Importing the Values of the Middle East

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Ask any American if they think the Middle East is a place that reflects our political, cultural, and societal values. You will find unanimity of opinion that the Middle East is a raunchy place to live and that they are thankful to live far away from that bad neighborhood. Violence, sharia law, subjugation of women, and hatred for Jews are just a few things that come to mind when conjuring up an image of that region. Which begs the obvious question, why then should we import the Middle East to our shores?

Just today, all LA schools are closed due to a widespread terror threat. A young Muslim was arrested in Harford County, MD yesterday on charges of giving material support to ISIS, which itself comes on the heels of a slew of similar arrests over the past week. Although the government and media, once again refuse to divulge the immigration status of this and almost every other radical jihadist arrested by the FBI, it is clear that there are an endless number of jihadists among us, even in rural areas such as Harford County, MD.

There is a lot of discussion about the lack of vetting that Tafsheen Malik underwent when applying for an immigrant visa from Pakistan. DHS prohibited their agents from searching her social media records. But the broader problem is even if we did “vet” their views, what do you think we would find? A love for America, Jewish people, and democratic values? Undoubtedly, there are some individuals yearning to escape the Middle East mentality. But take a look at the percentage of those from selected Muslim countries who dislike Jews and/or Support Sharia law.

Now take a look at some of those numbers from selected countries juxtaposed with the number of immigrants we’ve admitted since 2001.

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that when such large numbers of immigrants are invited from countries with such anti-democratic, anti-enlightened, and anti-Jewish sentiments, on average we will be importing their culture, too. At that point, it becomes a cumulative effect and a numbers game. It’s not just about the tedious task of vetting each one individually.

As a nation, over the past few decades, our political leadership has violated a principle of immigration policy that was shared by all our Founders and early leaders. They all understood that America was a better place than any other country in the world and that many regions of the world were downright repugnant to the values we champion. As such, they never encouraged immigration as a mass institution because they liked the America they had conceived and didn’t want to import the undesirable characteristics of other countries. With that said, they welcomed individuals of merit who would assimilate into our values system and benefit the country.

During the debate over the Naturalization Act of 1790, Rep. Theodore Sedgwick (Federalist-MA), who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as Speaker of the House, warned that mass migration would import the values of the countries of origin. “The citizens of America preferred this country, because it is to be preferred,” said Sedgwick. Speaking of European immigrants who actually shared similar ancestry, Sedgwick feared “their sensations, impregnated with prejudices of education, acquired under monarchical and aristocratical Governments, may deprive them of that zest for pure republicanism.”

Was Sedgwick anti-immigrant? No. And this is why he desired to admit “reputable and worthy characters; such only were fit for the society into which they were blended.” But it was a no brainer to him that carte blanche importation even of Europeans would result in bringing anti-republicanism to our shores. One could only imagine what he’d say of today’s mass migration from the Middle East.

This is why numbers, time and origin matter in immigration. It matters how many individuals are admitted over a short period of time and from which regions of the world. That equation will determine whether we are importing the values of other countries or selectively inviting meritorious immigrants to share in our values.

As it relates to the Middle East, it should not be controversial or divisive to say that this region represents an anathema to American values. With the successful growth of cyber-jihad, those values are more widespread and dangerous than ever. Liberals should certainly feel that way, given the views of these countries towards women and homosexuals. That is why, following the dictates of our Founders, we should be more judicious about immigration from that part of the world than anywhere else. Yet, without the consent of the citizenry, it has become the fastest growing source of immigration.

Any politician who suggests that barring the values of the Middle East (not necessarily all immigrants) is against our values and traditions lacks a basic understanding of our values and traditions. (For more from the author of “Importing the Values of the Middle East” please click HERE)

Watch a recent interview with the author below:

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Is This the Real Face of Jesus?

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He may be shown as a Caucasian man with long, flowing light brown hair in many religious artworks, but Jesus would have likely had a darker complexion and short, dark, curly hair, a forensic expert claims.

