FBI Crime Data For 2015 - Inconsistencies in the Data

FBI Crime Data Statistics - including extended data have been released for 2015.

I am letting my readers know, in  the spirit of full disclosure, because I often cite the FBI data in writing and discussions. 

This is the normal time of year when the prior years datasets are released.   The timing of this release is completely normal.  This is the normal time of year when the prior years datasets are released.  It takes sometime for the FBI to gather all the information from every jurisdiction and agency in every US state and territory.  

However, there are conflicts in the data.

For every year, there a huge number of tables- MS Excel spreadsheets- that are released.  The tables for each year, have  columns showing the previous five years of historical data.   For example a table that may show 2014 data would also have columns for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. That same dataset for the year 2015- it would have columns dataing back to 2011. 

Normally, one would expect the data in the report for 2012 would be the same for each report, the 2012 data should be the same on each page it appears. The number of people murdered by drowning, for example in 2012 should be the same in the 2012 column in the 2013 report - with the column 2013 data added-- we should not see the numbers for 2012 (or any other prior years) be different than they were in the previous years  report. 

I have sent an email to the FBI asking for clarification.  I will share any response I receive. 

Until that time, I am concerned with using the 2015 data in posts online.  

FBI Crime Data For 2015 - Inconsistencies in the Data

Protecting Those That Protest Them

 

From 1988- 1995, I worked as a Firefighter and in EMS.  I worked Emergency Room. I drove an ambulance or rode in the back of one caring for patients, I sat the "jump seat" of the fire truck.  I responded to hundreds of accidents and fires.  I packed up and made entry into burning structures, crawling on my hands and knees in dark, smoke filled rooms with fire dancing across the ceiling, just moments from flashing over looking for wounded or injured.  I fell partway through the roof of a burning structure.   I fought grass fires to save crops and property.   I crawled into overturned vehicles to stabilize the c-spine of combative patients who may have been drinking.  I did chest compressions on patients until my own chest hurt, hoping beyond hope that we would somehow get a pulse.   I used my bare hands over gunshot wounds to stop bleeding when a patient would be "dumped" at the ER door.  I drove in heat, in rain, in snow and ice responding to accident and injury all the time hoping and praying that in responding I would not cause another or that my partner or I would become ones ourselves.    I also responded to crime scenes. 

In every response in the ambulance and most in the fire truck, we responded with, or sometimes at the request of a law enforcement officer.  

Every night I worked in the ER, there was always an officer of the law somewhere in the department  - either doing reports in the break room, bringing in patients, getting treatment for suspects, helping victims or just getting a cup of bad "break-room coffee."  

More than once, when working ER in San Diego, a police officer volunteered to put my bicycle in the back of a squad car and give me a ride home, just because it was raining.  

More than once, law enforcement officers- State Troopers,  County Sheriff or Local Police would jump in the back of the ambulance on a "purely medical" case to lend a hand with chest compressions or bagging - even though another firefighter would be available- and even though they knew that with the patients down time, the response time and distance, it was probably hopeless.  

More than once a police officer would put a hand on my shoulder and say a kind word, when we had fought a loosing fight.  

And more than once we all attended funerals, for Emergency Responders - Firefighters, Law Enforcement and EMS; for one of our fallen brethren.   

In all those responses and indents, I can never remember a Law Enforcement Officer, fellow Firefighter or fellow EMT-D or EMT-P ever base a response or action at a scene on race or ethnicity.  I never knew the race of the accident victim on the way to the scene.   We never heard a police officer call in a structure fire saying "smoke showing over residence- and oh, the people who own it are [insert race here]."  

Truth be told, I personally only remember the ethnicity of ONE patient I helped treat.  I was 19 years old and working in the Emergncy Room at University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.  She was almost 2 years old.  She was Native American.  She was in an automobile roll-over accident on reservation land south of Tucson.  She was not in a car seat, and her mother had an elevated blood alcohol level.   It was the morning of January 1, 1989.  I helped wheel the mother up to the little-girl's room and watched as the girl's heart rate kept getting slower and slower- until the nurse finally shut off the ECG.  I also remember walking outside, picking up a phone and calling my own mom in tears, partially because my mom was a nurse and I knew she would understand.  But I mostly I called to say thanks for being a great mom.    

Does racism exist? Of course it does.  Are there racist Law Enforcement Officers and Emergency Responders- Yes, I am sure there are.  

But we need to stop painting every police officer, every deputy sheriff, every state trooper or highway patrolman with the same brush.   The majority of officers and first responders are good people.   They do a job that many times is unappreciated. They deserve our thanks and our appreciation.  

Most of us only interact with law enforcement in awkward situations at best or in situations that are just plain bad.   We have been pulled over.  We have been in an accident.  The house has been robbed.   We are, understandably in a stressful situation and then we have a person with a badge prying into our lives.   For the most part we don't often see law enforcement when we are at our best.  Working with law enforcement often paints a different picture.  Law enforcement officers are just like every single one of us.  They have the same human strengths and weakness.  They have good and bad days.  They laugh.  They joke. They even cry.   

One thing I knew without question - if a gunman had come into the ER I worked in (one did in an ER up the road from where I worked when I was in California - two were killed and two injured in the Mission Bay ER shooting), or if a scene I was working "went south," the officers around me would have my back and put themselves in harms way to protect me if need be.  

Yes, there are those that have cause to be angry or have cause not to trust law enforcement.  But the actions of individuals are not the same as the actions or attitudes of all law enforcement.  

There are over 1 million Law Enforcement Officers in the US.  Not all of them are paid- many are volunteers or other reserve officers who don't receive pay- but all risk their lives with every traffic stop or response to a scene.  

Out of over a million officers, yes there are some who do now or previously have brought dishonor to themselves or their profession.  But we should remember- the vast majority have not. 

One of the great beauties of our Country is that we have the right to protest.  Lawful protests are wonderful.  Even better is that the very police officers and departments being protested will protect the protests and protestors.  

It is really something that is actually quite special and quite impressive; those who are the targets of protest, will protect with their lives those that are protesting them.  

That's something we should never forget.  

Protecting Those That Protest Them

Auto Deaths to Set Record- Time for Action!

While the Left would have us believe that guns are the deadliest "mechanism" man uses, the word comes that Automobile Deaths will likely exceed 40,000 this year alone.   And though it may be hard to believe there are far more Guns in the US than Cars (in May 2016 there were over 1.87 Million NICS background checks alone - or in other words more than 1.87 million people had their backgrounds run for the purpose of purchasing at least 1 firearm in just May 2016- you can purchase more than one on the same NICS check).

