Thursday, December 31, 2015

Man Arrested in Connection With Houston Mosque Fire is a Muslim and Devout Attendee

A man arrested in Houston on suspicion of trying to burn down a mosque on Christmas Day told investigators he was a regular attendee of the mosque, praying there five times a day, seven days a week. Read

New Year’s Eve in Turkey: Santa Taken Before Shari’a Judge, Converts to Islam

Turks celebrate New Year’s Eve in a big way, but for Islamists it’s a time to protest what they view as a Western, Christian, immoral event, and for one small far-right Islamist party that means a public skit involving Santa and a shari’a court judge. Read

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

State: US Has Concerns About Syrian Islamist Group, But Its Leader Supported Political Process And Should Not Have Been Killed

The U.S. has “significant concerns” about a Syrian rebel group whose leader was killed in a Christmas Day airstrike but was troubled by the decision to target someone who had committed himself to efforts to negotiate an end to the civil war, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday. Read

Iran’s Supreme Leader Accuses US of Stoking a 14 Century-Old Schism in Islam

In a new diatribe against the United States, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday accused it of fomenting rifts between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims as part of an overall “plot” against Islam. Read

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Says He’s Spent Most ‘Time and Energy’ on Climate Change

One year before the end of his second and final term in office, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says he has spent “most of my time and energy” at the helm of the global body focused on one issue – climate change. Read

Iranian News Agency Doesn’t Like US-Led Coalition Taking Any Credit for Ramadi

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency took issue Monday with a statement by the U.S.-led coalition highlightingits support for Iraqi forces’ successful operation to recapture the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL). Read

Monday, December 28, 2015

$2,957,000,000: U.S. Taxpayers Will Fund Lion’s Share of UN Budget Again in 2016

American taxpayers will once again be liable for more than one-fifth of the United Nations’ regular budget next year, as well as more than one-quarter of the much-larger peacekeeping budget – a total of approximately $2,957,000,000. Read

Counterterrrorism Chairman Defends Calls for Mosque Surveillance: ‘That’s Where the Threat is Coming From’

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, said Sunday mosques in the United States should be placed under surveillance regardless of the complaints of civil libertarians since “the fact is, that’s where the threat is coming from.” Read

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

C-SPAN Accused of ‘Mainstreaming Islamist Organizations While Willfully Marginalizing’ Reformists

The leader of an umbrella group of moderate Islamic organizations is troubled by C-SPAN's decision not to cover its launch event at the National Press Club earlier this month, when on Monday the public affairs network provided live coverage to another Muslim event – highlighting “Islamophobia” – at the same venue. Read

State Dep’t Rejects Call to Close DC Office of the PLO – ‘An Important Partner’

The State Department pushed back Tuesday on calls by Republican lawmakers for the administration to shut down the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington, saying it opposes the move because “we believe the PLO is an important partner in advancing the two-state solution.” Read

GOP Lawmakers Slam Kerry Over Visa-Waiver Issue: ‘A Desperate Attempt to Appease the Regime in Tehran’

Republican lawmakers hit back Tuesday at the administration’s suggestion that it could bypass newly-enacted legal provisions tightening the Visa Waiver Program, accusing Secretary of State John Kerry of capitulating and pandering to Iran. Read

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

No Word From Golfing Obama After Deadliest Attack on US Troops in Afghanistan in 3 Years

Responding to the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan in more than three years, the White House issued a statement Monday saying its “thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and their loved ones.” Read

CAIR and Co. Warn 2016 Candidates: Spew ‘Islamophobia’ at Your Political Peril

Leaders of several American Muslim organizations warned Donald Trump and other presidential candidates Monday that if they engage in bigotry and “Islamophobia” they will pay a political price because Muslim voters – in the words of one – will mobilize and “make sure you are out of there.” Read

Monday, December 21, 2015

Hezbollah Threatens Vengeance After Child-Killer Terrorist Dies in Syria Blast

Hezbollah threatened Sunday to avenge the killing of a top terrorist whose claim to notoriety was a 1979 attack in which he shot dead an Israeli father in front of his four year-old daughter, and then battered the girl to death with a rifle butt. Read

Kerry to Iranian Regime: Don’t Worry About Those Visa Waiver Program Changes

Secretary of State John Kerry assured his Iranian counterpart in a weekend letter that the administration will find ways to ensure that changes to the U.S. visa waiver program will not interfere with Iran’s “legitimate business interests.” Read

Still Only 1 Christian: 382 of 383 Syrian Refugees Admitted Since Paris Attacks Are Muslims

The Obama administration has admitted 383 Syrian refugees into the United States since the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, and just one (0.2 percent) is a Christian. Read

Friday, December 18, 2015

Putin Praises Trump's 'Bright Personality'

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his marathon annual press conference Thursday said he would work with whomever wins the 2016 U.S. presidential race, but in comments afterwards had praise for one candidate in particular – Donald Trump. Read

State Dep’t Warns Changes to Visa Waiver Program Could Have ‘Very Negative Impact’ on Iran Nuke Deal

