast congregation city and has the Kennedy Space Center (considering the description, the statement's authors probably meant Orlando). While those are the three primary cities for attack, the writers of the document suggest that if the mujahideen wish to expedite the collapse of the United States, they should also conduct attacks in Seattle since it is a strategic border city; Washington, DC, the political center of the United States; and cities in Texas, since the "biggest oil companies" are located there.

According to the writers, the purpose of attacking these specific cities is to cause a sharp decline in the U.S. economy; mass amounts of casualties; the support for the mujahideen by anti-U.S. countries such as Cuba and Venezuela; a decrease in American support for their own government; the withdrawal of the "blasphemous" U.S. military from Islamic territories; mass military desertions; and the inability to fuel U.S. military fighter jets. The document also outlines how the fallout from such large-scale attacks would cause the U.S. military to return to the United States in order to conduct massive relief operations. They refer to the example of how Hurricane Katrina overburdened the U.S. National Guard, calling the hurricane a "Soldier of God."

After such attacks, they argue that the Islamic State of Iraq will seize the opportunity to launch mass strikes on the apostates in the Iraqi military and police, paving the way for the third stage of the scenario: the commencement of the golden era of the triumphant Islamic conquests that includes the implementation of Sharia, the liberation of the Arabian Peninsula, the removal from power of "the U.S. ruling family" in Jordan and, finally, the big march toward Palestine. In the end, even Washington, DC, will fall to the mujahideen and that will conclude the final stage of Islamic control of the globe.

The scenario appears less of a planned operation than a hope for the fulfillment of a prophecy. The supposed factuality of the scenario is based on various verses in the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad's teachings. Nevertheless, some of the users on the forums who discussed the scenario asserted that all of the details to execute the operation had already been prepared. One such user, by the alias of Abu Nedal, said, "For your knowledge, the operations are ready and awaiting the orders from our leader Osama bin Laden, God protect him, to decide what he deems appropriate either to strike now or to wait."

Islamist extremists have always fabricated factitious scenarios for victory over the West based on their own interpretations of Quranic prophecies in times of crisis and defeat. Nevertheless, al-Qaeda has shown prior interest in acquiring nuclear materials for use in an attack, and it is necessary to take such forum postings seriously as they display the mindset and the intent, although perhaps not the capability, of al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.

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ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
http://www.actforamerica.org/

Cyber Pastor's Daily Deciblez!!!

Happy Thanksgiving From Cyber Pastor & Family!

All posts today, including this entire article are all dedicated to the Thanksgiving holiday and what it means.

I love Thanksgiving! Why is that? Well, many things come into play, but being a Christian, and living in America should just make a person overjoyed about being thankful.

Of course, I am thankful that Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross and then rose again three days later so that I could spend eternity in heaven!

I am thankful to God for placing me in the United States of America - the greatest country on the earth. I am awed by the fact that the world is such a big place, and I could have been born in any country and for whatever reason God chose to put me in America!

I am thankful that we have religious freedom and are able to worship God openly without the fear of our government standing in our way or of being persecuted because of what we believe.

I have a wonderful family that I love with all my heart - and that is truly a blessing from God.

I have a wonderful church and community to serve and I couldn't ask for a better place to do God's work. Thank you Lord for placing me here.

I am thankful for those who are currently serving our country in the GWOT and for all those who have served before them. Please remember to pray for those serving as they protect our freedoms and many of them will be away from their loved ones for all the holiday season.

I have made so many wonderful friends since I began blogging nearly two years ago, and then starting Do The Right Thing earlier this year.

There is quite a large and growing group of people that I call the "Good Guys" who have grown into a very close family. Granted, I have only met one of these people in person - but I feel like I have known several of them for many years. A few of them are some of my closest prayer partners.

To have such a group of friends, that come from all walks and different parts of the country is a great thing. This "family" we have includes Christians, Catholics, a couple of the Jewish faith, an atheist, young folks, older folks, many veterans, men, women, and the group just keeps on growing.

While we come from very different backgrounds, one thing links us together. That is our love of Conservative values. Several of us have our own blogs, others are contributors to blogs, and some are readers of our blogs, but conservatives we are.

Thank you Lord, for all the things I've listed, and may You continue to Bless America!

I love you all,

Cyber Pastor

Thanksgiving Message from John Lind of PPT

Happy Thanksgiving from Act! for America

From My Friend Penguin ComPassion

Weekly Update and Happy Thanksgiving from Fred 08

Duncan Hunter's Thanksgiving Message

Happy Thanksgiving from Act! for America

Happy Thanksgiving!

We at ACT for America and the American Congress for Truth want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

And for those of you who receive these emails and live in countries where Thanksgiving isn’t a national holiday as it is here in the U.S. – let us wish you a Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

Let us remember all that we have to be grateful for, such as our families, our faiths, and our freedoms. Yes, problems abound and evil never sleeps. But when we at ACT for America and the American Congress for Truth consider the challenges that face us, we are especially thankful for each and every one of you.

Thank you for your love of liberty.

Thank you for your love of peace.

Thank you for your love of truth.

And thank you that you believe in and are willing to be part of what we are trying to accomplish.

Brigitte Gabriel
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ACT for America

P.O. Box 6884

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

www.actforamerica.org

Cyber Pastor's Daily Deciblez!!!

Cyber Pastor, with his son, and grandson earlier this year at Red Lobster! My son makes a good uncle as he holds the newest member of our family. Time flies, as my grandson is 6 months old this week.

OK, I know, the posts have been not be plentiful the last couple of days, and we've not had a post from Dean in a couple of days too. Too much from here to even put in print, and Dean has been real busy as well, so I encouraged him to take his time before the next post in the series, Israel, America's Greatest Ally!

A couple of my posts today have financial solicitations with them. I am not, and I don't believe I ever have, ask my readers to contribute funds for a cause. I'm not asking here either! However, I wanted to include the links to give folks an opportunity to give if they wish. So, I'm not asking or encouraging, but the links are they if you so choose.

It is still Veteran's Awareness Week, and in the next paragraph I want to tell you about my friend who is a Korean War vet. He was in Field Artillery and still has ringing in his ears from all the noise.

I want to give a special mention to my good friend and the veteran I mentioned , Eugene, who turned 76 today. It's not just because of his birthday being today, but at 12:40 am, his sister passed away. I know what it's like to have a close member of my family die on my birthday. So Happy Birthday, Eugene, and may Nellie rest in peace!

Statement by Fred Thompson on National Right to Life Endorsement

Huckabee Gaining in Iowa!!!

Act! for America - Update

Today from the PPT

Hope Above the Headlines

Today from the PPT