So of course we must do something here- 

1. We must ban all Jeeps and Hummers- they have a military appearance and we can't have that.  A military appearance makes things more dangerous.  Suburbans and other quasi-military looking vehicles also should be restricted.  

2. All vehicles must be limited to a tank quantity of less than 10 gallons.  That way you can't drive as much.   You must stop to reload (the tank) more often. 

3.  We must place an breathalyzer interlock on ALL cars and trucks- regardless of whether the person had ever had a DUI- they might try sometime even if they NEVER drink. 

4. All states should adopt "MAY ISSUE" laws instead of SHALL ISSUE.  It should be up to the wim of local sheriffs to decide who gets to drive and who doesn't.  With the Shall Issue law if a person passes the Drivers License test and has a clean record, the state MUSt issue a drivers license.   Obviously this is bad. 

5. One state should not be required to accept another's Drivers License.  Places like New York,  California, DC etc should be allowed to ban drivers from other states from driving in their states.  To hell with the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled that interstate travel is a right.

6.  All drivers should be requires to have a background check-- UNIVERSAL Background Checks- even in the case of someone being willed grandfather's old car.  The person buying could have a background of speeding or DUI

7.  Ban the private sale or transfer of autos, and all internet sales. The person buying the car MUST have a background check.   This includes all "car shows" - OK so even though all car dealers at car shows may be licensed  dealers AND they would already do a background check, who cares.   You can buy parts at shows and that means a bad driver "could" get a hold of a car at a show.

8.  Ban all vehicles that are in theory even capable of exceeding the highest local speed limit.  No one "needs" that type of car.

9.  We must limit AAA.   The problem is they are to powerful.  EVERY TIME a multiple vehicle accident occurs it is because of their members and the lobbying power they have.  If it wasn't for their political influence and stranglehold on Congress and State Legislative bodies there would not be such a problem.

10. A 5 day waiting period on all car sales.  

From what I understand, these are all VERY reasonable measures - and any car owner should support them. I have also heard that banning the private ownership of ANY vehicle is a valid argument- trust your local city "professional's" to take care of you.  To hell with any emergency where having a car could help- there are professional's out there- just wait.

If you haven't picked up on my sarcasm, well you should.   You should probably also know that I am really talking about "gun control." EVERY example I have listed as a reasonable idea, is actually  a "reasonable" proposal from gun control advocates.

The big difference between cars and guns?  There were only  8124 homicides with guns in the US according to the FBI for the last full year data.    That's only 31,000 less than the number of persons killed by autos.

Or maybe we really should be talking "car control"..... 

Auto Deaths to Set Record- Time for Action!

Mostly Ignored Olympic History in the Shooting Sports

Kim Rhode, age 37, has made history.   She is the FIRST person ever to medal in SIX consecutive Olympics. While Michael Phelps may have more medals in his FOUR Olympics (Athens, Beijing, London and Rio- he competed in Sydney but did not medal), Kim

has won medals in Women's Trap in Atlanta,  Sydney,  and Athens, and Women's Skeet in Beijing, London and Rio- and there is no reason to believe she will not compete in Tokyo.

In both Trap and Skeet, a "clay pigeon" that is roughly 5 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick (roughly- Olympic rules use metric measurements on the "pigeon" size).  In Trap the "pigeon" flies away from where the shooter is - at about 60 mph.    In Skeet, the "pigeon" flies across the shooter's position- left to right or right to left.  

If you want to see how difficult it is, go to your local Trap and Skeet club - in Phoenix go out to Ben Avery Shooting Facility and give it a try.   The clubs usually use American rules, so the clay pigeon will fly at a slow 45 mph- although Ben Avery does have an Olympic Trap (or "Bunker Trap") and Olympic Skeet ranges if you want to have a go with Olympic rules!  

The best thing about this, and almost all the shooting sports, is it is never to late to start shooting.  You don't have to be in your early 20's and as fit as Michael Phelps to compete. Literall, just about anyone could start today and with the next four years to practice, could, in theory, be on the medal stand in Tokyo in 2020.

One does have to wonder why Kim's accomplishment has been downplayed if not ignored.   Perhaps it is because she is doing something incredible and historic with a gun?  

Of course, that could never be the case...

For more information about Shooting Sports or the US Olympic Shooting Team visit the USA Shooting website at http://www.usashooting.org

Mostly Ignored Olympic History in the Shooting Sports

Racism and Gun Control Origins

As the GOP Convention gets underway, at some point a plank in the party platform will be adopted in support of the 2nd Amendment, Protecting Heller and McDonald, SHALL issue laws- basically a plank against arbitrary gun control.   The GOP took the position back in the late 1860's that the 2nd Amendment applied to ALL Americans and States could not interfere.  Why then? Because the GOP wanted freed slaves to be able to protect themselves and stay free.   

This year at the Democratic Party Convention, the DNC will likely propose a plank supporting Gun Control.  Southern Democrats started passing gun control laws in the 1860's and 1870's to strip former slaves of their 2nd Amendment Rights- along with a host of others.   

Gun Control Laws, beginning with those passed by Democrat controlled state governments at the end of the Civil War, Gun Control, have an origin in Racist Ideology.    

"A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge [ammo] box." -Frederick Douglass, 1867

It was because of the "black codes" passed after the Civil War that the 14th amendment  was proposed and then passed.   One of the stated goals of passage was to protect the right of African-Americans to possess and carry firearms for thier own defense.  

'The black man has never had the right either to keep or bear arms,' and that, until he does, 'the work of the Abolitionists was not finished.'"  -Frederick Douglass, May 10, 1965 

Now, according to  a Pew Research Study, 54% of African-Americans view gun ownership in a positive light.  It is also being viewed as a matter of Civil Rights 

This is not a new phenomenon.  Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Applied for and was denied a concealed carry permit.  The best argument for SHALL ISSUE laws is it helps remove human  factors- such as racism - from the process.   If you are old enough and meet background requirements you cannot be denied- as Dr. King was.

It is well worth reading Associate Justice Clarence Thomas' opinion in McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010) on the Second Amendment, its history, and racism.   The Washington Post called it "...a scorcher of an opinion that reads like a mix of black history lesson and Black Panther Party manifesto..."  

(I am not going to cite MTV as a source here, but I am going to provide a link to an interesting article on MTV on the Racist origins of Gun Control).

