Senator Jon Kyl (left) with Senator John Cornyn (right). Picture by and (c) Talk Radio News Service 2/2/2012

The following was received via email from Senator Kyl on February 17, 2012.

Thank you for contacting me about the legislation before Congress intended to combat foreign Internet trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods.

As you know, there has been intense debate over this legislation. Many are worried about the government intruding on the freedom of the Internet, and I understand and appreciate that concern. I am a natural skeptic of government intervention, believing that it should only intervene when there is a demonstrated, compelling reason to do so. In this case, I believe defending American property – especially intellectual property – against the threat of foreign online theft more than meets this threshold and merits congressional action. I appreciate the opportunity to explain why.

There is a reason why the United States has led the world in technology, medicine, software, electronics, and so many other innovation-heavy industries for so long; we have one of the freest economies in the world, we have some of the smartest, most hard-working people, and we have always strongly protected intellectual property rights. This imperative was recognized by our Founding Fathers, which is why Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution tells Congress to “promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”

American laws are violated every time a copyrighted movie, song, book, or other material is stolen, reproduced, and sold or distributed to buyers without permission. Thus, I believe legislation should be enacted to prevent foreign websites whose primary business is trafficking in infringed goods from doing business with Americans. These websites not only harm the American companies that own the trademarks and copyrights that are infringed; they also harm the American purchasers of counterfeit goods (which are usually of markedly inferior quality, and are sometimes dangerous to the consumer).

It’s clear that we can no longer ignore this growing problem. To do so would reward foreign pirates at the expense of American innovators, and it would risk ceding our pre-eminent position in the world economy to places like China and Russia. Laws have already been in place for many years to fight domestic intellectual piracy; it only makes sense, then, to extend that same protection to the fight against foreign online counterfeiters.

To be sure, some of the bills that have been introduced to address this issue (such as S. 968 and H.R. 3261) are not perfect. I have some concerns myself. For instance, companies doing business on the Internet might incur new costs to comply with some of the requirements. But that does not mean we simply should abandon our efforts to combat foreign Internet piracy. While Senator Reid has pulled S. 968 from Senate consideration for now, I am working with the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and senators from both parties to negotiate a compromise bill that can appropriately balance the need to address this issue with the importance of keeping the Internet as free and open as possible (and, in many ways, combating foreign piracy helps to do just that). I am hopeful that we can be successful.

I appreciate your taking the time to write on this important issue.

The US Air Force wants to make sure soldiers have no ethical concerns when it comes time to launch a nuclear warhead. One Electronic Warfare Officer tells us “each of us in the strategic nuclear deterrent force must establish a moral foundation for our service.”

The Vandenberg Base Ethics Briefing on Nuclear War focuses on Christians. People of Jewish faith are reminded that there is “no pacifistic sentiment in mainstream Jewish history” and that Maccabees recorded an account of “Jewish revolt against their Syrian oppressors.” It appears the US Air Force didn’t see the need to convince Muslims that their faith is compatible with war, but they did provide a referral to the Islamic Center of Lompoc.

The main focus of their presentation is for Christians. To be sure that their nuclear officers are ready to launch, they are taught Augustine’s Just War Theory. They build a case by presenting examples of war from both Old and New Testament, pointing out “John the Baptist doesn’t tell the Roman soldiers to leave the army before being baptized.”

Following the Biblical examples of war, a case is made for nuclear war as a way to save lives. Finally, the nuclear officer is left with a bonus question. “Are we morally safer in other career fields, leaving the key turning to someone else?” In other words, someone is going to do it, might as well be you!

Vandenberg Base Ethics Briefing on Nuclear War
Documents obtained by Michael Morisy via the Freedom of Information Act using MuckRock.com.

In 2010 we saw Secretary Gates fumble the history of The National Day of Prayer, Let’s review the 2011 event at the Pentagon.

On March 6, 2011, the Office of the Pentagon Chaplain (OPC) issued an executive summary explaining they would sponsor an emphasis on prayer during the week of May 2, 2011. The memo explained they would spend approximately $1,500 on “literature on prayer as selected by the various faith groups.” A grant would cover the expense and the budget would be divided in proportion to the faith group’s number of consistent participants. According to the purchase order requests, the money was used up before getting to the protestants. The money for the protestant books was requested from the pentagon budget. The Jewish group requested 100 copies of Rediscovering the Art of Jewish Prayer for $4/each. The Catholics requested 100 books for $3.99 each. The Protestants requested 400 copies of A Lifetime of Wisdom, which includes the chapter A Legacy of Prayer for $3.50 each. The Muslim group was the odd request, coming in at double the cost requesting 100 copies of Understanding Islam and the Muslims for $7.95 per copy. Not only is the Muslim request unusual in that it requests double the per participant cost, but they also made a request for a book targeting people outside their faith group. According to the Afterword, the purpose of this book is to “clarify what Islam truly is and what Muslims around the world actually believe.” Page one instructs the reader how to become a Muslim.

Speakers at this year’s event were Imam Talib Sharif of Masjid Muhammad for the Muslim group and Joni Eareckson Tada for the Protestants.

