Why no National Outrage over the IRS?

Posted on July 4, 2014July 4, 2014 by Denise Simon

See full graphic here and high praise to Judicial Watch.

IRS Scandal Timeline

Credit: Raquel DeSouza, Miranda Watson & the Investigative Department

2009

February 3- The FEC asks the IRS if they have granted tax exempt status to Tea Party groups. Lois Lerner, former Director of the IRS Tax Exempt Division, “gave the FEC the tax returns of the groups, including income, expenditures and staff pay” on conservative groups American Future Fund and American Issues Project. (Bedard, P.,Oct. 13, 2013. IRS’ Lois Lerner gave confidential tea party tax info to FEC, violating law. Washington Examiner. Retrieved from http://washingtonexaminer.com/irs-lois-lerner-gave-confidential-tea-party-tax-info-to-fec-violating-law/article/2538263)

2010

March 10- IRS starts targeting on conservative groups applying for 501(c)(4) non-profit, tax exempt status. (Erb, K. P, May 7, 2014. Updated: Timeline of IRS tax exempt organization scandal. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/05/07/updated-timeline-of-irs-tax-exempt-organization-scandal/)

July 6 2010- Holly Paz emailed Steven Grodnitzky, an attorney in the IRS’ Exempt Organization Technical Unit, in order to inform him about how her department of the IRS has been “handling Tea Party applications in the last few months” and to notify other top IRS officials of the same information. Grodnitzky replied by saying:

“EOT is working the Tea party applications in coordination with Cindy, IRS Exempt Organization Unit in Cincinnati. We are developing a few applications here in DC and providing copies of our development letters with the agent to use as examples in the development of their cases. Chip Hull [another lawyer in IRS headquarters] is working these cases in EOT and working with the agent in Cincy, so any communication should include him as well. Because the Tea party applications are the subject of an SCR [Sensitive Case Report], we cannot resolve any of the cases without coordinating with Rob [believed to be Rob Choi, then the director of the IRS’ Rulings and Agreements].” (Fitton, T. May 19, 2014. Judicial Watch’s IRS investigation leads directly to Washington. BreitBart. Retrieved from http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/19/Judicial-Watch-s-IRS-Investigation-Leads-Directly-to- Washington)

2011

The Leadership Institute was audited in 2011 and 2012. They were “operating as a tax-exempt organization since 1979.” (Fitton, T., October 2013. Obama IRS scandal updates: Did Obama issue attack order against conservatives? The Verdict, 19(10), 20-21.)

The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute had their first audit. They have been “in business for over a decade.” (Fitton, Verdict, October 2013)

June 29- Lerner learned about targeting conservative groups that have “Patriots” and “Tea Party” in their names. (Everyone knew… except the president? n.d. GOP. Retrieved from http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/everyone-knew_graphic.jpg)

2012

“The IRS scrutinized in 2012” 11 conservative and Tea Party groups; there was a BOLO, “be on the lookout,” list for these groups. These groups were intensely questioned; they were “asked for printouts of Facebook posts. And it asked what books people were reading…the agency wanted to know everything- in some cases, it even seemed curious what members were thinking.” (Fitton, T., July 2013. Judicial Watch investigates historic Obama IRS scandal. The Verdict, 19(7).)

March 12- Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Sheldon Whitehouse, and others “write a letter calling on the IRS to scrutinize conservative groups allegedly masquerading as 501(c)(4) “social welfare organizations.” (The IRS scandal: Timeline, n.d. DiscovertheNetworks. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=1935)

March 22- Douglas Shulman, former IRS Commissioner and Wilkins’s boss, testifies before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight. He said there was “absolutely no targeting.” (Erb, May 7, 2014)

March 30- Democratic Senator, Carl Levin, writes to then IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, asking “if the IRS has been sending out additional information requests to applicant groups, and he cites an IRS rejection letter to a conservative group as an example of how the IRS should be conducting its business.” (“The IRS scandal,” n.d.)

April 23- William Wilkins, Chief Counsel of the IRS, “met with Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.” (Fitton, Verdict, October 2013) It’s unclear as to what was discussed in this meeting.