The bottom line is Gun Control has origins in post-Civil War racisim.  But, the Constitution, and our laws as American must and should be absolutely color-blind or there will never be real Freedom and Justice for all.

Reference Links:

http://www.mtv.com/news/2900230/the-really-really-racist-history-of-gun-control-in-america/

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article89859017.html

https://www.americas1stfreedom.org/articles/2016/1/28/freedom-fighters/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/29/AR2010062905329.html

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1521.pdf

Racism and Gun Control Origins

ISIS Attack on Nice and Article 5

At what point are we going to realize ISIS is a Clear and Present Danger to all freedom loving peoples?  Not just the French, the British or the US.

It should be clear by now that ISIS just wants to kill.  This is not an attack because of support of Israel or because "troops desecrated holy soil" by allowing women to drive in Saudi Arabia.  There is NO other reason for this attack other than to kill indiscriminately. 

The last attack woke the French up and they began to fight back.  I have never been one to praise the French but I was impressed with their actions after the last attack.

I hate to say it,  but perhaps it is time for France to call for a meeting of the North Atlantic Council and declare this an Article 5 attack. 

Unfortunately I do not sit on the NATO Council.  All I can do is point to the words of 'La Marseillaise' and give my endorsement to any military action the French may take.

La Marseillaise

Allons, enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous, de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes!

Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!

ISIS Attack on Nice and Article 5

An Anniversary of a Fight for Freedom

Sunday, July 4, 1976 was a day of celebration throughout the United States. I was eight years old. I remember the bicentennial coins that were issued and collecting the new quarters and even the new silver dollars that were released.   Flags were flying everywhere. I remember a special flag with 13 stars in the blue field and the white number '76 that were being flown for this particular occasion. Patriotic hymns were sung that morning in church services across the nation and that night brilliant firework displays lit up the sky.  This was in celebration of the bicentennial of our Declaration of Independence. It was a celebration of freedom for a nation. The celebration was tremendous.

What the majority of Americans did not know, was about another celebration taking place that very same day, several thousand miles across the Atlantic and Mediterranean; across the world from the United States.  It was a celebration taking place on the tarmac of Ben-Gurion International Airport.  This celebration was also a celebration by an entire nation about freedom. But this celebration was specifically about the freedom of 102 people- mostly Israelis and the crew of a French airliner- who had been hijacked a week before. 

On June 27, 1976, Air France 139 from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens, Greece, was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.  

After leaving Tel Aviv, the plane headed to Athens Greece, for a scheduled stop.  The aircraft, an Airbus A-300, boarded an additional 58 passengers, including the hijackers. All told, 246 passengers and 12 crew where onboard the aircraft. Shortly after leaving Athens the aircraft was hijacked and diverted to Benghazi, Libya where it sat on the ground and took on fuel.  After refueling and sitting on the ground for seven hours, the hijackers ordered the aircraft to fly to Entebbe, Uganda.

After arriving, the hijackers were greeted by "president for life", Field Marshall Idi Amin, dictator of Uganda. The Israeli and Jewish passengers were separated from the non-Israeli and non-Jewish passengers (there were some ultra-orthodox Jews who were flying under non-Israeli passports or not Israeli citizens; and there were some Jews, a member of the Israeli military for example who was flying under his British passport as he held dual citizenship, who were not separated out due to having non-Israeli passports).  Some of the passengers bore tattoos from the Nazi death camps. Several would say the "separation process" was as they remembered it from the concentration camps.  

By July 1, all the passengers, except those that had been separated out as Jewish or Israeli, where released by the terrorists including the 12 members of the French flightcrew. However, in an act that can only be described as selfless heroism, Air France Captain Michel Bacos and his crew said they would not leave until every single one of their passengers were released.  They chose to remain behind.  

Idi Amin, the "president for life" of Uganda, visited the hostages several times during their stay at the airport.  Although his military did not "actively" participate in the hijacking, they certainly provided assistance to the terrorists who did. Uganda provided the terrorists with a safe haven at the Entebbe airport. 

From shortly after the hijacking became known, the government of Israel, as well as other parties attempted to negotiate with the terrorists. Some of this was to buy time, although there were doubts that any rescue could be undertaken by the Israelis because of the vast distance between Uganda and the nation of Israel.  Partly because of this distance, and partly due to the "support" of Idi Amin, the terrorists felt safe.

However, in the late night hours of July 3 and early morning hours of July 4, 1976 the Israeli Defense Forces pulled off the most audacious, brilliant, and amazing rescue operation ever attempted in modern military history. That operation was Operation Thunderbolt (also referred to as Operation Entebbe and Operation Yonatan) 

Just over 100 Israeli soldiers and airmen in four Israeli C-130s and two 707s flew, mostly under radar coverage at low altitude, from Israel, south and over Lake Victoria to the airport at Entebbe, Uganda.  The 29 man "Assault Unit" led by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan (Yonatan) Netanyahu hit the terminal where the hostages were held. 

All of the terrorist were killed. Three hostages were killed in the crossfire during the gunfight between the Israelis and the terrorists.  

As the rescued hostages were being led to an awaiting C-130, a Ugandan soldier opened fire from the airport control tower, wounding five Israeli soldiers and killing the only Israeli soldier to die in the operation, Lt Col Netanyahu. Jonathan ("Yonni") had been born in New York. At the time of the operation his father was a professor at Cornell University. He was survived by two brothers, Iddo and Benjamin- the current Prime Minister of Israel. 

There were other casualties as a result of this operation. Dora Bloch, a 75-year-old grandmother, who held both Israeli and British citizenship had been taken to the hospital days before the raid after choking on a chicken bone. She was recovering in the hospital at the time of the raid, and had been visited in the hospital before the raid by the British Consul. Sometime after July 4, officers of the Ugandan military went into her hospital room, dragged her from her bed and executed her. Her remains were discovered in 1979, after Idi Amin had been deposed. Her body was returned to Israel for burial.

Kenyan Minister of Agriculture Bruce MacKenzie also became a fatality of this operation.   Because of the great distance between Israel and Uganda, part of the success of the operation lay in finding a place in Africa where the aircraft could refuel for their return flight home. Minister MacKenzie persuaded the Kenyan president to allow the Israeli Air Force access to the Nairobi airport. He was also instrumental in granting the Mossad access to the airport in Nairobi for intelligence gathering prior to the operation. Because of this Idi Amin ordered Ugandan agents to assassinate McKenzie. He was killed by a bomb on May 24, 1978.  Director of the Mossad, Meir Amit, had a forest planted in Israel in MacKenzie's name to honor what he had done to help assure the success of the operation.  

