Issues Under Fire

Issues Under Fire: Last Stop: America The Fearful

Lee Bines — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:03:54 +0000

Apologies all around for closing out 2015 early, but after reviewing this yearâ€™s postings and podcast, Americaâ€™s most critical issues have already been addressed. And from this observerâ€™s perspective, the simplest solution to most of those critical issues is America overcoming its fears. If the United States would simply grow a pair, Americans could stop being afraid all the time. Americans seem to be afraid of almost everyone. Americans are even afraid of themselves.

Issues Under Fire: What Do Muslims Know and How Long Have They Known It?

Lee Bines — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 10:43:19 +0000

Now that the Black Lives Matter issue has gained enough attention to make a cop think twice before pulling the trigger, we should use this opportunity to take a look at the next demographic that's found itself in America's crosshairs. The American Muslim.

Issues Under Fire: Donald Trump: The Muslims Are Coming, The Muslims Are Coming

Lee Bines — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 10:43:36 +0000

Imagine sitting at a bus stop, standing on a train platform or walking down the street when someone starts shooting or stabbing people randomly. What would you think? Imagine sitting in traffic waiting for the signal to proceed when some maniac starts ramming his car into others and mowing pedestrians down with no regard for human life. What would you say? Imagine if the rumors of an Islamic Plague were true, what would you do?

For those who imagine such scenarios , Donald J. Trump has a plan to save America from being overrun by Muslim Zombies. Donald Trump has personally seen people of the Muslim faith change overnight from peace loving hardworking family oriented Americans, into blood craving lunatics, hellbent on killing infidels. Donald Trump has captured and trapped infected Muslims in the basement of one of his many mansions. Theyâ€™re being held for observation. According to Donald Trump, there are no signs, symptoms or warnings. And at this time, there is no cure.

Issues Under Fire: Understanding How ISIS/ISIL Gets in Your Head

Lee Bines — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:40:29 +0000

As President Obama continues to promote and prosecute his strategy against ISIS/ISIL in Syria Iraq and beyond with air strikes, intelligence gathering, special operations, regional coalition building and beefing up homeland defenses against internal threats, more needs to be done to assist in undermining ISIS/ISIL as a threat. While the president will eventually realize marginal results from bombing oil fields, disrupting supply chains and thus choking off economic resources, his strategy won't choke off ISIS/ISIL's human resources.

Issues Under Fire: Loretta Lynch Rahm Emanuel Anita Alverez and the Artful Dodge

Lee Bines — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:35:45 +0000

Loretta Lynch's announcement of the Justice Department's planned investigation into pattern and practices of the Chicago police was so meticulously articulated and so narrowly focused its difficult to envision the people of Chicago ever seeing their civil rights respected, let alone protected. By the time the U.S. Attorney General had finished her longwinded self-serving presentation of the DOJ's intent to intervene, this observer was struck by how little that intervention would actually accomplish. The entire presentation was no more than an artful dodge.

Issues Under Fire: Fear of ISIS/ISIL Grips America

Lee Bines — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 11:29:37 +0000

While observing President Obama address the nation about the global threat ISIS/ISISL poses to humanity and his strategy for confronting it, it became apparent, just how many fronts this war against religious extremism must be fought. Wisely avoiding the "Western way of life" vs. Islam narrative his critics have embraced, the president appealed for calm and common sense. He acknowledged the nation's concerns moving forward, while assuring the fearful the United States and its allies were fully engaged with the enemy.

Issues Under Fire: Politics and Justice Chicago Style

Lee Bines — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:13:18 +0000

It must have been a bittersweet celebration after Rahm Emmanuel won reelection for mayor of Chicago April past. Because after the congratulations died down, a nice dinner, a great bottle of wine and some long overdue quiet time with family, the bloodied skeletons hidden in his closet began to rattle. To know his corrupt to the core police department could be exposed at any moment had to have weighed heavily on his mind.

