Iran’s Latest American Hostages

November 11th, 2009 James Phillips

Iran’s list of hostages is steadily growing despite the Obama Administration’s zealous efforts to engage Iran’s brutal dictatorship. Three young American hikers who accidentally strayed across the Iranian border last summer now face charges of espionage, which is punishable by the death penalty in Iran. Yesterday an Iranian prosecutor indicated that the three hikers, Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 30, and Joshua Fattal, 27, were being investigated as spies after they were arrested, allegedly on the Iranian side of the poorly-marked Iraq-Iran border on July 31. Today Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad piled on by stressing Iran’s right to punish people who illegally crossed its border and suggesting that the United States was responsible for the kidnapping of an Iranian pilgrim in Saudi Arabia.

Last month an Iranian-American scholar, Kian Tajbakhsh, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison because of alleged subversive activity. Tajbakhsh was arrested during the unrest that broke out after Iran’s sham elections last June and he never received a fair trial, which is par for the course in Iran.

Iran also still has failed to satisfactorily explain the disappearance of Robert Levinson, a retired FBI investigator who disappeared in Iran in 2007 after meeting with David Belfield, an American convert to Islam who fled to Iran after he assassinated an exiled Iranian opposition leader, Ali Akbar Tabatabai, in 1980 in Bethesda, Maryland. Levinson is believed to be held in a secret prison in Iran. Clearly, President Obama’s engagement policy has done little to help hostage Americans, let alone the millions of Iranians who are being held hostage by Iran’s criminal regime.

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Urban Conservative Officially Relaunches

October 29th, 2009 Billy Hallowell

Hello, America!  I am extremely excited to be writing to you this evening, as I officially begin my journey as editor-in-chief of UrbanConservative.com.  My name is Billy Hallowell and I am honored to introduce myself to you all.  

I have been a contributor to this site for the past two years.  I am a journalist and commentator who has been working in media for nearly 11 years (Im 26, so I started fairly young).  In 2003, I founded Pathufind Media and I am currently the host of RENEWtv, a web show devoted to renewing American conservatism.  And now, Im officially a member of the Urban Conservative family!

But enough about me.  You can surely read more on my Web site, but Im guessing youre most interested in what will be happening here on UrbanConservative.com!  Tomorrow, we will become a daily publication.  Many of you have been actively reading UC for years.  This new change will afford you even more access to valuable news and information!

Youll notice weve launched a plethora of new topics.  While these subjects are of great importance to American politics, please be patient as we build our content around them (i.e. there may be a lag before all topics have streaming content).  But, we will be branching into new and uncharted news categories, as you can see.

Also, in November, my show RENEWtv will officially join forces with Urban Conservative.  

These are just some of the changes in store as we move forward!  Please be patient as we transition, add new blogs to the CONLIST and forge our path moving forward.  I thank you for your support and readership and I look forward to serving you!

Billy Hallowell, Editor-in-Chief


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Russia Rearming

October 29th, 2009 Toby Westerman

While the President of the United States is equivocating over troop support in Afghanistan and reducing defense spending at home, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is demanding greater efficiency from Russias arms production facilities, which, he says, already produces efficient and extremely reliable weapons.

Medvedev chaired a meeting of his nations military-industrial commission and expressed his dissatisfaction with the type of projects pursued and the length of time from weapons research to production, according to a report from Itar Tass on its Internet Russian language section.

Moscows concern about the quality and timeliness of weapons production is directed at both re-arming Russias military and satisfying its weapons customers around the world.

Improvements in research, development, and final production, all at a reasonable price, are the prerequisites for the ultimate goal of re-arming of Russias army and naval forces, Medvedev declared.

The message is clear: while the United States is decreasing its defense spending, and displaying indecisiveness in the face of the enemy, Medvedev and the Kremlin elite are working hard to establish Russia again as a first rate global superpower capable of projecting power across the globe to protect its interests.

How the Russian elite defines Russias interests is demonstrated by Moscows billion dollar arms sales to Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Several months ago Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin referred to our good friend Chavez, during negotiations concerning the sale to Venezuela of Russian arms, including advanced tanks and possibly submarines. Chavez has already purchased 100,000 AK 103 assault rifles, one of the best small arms in the world, as well as a license to produce more of these weapons in Venezuela all far beyond any realistic need of the Venezuelan military.

Moscow is also comfortable with the neo-Marxist ideology advocated by Chavez. During his September 2009 visit to Russia, Chavez was granted the privilege of addressing at length the students at Moscows international university. As he spoke, Chavez praised Lenin and other Communist leaders while denouncing the United States.

The Moscow elite do not limit themselves to Chavezs brand of 21st Century Socialism, but they have also played a key role in the rapid modernization of the Chinese Communist armed forces. Russian military personnel are also once again openly operating in Cuba.

The reality is as clear as it is disturbing.

The rearming of Russias land, air, and naval forces will be in the service of some form of aggressive Marxist ideology.