Coming four years after the disaster in Munich, this operation showed how a small, intensely well trained, special forces group could deal with a near "impossible" hostage situation. The operation was so successful that several countries, including the United States, very quickly developed special operations teams based on this model, that was demonstrated so well in Entebbe. 

Today, July 4, 2016, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Entebbe, Uganda, in what must be a "bitter-sweet mission" for him personally.  On the one-hand he is there to commemorate the victory of the IDF and the rescue of people who were kidnapped and threatened with death solely for their religious beliefs and nationality- for being Jews.  On the other hand, he is there to mark the place and moment his brother died to save others.  

This raid, which occurred 40 years ago today, has often been called the "Miracle at Entebbe." The use of the word "Miracle" usually denotes involvement of God's hand in the outcome. 

In this case, I believe, "Miracle" is right.

An Anniversary of a Fight for Freedom

Death of a Man Who Made Sure We Would Never Forget

Elie Wiesel, winner of the Nobel Prize, died at 87- he also bore a tattoo on his arm "A-7713." 

After being liberated from Buchenwald at age 16, he spent much of his life working to make sure the holocaust would never be forgotten. 

Alav hashalom

Death of a Man Who Made Sure We Would Never Forget

Not Happy Fourth - Happy Independence Day (annual repost)

"We hold these truths to be self evident..."

Several times already this week, I have heard something that bothers me. It is not "spin" on particular legislation. It is not the latest theory of why a Justice voted the way he or she did. It is not an interpretation of some obscure policy or Executive Order.

It is being wished a "Happy 4th of July"

"...that All men are created equal..."

Over the years, it seems to me that almost every one of our Holidays has lost some of its meaning. Merry Christmas has been replaced by Happy Holidays in an effort to become more "sensitive" and "politically correct." Thanksgiving has become less about a day of thanks and time with family and more about looking at the store ads, who is opening when for Black Friday, and what is the plan to make the most of the biggest shopping day of the year. Memorial Day has ceased to be a day where we remember the fallen, or visit the graves of the departed, and has become "the Official Launch of Summer."

Unfortunately, as have gone these aforementioned days, so is going Independence Day.

"...and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."

Of all Holiday's on the American Calendar, Independence Day is unique. With Independence Day, no American can complain of "religious" overtones as they do with Christmas and for a few Thanksgiving. It is not about whether one supports the Troops or necessarily remembering those who gave "the last full measure of devotion." It is not a day where we celebrate our right to freely assemble and associate ourselves with others like us to demand concessions in the workplace (Labor Day- for those who have forgotten the original intent of that day as well). Nor is it a day set aside for the celebration of the foundations of Christianity.

Rather it is the day we set aside to Celebrate the declaration of those Rights that include our Freedoms to Celebrate or Protest all other Holidays.

"...that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness..."

Independence Day is just that…the day where we celebrate our Independence. Recently, a radio show I listen to was talking about the US Citizenship test that immigrants are required to pass before they become citizens and how many natural born Citizens would fail that test. That conversation caused me to question how many know what it is we celebrate on Independence Day.

"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the Governed..."

We are not celebrating the beginning of the Revolution- that began in 1775. We are not celebrating the birth of our Republic, as the Republic was not truly formed until the Constitution was ratified in 1789. We are not even celebrating the founding of our Government, for it can well be argued that our first Government, under the Articles of Confederation, was a dismal failure. Most surprising of all, we are not even celebrating the day when the Continental Congress voted to Declare Independence from the Crown (John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail after the vote to declare independence, “The second of July 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival”). New York did not approve the Declaration until July 19, 1776, and the actual signing (for most of the signers) was on August 2, 1776.

“...That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it..."

We celebrate Independence Day on July 4th because on that day the final wording was approved, and the document was sent to be printed and distributed to We the People.

Independence Day is about Freedom. It is about Self-Evident Freedoms which are Endowed to us by our Creator-not given to us by Man. It is about those freedoms which are both Enumerated and Unenumerated in our Constitution and exercised each and every day by each and every one of us, no matter our Political, Religious, or other affiliations.

“...But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security..."

It is about the hundreds of thousands who shed their blood and gave their lives, to fight for the very freedoms we exercise when we disagree with each other and our Government. It is about Celebrating the right to express ourselves and our differences.

And yes, it is about Celebrating the Freedom to say, “Happy 4th of July” instead of “Happy Independence Day.”

Gone are the days when Independence Day was "commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty;" when the day was celebrated by the whole town, gathering in the square, listening to a reading of the Declaration of Independence; A day "solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other."

“…That these united Colonies, are and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States…"

But the reason for our celebrations remain, the Divine and Self-Evident right, endowed to us by our Creator, to be Free and Independent.

So the next time someone wishes a “Happy 4th,” reply, “Happy Independence Day”

“…for support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes , and our sacred Honor.”

Not Happy Fourth - Happy Independence Day (annual repost)

A Healthcare Alert for ALL my Readers

It is not often that I provide unsolicited health warnings to the readers of "The Carden Chronicles" or to my friends on Facebook but today is the eve of an important day in Medicine and I am led to make such a warning.

I will start by saying today we are all safe. There is no need to worry; you should not panic; and right this moment, there is no cause for alarm. 

But things will begin to change after midnight tonight.

Tomorrow is July 1. All over the United States, in every teaching hospital in the nation, young faces, with fixed, petrified smiles and the look of terror one sees in the face of person caught in the headlights of an on-rushing train; in brand-new starched lab coats will be wandering the halls of hospitals in great white flocks.    

If you are in a teaching hospital for any reason tomorrow- whether it be an emergency or for a prescheduled routine procedure, they WILL walk into your room tomorrow, introduce themselves (perhaps stumbling over or forgetting their name), and with perhaps a bit of nervousness, say the most terrifying words any person who is injured or ill will ever hear, "Hi, this is my first day treating real patients and you are my very first!"

For those that do not know, July 1 is the date in the United States when all third-year medical students begin to practice with real human beings- well live human beings at least- in the hospital and clinical environment.  It is also the day when all newly graduated medical students begin their days as a practicing doctor, and begin their internships.  

There is one other important piece of information that many people do not understand or have never heard before. There is a special title given to the person who graduated at the very bottom- the one who graduated very last of their class in medical school...

...That person is given the title and called by the term "doctor."