April 24- Wilkins visits the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Both “Wilkins and Shulman are the only presidential appointees inside the IRS.” (Fitton, Verdict, October 2013)

April 25- “William Wilkins sends additional comment on the draft guidance for reviewing tea party tax exempt applications, per the IRS Inspector General’s investigation and resulting report.” (Fitton, Verdict, October 2013)

May 3- Steven T. Miller, former IRS Acting Commissioner, finds out about the IRS political targeting. (“Everyone knew …except the president, n.d.)

June- For the past 27 months, “not a single Tea Party-type organization received tax exempt status.” (Judicial Watch, September 2013. JW educational event exposes stunning developments regarding Obama IRS abuse scandal. The Verdict, 19(9).)

2013

March 27- Lois Lerner emails top IRS staff discussing an upcoming hearing held by Sheldon Whitehouse, Democratic Senator for Rhode Island. She enunciated the fact that the goal of the hearing was to target political parties. (Judicial Watch, June 2014. JW uncovers smoking-gun IRS records: FEC and justice discussed jailing Obama’s political opponents. The Verdict, 20(6).)

April 9- Sheldon Whitehouse holds a hearing where “in questioning the witnesses from the DOJ and the IRS, [he] asked why they have not prosecuted 501(c)(4) groups that have seemingly made false statements about their political activities.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 1&2- Lois Lerner sends staff members multiple emails, “desperately scrambling to diffuse the emerging targeting scandal.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 3- Steven T. Miller, former IRS Acting Commissioner, finds out about the IRS political targeting. (“Everyone Knew …Except the President, n.d.)

May 8- Lerner sends Nikole C. Flax, then IRS Chief of Staff, an email discussing the fact that she got a call from Richard Pilger, Director of the Elections Crime Branch at the Department of Justice: “He wanted to know who at the IRS the DOJ folk could talk to about Sen. Whitehouse idea at the hearing that DOJ could piece together false statement cases about applicants who ‘lied’ on their 1024s- saying they weren’t planning on doing political activity, and then turning around and making large visible political expenditures.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 9- Nikole C. Flax sends Lerner an email: “I think we should do it- also need to include CI [Criminal Investigation Division], which we can help coordinate. Also, we need to reach out to FEC. Does it makes sense to consider including them in this or keep it separate?.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 10- Lerner confesses at an American Bar Association meeting, that specific groups were targeted based on the title of the group or their political beliefs. She calls this: “absolutely incorrect, insensitive, and inappropriate.” (Erb, May 7, 2014)

-Lerner blames “’low-level” employees in Cincinnati for targeting tax-exempt organizations.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

-Lerner sends an email to an aide relating to information for a Washington Post reporter. She states that she: “can’t confirm that there was anyone on the other side of the political spectrum [targeted by the IRS]…the one with the names used were only know [sic] because they have been very loud in the press.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 14- Steven T. Miller resigns. In his internal memo to IRS staff, he states: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for the IRS given the events of the past few days, and there is a strong and immediate need to restore public trust in the nation’s tax agency. I believe the Service will benefit from having a new Acting Commissioner in place during this challenging period.” (Hicks, J.,May 16, 2013. Steven Miller’s resignation memo to IRS employees. The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/05/16/steven-millers-resignation-memo-to-irs-employees/)

-The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) releases report stating that in early 2010, “the IRS began using inappropriate criteria to identify organization applying for tax-exempt status (e.g., lists of past and future donors.” They also “delayed processing of targeted groups’ applications preparing for the 2012 presidential election.” (Judicial Watch, Verdict, December 2013)

May 15- An IRS aide writes an email to Lerner that cites “Tea Party Organizations,” “Tea Party Movement,” and “Patriots,” as groups that the IRS targeted. (Judicial Watch, Verdict, June 2014)

May 20- Judicial Watch files three FOIA requests to the IRS. (Judicial Watch, Verdict, December 2013)

May 22- Judicial Watch files their fourth FOIA request to the IRS. (Judicial Watch, Verdict, December 2013)

Lerner pleads the Fifth to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (Erb, May 7, 2014)

May 23-Lerner goes on administrative, paid leave. (Erb, May 7, 2014)

June 12- “The use of BOLO lists is officially suspended.” (Erb, May 7, 2014)

August 9- Judicial Watch files their fifth FOIA request to the IRS. (Judicial Watch, Verdict, December 2013)

September 23- Lerner retires following an internal investigation finding that she was guilty of “neglect of duties” and should be fired. (Judicial Watch, Verdict, December 2013)

October 9- Judicial Watch files FOIA lawsuit against the IRS. (Judicial Watch, December 2013)

2014

April 8- The Ways and Means Committee says they will “pursue contempt charges against Lerner.” (Erb, May 7, 2014)

May 14- J. Russell George, head of the Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration files a report entitled “Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review.” This report “identified the targeting of Tea Party groups.”