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families initially refused to release a report which put abstinence education in a positive light. After an uproar in the blogosphere erupted, they decided to release the report. In response to the situation, Witnesses Unto Me requested records as to why they withheld the report in the first place and how they changed their mind. Witnesses Unto Me submitted a FOIA request for this information on August 20, 2010. Today, June 11, 2011, about a ream and half of paper showed up in response to this request. Wrapped up in a torn enormous manila envelope with $27.55 in postage attached contains about 700 pages. Flipping through the records, they all seem to be computer print outs. Next time, save $27.55 in postage and a tree by emailing the record.

Due to inadequate scanning equipment at Witnesses Unto Me headquarters, we are not yet sure when or if these records will be available online. However, readers can expect an upcoming story on their contents.

The city of Dearborn Michigan has prevented Christians from sharing their faith at the Arab International Festival in various ways. Witnesses Unto Me readers are familiar with the Acts 17 saga in Dearborn, Michigan. If you would like to catch up:

• City of Dearborn limits free speech around Arab Festival
• City of Dearborn Records Vs. Acts 17 Video Footage
• Christian Man and Muslim Woman Lie to Police, Acts 17 Arrests Follow
• Acts 17 update
• More from Roger Williams on Acts 17
• Acts 17 Trial Begins Monday September 16, 2010
• Acts 17 [mostly] Vindicated in Court.
• The fight for free speech in Dearborn continues.

Acts 17 isn’t the only Christian group having trouble in Dearborn. Pastor George Saieg has been trying to share the Gospel in Dearborn for years as well. Last year Saieg came to the Arab Festival armed with a court order restraining the police from interfering with Saieg as he distributed Gospel tracts. This didn’t stop the Dearborn police. According to Saieg, despite the court order, police required Saieg to move when he was distributing tracts in an area protected by court order.

Today, the court of appeals ruled with a 2-1 majority in favor of Saieg. Although that temporary order didn’t work our for Saieg, today’s appeals court opinion is more powerful. Last year’s temporary order was specific to Saieg alone, however the appeals court has ruled the city policy against leafleting to be unconstitutional. This will open up the streets of the Arab Festival in 2011 to everyone, not Saieg alone.

The appeals court has ruled that the city of Dearborn is responsible for this violation of first amendment rights and that they are liable for damages. The case will be sent back to the district court so they may issue an injunction against  the city from enforcing policies which violate the first amendment at the 2011 festival.

During the International Arab Festival in Dearborn, Michigan, the Festival area is called the inner perimeter while there is yet another buffer zone closed off to traffic which is called the outer perimeter. Dearborn has prohibited leafleting, including the distribution of Gospel tracts, in both of these areas. The court has ruled that this restriction is unconstitutional in both areas. Leafleting inside the festival should be allowed because they allow street vendors on these sidewalks which cause a larger traffic flow concern than leafleting. Therefore the substantial government interest that the city of Dearborn relied upon to prohibit free speech was not warranted. In the outer parameter, the court ruled in Saieg’s favor because a regulation must not “burden  substantially  more  speech  than  is  necessary  to  further  the  government’s legitimate interests.” This outer parameter, or buffer zone, controls the flow of automobile traffic. The court sees a restriction on leafleting in a buffer zone designed to control automobile traffic to be too broad.

Saieg Appeal Decision

Arab Festival picture by Omar Chatriwala, some rights reserved.

Barack Hussein Obama Sr’s immigration file was recently released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in response to a Freedom of Information Act Request.

The FOIA release from USCIS shows Barack Obama Sr. to have been a polygamist. INS questioned the validity of his marriage to the presidents mother and conspired with Harvard to have Obama Sr. removed from the country. Obama Sr. left willingly after overstaying his visa and having extensions denied. Records confirm the birth place of Obama Jr. to be Hawaii.

Heather Smathers writing for the Arizona Independent reports the full story: http://www2.az-independent.com/2011/04/27/independent-exclusive-dads-immigration-file-offers-more-evidence-of-obamas-birthplace/

Barack Hussein Obama Sr. Immigration File

The CIA holds a high place on the FOIA naughty list for their contempt toward transparency. Kel McClanahan, Esq., Executive Director for The National Security Counselors, has recently filed suit in federal court in hopes to force the CIA into complying with the Freedom of Information Act. Witnesses Unto Me has a file full of rejected FOIA requests from the CIA. The CIA frequently responds stating that your request is not specific enough, despite great details. Other times they will explain that their record system is not setup in a way that they can search for the records you are looking for; of course, there is no “poor record keeping” exemption to the FOIA. Get too specific then of course they cannot confirm or deny anything. In an effort to see if there was any record the CIA was willing to disclose, their employee cafeteria was targeted. Shockingly, the CIA released a few records.

We don’t want the folks running the remote controls on the drones over Pakistan to have their hands full of condiments.  One CIA employee let the facilities team know just how much he loves his ketchup in packets, not the wretched pumps. Word is around the CIA water cooler that the pumps are too much work.