A move to tighten the U.S. visa waiver program – included in the omnibus spending bill in response to heightened terror-related security concerns – could have “a very negative impact” on implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement, a senior State Department official told lawmakers on Thursday. Read

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Top Sunni Body Urges All Islamic States to Join New Saudi-Led Anti-Terror ‘Military Alliance’

Sunni Islam’s top seat of learning is calling on all of the world’s Islamic nations to join a newly-announced “Islamic military alliance” against terrorists, although the world’s largest Muslim country, Indonesia, is baulking at the “military” nature of the Saudi-led initiative. Read

In Signal to Iran, US Lawmakers Pass Bill Targeting Hezbollah in 425-0 Vote

By a vote of 425 to 0, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation strengthening sanctions against Iran’s terrorist proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, signaling to Tehran that it will remain a target of Congressional action despite looming sanctions relief under the Iran nuclear agreement. Read

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

'Iran's Lies...Have Paid Off,' Congressman Says, As US Pushes Ahead With Iran Nuke Deal

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday welcomed a decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s governing board to close a probe into Iran’s past work relevant to building a nuclear bomb, a decision critics denounced as a “whitewash.” Read

Huckabee: If Islam is Peaceful, Shouldn’t Muslims be ‘Begging Us All to Come and Listen’ to Mosque Sermons?

If Islam is as peaceful a religion as Muslims say, shouldn’t they be “begging” people to visit mosques to listen to sermons, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee asked on Tuesday night, disputing the notion that intelligence agencies monitoring mosques in the U.S. would violate First Amendment rights. Read

Now Kerry Says US is ‘Not Seeking So-Called Regime Change’ in Syria

“The United States and our partners are not seeking so-called regime change as it is known, in Syria,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in Moscow Tuesday after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Bashar al-Assad. Read

GOP Candidates Split Over Toppling Mideast Dictators; Trump, Cruz, Paul Oppose It

The field in Tuesday night’s Republican presidential debate was sharply divided between those in favor of and those opposed to the ousting of dictators in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Read

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

From Chewing Gum to Tanks, Iran Orders Ban on 227 US Products

On the eve of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) vote expected to pave the way for Iran sanctions relief and a rush of business deals, the regime has ordered a ban on the import of more than 200 American products, ranging from chewing gum to tanks. Read

Still Just One Christian: 275 of 276 Syrian Refugees Admitted Since Paris Attacks Are Muslim

Since the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, the State Department has admitted 276 Syrian refugees into the United States – 270 Sunni Muslims (97.8 percent), five (1.8 percent) described merely as “Moslem,” and one Christian (0.3 percent), according to data from the State Department Refugee Processing Center. Read

Monday, December 14, 2015

Kerry: Americans Won’t Elect a President Who is Not Committed to Climate Accord

Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he does not believe that “the American people, who predominantly do believe in what is happening with climate change,” will elect a president who does not “understand climate change” or is not committed to the type of global agreement reached in Paris. Read

Women Win 0.9 Percent of Seats in Saudi Local Elections; State Department Hails ‘Historic Milestone’

The State Department on Sunday described as a “historic milestone” a local government election in which Saudi women ran and voted for the first time, and which produced 20 women out of 2,106 successful male and female candidates – 0.9 percent of the total. Read

Friday, December 11, 2015

State Dep’t Chides Russian TV Reporter Over 'Ridiculous,' 'Absolutely Crazy' Questions

Diplomacy was put on hold at the State Department on Thursday as spokesman John Kirby clashed with a reporter for the pro-Kremlin RT network, telling her at one point, “I can’t believe honestly that you aren’t embarrassed to ask these questions.” Read

Former Australian PM Stokes Islam Debate: ‘Not All Cultures Are Equal’

Calls by Australia’s conservative former prime minister for Islam to be reformed have stoked debate, with some critics accusing him of behavior reminiscent of Donald Trump. Read

House Panel Votes to Arm Kurds – The ‘One Effective Fighter in This Fight’

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed legislation authorizing the direct provision of arms to Kurdish fighters battling ISIS in northern Iraq, a move called for by several 2016 presidential candidates but opposed both by the Obama administration and the government in Baghdad. Read

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Samantha Power: 'Discussions Are a Form of UN Action' Against Iran

Pressed Wednesday on the U.N. Security Council’s failure to respond firmly to Iran’s ballistic missile tests in violation of U.N. resolutions, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said the matter was being discussed – and that at the world body, discussions were a “form” of action. Read

Israel and Britain Resist Calls to Bar Donald Trump Over Muslim Stance

As Donald Trump’s controversial remarks on Muslims resonate around the world, the governments of two of America’s closest allies are facing calls to ban him. Neither looks likely to accede. Read

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Stealthy Russian Submarine Fires Missiles at Terror Targets in Syria

In the latest in a series of “firsts” for the Russian military in its ongoing mission in Syria, the Russian Navy has for the first time fired cruise missiles at targets from a submarine in the Mediterranean Sea, the Kremlin confirmed late Tuesday. Read

At UN Climate Conference, Placating China More Important Than Including a Big Polluter

The United Nations and its member states may be engrossed in the drive to achieve a new global climate agreement in Paris this week, but not to the extent that they are willing to challenge China’s decades-old refusal to allow Taiwan to be treated as a normal country. Read

Visa Application Asks: ‘Do You Seek to Engage in Terrorist Activities While in the United States?’