Issues Under Fire: Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice in the Death of Laquan McDonald

Lee Bines — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 11:26:59 +0000

When the city of Chicago finally surrendered the highly incriminating video tape of Laquan McDonald's death by cop, everyone involved must have known a shitstorm of epic proportions was on its way. Every cop responding that fateful night of October 20th 2014 to the intersection of 41st. Street and Pulaski Rd. is now reliving and reviewing the event endlessly. They're wondering how they're going to answer the Feds when the tough questions are finally asked. Will they rat to salvage their careers or will they hold the Blue line?

Issues Under Fire: Rahm Emmanuel Trapped in Web of Lies

Lee Bines — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:43:30 +0000

Oh, what a tangled web we weave: When first we practice to deceive. Had Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel taken a lesson from former N.Y. congressmen Anthony Weiner, he might have handled his last chance to do the right thing differently. The minute Mayor Emmanuel stepped up to the microphone to field questions regarding the video tape of Laquan McDonaldâ€™s death, he shouldâ€™ve been prepared to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. And the truth was simple: He F#%ked up. F#%king up is forgivable, lying about it is not.

Issues Under Fire: The American Race War Nobody Wants to Talk About

Lee Bines — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:10:26 +0000

Anyone who'd take the time to monitor the racial climate in America will quickly find the temperature has risen appreciably in the last eight years. Similar to the earth's climate change, the racial climate in America is showing clear and irrefutable evidence of racial hostilities heating up between Whites and Blacks. And similar to the earth's climate change, there will be those who'll deny that clear and irrefutable evidence as it stares them straight in the face.

Issues Under Fire: Trump Promises Close Monitoring of American Muslims

Lee Bines — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:54:02 +0000

Donald Trump has signaled some very interesting ideas as to how he'd protect the homeland from foreign and domestic threats. Some of his ideas are so interesting, they had to be examined immediately. By next week, his campaign operatives will have scrubbed his statements from the public record. If elected, Trump stated he wouldn't rule out establishing a database for the purpose of keeping track of Muslims in America. As astounding as that might sound, he was quite serious about the proposal.

While electronic ankle monitors or digital tracking implants weren't mentioned, one could envision that type of technology being employed in a Trump administration's war against terror. Americans might feel safe in Trump world , but you could hardly call this space north of Mexico and south of Canada the United States of America anymore. Donald Trump may be an asshole with clownish hair, but he's also a very dangerous man.

Issues Under Fire: Creating Backlash Against Muslims May Be ISIS' Twisted Plan

Lee Bines — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:51:22 +0000

While undoubtedly some of the best minds in the world are working around the clock trying to figure out how ISIS and affiliates plan to infiltrate borders to do harm, this observer is more interested in how ISIS and affiliates plan to infiltrate minds to do harm. One would think, projecting an image of Islam so vile and evil, ISIS would be worried the world would only hate Muslims more. One would think, conducting terror attacks against innocent people in the name of Islam wouldn't exactly gain many converts. Sadly, anyone thinking this way would be dead wrong, because ISIS has a plan.

When America Muslims begin to feel the heat for what ISIS and their agents are doing all over world, human nature being what it is, they'll feel betrayed by the United States when they become targeted for reprisals. When the racist remarks start in the schools, when the discrimination begins in the work place, when racial and ethnic profiling is taken to the next level, many in the Muslim community will begin to feel isolated, ostracized and threatened. And while few if any will have deserved this treatment, that's precisely what ISIS will want American Muslims to feel. (Vandals have already started attacking mosques in the United States.)

Issues Under Fire: Getting to Know A Syrian Refugee

Lee Bines — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:04:38 +0000

As dramatic events play out on the streets of central Paris and beyond, endless uneventful days drag on without notice in Syrian refugee camps. Sprinkled among the few pockets of humanity left in the region, the camps literally litter the landscapes of Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon providing just enough food and shelter to disguise one hopelessly demeaning day from another. And refugee families past their time inventing ways to survive those endless hopelessly demeaning days.