You can have it your way at the CIA, but not for a buck. The CIA’s Burger King lacks a dollar menu and our humble public servants at the CIA don’t want to let go of that hard earned lunch money.

Want to eat fresh? No problem, or is it? CIA records show their Subway to fall short of QA standards. One writer said he needed to eat the inside of his sandwich because of the stale bread.

Like a little crunch on your oatmeal? Perhaps some Omega 3s too? Almonds might be a good choice to sprinkle on top. But wait! It seems the cafeteria manager is no expert in anticipating the great almond demand. They just might be out of your favorite chopped nut this morning.

Many children in Golden Shores, Arizona live with grumbling stomachs. The small town consists of three bars, a post office, a gas station and a few other store fronts. It is known in the region for the methamphetamine produced in many of the homes. The town is not short on parents who too concerned with getting a fix that they ignore the needs of their kids. Thanks to school lunch, during the school year, they have five meals per week guaranteed. When school is out of session, that food source is not available to the children.  This summer, Golden Shores Community Baptist Church plans to feed the children a meal five days per week during the school’s  summer break.

Golden Shores is south of Bullhead City, Arizona. Bullhead City is known as “Arizona’s Hottest Destination.” Hottest is used in a couple of senses, one of which reflects the summer days which are often above 120 degrees. One challenge the members of Golden Shores Community Baptist Church are praying about is the added electric cost. In these hot summer months, many of the church attenders are in cooler places. Giving is lowest when expenses are the greatest. Nonetheless, the congregation is determined and is trusting God to provide, as they believe feeding the children is the will of God.

If you would like to help, Golden Shores Community Baptist Church first and foremost desires your prayer. Please pray throughout this summer that children are filled both with food and with the spirit through this ministry. Second, if you would like to contribute to Golden Shores Community Baptist Church’s summer energy needs, please send your tax deductible contribution to Golden Shores Community Baptist Church; PO Box 1175; Topock, AZ 85436 with a memo “2011 summer utility.”

“There is no God!” proclaims Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy as he forces a group of Christians off the property. The group went to evangelize at the entrance to the Pavilion near the Hard Rock Casino near Albuquerque, New Mexico. A large crowd was gathered, waiting to enter the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival on July 17, 2010. The sheriff’s deputies asked the group of Christians to leave, and they protested asking for an explanation. Sheriff’s Deputy Geoff explained that they were on private property owned by the Hard Rock Casino.

Courtney Scott of the Hard Rock Casino explained to Witnesses Unto Me that Deputy Geoff was misinformed.  Scott explained that the property does not belong to the Hard Rock Casino, the land is actually state trust land. The Pavilion licenses the Hard Rock name. Scott said The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Albuquerque was not responsible for requesting police assistance with crowd control. The Pavilion refused to comment on the situation when asked by Witnesses Unto Me.

Geoff asked the crowd in line if the Christians should stay or go, he was answered with a loud request to have them leave. Geoff then forced the Christians off the property, and while doing so he exclaimed “There is no God” and other remarks. The event was captured on video and posted on YouTube.  The last remarks recorded are of Deputy Geoff accusing the camera holder of being a homosexual for filming him.

The event took place back in July of 2010. In July of 2010 Witnesses Unto Me made a public record request to Bernalillo County.  New Mexico’s public record laws allow for not more than 15 days to respond to a public record request. Although the video shows at least one of the Christians being handcuffed and KRQE 13 reported he was arrested, Bernallilo County states this is not the type of incident where a report would be filed. Therefore, Bernalillo County claims there were no records concerning the incident to turn over.

The Sheriff promised an investigation into the situation. Peter Auh, attorney for the county has confirmed the internal investigation is completed, but refuses to release any records stating they are exempt as matters of opinion. Witnesses Unto Me disagrees, an investigation is a fact finding exercise and the records should contain fact. Furthermore, the final action taken against the officers is a matter of fact, not opinion.  The county refuses to comment on the actions taken. The only information the county is providing is that the officers involved are still employed.

Yesterday, February 16, Witnesses Unto Me filed a complaint with the New Mexico Attorney General concerning the violations of New Mexico’s public record laws by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department. The public records law gives the Attorney General the power to enforce the law. Although, according to guidelines prepared by Patrick J. Rogers, Esq. and posted on the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of The Press’ Open Government Guide, the Attorney General does not generally exercise the prosecutorial powers available.

Obama visited Indonesia last November, as previously reported by Witnesses Unto Me. His trip, initially scheduled for March, was postponed so he could focus on ObamaCare. While in Jakarta, Obama propped up Indonesia as a great example of tolerance. He told the people of Jakarta “that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in mosques and churches and temples standing alongside each other.” Obama did take a trip to the mosque while in Jakarta, but not a church. As Obama was singing praise for tolerance, The United State Secret Service had the opposite on their mind.

The Secret Service did mention in their report that most of Indonesia’s Muslims “espouse relatively moderate beliefs.” After this politically correct statement, the report went on to mention the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya (JI), death threats against the president and the grave fact that “Indonesian extremists continue to demonstrate a willingness and ability to carry out violent attacks with little or no warning.”

USSS Obama Indonesia trip talking points