June 13- “Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued [a statement] regarding the Internal Revenue Service informing the Committee that they have lost Lois Lerner emails from a period of January 2009-April 2011. Due to a supposed computer crash, the agency only has Lerner emails to and from other IRS employees during this time frame. The IRS claims it cannot produce emails written only to or from Lerner and outside agencies or groups, such as the White House, Treasury, Department of Justice, FEC, or Democrat offices.” (Swinehart, Sarah, June 13, 2014 . IRS Claims to Have Lost Over 2 Years of Lerner Emails. Retrieved from http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=384506)

References

Ambord, T. & Eyden, T. (June 27 2013). IRS scandal shifts focus to Russell George. AccountingWeb. Retrieved from http://www.accountingweb.com/article/irs-scandal- shifts-focus-russell-george/222010

Bedard, P. (Oct. 13, 2013). IRS’ Lois Lerner gave confidential tea party tax info to FEC, violating law. Washington Examiner. Retrieved from http://washingtonexaminer.com/irs- lois-lerner-gave-confidential-tea-party-tax-info-to-fec-violating-law/article/2538263

Erb, K. P. (May 7, 2014). Updated: Timeline of IRS tax exempt organization scandal. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/05/07/updated- timeline-of-irs-tax-exempt-organization-scandal/

Everyone knew… except the president? (n.d.) GOP. Retrieved from http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/everyone-knew_graphic.jpg

Fitton, T. (May 19 2014). Judicial Watch’s IRS investigation leads directly to Washington. BreitBart. Retrieved from http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/19/Judicial-Watch-s-IRS-Investigation-Leads-Directly-to- Washington

Fitton, T. (July 2013). Judicial Watch investigates historic Obama IRS scandal. The Verdict, 19(7).

Fitton, T. (October 2013). Obama IRS scandal updates: Did Obama issue attack order against conservatives? The Verdict, 19(10), 20-21.

Hicks, J. (May 16, 2013). Steven Miller’s resignation memo to IRS employees. The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/05/16/steven-millers-resignation-memo-to-irs-employees/

IRS who’s who: Lerner, Shulman (May 21, 2013). The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/05/21/irs-whos-who-schulman-george-miller/

Judicial Watch. (June 2014). JW uncovers smoking-gun IRS records: FEC and justice discussed jailing Obama’s political opponents. The Verdict, 20(6).

Judicial Watch. (May 14, 2014). Judicial Watch: New documents show IRS HQ control of tea party targeting. Retrieved from http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-new-documents-show-irs-hq-control-tea-party-targeting/

Judicial Watch. (September 2013). JW educational event exposes stunning developments regarding Obama IRS abuse scandal. The Verdict, 19(9).

Judicial Watch. (December 2013). Judicial Watch sues IRS for tea party scandal records. The Verdict, 19(11), 1-4.

The IRS scandal: Timeline. (n.d.) DiscovertheNetworks. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=1935

Selyukh, A. (May 17, 2013). Factbox: Key players in the IRS scandal. Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/17/us-usa-irs-people-idUSBRE94G0VB20130517

Swinehart, Sarah, June 13, 2014 . IRS Claims to Have Lost Over 2 Years of Lerner Emails. Retrieved from http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=384506)

3 Branches of Government, Me, Myself and I

Posted on June 30, 2014June 30, 2014 by Denise Simon

Legitimate and validated U.S. citizens ARE the only branch of government that matters. The representatives in the House are our voice, such that Barack Obama has historically proven a deaf ear.