Issues Under Fire: US Signals Europe: Close Your Doors to Refugees

Lee Bines — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:27:03 +0000

Issues Under Fire: US Signals Europe: Close Your Doors to Refugees

Anyone fleeing a war zone will never set foot on American soil. No matter what the circumstances, no Syrian, Afghan or Iraqi will find sanctuary in America. They will find no rest for the weary here. They will find neither pity nor sympathy in the hearts of those calling themselves Americans. And most all, they will find no freedom in America. The message to those seeking refuge from some of the most hellish conditions on earth is, do not look to America for help.

If youâ€™re huddled among masses of tired and poor people yearning to breathe free, youâ€™d better keep stepping because America has slammed the door, raised the gate and filled the moat with alligators. If thatâ€™s not enough of a deterrent, armed drones, land mines and gun turrets should keep the worldâ€™s homeless, hungry and helpless at bay. While the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remain open, they only exist as iconic tourist destinations. For $25 USD you can see what America once stood for.

Issues Under Fire: Paris Attacked, France Responds, World Watch Wait Wonder and Worry

Lee Bines — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 11:49:10 +0000

When U.S. officials announced they were reasonably sure a drone strike had killed Jihadi John last Friday morning, little did the world know, ISIS would be laying claim to the death and wounding of hundreds in Paris by nightfall. In what French President Francois Hollande accurately describe as an act of war against his country, ISIS/ ISIL placed Paris on notice, the French had a war on its hands.

Vowing a merciless response, French President Hollande declared a stated of emergency, closed the boarders (well not exactly), place the nation on lockdown and ordered French jets to pounded the hell out of ISIS/ISIL strongholds in Syria on Sunday. Providing comfort to terrorized Parisians, the French government has placed security forces at every location authorities could fathom as being a potential target.

Without question President Hollande has crossed every (T) and dotted every (I) in identifying threats to mitigate harm to the French people. Unfortunately, all these types of measures have been taken before. Air strikes in far away lands and securing the homeland may provide the public with a sense the government has the capacity to combat this menace, but its clear the world knows more will have to be done. ISIS will have to be confronted up close and personal. And here is where the hard questions begin.

Issues Under Fire: The Future of American Racism Will Reflect the Past

Lee Bines — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 11:15:33 +0000

With racial tensions flaring up on college campuses across America, exposing the depths of hatred and intolerance simmering in the hearts of Americaâ€™s youth, it begs one to wonder if this is a glimpse of Americaâ€™s future. If Americaâ€™s latest generation of best and brightest are still grappling with the issue of race, then one can presume race relations will remain a challenge for decades to come.

Itâ€™s through the words, actions and attitudes of Americaâ€™s White university class, we get a clearer view into what has been and is being discussed at dinner tables across the country. After a careful review of Black complaints being lodged against their White classmates, apparently, the â€œNâ€ is used liberally and regularly among close friends and relatives behind closed doors. If thatâ€™s happening, its no stretch to presume White moms and dads are telling racist jokes or laughing out loud in front of the kids when they hear a good one. And honestly, It rarely takes much more than that to set a mindset for life.

Issues Under Fire: Why Blacks Continue the Fight for White Acceptance

Lee Bines — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:36:52 +0000

Yesterday's post questioning the issue of Blacks on Black violence in Chicago, created quite a row, as some commenters pushed back against my observations. An exchange of ideas eventually resulted in the age old retorts of Black criminality being a horrible symptom of circumstance, 400 years of oppression, police abuse and institutional racism. Without skipping a beat, another chimed in with the usual lack of good schools, decent jobs or the possibility of upward mobility as being a contributing factor to violence in the Black community.