So my friends, I leave you with this warning on July 1 stay healthy; or at least avoid teaching hospitals.

Dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking

A Healthcare Alert for ALL my Readers

AG and Former Pres Clinton- Meeting on the Tarmac-- Why?

For many years, I have spent time writing on matters of politics, on matters of defense, on decisions of The Court, and on some occasions, matters of military and political intrigue. Since I began writing in 2001, I have done my best to be sure that I am able to provide answers to questions rather than just spending time posing questions that are unable to be answered.  

However, in the last 72 hours, an event has occurred in Phoenix that leaves me asking far more questions than I have the answers for. 

On Monday, June 27, 2016, the United States Attorney General flew to Phoenix for a planned event. The Attorney General has been visiting various police forces across the United States as well as the training academies for these organizations. This visit to Phoenix was planned far in advance.

Former President Bill Clinton was also visiting Phoenix this week. I have no information on when his trip was planned, or what his itinerary was.

However, the media has been reporting a meeting took place between former President Clinton and Attorney General Lynch right here in Phoenix. 

Now a visit between a former President and an Attorney General ordinarily would not be a matter that would interest anyone. It is after all an election year, and both the Attorney General and the former President are members of the same political party.  "Politicians talk Politics; Dog Bites Man..."

However, what is rather unusual and makes this meeting one to note, is that this Attorney General, or at least the Federal Bureau of Investigation which is a part of the Department of Justice run by the Attorney General has been investigating a presumptive Presidential nominee. That presumptive nominee, is of course former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the wife of the former President.   

So, we have the spouse of a person under FBI investigation meeting with the Attorney General of United States. This may not be something that is unusual. As a parent of a stepchild who was once in trouble with the law, I met with the prosecuting attorney on my stepchild's case. However, we met in the office and notes were taken and counsel was present. 

This meeting, between the spouse of a person under investigation by the FBI and the US Attorney General did not occur in the office. In fact it did not occur in any building of any kind. The meeting occurred on board an aircraft sitting on the tarmac of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport- and the aircraft where the meeting occurred was a government aircraft, or at least an aircraft chartered by the government to assist the Attorney General in performing official duties- and therefore was paid for by our tax dollars. 

This raises the question: Why did they meet on board an aircraft? 

The aircraft in question was on the west end of the airport, placing it near Cutter Aviation, a fixed base operator located at Sky Harbor. Cutter Aviation has many private conference and meeting rooms. Former President Clinton, because he is a former President, has a Secret Service detail for protection. Certainly one cannot say they couldn't find a room that was safe in a building on the air field. 

Close to Cutter Aviation is the Arizona Air National Guard. The National Guard facility also has rooms used for meetings and secure briefings. Certainly the wing commander would be able to find a secure room for a former President and the current Attorney General.

The high temperature in Phoenix on the day of the meeting was 116°, with the low about 90°. Both Cutter Aviation and the Air National Guard have air-conditioning available in their buildings. The high temperature was of course recorded in the shade so it was much much hotter out on the tarmac. Yet instead of meeting inside an air-conditioned building, the spouse of a person under investigation by the FBI and the current Attorney General of the United States chose to meet in an aircraft parked on the tarmac in Phoenix Arizona in the middle of the summer. 

In order for the meeting to take place in a comfortable environment (or at least one with an air temperature less than 120° or higher), the aircraft needed to have its auxiliary power unit (APU) running- at minimum. The APU is a smaller jet turbine engine in the tail of many aircraft used to power electronics, other systems and air conditioning prior to starting the main engines. 

Depending on the type of aircraft that the meeting took place on, one of the main engines may have needed to be running for the air conditioning to work.   Because the plane was sitting on the tarmac with at least it's APU running, this also would indicate that at least one or more of the pilots was aboard the aircraft during the meeting.

The meeting lasted 30 minutes according to media reports. This means 30 minutes of jet fuel was consumed by the APU, or by at least one engine of the aircraft (assuming the engine was required to run the air conditioning unit).  This also means the consumption of an additional 30 minutes of flight crew time.  

I will admit, this type of meeting is not altogether unheard-of.  In fact, I actually read about one-- during WWII. Apparently the first meeting between General Leslie Groves and Dr. Robert Oppenheimer took place on board an aircraft. That meeting was in the cockpit of a B-24 Liberator. Two of the aircraft engines were running throughout the entire meeting. This was seen as a necessary security precaution as the two men were discussing the Manhattan project- and wanted to be sure they could never be overheard. 

Since tarmac meetings of this type are so rare, the media did ask the Attorney General what the meeting was about. According to the Attorney General the discussion revolved around former President Clinton's golf game here in Phoenix and pictures and discussion of "the grandkids". Perhaps, President Clinton felt the need for the extreme security and privacy of a tarmac meeting because he was admitting he was playing golf in Phoenix in June when the temperatures was between 90 and 116°F in the shade.  Now one would think that a former United States President would be able to get a tee-time in the winter in Phoenix when it's much cooler or that at least the Secret Service- who is sworn to protect him- would have advised the former President to avoid golfing in Phoenix during the summer months, as outdoor strenuous exercise has been known to kill here. 

All kidding aside, this meeting certainly leaves many open questions- too many.  

And yet, his meeting could be exactly what the Attorney General said it was- a social visit between a former President of United States and a sitting Attorney General--where they actually talked about golf and the grandkids- and in the process wasted 30 minutes of jet fuel, the cost of the flight crew (both paid for by tax dollars) and left enough open questions that conspiracy theorists will be busy for years- so to help out and do my part to see that we don't give more fuel to the conspiracy fires in the future, I am publicly posting this letter:

To: The Honorable Former President Clinton and Madame Attorney General Lynch

Thank you for your recent visit to Phoenix.  We hope you had a plesent visit. It is unfortunate that you were unable to stay longer as this evening Phoenix enjoyed our first thunderstorms of the Monsoon season, and rain in the Sonora Desert is something to behold.  

With regard to your visits, perhaps the next time you want to have a meeting in Phoenix, to show each other pictures of the grandkids and talk about golf games in Phoenix in June, may I humbly suggest that instead of burning jet fuel on the tarmac, you might try having the Secret Service or the FBI clear a room at Macayo's or Garcias. They both have pretty good Mexican food and the margaritas aren't bad either.  