Even today at a presser, Barack Obama called the Tea Party, Speaker Boehner and House Republicans out on not passing a new immigration reform law. Well historically Barack Obama has without question used his pen and phone already to alter the law by either Executive Order or by the use of signing statements. Laws simply are such that the DoJ and White House counsel works to find a method of finesse.

So, why did Barack Obama have this presser today? Seems Speaker Boehner got under his skin with this:

Speaker Boehner on the President’s Immigration Announcement

June 30 2014|Speaker Boehner’s Press Office

WASHINGTON, DC — House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the president’s immigration announcement today:

“In our conversation last week, I told the president what I have been telling him for months: the American people and their elected officials don’t trust him to enforce the law as written. Until that changes, it is going to be difficult to make progress on this issue. The crisis at our southern border reminds us all of the critical importance of fixing our broken immigration system. It is sad and disappointing that – faced with this challenge – President Obama won’t work with us, but is instead intent on going it alone with executive orders that can’t and won’t fix these problems.

“The president’s own executive orders have led directly to the humanitarian crisis along the Southern border, giving false hope to children and their families that if they enter the country illegally they will be allowed to stay. The White House claims it will move to return these children to their families in their home countries, yet additional executive action from this president isn’t going to stem the tide of illegal crossings, it’s only going to make them worse. As the Supreme Court reminded us this week, under our Constitution there are sharp limits to what the president can accomplish if he ignores the American people and their elected representatives.”

– See more at: http://www.speaker.gov/press-release/speaker-boehner-presidents-immigration-announcement?Source=GovD#sthash.aoyldfRI.dpuf

We have a regime that is engaging in RICO and operates like a monarchy protected by the Secret Service but more protected by a delusional army of lawyers in all agencies of government. What more do you need to know?

Speaker Boehner issued the following memo to his House members.

Memo to House Colleagues on the Separation of Powers

June 25 2014|Speaker Boehner

MEMO

To: House Colleagues

From: Speaker Boehner

Re: “[T]hat the Laws Be Faithfully Executed. . .”

Date: June 25, 2014

For years Americans have watched with concern as President Barack Obama has declined to faithfully execute the laws of our country – ignoring some statutes completely, selectively enforcing others, and at times, creating laws of his own.

Article II, Section III of the Constitution of the United States dictates that the president, as head of the Executive Branch of our government, “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” even if the president does not agree with the purpose of that law. Under the Constitution’s separation of powers principle, only the Legislative Branch has the power to legislate.

On one matter after another during his presidency, President Obama has circumvented the Congress through executive action, creating his own laws and excusing himself from executing statutes he is sworn to enforce – at times even boasting about his willingness to do it, as if daring the America people to stop him. On matters ranging from health care and energy to foreign policy and education, President Obama has repeatedly run an end-around on the American people and their elected legislators, straining the boundaries of the solemn oath he took on Inauguration Day.

Presidents have traditionally been granted a degree of latitude with respect to the enforcement of the law, and tension between the branches of our government is hardly new. But at various points in our history when the Executive Branch has attempted to claim for itself the ability to make law, the Legislative Branch has responded, and it is only through such responses that the balance of power envisioned by the Framers has been maintained.

President Obama’s aggressive unilateralism has significant implications for our system of government, and presents a clear challenge to our institution and its ability to effectively represent the people.

If the current president can selectively enforce, change or create laws as he chooses with impunity, without the involvement of the Legislative Branch, his successors will be able to do the same. This shifts the balance of power decisively and dangerously in favor of the presidency, giving the president king-like authority at the expense of the American people and their elected legislators.

It also has consequences for our economy and its ability to grow and create jobs. It’s bad enough when Washington politicians force laws upon the people that make it difficult for private-sector employers to meet payrolls, invest in new initiatives and create jobs. It’s even worse when those same laws are arbitrarily enforced on the whims of the individual entrusted with the responsibility of carrying them out, adding uncertainty for private-sector job creators and families on top of the challenges they already face week-to-week.

Everywhere I go in America outside of Washington, D.C., I’m asked: when will the House stand up on behalf of the people to stop the encroachment of executive power under President Obama? We elected a president, Americans note; we didn’t elect a monarch or king.