Issues Under Fire: Black Lives Matter, Except to Blacks in Chicago

Lee Bines — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 11:20:13 +0000

As the Black Lives Matter Movement continues to gather steam across the nation, many troubling questions remain unanswered when it comes to certain parts of the country. Why are Blacks shooting and killing Blacks in record numbers in Chicago? Is it mostly a gang related issue? Is it related to decades of poverty? Is it related to years of human neglect? Is this violence related to the breakdown of the family structure? Is it a lack of educational and career opportunities? Is it a massive mental health issue? Could it be all these things combined?Â

Issues Under Fire: Closing Gitmo Without Addressing Indefinite Detention Seems Pointless

Lee Bines — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 11:55:19 +0000

As Barack Obama makes a desperate effort to clear his desk of campaign promises during the last stages of his presidency, the Guantanamo Bay issue will plague his legacy even if Gitmo's doors were miraculously closed today. The issue is not Guantanamo Bay, the issue is indefinite detention. As long as the United States retains the authority to arrest and hold a person without charge or trial forever, where that person is being held is irrelevant.

Issues Under Fire: Has U.S. Russia Proxy War Started Yet?

Lee Bines — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:22:13 +0000

With Russiaâ€™s military strength building daily to protect the Assad government, while the U.S. expands special operations activities to support the Syrian rebels, it looks as though ISIS has become an afterthought. Despite the deafening calls for the defeat of the Islamic State, realities on the ground reflect alternate priorities. Although Russia and the United States claim the focus remains directed at ISIS, the latest bulk of casualties have been the result of fighting between the Syrian army and rebel forces. More at RertoVision media

Issues Under Fire: Importance of Clarifying U.S. Priorities in Syria

Lee Bines — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 11:23:29 +0000

Apparently unconcerned with the finer points of international law governing such circumstances, the Obama administration seems intent upon waging war in Syria against the Bashar al-Assad government and only using ISIS as an excuse to be there. Since the Obama administration failed to seek and obtain a U.N. mandate to enter Syria, the U.S. is proceeding without establishing clear objectives or a coherent strategy.

Issues Under Fire: Banning the Box Only Delays Facing the Music

Lee Bines — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 11:10:45 +0000

Although President Obama should be praised for his efforts to reform America's Criminal Justice System and provide some form of relief for those stained with a criminal record, it will take a major shift in America's willingness to forgive before any real progress can be made for ex-offenders. Because America descended into an unforgiving revenge driven consciousness decades ago, the odds of someone getting a true fresh start after breaking the law is rather rather low. America neither forgives or forgets anything anymore.

Issues Under Fire: 24/7 Surveillance of the al-Aqsa Mosque is Too Little Too Late

Lee Bines — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:30:24 +0000

Of all the issues plaguing the world today, currently the al-Aqsa Mosque actually trumps the Syrian civil war, even with the European refugee catastrophe it triggered. Arab Israelis are literally trying to slaughter Israeli Jews in the streets of Jerusalem with knives, meat cleavers and any other sharp blunt object they can commit mayhem with. Jewish Israelis are arming themselves, forming gangs and hunting down anyone that look suspicious or just look Arab. And neither the Israeli government nor its regional partners have clue as to how to stop the violence.

Issue Under Fire: Middle East Peace Will Never be Realized With U.S. Involvement

Lee Bines — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 10:10:10 +0000

While U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reported he remains cautiously optimistic for prospects of deescalating the violence between Israelis and Palestinians, U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moonâ€™s analysis of current conditions was far more dire. And from this observerâ€™s perspective, far more realistic. Still, how these two men could come to diametrically opposite assessments of this latest uprising is a not exactly a difficult mystery to solve. A quick look at the history will provide some clues.

Issues Under Fire: Netanyahu Plays the Holocaust Card, Again!

Lee Bines — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:03:11 +0000

It may be early in the game to play the holocaust card, but in a desperate effort to hold onto the radical Right, Benjamin Netanyahu took a page out of history, erased all evidence of accuracy and rewrote a version palatable only to the most rabid of rabbis. So consumed with the need to remain in power, Netanyahu is willing to give Adolph Hitler a pass on being the architect of the Holocaust.

