Married British General Coming Out as a Homosexual

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Photo Credit: Daily Mail A British Army general who is secretly gay plans to reveal his sexuality after being angered by a colleague’s warning that such an admission would amount to career suicide.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, the general – who is married with children – takes issue with the Army’s insistence that gay and lesbian soldiers no longer face discrimination.

He said: ‘The Armed Forces cannot claim it is an equal opportunities employer when the view persists that any senior officer who announces he is gay will see his or her career go up in smoke.’

A veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with nearly 30 years’ service, he is the most senior officer to admit he is gay, and the first British Army general to do so.

In observations that will dismay the Ministry of Defence, which has made great strides in improving the Army’s image, he said homophobic bullying and abuse are still common. (Read more about the married British general HERE)

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Exclusive: Canadian Stupidity Over Alaska’s Prince Rupert Ferry Terminal Stoking Tensions

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It was reported in The Canadian Press and The Prince George Citizen that Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada has ostensibly directed his administration to take a precedent setting position in regards to the Alaskan operated ferry terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The Canadian administration’s opening salvo began with threatening to use a little known “Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act,” in order to force the State of Alaska to acquiesce to demands that they use Canadian steel and other products during the construction of a 15 million dollar small ferry terminal.

If done in the manner demanded by the Harper Administration, the procurement of Canadian products will be in violation of the “Buy American Act” provisions embedded in U.S. Federal contracting law. A provision that Alaska Governor Bill Walker has made abundantly clear will not be waived.


Ferry operations by the Alaska Marine Highway System presents challenges at the Port of Prince Rupert. A number of problems with this port, along with additional regulations, add an exorbitant amount of cost to operations. Back on July 23, 1997 a large contingent of fishermen formed a blockade that held hostage the M/V Malaspina for two to three days while the fishermen burned American flags and yelled obscenities at the crew on the Alaskan ferry in protests related to allocation of Pacific salmon harvests. The blockade placed the crew of the vessel and three hundred passengers in fear of additional retaliation due to the belligerent behavior of the fishermen who acted in surprise and impunity of the local authorities . This action was instantly an international incident, which found the United States Senate voting 81-19 in favor of sending in the U.S. Navy to enforce the internationally-recognized Right of Innocent Passage.”

Ultimately cooler heads prevailed and former President Bill Clinton negotiated the “Pacific Salmon Treaty,” which initially was welcomed by both sides of the border, yet was ultimately abandoned in following years. During those hostilities, the blockade lasted until the fishing fleet, based in Prince Rupert, received assurances from their government to renew talks between the United States in regards to fisheries management .

At the time, then Alaskan Governor Tony Knowles engaged in meetings attended by a Canadian delegation including the Canadian Fisheries Minister, and the Washington State Governor as they arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to negotiate the fishing legislation addressing their respective jurisdictions and nations. There was a brief period of time where the State of Alaska suspended all operations in the Port of Prince Rupert, which lasted from the end of July to December 1997.

Ultimately, the parties agreed to the passage of the “Safe Passage” principle that focused on salmon fishing along the Alaskan coast and elsewhere. Eventually, apology letters with assurances from the Mayor of Prince Rupert and Canadian Fisheries Minister that the Canadians will prevent future blockades and give funding to rebuild the image of the Alaskan Ferry System in Canada. The Alaskan Ferry System relented on the suspension of ferry traffic to Prince Rupert, and operations resumed to the present day. (Read page 2 of this story about the Prince Rupert Ferry terminal issue HERE)

Cruz Files Bill to Ban American ISIS Fighters From Returning to the U.S.

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By Adam Kredo. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) [filed] legislation on Friday to ban American citizens who fight alongside the Islamic State (IS) and other terror groups from returning to the United States, where they pose a significant terror threat, according to sources in the senator’s office.

Cruz, who first proposed the legislation last year, seeks to strip those Americans who travel abroad to fight with IS (also known as ISIL or ISIS) of their U.S. citizenship rights and stop them from coming back stateside.

The bill, known as the Expatriate Terrorist Act (E.T.A.), tightens and updates existing regulations by which a U.S. citizen effectively renounces his or her citizenship.

Cruz said that he is filing the bill partly in response to President Obama’s Tuesday State of the Union address, which he described as “detached from reality” on the foreign policy front. (Read more about the bill to ban American ISIS fighters from returning to the U.S. HERE)

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Charlie Hebdo Protests Erupt Across Southern Asia

By Khurram Shahzad. Tens of thousands across Afghanistan, Pakistan and Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir took to the streets on Friday for southern Asia’s biggest protests yet against satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed.

Up to 20,000 demonstrators in the western Afghan city of Herat and 15,000 in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, burned French flags and chanted slogans calling for France’s downfall, while a smaller Pakistani protest saw an effigy of France’s President Francois Hollande set on fire.