Again I hope your trip was pleasant, 

Respectfully, 

Matt

PS- President Clinton, I understand that the golf courses here are much cooler between November and February than they are on June.  I know that the courses can get booked up early, but one of my brothers had a summer job at one of the golf courses here when he was in High School- you can probably use his name when you call for a reservation and that might help you get to play when it is a lot cooler here... I'll check with him and let you know.  I heard your personal/home email server is down, so feel free to call or text if you need to.  

This article was dictated using Dragpn Dictation

AG and Former Pres Clinton- Meeting on the Tarmac-- Why?

The Arizona Monsoon Season- It's Finally Here

It is shortly after midnight, here in Glendale, Arizona. 

The temperature has dropped to 97° (The temperature dropped 5°F during the time that I dictated this post). Humidity is over 30% and the dewpoint is about 61°. It's even fairly breezy with the wind between 6 and 12 knots There is lightning to the north and a hint of dust in the air 

What, you ask, does all this mean and why, pray tell, would I be so excited about it?

 

One word. One word that for every Arizona native brings a sense of hope and anticipation.  One word that visitors to the state often do not understand - or believe that it pertains to a place like Phoenix. One word that can conjure images of haboobs- dust storms like those on the Middle East and Sahara with walls of dirt 10,000 feet into the sky moving at 60 knots or more. Rain falling at rates of inches per minute- sometimes as "named" storms, being the remnants of Tropical Storms or Hurricanes like Norbert in September 2014. One word that brings up stories of arroyos and washes suddenly filling with feet of water and debris moving at hundreds of cubic yards per second, without a cloud in the sky or rain within 15 to 20 miles. 

That word is "Monsoon."

 

And it appears our monsoon season has finally started!  Dry Summer* is over and Wet Summer* has finally begun!

* The Sonoran Desert has two summer seasons. The first summer season is "dry summer". This begins in April and runs through June. During this time temperatures routinely are over 108° in the shade as a daily high and there is little to no rain. The second summer season in the Sonoran Desert is "wet summer."  This season usually begins in very early July and runs through September. Temperatures are often lower, although still over 100° in the shade, but the humidity is generally higher. The Sonoran Desert receives much of its annual rainfall during this time.

The Arizona Monsoon Season- It's Finally Here

Boycott Hawaii

Since the State of Hawaii believes it is reasonable and proper to place ALL GUN OWNERS in the State on an FBI Criminal Database for tracking - and since this applies to anyone who visits the Islands with a firearm, it is time for all gun owners to boycott Hawaii.  

If you care about the Second Amendment do not visit Hawaii.  Do not buy products from Hawaii.  

What they are doing is no different than what the Germans did to the Jews in the 1930's. 

Making gun owners wear a star on their clothing or reporting to camps will probably be next.  

Boycott Hawaii

The "Watch List" and Due Process - Korematsu All Over Again

A 4 year old from Northern California was prevented from flying because he was on the "Terror Watch List"- he was listed as Baby Doe in court documents.  

One MILLION others are the list which is classified and not available to the public.  

In 2003 when the list was created there where hundreds upon hundreds of news stories of people who were on the list for no reason or that had a "similar" name to someone who was on the list- and therefore were banned from flying.  

Any person can be placed on the "watch list" WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.  

So can someone explain to me how banning every person on the list from purchasing a firearm WITHOUT DUE PROCESS is ANY DIFFERENT than Japanese Internment during WW2?

HOW IS THIS NOT KOREMOTSU all over again? For those not familiar - Korematsu v. United States 323 U.S. 214 (1944) upheld Executive Order 9066 and held that the internment of Japanese Americans (US Citizens) without trial, and without due process was LEGAL. The US may have apologized- but the case- and therefore the law of the land, has not been explicitly overturned.  The Justice Department may have said in 2011 that Internment was wrong- but the Court has not overturned the case directly. 

Like it or not, individual gun ownership is a RIGHT in this Country - District of Columbia  v Heller 554 U.S. 570 (2008) held that the Second Amendment guarantees the individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for lawful purposes including self defense.  McDonald v Chicago 561 U.S. 742 (2010) held that the 2nd Amendment applies to the States through the 14th Amendment. 

The NRA has proposed legislation that if you are on the "watch list" any gun sale is "held" for 72 hours- and the purchase  taken to a JUDGE to decide if the ban from purchasing be upheld. 

OF COURSE- the President and the liberals in the Senate are AGAINST JUDICIAL REVIEW- they want a BLANKET BAN....

So again- will someone please explain how taking away a Constitutional Right WITHOUT due process as the left proposes is the right thing to do?

The "Watch List" and Due Process - Korematsu All Over Again

A Tax That Works- And How President Obama Has Done a GREAT Thing (UNINTENTIONALLY)

The title of this alone has, I am sure, shocked and stunned anyone who reads my posts with even the rarest frequency.

My conservative friends are likely thinking I have finally "gone round the bend" or "lost it" altogether.  That I would be praising both a Tax AND President Obama is surely having them suspect I have lost my mind.  

I am equally sure that my liberal friends (I REALLY do have a few) are shocked as well - that I would praise President Obama, in an election year (despite the fact he is a lame duck) must be raising doubts as to my sanity (as though those doubts do not already exist).

Arizona Game and Fish Department will be receiving this year $26 million in Federal tax dollars from a Tax SPECIFICALLY for Wildlife Conservation.   This is a portion of $1.1 billion raised solely for Wildlife and Fisheries.

The tax is the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 signed into law by FDR (and a similar act for Fisheries).  The PR Act requires an 11% excise tax on all long-guns (rifles) and ammunition, and a 10% excise on all handguns.

This tax is paid ONLY by the PURCHASE of Firearms (and fishing equipment for the fisheries act)- and yes, I LIKE this tax.

The Pittman-Robertson Act tax is paid by the manufacturers of firearms and built into the cost of firearms and ammunition.   The funds are "set-aside" by Federal Law.   The funds are NOT part of the General Funds of the United States and MAY ONLY be used for Wildlife Restoration and for the furtherance of hunting education and training.  Billions have been raised since the enactment of the tax.  

A single example of the benefit of this tax is the Wild Turkey.    In the 1930's there were about 30,000 wild turkeys in the US.   Today that number is close to 7 million.

As far as my praise for the President goes---  President Obama has been the greatest  "firearm salesman" this country has seen.   Each year of his Presidency, firearm sales have increased (while murders by firearm have decreased - down to 8,124 in the latest FBI data).  

So thanks to the "unintended" increase in gun sales in part due to the President- the amount raised for Wildlife Restoration has increased-- the greater the gun sales, the more Pittman-Robertson funds are raised.  Increasing Gun Sales and the subsequent increase in PR Act funds is a great thing this President has done-- whether he likes it or not! 