In order to cast the Palestinians in the worst light possible to date, Netanyahu told the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem that it was the Palestinians who gave Hitler the idea of exterminating the Jews. Without a shred of proof to back up the outrageous claim, the distressed leader went on to relate a farfetched tale of a meeting between Haj Amin al-Husseini, (the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem) at the time and Adolph Hitler himself where the Nazi maniac sought Husseiniâ€™s advice on what to do with his Jewish problem.

According to Netanyahu, Hitler only wanted to expel the Jews from Germany, but Husseini convinced Hitler to burn them, because theyâ€™d only come to Palestine. According to Benjamin Netanyahu, if only those two men had never met, Adolph Hitler would have come up with a more humane solution than his Final Solution. According to Netanyahuâ€™s version of events, were it not for Palestinian influence, six million Jews could have been spared. Facts be damned, thatâ€™s what Netanyahu said.

Issues Under Fire: Canada Elects the Future While U.S. Courts the Past

Lee Bines — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:30:24 +0000

Issues Under Fire: Canada Elects the Future While U.S. Courts the Past

In a stunning upset in the race for Canadaâ€™s top political post, the young handsome and very liberal Justin Trudeau won convincingly. With his beautiful wife and family at his side, he thanked Canada for their support and vision for the future. And apparently, there is no doubt as to what Canadians want for their future. Canadians are moving left. So tired of Stephen Harperâ€™s neoconservative policies and flunky-like loyalty to the United States, Canadians gave their next Prime Minister a mandate to move the nation in the opposite direction.

Canadians want lower taxes for the middle class, they want to legalize weed, they want the rich to contribute significantly more, they want more investment in vital infrastructure repairs and they want to reduce the role of its military in the middle east. In fact, Canadians when polled, want less military intervention period. While Trudeau promises to continue providing training, humanitarian aid and a little logistical support, air strikes and boots anywhere near the ground is out of the question going forward. The U.S. has some rethinking to do.

As happy as many American Liberals and Progressives must feel for Canadians this morning, their heartfelt congratulations must also be tainted with a hint of envy. Not long ago, they too celebrated a new fresh future on the horizon. They too voted for change and progress. They too had plans for a robust single payer healthcare system. They too had visions of rebuilding its middle class. They too had hopes of reducing Americaâ€™s military foot print around the world. They too prayed to see the day marihuana legalized from sea to shining sea. But, look what they got.

Unfortunately, after nearly two terms of the Obama administration, few of those plans, hopes, visions or payers actually came to fruition. After nearly eight years of a Americaâ€™s so-called fresh start, the only thing Americans can look forward to is, uncertain healthcare cost, lower wages, a shrinking middle class, potholed roads and highways, crumbling bridges and leaky tunnels, divestment in education and social services, all while the rich get richer. And lest we forget to mention the continuance of Americaâ€™s never-ending wars. Please, donâ€™t misunderstand this assessment, as no one in his/her right mind can ignore the relentless resistance the GOP maintained throughout Obamaâ€™s presidency.

However, no matter which candidate American lefties choose in 2016, there is no one like Justin Trudeau or his message to excite and encourage the politically faithful. American Liberals and Progressives are being served up the equivalent of stale leftovers and flat beer to go with yesteryears ideas. Americaâ€™s future appear to be as bland as the lunches being shoved down the throats of decrepit geezers languishing in old folks homes. The Democratic Party should look north for clues on how to get American Liberals and Progressives reengaged and enthused.

Bottom line: Americaâ€™s Left is being soled Hillary Clinton. Again! A rusty relic in 2008 and no more than a even dustier political artifact now, Clinton is what the Democratic Party is trying to pawn off as the nationâ€™s future. A silent partner for Wall Street, a screaming shill for Israel, uncomfortably out of touch and disconnected from the day to day lives of ordinary Americans, the Democratic Party can only insult the intellect of its base with this overrated and painfully underwhelming hawkish throwback. Donâ€™t look now, but Justin Trudeau may have just raised the American Liberalâ€™s expectations. Podcast below!