The application form that San Bernardino terrorist Tashfeen Malik would have used to apply for her visa to enter the United States asks such questions as, “Do you seek to engage in terrorist activities while in the United States or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities?” Read

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Kerry at Climate Talks: ‘Members of the Flat Earth Society Are on The Wrong Side of History’

Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Paris Monday to lend his weight to ambitious U.N. climate change talks. He asserted the “need to make clear that those members of the flat earth society [who dispute global warming theory] are on the wrong side of history.” Read

1 Christian: 236 of 237 Syrian Refugees Admitted Since Paris Attacks Are Muslims

Since the Paris terror attacks on November 13, the State Department has admitted 237 Syrian refugees into the United States – 236 Sunni Muslims and one Christian (0.4 percent), according to data from the State Department Refugee Processing Center. Read

Monday, December 07, 2015

Clinton: ‘There are Radicals … in Every Religion in the World’

Radicals exist “in every religion in the world,” Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton said Sunday, explaining her reluctance to speak about “radical Islam.” Read

CAIR Welcomes Obama’s ‘Rejection of Islamophobia’ in Oval Office Address

Ahead of President Obama’s primetime Oval Office address on the terrorist threat Sunday – following what appears to be the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11 – the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged the president to use the opportunity to condemn what it called “rising Islamophobia” Read

Six Years Later: Obama Finally Calls Fort Hood a Terrorist Attack

More than six years after a Muslim army major shot dead 13 people at Fort Hood, President Obama on Sunday night – for what may be the first time – publicly identified it as a terrorist attack. Read

Friday, December 04, 2015

As Putin Again Accuses Turkey of Buying Oil From ISIS, State Dep’t Says, ‘It’s Just Not True’

Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Thursday on accusing Turkey of complicity with terrorists and benefitting from the trade of oil stolen by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) terrorists, The State Department again defended Turkey’s president against allegations of collusion with ISIS. Read

Australia to Strip Dual Citizens of Citizenship for Terror Activities

At a time when legislation introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to deprive Americans who join terror groups of their citizenship faces Democratic opposition, Australian lawmakers have passed a comparable measure. Read

Huckabee: No US President Should Pressure Israel to ‘Give Up Land That God Gave Them the Title Deed To’

No U.S. president should pressure Israel to surrender land to which God gave it the title deed, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Thursday, distinguishing himself from others in the field by declaring his opposition to the “two-state solution.” Read

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Obama’s New Anti-ISIS Adviser Once Criticized Bush Administration’s ‘Hostile Policy’ Towards Assad

President Obama’s new senior adviser for the anti-ISIS campaign once suggested that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad might change his policies on collaborating with Iran and terrorist groups if President George W. Bush’s administration would only end its “hostile policy” towards him. Read

IAEA: Iran’s Nuclear Activity Continued for Years After Ayatollah Supposedly Banned It

Iran conducted a coordinated program aimed at developing a nuclear bomb until 2003, and carried out further weapons-related activity until at least 2009, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said in a key report to its governing board on Wednesday. Read

San Bernardino Suspect’s Brother-in-Law Speaks About Family’s Shock at CAIR-Hosted Briefing

The brother-in-law of one of the suspected shooters responsible for killing 14 people at a social services center in San Bernardino, Calif. said at a brief press conference hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Anaheim Wednesday night that he was “shocked that something like this happened here.” Read

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Why So Few Christians Among Syrian Refugees? State Dept.: Our Emphasis 'on Helping the Most Vulnerable'

The emphasis of the United States’ refugee admission program is on helping “the most vulnerable,” and “many” of those currently being helped are members of religious minorities in Syria and Iraq, a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday. Read

Religious Freedom Watchdog: Prioritize Syrian Refugees Targeted for Religious Reasons

The United States should prioritize the resettlement of Syrian refugees “based on their vulnerability,” the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said Tuesday. He noted that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) has targeted religious minorities for persecution. Read

As US Sends More Troops to Iraq, Iraqi PM Says, 'No Need for Foreign Combat Ground Troops’

Hours after Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday that the U.S. would send more Special Forces troops to Iraq for anti-ISIS operations “at the invitation of the Iraqi government,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi responded without enthusiasm to the idea. Read

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Hillary Emails: State Dept. Was Concerned About How Clinton, Rice Portrayed Benghazi Attack

A fresh batch of Hillary Clinton’s private email correspondence released by the State Department on Monday night reveals concern in the then-secretary of state’s office over how she and then-ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice had portrayed motives for the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Read

No Christians: All 132 Syrian Refugees Admitted to U.S. Since Paris Attacks Are Sunni Muslims

Since the Paris terror attacks on November 13, the State Department has admitted 132 Syrian refugees into the United States, and all 132 are Sunni Muslims. Read