Retired medical artist Richard Neave has recreated the face of ‘Jesus’ by studying Semite skulls using modern-day forensic techniques.

His portrait shows the Son of God may have had a wide face, dark eyes, a bushy beard and short curly hair, as well as a tanned complexion.

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

These features would likely have been typical of Middle Eastern Jews in the Galilee area of northern Israel.

Dr Neave stressed the portrait is that of an adult man living at the same time and place as Jesus, but some experts say his depiction is still likely far more accurate than paintings by the great masters. (Read more from “Is This the Real Face of Jesus?” HERE)

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Inside Islamic State’s End Times Apocalyptic Battle Plan

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The Islamic State may want Western and moderate Arab countries to send ground troops to Syria, because it believes an apocalyptic battle is necessary to fulfill an end-of-days prophecy of total Muslim conquest.

This belief is expressed in an ISIS propaganda video released last week titled “Meeting at Dabiq,” which references the future location of an epic final clash between Muslims and “crusaders.”

The video, replete with Islamic chants, depicts ISIS fighters – some in tanks and trucks – advancing toward the Colosseum in Rome. This is followed by images of the ISIS flag raised across the Middle East and North Africa. It then predicts the downfall of the West.

The Syrian city of Dabiq, near Aleppo, is central to ISIS ideology. The terrorist group named a magazine after the city, and routinely refers to a future battle at Dabiq in their propaganda. They believe a massive confrontation with Western forces must take place there in order to usher in the Islamic apocalypse and ultimate conquest.

Dabiq is mentioned in the hadith – the Islamic oral tradition that claims to quote the prophet Muhammad verbatim on numerous matters. (Read more from “Inside Islamic State’s End Times Apocalyptic Battle Plan” HERE)

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Obama Admin. Ignoring Widespread Christian Genocide in the Middle East

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A silent persecution of Christians tantamount to genocide is ongoing in the Middle East, according to experts in Washington.

Last week, at a panel organized by The Heritage Foundation to discuss modern Christian martyrs, academic, religious, and media leaders discussed the persecution—as well as the inattention being paid to the issue by developed nations including the United States.

“I am always struck by how utterly abandoned the patriarchs and church leaders [in the Middle East] whose lives are on the line every day … how utterly abandoned they feel by the West, and particularly the United States,” said Kathryn Jean Lopez, a senior fellow with the National Review Institute and one of the event’s co-hosts.

According to recent estimates, the Christian population in Iraq has dropped to roughly 260,000, down from 1.5 million a decade ago.

The shift likely reflects continuing forced expulsions of Christians from northern Iraq and Syria, as well as abductions and murders by extremist leaders who, earlier this year, declared the coexistence of Muslims with Jews and Christians impossible according to the Quran.

“Forcing a population to leave [its homeland] is one of the five tests, and they don’t all need to be met, but it’s one of the tests for genocide,” said Patrick E. Kelly, executive director of the St. John Paul II National Shrine and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Kelly was referring to the five tenets of qualifying characteristics that constitute Article II of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention definition of genocide.

Those qualifying characteristics include murder, causing serious harm, imposing conditions of life that attempt to destroy, preventing births, and forcibly transferring children outside a specific national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

“I think we have a tendency to think governments always know what’s going on on the ground,” Kelly continued. “They don’t always have the best information. But churches often do, because of the grassroots, with-the-people nature of parishes and ministries. If governments say they don’t have the evidence, they can do more to get the evidence, but they should be listening to the faith communities as well.”

As of this week, according to sources, the State Department does not plan to include Christians in a statement to be released on the status of victims of ISIS-inflicted genocide in the region. The statement will include Yazidis, the Kurdish religious minority.

Washington experts stress that any statement or widespread response must be inclusive of all religions.

“The church and all Christians must be working for the religious freedom of all people, because that freedom is rooted in the dignity of the human person,” Timothy Samuel Shah, associate director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, said at The Heritage Foundation panel.

“What we are fighting for is not our own tribe, not our own group. We’re fighting for religious freedom for everyone,” he added.