Issues Under Fire: Israeli Mobs Makes Mockery of Humanity

Lee Bines — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:54:06 +0000

Whether this recent rash of rabid violence eventually flares up into another Intifada or simply fizzles out until the next issue is ignited, will largely depend how Israelis respond to the crisis. If the countryâ€™s citizens are allowed to take the law into their own hands, you can expect the violence to intensify at every level and on both sides of the divide. Panic and hysteria has led to crazed irrational acts of violence no civilized society should tolerate, let alone embrace. When mob rule becomes the rule, youâ€™re living is a place without any rules.

When trying to coexist in a tiny space with people who strain to get alone under the best of circumstances are subjected to higher than normal levels of stress and mistrust, it donâ€™t take more than the slightest of slights to trigger an episode of violence. With deep seeded animosities always simmering below the surface of every interaction, any false move, misstep or misunderstanding is cause for preemptive action. In an environment like this, being safe is always better than being sorry.

Just such behaviors played itself out in a most heinous fashion 48 hours ago. In the southern city of Beersheba an Arab man wielding a gun and a knife went nutz killing a soldier and wounding nine others. That individual was shot dead by the police. When security personnel spotted another man they suspected of being involved, he was shot as well. Unfortunately for the authorities, this individual was not involved. When the police realized the misidentification, they called for medical attention. Thatâ€™s when the mob took control.

While lying defenseless on the ground, passers-by screamed, cursed, kicked, spat upon, beat and clubbed the 20 something African migrant from Eritrea to a bloody pulp. The police, with the help of a few bystanders tried to protect the man from the vicious assault. But to no avail, The young man died of his wounds. His name was Habtom Zerhom for those who care. Granted, he was a nobody, but even nobodies have somebody whoâ€™ll miss them when theyâ€™re gone.

In another equally reprehensible act of violence driven by fear, hate and hysteria, a Jewish Israeli stabbed another Israeli Jew because he thought the other Jew looked too much like an Arab. Apparently hellbent on exacting his due pound of flesh to avenge acts of unprovoked violence against his people, he simply struck out against the first non-Jewish looking person within his reach. Under stressful conditions like these, level headed and courageous leadership is critical. Unfortunately, thus far only tough talk and lip service is all thatâ€™s offered to date.

Bottom line: Although these atrocities have sparked outrage and calls of condemnation from all the usual sources, as well as demands for the culprits to identified and prosecuted for their lawlessness and inhumanity to mankind, the astute observer never forgets the other side of this historically horrid ledger. On the other hand, others are calling these acts of retribution, no matter how extreme, acceptable considering the current climate of kill or be killed. If a few innocent lives are taken in defense of the greater good, so be it. Remember, its better to be safe than to be sorry. Podcast below!

Issues Under Fire: Israeli Vigilantes Battle Lone Wolves for Jerusalem

Lee Bines — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 09:17:04 +0000

Quickly descending into street level savagery, it's clearly evident Israel's leadership has failed miserably in mitigating the hate driven violence now consuming the so-called holiest space in the world. Allegedly fighting off hand to hand knife attacks from juvenile assailants, Jewish citizens have been authorized to carry handguns and given the green light to shoot to kill if they feel the need. Although this observer has witnessed human butchery like this before, its never been seen in a high tech civilized environment. This is something very new and exponentially more dangerous.

Issues Under Fire: Obama Announce About-Face in Afghanistan

Lee Bines — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 10:36:09 +0000

Interrupting daytime programming on network and cable TV outlets to announce a major about-face in its Afghan strategy, President Obama told the nation, the military and their families, the mission in Afghanistan was not over. When the Taliban took control of and held Kunduz, the sixth largest Afghan city for two weeks, while only encountering mediocre resistance at best from Afghan forces, it was clear major deficiencies still plagued that county's ability to defend itself. And with word that al-Qaeda and ISIS was turning a foothold into a stronghold, there was no other option but to remain engaged.