A Tax That Works- And How President Obama Has Done a GREAT Thing (UNINTENTIONALLY)

The Lewandowski Issue or Fanatisism and Trump

This late in the campaign season, I usually am wrapping my head around the GOP nominee's positions and reconciling my posisitions vs the candidate's positions and trying to figure out what I can do to support my party's nominee.  

This is an unusual political season, but I think the most interesting part of this Presidential campaign cycle are the accusations of conspiracy.  We are not talking about the usual accusations of conspiracy: the vast right-wing conspiracy, or the left conspiring with the media to destroy everything Republican. This presidential election cycle, it's right on right conspiracy-or another words Republicans eating their young.

First we have the Trump and Meghan Kelly, then Trump calling out McCain (I really hate defending McCain), and Trump quoting verbatim  from the Code Pink playbook about President George W.  Bush during a GOP debate. Now we have the Michelle Fields and Corey Lewandowski situation.    

I'm not positive for what happened and Mr Lewandowski is innocent until proven guilty.   Yet Michelle Fields has bruises on her arm - apparently caused by Donald  Trumps's campaign manager.  First Lewandowski says It never happened, I don't know who you are and I never touched you.   Trump says "She made it up".  But now there's video. 

Maybe Michelle Fields bruises easy.   

Maybe it was a rushed event and it was an honest mistake by Lewandowski.  

It seems to me that when all this first came up that maybe a quick apology- "Hey, I'm sorry I grabbed your arm..." Probably could have resolved the issue.  

Instead we have several news cycles, with Trump saying "she made it up" followed by, pictures of the bruise followed by (eventually) a mug shot or footage of Lewandowski walking out of a Police station after turning himself in on the battery charges.  And we have the Trump campaign and many of his supporters now saying it's all a conspiracy to get Trump.  

Those making the accusations of conspiracy are bordering on fanatisism. 

If Trump thinks that this is not all going to resurface after the convention once we are into the General Election Campaign- he is a nut job. He is handing the DNC material for 30 second spots, again and again and again.  

The worst part of this entire situation, is this sparring is conservative on conservative.  This is more Republicans eating their young. Michelle fields is not a member of the "liberal press."She worked for Breitbart which is about an conservative as the press gets. 

Donald Trump says he wants the Republican nomination.  He continually viciously and unnecessarily attacks fellow conservatives. He's attacked John McCain (who I hate defending) on his Vietnam record. He attacked President George W. Bush in a primary debate with a tirade worthy of Code Pink. If I didn't know better, I would swear Donald Trump is running for the democratic nomination for president.  Perhaps he's spending his money to make sure Hillary WILL win the Presidency. 

Donald Trump says he wants the Republican nomination for president. He says he expects the support of the party for his run and expects to receive the parties nomination at the convention.  

Maybe it's time Mr. Trump stops the constant  attacking of the Republican Party if he expects to get Republican votes for the presidency. 

Otherwise he's just another RINO (a Republican in name only); and is far worse than the establishment he attacks on one hand and yet expects the support of on the other.

The Lewandowski Issue or Fanatisism and Trump

BREAKING- The Bizarre Hijacking of EgyptAir 181 (MS-181)

UPDATE :

Hijacker now identified as Saif al-Din Mustafa  (not a professor of veterinary medicine?) and he is now asking for the release of all female prisoners in Egypt 

Original Post:

Something is very wrong about the hijacking of EgyptAir 181 (MS181).  It makes no sense.  A Veterinarian and Professor from Egypt (reportedly with dual Egyptian-American citizenship) is hijacking a plane to request asylum in Cyprus and get a letter to his ex-wife? Keeping four (or five) foreigners as  hostages but letting all other passengers go? Something is VERY odd about this story and it just does not add up... apparently  this all may be a guy who is hijacking a plane because he likes a girl.  If John Hinkley could shoot Ronald Reagan because he had a crush on Jodi Foster, hijacking a plane for "love" is possible. 

An EgyptAir A-320 aircraft (MS181) with about 81 (reports have also said 85)  passengers was hijacked this morning.  The flight was originally supposed to go from Alexandria to Cairo, Egypt.  The plane landed at Larnica, Cyprus.  

Supposedly the hijacker is wearing a "bomb belt/Suicide belt." 

Cyprus state radio is reporting that the hijacker has asked a letter he has written be carried/delivered to his ex-wife may live in Cyprus But, the original demand was to go to Istanbul so his ex-wife may live there- another very confusing part of this hijacking.

The crew of seven and supposedly four or five passengers are still onboard (at the time I am writing this).    

Why just keep four (or five) passengers an release the rest?  The passengers still onboard are being referred to a foreigners (presumably that would mean not Cypriot or Egyptian?). There were Americans onboard but it is not indicated what nationality the remaining hostages are.  

There has been no demand for money, just that this "letter" he wrote be delivered to his ex-wife who apparently lives on Cyprus. To my way of thinking, there are a huge number of ways to get a letter to ones ex that are more simple than hijacking an aircraft.  

The hijacker is identified as one "Doctor" Ibrahim Samaha and several news outlets and the President of Cyprus are at stressing this is "not terrorism"!  Well, what else do you call forcibly taking an aircraft and holding it and passengers with a "bomb belt"- it is at minimum "air piracy." There are also better ways to ask for asylum than threatening lives. 

It is being reportes that he originally wanted to go to Istanbul- but was told the plane did not have the fuel.  

There is also a question of how the hijacker managed to get a bomb belt onto a plane in Egypt.  After the terrorist attack taking down the aircraft at Sharm El-Sheikh this past winter, Egypt increased their security at airports - they rely on tourism. 

What we are left with is this "Doctor" (reportedly a Professor of Veterinary Medicine) hijacking an A-320.  The first hijacking in many years.  Taking the plane to Cyprus and demanding a letter be taken to his ex-wife.   

Why not just buy a ticket for a flight to Cyprus or Istanbul and ask for asylum on landing? Why wear a suicide belt? Why keep only four-five passengers and release the rest? Why become a hijacker at all? Most countries do not look favorably on Air Piracy under any circumstances  Does he really think he would get a "warm welcome" after putting lives at risk and basically "stealing" an A-320?

At this point a LOT of this story makes no sense at all.  

UPDATE AT 0927 ZULU (0228 MST)-  according to the Egyptian Aviation Authorities there are 4 crew and 3 "foreign" passengers being held by the hijacker.  