In Srinagar, the largest city on the Indian-controlled side of the disputed region of Kashmir, police clashed with a contingent of around 3,000 demonstrators after shops and businesses were ordered to close by a leading Muslim organisation and several separatist groups. (Read more from this story HERE)

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GOP RIP: The Formerly Pro-Life Party

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Last October, Reince Priebus gave a speech with a conspicuous omission. Just 33 days before the midterm elections, the Republican National Committee Chairman headed to George Washington University to give a speech on the issues that bring Republicans together. Priebus ticked off a lengthy list of policy proposals that all the party’s candidates could highlight, noting that they could work for anyone, “whether you’re running for governor in New England or Congress in the South or statehouse in the West.”

The speech was highly detailed. The chairman praised specific pieces of legislation and touted the construction of the Keystone Pipeline and the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment as issues that could unite GOP politicians. On these points and many others, Priebus was clear as glass. But on one enormous issue, the chairman was oddly opaque.

“As Republicans we’re pro-family; and we’re also pro-life,” he said, according to the transcript of his prepared remarks. “So when a woman faces an unplanned pregnancy, society should offer our support and compassion. She should know that adoption is possible. Our laws should be improved to make adoption an easier path for families who want to open their homes to children.”

And that was it. The GOP is pro-life, the chairman said, so the GOP supports making adoption easier. Priebus didn’t add anything beyond that. He couldn’t have, given the reference to the party’s New England gubernatorial candidates, almost all of whom are pro-choice. As the last 24 hours have shown, anti-abortion votes are a dicey prospect for some Hill Republicans. And the Keystone Pipeline just might have broader support among Washington Republicans than the pro-life movement. (Read more about the formerly pro-life party HERE)

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Obama Veers Off of Talking Points, Claims Homosexuality is a Choice, not Genetically Predetermined

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Photo Credit: GettyPresident Barack Obama’s gay allies are ignoring his endorsement of the long-standing claim that sexual orientation is a matter of choice.

“I think people know that treating folks unfairly, even if you disagree with their lifestyle choice… Let them live their lives and under the law they should be treated equally,” he said 25 minutes into his Wednesday interview with GloZell Green, a YouTube personality.

Obama’s statement violates progressives’ demand that Americans believe there’s no choice in sexual orientation.

But Obama’s statement reflects mainstream views.

A May 2014 poll by Gallup showed that only 42 percent of Americans believe all gay people are “born that way,” regardless of choice. Thirty-seven percent of Americans believe that homosexuality is linked to upbringing and environment. (Read more from “Obama: Homosexuality is a Choice” HERE)

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Proposed Law to Allow Assisted Suicide Gaining Support

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Two Democratic state senators in California proposed a “right-to-die” bill to the state legislature on Wednesday, alongside the family of the young woman who brought the issue to light.

Late last year, Californian Brittany Maynard made waves on national news and social media as a result of her desire to end her life on her own terms, as opposed to her alternative of living out a painful terminal illness.

Maynard had tried to end her life at what she felt was an appropriate moment, as she was stricken with an aggressive and debilitating brain tumor.

When the state of California refused to help her carry out her decision, she and her husband ended up moving to Oregon, where assisted suicide isn’t prohibited by law.

She passed away on November 1, 2014. (Read more about the proposed law that will allow assisted suicide HERE)

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Federal Judge Orders State to Issue Illegal Aliens Driver’s Licenses

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A federal judge granted a permanent injunction Thursday affirming the ability of young immigrants protected from deportation to obtain an Arizona driver’s license.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge David Campbell came exactly one month after the so-called DREAMers began getting driver’s licenses in Arizona for the first time.

Arizona was one of the last states where officials refused to issue driver’s licenses to young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children but allowed to remain under a 2012 Obama administration program.

Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, waged a lengthy legal battle over the program.

Courts ruled against Arizona on several occasions and cleared the way for licenses to be issued starting Dec. 22. (Read more from “Arizona Now Must Issue Illegal Aliens Driver’s Licenses” HERE)

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Sarah Palin on 2016: Time to Ditch the “No Girls Allowed” Sign on the Oval Office Door

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Just before she heads to Iowa for the first major conservative showcase of the 2016 election cycle, Sarah Palin said “of course” she’s interested in the 2016 presidential election.

“Yeah, I mean, of course, when you have a servant’s heart, when you know that there is opportunity to do all you can to put yourself forward in the name of offering service, anybody would be interested,” Palin told ABC News’ Neal Karlinsky while serving wild boar chili to the homeless in Las Vegas Thursday.