On Monday, the Knights of Columbus announced they had written a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging the inclusion of Christians in any sort of State Department finding on Middle Eastern genocide.

“We write as American citizens concerned about the vulnerable Christian and Yazidi minorities of Iraq and Syria who are being targeted for eradication in their ancient homelands solely because of their religious beliefs,” the letter begins.

The letter goes on to request a meeting with a “small delegation” to debrief Kerry on the crises confronting Christians including forcible conversion, mass murder, enslavement, rape, destruction of churches, and theft of lands and wealth, adding that Pope Francis has himself used the word “genocide” to describe the aforementioned persecution.

“All faiths are under attack when one faith tries to kill others because they do not believe,” said Roger Severino, director of The Heritage Foundation’s DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, at The Heritage Foundation panel last week. “It is as simple as that.” (Read more from “Obama Admin. Ignoring Widespread Christian Genocide in the Middle East” HERE)

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Kerry Says Paris Agreement Crafted to Avoid Congress

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Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday the climate agreement reached this week in Paris did not contain any enforcement provisions because Congress would not have approved them.

“It doesn’t have mandatory targets for reduction and it doesn’t have an enforcement, compliance mechanism,” Kerry said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

Kerry said such mechanisms were not included because Congress would have refused to greenlight the deal.

Binding legal requirements would have made the Paris agreement a treaty, requiring approval from two-thirds of the Senate. Because no climate change measure could close to the high bar in the chamber, the Paris deal was written to avoid it.

Kerry also said he hopes the climate agreement will send “a very powerful message to the marketplace” about where they should place their energy investments. (Read more from “Kerry Says Paris Agreement Crafted to Avoid Congress” HERE)

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Is This US State the next Terrorist Target?

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By Daily Headlines. We’ve been reporting to you about the growing number of Missouri towns, experiencing a run on massive cell phone buys by middle eastern men with accents at several Walmart stores. Well this next item gone missing at should have everyone scared stiff.

The Kansas City and Independence, Missouri areas have been the sites for propane tank thefts, by the dozens, from area CVS and BP gas stations.

From FOX4KC:

Several Missouri law enforcement agencies have notified the FBI about a large amount of cell phone purchases from area Walmarts.

Now, another incident has some people wondering if we are in danger of a terrorist attack in our area. A large number of propane tanks have been reported stolen from several locations is Independence and Lee`s Summit.

At the end of November, a BP gas station in Lee`s Summit reported 18-20 propane tanks stolen from the outside cages. That same night the CVS on Southwest 3rd Street reported the exact same crime.

(Read more from “Is This US State the next Terrorist Target?” HERE)

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Spain Arrests Terrorism Suspect in Plot Against Swedish Artist

By Raphael Minder. Spain on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect wanted by the United States in connection with terrorism activities, including a failed attempt to kill a Swedish cartoonist who had depicted the Prophet Muhammad with a dog’s body.

Spanish officials said the suspect, Ali Charaf Damache, was arrested in Barcelona, where he had been moving between hostels. The United States has been seeking the extradition of Mr. Damache, who is also accused of planning to set up terrorist training camps and kill several other Westerners.

Mr. Damache is a dual Algerian and Irish citizen who was arrested in Ireland in 2010, where he faced American extradition proceedings. But he was released this year after an Irish judge rejected the extradition request.

Jordi Jané, an official from the Catalan regional government in Barcelona, said during a news conference on Friday that Mr. Damache was the subject of an international arrest warrant, and that he had been detained on Thursday in Barcelona and then transferred overnight to Madrid. On Friday, Mr. Damache appeared before a judge in Spain’s national court, who ordered his provisional arrest. The American authorities now have 40 days to present Spain with another extradition request. (Read more from “Spain Arrests Terrorism Suspect in Plot Against Swedish Artist” HERE)

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ISIS Possesses Passport Printing Machines, Terrorists Have Likely Infiltrated US With Fake Documents

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With the U.S. and other countries on high alert for ISIS attacks, American authorities are warning the terror group’s followers may have infiltrated American borders with authentic-looking passports ISIS has printed itself with its own machines, according to an intelligence report obtained by ABC News.