UPDATE AT 0955 ZULU (0255 MT)- 

According to a press conference with Egyptian Civil Aviation an "Air Marshal was on board? Why didn't he intervene? Isn't that what they are there for?

Also - Mrs brahim Samaha, the alleged ex-wife of the alleged hijackers says the guy on the picture is NOT her ex. She has no idea who the guy in the picture is- so the identity of the hijacker is unconfirmed.  

UPDATE AT 1011 ZULU (0311 MST) - Reportedly a statement from a senior official of EgyptAir - "This guy is not a terrorist - He's an idiot!"

UPDATE AT 1035 ZULU (0335 MST) - Hijacker now identified as Saif al-Din Mustafa and he is now asking for the release of all female prisoners in Egypt - not sure how real that demand is or if he is just making it up as he is going

H/T to @bodhibrian for the live update feed:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/mar/29/egyptair-hijack-plane-from-alexandria-to-cairo-lands-in-cyprus-live?CMP=share_btn_tw

BREAKING- The Bizarre Hijacking of EgyptAir 181 (MS-181)

Understanding ISIS - At Least A Little

In this post I will attempt to explain some of the things I have learned of late about ISIS - not that I understand all of ISIS or a majority of it. But what I have learned is so frightening, I must share what I know..  Understanding ISIS maybe one of the most important things Americans can do- for no other reason than to understand what must be done to defeat them and understand what Presidential candidates plan to do about ISIS and what will or will not work.  

President Obama's approach of ignoring ISIS as "just terrorists" or calling them weak or "the JV team" will do nothing to defeat them.  In fact it might serve only to encourage them to increase their actions- it is difficult to tell. 

ISIS is an Apocalyptic sect.   They believe it is their purpose to bring about the end of days. A good analogy would be ISIS is to Islam as David Koresh is to Christianity.

The  caliphate is based on the possession of territory. As long as they have territory they have legitimacy in their way of thinking.  They believe in the purest and most stringent Sharia.  Apostates are subject to two possible punishments. - Christians who do not submit are to be crucified.  All other apostates- including Christians (depending on interpretation) are to be beheaded (Crucifixion is still possible) .   They don't care about the President's words as they are convinced the Koran directs them to hold territory until the final battle against the armies of Rome (some interpret literally as the armies of the Pope others the armies of the "modern Rome" - meaning the US). The end will come with 5000 soldiers of Islam being left near Jerusalem and Jesus (yes Jesus - in Islam he is the 2nd highest prophet) coming from heaven to Jerusalem to lead the 5000 to a victorious battle - the battle of Dabiq in Syria.  

ISIS Territory
(From "What ISIS Really Wants" by Graeme Wood; The Atlantic)

Any group such as this with vast territory and weapons beyond just small arms  will not be conquered with words or even with air power.  To destroy ISIS they must be dislodged and stripped of their territory. Unfortunately that means boots on the ground.  Once they have lost their territory the caliphate no longer exists.  Until then the faithful of ISIS will attempt to move to Syria and Iraq. Until then ISIS faithful in foreign lands will "burn the crops and fields and not spare them."  ISIS will continue to take the women and children and subject them to slavery.   

ISIS believes to participate in politics or to vote in any election- even for another Muslim or Muslim candidate is Apostasy- as God is the "only" authority and to vote is to select a leader other than God.  And again Apostates must be beheaded.  Christian or Jewish apostates must be Crucified.  

They TRULY believe in 7th Century rules of warfare and TRULY desire a return to a 7th Century way of life - until they can reach that way of life, they will use modern communications.  

They do not believe in borders (God's Kingdom is the entire Earth) and they will not accept the UN as Hamas has- again this is accepting an "authority" other than God alone.   

Although they hold Bin Laden in high regard (referring to him as Sheik Bin Laden) they generally do not respect Al Qaeda- as it tended to function politically as does the Taliban.   This may be a difficult distinction for westerners to accept or understand - but to them it is huge.  

Additionally they WILL NOT accept President Obama- in fact they consider him to be an apostate- if for no other reason than he is the son of a Muslim who has rejected or does not publicly practice Islam.   

ISIS is also Sunni. They believe the Shi'ite have "altered" or "added" to Islam - which again is a sin in their way of belief.   This is perhaps the most unusual aspect of ISIS as they appear- at least in the press - as having the support of Tehran - which is Shi'ite - apparently they disagree with Tehran.  

Perhaps the most interesting thing is they will allow Jews and Christians to live in their territory as long as they submit to the authorities of ISIS and pay a tax.  They do not, in particular, hate the US over the establishment of Israel- unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad etc.  Although "the Levant" is an old name for the lands of Syria, Lebanon and Israel - so every time Obama refers to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) he is including Israel in their claimed territory- which is a backhanded insult to the Israelis

Because ISIS wants to bring about the Apocalypse- it is important to realize that actions such as "searching of Mosques" would be considered a sign of the coming of the end of the world - with the forces of "Rome" persecuting Muslims. Water-boarding etc is also not necessarily an effective tactic as they believe in a return to 7th Century warfare and rules of engagement. 

It is also important to realize that ISIS will NOT observe the Geneva Conventions.  The return to 7th Century rules of engagement for them will mean the torture and death of any person captured in the field.  US or NATO forces captured by ISIS should not expect to be treated respectfully.  Women captured should expect to be raped and sold into slavery.  Men should expect to be beheaded.   Christian troops captured should expect crucifixion.  Torture for the sake of torture (as opposed to torture for information) should also be expected.  

Should ISIS obtain access to chemical, biological or nuclear weapons it should be expected that they WILL be used- as this would expedite the apocalypse   

As ISIS will only accept the authority of God, negotiations or treaties will not be accepted or recognized.  

The only way to discredit and destroy the Islamic State - is to destroy the "state" and take all territory under their control.  Only then will the purpose of ISIS be stopped, recruitment end and attacks cease.  

Unfortunately the only way this will be accomplished will be by boots on the ground.  At this point perhaps the best option would be for Belgium or France to request action under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which has only happened once- after September 11, 2001.  A massive, rapid and sudden invasion of hundreds of thousands of NATO troops engaging in unrestricted air and ground war  - so there is no chance for the Islamic State to regroup and reorganize- with nothing but complete and unconditional surrender without a single square inch of territory remaining in their control.  Short of this ISIS will continue- until the apocalypse- which they may end up bringing about unless we stop them.

More on ISIS: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

Understanding ISIS - At Least A Little