Every Member of the People’s House took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. It is only through strong action by the House in response to provocative executive action by the Executive Branch in the past that the separation of powers intended by the Framers has been preserved. For the integrity of our laws and the sake of our country’s future, the House must act now.

I intend to bring to the floor in July legislation that would authorize the House of Representatives – through the House General Counsel and at the direction of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) – to file suit in the coming weeks in an effort to compel the president to follow his oath of office and faithfully execute the laws of our country. The legislation would follow regular order and be considered by the Rules Committee following its introduction, prior to its consideration by the full House.

Under our system of government, the Judicial Branch has the power to resolve disputes between the Executive and Legislative Branches. When there is a failure on the part of the president to faithfully execute the law, the House has the authority to challenge this failure in the Judicial Branch by filing suit in Federal Court in situations in which:

There is no one else who can challenge the president’s failure, and harm is being done to the general welfare and trust in faithful execution of our laws;
There is no legislative remedy; and
There is explicit House authorization for the lawsuit, through a vote authorizing the litigation against the president’s failure.

I believe the House must act as an institution to defend the constitutional principles at stake and to protect our system of government and our economy from continued executive abuse. The president has an obligation to faithfully execute the laws of our country. When this legislation is introduced in the coming weeks, I ask that you review it and join me in supporting it when it goes before the House.

– See more at: http://www.speaker.gov/general/memo-house-colleagues-separation-powers#sthash.8w2vLPpU.dpuf

I Had a Dream

Posted on June 27, 2014June 27, 2014 by Denise Simon

I had a dream for what the future would be for America and it vanished as it was transferred by fiat to all non-Americans. There is a full insurgency of aliens pouring into the United States by air, land and sea. They are filling up court rooms, they are filling up schools, they are filling up healthcare facilities, they are filling up applications for every government entitlement program all segments of government offers and the approvals are being rubber-stamped. Such was not to be for my dream. http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2014/06/26/dems-block-gop-bills-to-verify-status-block-tax-credits-to-illegal-immigrants/

I had a dream that American citizens would be protected well by our government but that dream has been given preferential treatment to non-citizens. The borders are wide open, new diseases such as Tuberculosis and H1N1 have been re-introduced into our homeland. Such was not to be. http://www.abc15.com/news/national/immigrants-bringing-diseases-across-border

I had a dream that the threat of terrorism inside our shores had faded after the billions spent on security at all levels and the high collection of intelligence but it is growing from factions planning such events while the Washington regime calls the threats and proven lawlessness phony scandals. Such was not to be. http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Hayden-Iraq-Obama-ISIS/2014/06/23/id/578674/

I had a dream that America would continue to be a global leader providing for a calmer world delivering equilibrium where it needed to be applied. Such was not to be. http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/27/world/africa/world-fragile-nations/index.html?sr=tw062714sudanfragile1100astorygallLink

I had a dream that American citizens could rely on some sense of trust of the Federal government that it would be honorable, open and fair. We cannot take care of our veterans, we cannot speak freely, we are not allowed to protect ourselves from local threats and we have lost the ability to get a balanced advanced education to compete for viable jobs. Such was not to be. http://t.co/eMwf2pQPbL

I had a dream that all common Americans had and could maintain some expectation of privacy and we would not be data-mined and scored for obscure objectives many still unknown to us and without our approval or knowledge. Such was not to be. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/06/prism-local-edition-ny-da-employs-381-secret-orders-gather-complete-digital

I had a dream that Americans could maintain reasonable and quality access to healthcare that America would maintain the cutting edge of eradicating disease, advance medicine that cures maladies and could be affordable. Such was not to be. http://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2014/03/24/four-years-of-obamacare-failures-is-long-enough/

I had a dream that the most sacrosanct privilege that Americans have is voting and that very precious act of free speech and the ability to redress our grievances would be protected and honest. Such was not to be. http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/297461/reality-voter-fraud-john-fund

I had a dream that our government leadership after 9/11 would have been determined to destroy those who wish to destroy us. The worldwide gesture to call attention our resolve and strength would have been to complete the re-construction of the World Trade Centers at least as quickly as we rebuilt the Pentagon. Such was not to be.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12057176-one-world-trade-center-symbol-of-strength-for-the-american-nation

There are many more dreams that could be applied here, in fact you surely have some of your own to add. I have a dream to find America again, who is dreaming with me?