A small number of indicators include: Chavezs Communist rhetoric in the heart of the Russian capital, the Moscow elites support for various Communist regimes around the world, the Russian governments rehabilitation of Communist dictator and mass murder Josef Stalin, the Russian armed forces continued use of the symbolism of the Soviet military, and the emergence of Soviet-like youth groups.

The stark reality is that there are many more instances pointing to a Russian neo-Communist revival.

It should be noted that todays neo-Communist is also an ally with fundamentalist Islam.

Now is not the time for indecision or any manifestation of weakness. It is time for a cold, hard look at the world around us, and to demand that the U.S. political leadership take the necessary steps to defend the nation and our God-given freedom.

THE CENTRALIZED MEDIA DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THIS BOOK: Lies, Terror, and the Rise of the Neo-Communist Empire: Origins and Direction, order from www.inatoday.com, also availble at your favorite online bookseller (locate by title).


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Benjamin Netanyahu back in office, bummer for Iran

April 1st, 2009 Urban Conservative

Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote; and I am only writing now due to recent developments in the Middle East.

Just yesterday, in an interview with The Atlantic, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel could go it alone and attack Iran if the country went nuclear. He said in unusually blunt language (according to the article) of the Iranian leadership, “You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs. When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran” … and dammit, he is absolutely right.  A nuclear Iran would surely wreak havoc not only in the Middle East but the world abroad.

He also said that “The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy, and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons … and that Israel would not necessarily need American approval to launch an attack.”  This will prove to be Obamas first major test in the Middle East.

The issue, in my opinion, is not Israel’s Military capability. Foreign leadership across the globe knows that Israel does not play games when it comes to protecting their land from foreign invasion. Past history is clear that those who attack Israel get dealt with very badly – no holds barred, no protesting from Code Pink, no congressional approval, no remorse.  The question here is simple.  Does Netanyahu have the stomach to launch a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities? I think he does.

Now will someone from Mossad go shut Chavez the hell up? His big mouth rhetoric is sickening to my ears.

Tags: Iran, Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad, Obama, pre-emptive strike, nuclear


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Fed Chair Bernanke: The Fed is Printing Money

March 16th, 2009 Jr Accountant

After Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke appeared on 60 Minutes last night, few noted little from his speech besides his insistence that the recession should calm by the end of 2009 and signs of recovery might start popping up like little spring buds beneath the melting snow of a cold hard winter some time in 2010. The man is delusional at best, and the markets reacted by snapping a three-day upward swing (if you call 2 or 3 points upward). Sadly, Bernankes song and dance on national television resonated across America as a sign that things might be looking up. Hell, if this guy says everything is going to be okay, who are we to question?

Well the answer is simple, and if Ive got to explain to you what is wrong with last nights appearance, perhaps youre not grown up enough to be using the computer without supervision. Turn it off, curl up into a ball, and commence to existing with your head in the sand, k?

In case you missed it, Bernankes national TV debut may be found in 3 parts here, here, and here. How cute, Helicopter Ben even cleaned up for his interview. Thats absolutely adorable.

Hidden in the midst of Bernankes interview, a little-noticed point on the Feds action in the face of economic crisis. While the conservatives continue to rail against the endless bailouts on behalf of helpless taxpayers believing that the Fed and Treasury promises are funded by actual taxpayer cash, Chairman Bernanke spilled the beans last night and said in no uncertain terms that his Fed is in fact funding bailouts using a process more akin to printing money than it is borrowing.

Average Joe reading this article, or even the most enlightened of conservatives, may not even think twice about the issue. Who cares? Isnt it the Feds job to print money?

Under normal circumstances, absolutely. But in these conditions, Bernankes quantitative easing scheme will be the end of the dollar as we know it. Does he believe that inflation is so low that his agency has the right to crank up the presses to cover the incessant bailout of commercial banking interests at the detriment of our economy? This equates to criminal currency debasement and should absolutely be treated as such.

For our Fed chair to believe he can boldly state on national television just days after a warning from the United States largest creditor that we better not use the printing press to stem financial crisis is not only moronic but may send China reeling against our pleas for help in unloading our debt. And if China pushes back on Treasurys, we might as well consider the game over.

You as an American taxpayer have every right to be angry over the bailouts. And you should still believe that taxpayers are some how on the hook for this. But you as an American under the Federal Reserves control should be absolutely outraged to hear Bernanke boasting that his Fed is cranking up the press to the tune of some $2 trillion to cover its creative lending programs. AIG has fed at the government teat FOUR TIMES and funneling bailout funds to foreign banks due to its own irresponsible financial products risk management. But $2 trillion on the taxpayers behalf means little when the Fed is using the press to pump capital into floundering firms on your dime the savings youve worked your life to put away? Doesnt matter when the Fed has fully debased the currency. Is 97% of the dollars value lost since its inception in 1913 not enough?

The recession will only worsen moving forward if the Fed and Treasury continue to sabotage any hope at recovery by throwing billions more into the sinking ship.

Unemployment will continue to surge.

The Fed will continue to overstep its given powers by Congress and Congress will continue to allow such a fleecing until someone on Capitol Hill stops looking the other way and demands an audit of this private and essentially unregulated agency.

