Never Forget
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.
We haven’t won a war since.
Considering the aftermath of 911
Since 911, have people been at risk out at the airport because there has not been any requirement for REAL ID in order to fly within the United States?
Mar 23, 2020 USA Today
Travelers get a break: REAL ID deadline extended to Oct. 1, 2021, due to coronavirus
Nov 14, 2019 Stars and Stripes
Post-9/11 Wars Have Cost American Taxpayers $6.4 trillion, Study Finds
“We fight over there, so we don’t have to fight here.”
Did American culture begin to overemphasize and glorify military service after 911?
Local press:
Hometown pride running high. High enough to stop asking questions?
“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
The US Armed Forces – A Giant Civil Rights Organization?
September 27, 2019 Whidbey News-Times
Sound Off: Freedom doesn’t come free, and it’s sometimes noisy
“…the men and women of the armed forces guarantee our freedom…”
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
WA Secretary of State
“Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Men Died For the Right to Vote?
Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms-The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, sports betting, voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Just Be Honest.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Puget Sound After 911
Does a routine ferry ride require a gunboat escort?
Is it seen as controversial for people to legally obtain weapons?
Washington State ferry passengers are advised via PA system not to leave backpacks or packages unattended during ferry crossings.
Meanwhile-on the car deck-cars, trucks, vans, commercial vehicles, etc. are left unattended during ferry crossings.
I have made dozens of round trip ferry crossings over the past 20 years. In many cases, there has been no security screening at either terminal.
On occasion, the press will do a story about a ferry security drill.
If the Oklahoma City bomber rolls onto the ferry-how does the SWAT team help out an hour later?
Don’t look for newspeople to ask any questions on this.
Related:
Mixed Messages On Transportation Security/Firing Gun From the Ferry Update
Washington State Ferries Security
Cartels Move Product Into the US
People need to carry a special ID to go have lunch in Canada, then return home. Have these ID requirements helped to keep cartel product from entering the US?
Don’t look for the press to go and interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security and ask any questions on this.
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
I was thinking that 911 should have been a drug trafficker’s worst nightmare. The US Dept. of Homeland Security- a whole new federal department-was created to stop terrorists and prevent another 911.
What happened?
Sept. 5, 2020 Fox News
Meth floods across US-Mexico border during coronavirus pandemic
Part of the article describes cartel product seized at the border. Part of the article talks about product that gets past federal agents at the border.
“The extremely potent meth smuggled from Mexico contributes to more deaths in San Diego County than opioids.”
Aug 31, 2020 KOB 4 News Video
US Attorney for New Mexico blames Mexican meth ‘superlabs’ for state’s growing violent crime
Federal agents swing into action after meth from Mexico moves past federal agents manning a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security-then, on into New Mexico:
“Federal authorities are seizing larger amounts of drugs in the state, and Anderson said there are a few reasons why.”
“I think it’s the cost and it’s also a function that the fact that tremendously greater amounts of it are being produced in what we call the super labs in Mexico,” he said. “I think for many years our meth was made locally, was made in much smaller quantities. That has largely been eclipsed by the mass production and cheap production that we’re seeing coming from Mexico.”
State-run media update:
Jun 3, 2020 DEA NewYork
Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units!
Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?
Surely, a free and independent press will step up and ask for clarification on this wild CBP claim.
Border Wall update:
Sept 4, 2020 Maui Now
$4 Million In New Federal Funds To Help Hawai‘i Respond to Meth Crisis, Opioid Misuse
Nov 12, 2019 Honolulu Civil Beat
Meth Deaths Soar in Hawaii Even As Opioids Grab Public Attention
“Historically, crystal meth in its purest and most potent form came to the islands from markets in Asia and the Pacific as documented by the Hawaii’s Ice Age reporting series that Civil Beat and Hawaii Public Radio published five years ago.”
“Now, much of it is manufactured in Mexico and makes its way to Hawaii through states like California and Nevada, says Callery.”
July 28, 2019 Big Island Now
Why Have There Been No Meth Lab Busts in Hawai‘i in 15 Years?
“Lt. Serrao explained, “We have no evidence to support the manufacturing of meth on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.” He believes this is due to the decreased availability of pseudophedrine, which makes clandestine manufacturing difficult.”
“Lt. Serrao said most of Hawai‘i’s meth is produced in Mexico and California. The meth is commonly shipped here by way of shipping containers, Fed Ex and the US Postal Service.”
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Billions of dollars are spent every 12 months to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
How are post 911 terrorists kept out while meth comes in?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA
An upgrade in staff requiring a new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility. Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin and meth in the community, rare and mysterious cross-border arrests, fraudulent overtime claims, 1,200-horsepower interceptor boats and zero questions from the press.
Are fraudulent overtime claims still the norm at Port Angeles?
Border Patrol whistleblower pays price for refusing overtime pay
Is Port Angeles CBP staffing and infrastructure at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering the Puget Sound area?
Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin?
Even one time?
Local meth news stories here.
Local heroin news stories here.
Newspeople avoid asking questions by going with a press release style of news reporting.
A statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest bust/federal grant money award, etc. Newspeople post this statement. No questions asked:
Sept. 4, 2020 KONP Award-winning news/talk station serving the north Olympic Peninsula
DEA, OPNET PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR BUST OF AREA DRUG TRAFFICKERS
“…one member of the drug trafficking organization (identified as 24 year-old Lionel Gonzalez-Torres of Burlington, WA), was providing large quantities of meth and heroin to the Olympic Peninsula.”
Question for newspeople:
Does Port Angeles CBP play any role in keeping meth and heroin from entering the Olympic Peninsula?
If you run a government operation-these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
If a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security was preventing cartel product from arriving in American communities, why would General Milley need to launch Operation Macho Swagger?
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger prevented cartel product from entering WA?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
Related:
Cartel Moves Product Past General Milley, CBP & Into The Puget Sound Area – Newspeople Remain Silent
Kitsap and Island County Meth & Heroin
Always Reported as a Highly Successful Team Effort – The Big Puget Sound Drug Bust
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
Port Angeles/Blaine Drug War Scam – Zero Questions From The Press
What I Like About Local Government
Port Angeles – Post 911 CBP Spending Spree
Rare & Mysterious Port Angeles Border Patrol Arrests
Port Angeles Drug War Covered By Press Release
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger–a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions: Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin
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Photo-
A symbol of newspeople asking questions.