The 17-page Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Intelligence Report, issued to law enforcement last week, says ISIS likely has been able to print legitimate-looking Syrian passports since taking over the city of Deir ez-Zour last summer, home to a passport office with “boxes of blank passports” and a passport printing machine. Another passport office was located in Raqqa, Syria, which has long been ISIS’s de facto capital.

“Since more than 17 months [have] passed since Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour fell to ISIS, it is possible that individuals from Syria with passports ‘issued’ in these ISIS controlled cities or who had passport blanks, may have traveled to the U.S.,” the report says. . .

Former Department of Homeland Security intelligence official and ABC News consultant John Cohen said, “If ISIS has been able to acquire legitimate passports or machines that create legitimate passports, this would represent a major security risk in the United States.”

Fake Syrian passports have already been discovered in Europe, most notably two used by suicide bombers in the horrific terrorist attack on Paris last month. The two men are believed to have slipped into Europe with a flood of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence in their homeland. (Read more from “ISIS Possesses Passport Printing Machines, Terrorists Have Likely Infiltrated US with Fake Documents” HERE)


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North Korea Now Says It Has a Hydrogen Bomb

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday appeared to say his country has developed a hydrogen bomb, a step up from the less powerful atomic bomb, but the United States and outside experts were skeptical.

Kim made the comments as he toured the Phyongchon Revolutionary Site, which marks the feats of his father who died in 2011 and his grandfather, state founder and eternal president, Kim Il Sung, the official KCNA news agency said.

The work of Kim Il Sung “turned the DPRK into a powerful nuclear weapons state ready to detonate a self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb to reliably defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation,” KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un as saying. . . A hydrogen bomb, also known as a thermonuclear bomb, uses more advanced technology to produce a significantly more powerful blast than an atomic bomb. (Read more from “North Korea Nows Says It Has a Hydrogen Bomb” HERE)

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Massive Mural in Tehran Mocks U.S. Soldiers

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A “Times Square-scale mural” mocking American soldiers has been erected in the Iranian capital city of Tehran, according to pictures published by an advocacy organization pushing for democracy in Iran.

The sprawling mural mocks U.S. Marines by parodying the famous Iwo Jima memorial by depicting American soldiers as planting an American flag on the backs of dead Muslims, according to pictures published by the Foundation for Democracy in Iran, or FDI.

The anti-American mural is just the latest propaganda from Iran meant to foster distrust and hatred for the West, according to the foundation. (Read more from “Mural in Tehran Mocks U.S. Soldiers” HERE)

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What Does the Muslim World Think of Jews?

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Earlier today, the political social media world erupted with universal sanctimony and outrage over Donald Trump’s comments suggesting the U.S. bar all Muslims from entering the country. Let’s put aside, for a moment, the problematic nature of Trump’s position in which he included citizens among those he’d exclude. Obviously, that is unconstitutional (exclusion of non-citizens is absolutely constitutional). The political elites are expressing moral outrage and righteous indignation over such an expression of bigotry.

Well, I just want you to consider the following two facts and juxtapose them to each other.

First, over the next 10 years, the U.S. is likely to admit over 1 million immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries. That does not include the well over 1 million from those countries who will likely enter on long-term non-immigrant visas, most prominently, student visas. And these are conservative estimates.

Now consider the following study from Pew Research in 2010 regarding views of individuals living in Muslim countries towards Jews which Mark Levin mentioned it on his show tonight.

Now keep in mind the state of Europe in regards to Islamic immigration and the increasing frequency of stories of racist treatment of Jews. Now pair this with the first fact listed above with regard to the source of America’s Islamic immigration.

Which immigration policy reflects true compassion, humanity, and tolerance?

Anyone who is not concerned about this trend and what it portends for American Jews is being sanctimonious and not concerned with actual tolerance.

The chart speaks for itself. (For more from the author of “What Does the Muslim World Think of Jews?” please click HERE)

Watch a recent interview with the author below:

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