And Ben Bernanke will continue to crank up the press. Heres to hoping China doesnt notice or else were really in trouble.


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Hamas vows suicide attacks on Zionists everywhere – what else is new?

January 2nd, 2009 Urban Conservative

So the violence in the Israel continues … but has it really ever ended? Ever since Israel became an independent state in 1948, they have been a target by the Arab and Muslim nations that surround the country. The only good news coming out of this is that the Israeli Air Force bombed a building in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza killing a senior Hamas leader and cleric Sheikh Nizar Rayyan.

The sad fact is that if the enemies of Israel disposed of their weapons and declared peace in that region, there WOULD be peace in that region. On the contrary, if Israel disposed of their weapons and declared peace, there WOULD be 8 million dead Jews.


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Novel Idea: Let’s let the homeless in America decide who will be the next President

October 7th, 2008 Urban Conservative

In Cleveland, Ohio a volunteer group supporting Obama picked up hundreds of homeless people at shelters, soup kitchens and drug-rehab centers and drove them to a polling house yesterday on the last day that folks in Ohio could register and vote on the same day, with almost no questions asked.

One convicted felon noted, I never voted before, without this service, I would have had no way to get here.”

Every decent law abiding citizen in this country democrat or republican should be angry and ashamed of this vile attempt to gain votes, however insignificant the number really is. The law against registering and voting the same day was on the books in Ohio, yet the democratic controlled court made this determination because they are of course in bed with their political party. Yet another example of how democrats put their party before their country.

Sure, these people can vote for their candidate when they are in the booth, but theres nothing preventing the fraud of voting in multiple locations. Is one homeless guy whos bought off for a box of smokes or a six pack of beer worth 3 or 4 of your informed votes?

Lets not only exploit the children in this country but also the homeless. Whos next, the mentally disabled?

Tags: convicted felons voting for Obama, homeless people voting for Obama, Obama supporters in Ohio

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Breaking News: Israeli Military exercise seems directed at Iran

June 19th, 2008 Urban Conservative

Watch out Ahmadinejad. The heat is coming; but the Iran Military is waiting. It’s been reported that Israel has facilitated a major military exercise earlier this month as a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Irans nuclear facilities.

According to the International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the NY Times), several American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the militarys capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to demonstrate the seriousness with which Israel views Irans nuclear program.

According to these officials, more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets participated in air maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece during the first week of June; which also included helicopter exercises.

In the past, Israel has carried out two preemptive strikes against nuclear sites in the Middle East. In 1981, Israeli jets leveled Iraqs nuclear plant at Osirak after it was confirmed that it was part of Saddam Husseins nuclear weapons program.   And more recently, Israel aft bombed a structure in Syria that housed a nuclear reactor built with the aid of North Korea.

Can you really blame Israel for taking a proactive approach in dealing with this issue? Or, maybe they should take a more diplomatic approach. Yeah, that should work. Long live Israel!


Tags: Israel, Iran, Nuclear site, weapons programs, syria, Osirak, military, air strikes, israeli military exercise, israel military exercise, iran comments on israeli air maneuvers, iran military, israel greece military exercise, israel june 19th and military exercise, israel military exercises iran,


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US Marine in Haditha might sue John Murtha over smear campaign

June 19th, 2008 Urban Conservative

John Murtha will soon be eating his own words and forking out some cash, hopefully.

If you remember, back in 2005, there was an investigation into the tragic death of civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha.  Apparently, there was supposed to be compelling evidence that proved that U.S. Marines killed innocent civilians in cold blood, according to former Marine and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. He even claimed that there was a Military cover up; and was extremely vocal with his blasphemous statements.

He was wrong according to the video presented as evidence at a hearing for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani who was charged; and on Tuesday, a U.S. Military Judge tossed out the charges against him. 

In an interview with nationally syndicated conservative radio talk host Michael Savage, the attorney for Lt. Col. Chessani said he and his client are looking into suing Murtha and the Time magazine reporter, Tim McGuirk, who first published the accusations by Iraqi insurgents.

We will see what happens.

Tags: haditha, iraq, marines, killed innocent civilians in cold blood, Rep. John Murtha, charges dismissed, US Marines, Time magazine, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessan, Tim McGuirk
 


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China Earthquake: Please consider donating to the Red Cross Fund

May 20th, 2008 Urban Conservative

C’mon people; lets put our money where our mouth is and donate to the China Earthquake Relief Fund.  For a community that already doesn’t have a lot, they lost everything. Its the least we can do.

On May 12, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan province in southwestern China, killing thousands of people. The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Red Cross Society of China, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster. Donate here.

See China Earthquake Photos below (maybe these will inspire you to give): 

China Quake

Bodies are seen after they were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building in Dujiangyan, in Chinas southwest Sichuan province Wednesday May. 14, 2008. The official death toll from Mondays earthquake reached almost 15,000 Wednesday, with many thousands more missing.

Read the rest of this entry »


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