When asked again if she could be “possibly” interested in a presidential campaign, she answered, “We definitely had enough of seeing that — America has had enough of seeing that — sign on the Oval Office door saying, ‘No Girls Allowed.’ I know that.”

While serving up bowls to those gathered in line, the former Alaska governor clarified, “It doesn’t necessarily have to be me, though, but no, America is definitely ready for real change.

“It doesn’t have to be myself, but yes … happy to drive that competition, because competition will make everyone better and produce more and be more candid regarding their solutions they will offer this country. I am very interested in that competitive process and, again, not necessarily me.” (Read more about Sarah Palin on 2016 HERE)

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Palin: GOP Establishment has a Case of Deflated Balls

By Samuel Smith. While appearing at a hunting and outdoors trade show in Las Vegas on Thursday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declined to comment on current hot-button political issues but sent the clear message to Republican leadership in Congress that they need to go on the “offensive” with the new majority they have in both houses.

After promoting her outdoor-themed reality show “Amazing America” at the SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show), the 50-year-old former vice presidential candidate told The Blaze that Republicans in Congress need to start acting like they actually have the majority and urged GOP Congress members to stop playing “defense.”

“I’m not going to talk politics except to say the GOP had better go on offense,” Palin asserted. “Man, they are not going to win a game on defense. Being in the majority there in D.C. — we’re blowing it if we just bend our back.”

In issuing her comments, Palin used a metaphor comparing the Republican leadership to the scandal-ridden New England Patriots to drive home the point.

“That GOP leadership, that establishment, they’ve got to get their stuff together. I love what they believe in, I believe in it too. But they’ve got to get tough man,” Palin explained. “You know what? It’s not just the New England Patriots who are dealing with deflated balls right now.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Disneyland Measles Outbreak “Starting to Sweep the Country”

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Photo Credit: CBS Baltimore By Christie Ileto. A health warning. The extremely contagious measles virus is back. An outbreak that started at Disneyland is starting to sweep the country.

Christie Ileto has the push for children to get vaccinated.

Measles was thought to have been eliminated in the U.S. 15 years ago. Now its back, targeting those who haven’t been immunized.

The outbreak that started in California’s Disneyland is expanding. At least 75 cases of measles span six states.

“It’s scary to think the happiest place on Earth is infected with measles,” one Disney employee said. (Read more about the measles outbreak in California HERE)

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Arizona Medical Director on Measles: “One of the Most Contagious Diseases Known to Man”

By Connie Sexton. A recent but rare case of the measles in Maricopa County has health officials reminding the public of the disease’s potential harm and the benefits of being vaccinated.

“It’s one of the most contagious diseases known to man,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, the county’s medical director for disease control. Although measles are extremely rare, one in a thousand cases leads to inflammation around the brain, deafness and cognitive impairment, and one to two cases in a thousand are fatal, she said. “The measles vaccine is one of the best we have. No vaccine is perfect, but this is almost 100 percent perfect.”

County officials hope those who have never been vaccinated will do so now, in light of the news Thursday that a woman in her 50s living in the county tested positive for measles. Officials believe it’s likely the woman contracted the disease Dec. 15-20 while visiting Disneyland, which has been linked to an outbreak in California, Sunenshine said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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ISIS Says Countdown For Japan’s Hostages has Begun

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NY Post By Mari Yamaguchi and Elaine Kurtenbach. Japan promised Saturday not to give up “until the very end” on efforts to rescue two Japanese hostages threatened with beheading by Islamic militants demanding a $200 million ransom, after a deadline passed with no word from the captors.

Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group posted an online warning Friday afternoon that the “countdown has begun” for the extremists to kill 47-year-old Kenji Goto and 42-year-old Haruna Yukawa. The extremists gave Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 72 hours to pay the ransom, and the deadline expired Friday.

The posting, which appeared on a forum popular among Islamic State militants and sympathizers, did not show any images of the hostages, who are believed to be held somewhere in Syria. (Read more on how ISIS says countdown for Japan’s hostages has begun HERE)

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Was the New ISIS Hostage Video Filmed Indoors?

By Associated Press. The video of two Japanese hostages being held by the Islamic State group seems, like past IS videos, made in an arid, desert setting. But suspicions are emerging that the message was not prepared outdoors at all.

An expert in these videos said it was more likely completed in an indoor studio with a false backdrop made to appear that it was outdoors.

Kenji Goto, a journalist, and Haruna Yukawa, who runs a security company, are seen kneeling in orange jumpsuits with a masked man holding a knife between them. The hostage-holders are threatening to kill the men if the Japanese government does not pay a $200 million ransom.

The video, posted on militant websites Tuesday and identified as being made by the Islamic State group’s al-Furqan media arm, appears to have been filmed in the same location as those showing American hostages James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig and British captives David Haines and Alan Henning. (Read more from this story HERE)

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