Iraq on a Platter, More to Come

Posted on June 12, 2014June 12, 2014 by Denise Simon

Insist that U.S. Border Patrol, ICE, the White House and DHS close the Southern Border NOW. There is disease, there are rapists, there are drugs and more. Any 9-11 type terrorists can hide within the crowded incursion, the insurgency in any Southern border state. Simply said, no one in government can ensure-guarantee our safety. That is a breech of oath and a violation of countless laws.

Barack Obama has delivered Iraq to ISIS, and Lebanon and Jordan are in the sites of the Caliphate. Syria is not save-able. Turkey will align with the ISIS mission when it is over. Israel has no chance except to go it alone. Iran is watching and calculating. 9-11 as we knew it in 2001 is another very real probability.

The Southern border of the United States and there is virtually no control there now, such that anyone is welcome, Barack Obama turned the light from yellow to green and there is a robust organized event underway that terrorists/jihadis are going to state departments of public safety to obtain driver licenses in Latin names to assimilate easier and under the guise of the graces of Barack Obama.

ISIS is the top terror organization globally, way beyond that of al Qaeda, AQAP. AQIM, Taliban and Ansar al Sharia where Haqqani is ranked just below ISIS.

The rules in ISIS’ new state: Amputations for stealing and women to stay indoors.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is now effectively governing a large chunk of Iraqi territory. Considering this is a group that al-Qaeda broke ties with for being too extreme, that’s a pretty big deal.

Now, as a de-facto government, they have released a document aimed at civilians in Nineveh, a province in the country’s northeast that contains the major city Mosul. Branded a “Contract of the City,” the document contains 16 notes for residents.

Among the 16 notes are a number of rules ranging from the benign to the worrying. Here are some of the highlights (these are paraphrased, not direct translations):

All Muslims will be treated well, unless they are allied with oppressors or help criminals.
Money taken from the government is now public. Whoever steals or loots faces amputations. Anyone who threatens or blackmails will face severe punishment (This section also quotes a verse from the Quran (Al-Ma’idah: 33) that says that criminals may be killed or crucified).
All Muslims are encouraged to perform their prayers with the group.
Drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes are banned.
Rival political or armed groups are not tolerated.
Police and military officers can repent, but anyone who insists upon apostasy faces death.
Sharia law is implemented.
Graves and shrines are not allowed, and will be destroyed.
A women are told that stability is at home and they should not go outside unless necessary. They should be covered, in full Islamic dress.
Be happy to live in an Islamic land.

The document is signed by the “Media Office for Ninawa Province.” You can read the full text in Arabic here.

ISIS Shelling Kurdish Peshmerga-controlled Areas South of Kirkuk

KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish Peshmerga leaders say that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has began shelling areas south of Kirkuk, where Peshmerga forces stepped in to fill in deserted Iraqi Army positions.

In response the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Deputy Minister of Peshmerga, Anwar Haji Osman, urged Arab tribes in the region “not to let their territories be used by the ISIS for shelling other areas.”

As ISIS forces take cities and claim to be close to Baghdad – after the Iraqi army collapsed and fled before a threatened onslaught by the militants — Kurdish forces slowly moved in to take control of major roads, as well as Kurdish-majority villages and towns.

Obama’s Rebuke to Iraq

Posted on June 12, 2014June 12, 2014 by Denise Simon

The blood and treasure of valiant U.S. troops and allied forces spent in Iraq are fading away. We are sadly witnessing a complete shift to supremacy in the Middle East such that the entire Obama National Security team must be fired, and NOW.

Maliki has begged for air support from NATO and the United States for more than a year. Barack Obama, simply said no. Instead Barack Obama chose to sell Iraq military assets that include fighter jets, weapons and surveillance equipment. There is no other plan to stop the caliphate. except between Barack Obama and John Kerry the only solution is a $5 billion Counter-terrorism Partnership Fund for the Overseas Contingency Operation. This Fund and its design has yet to be fully crafted, it is likely only in concept mode. This does not help Iraq nor does it help NATO.

Meanwhile Turkey is on full alert as their consulate in Iraq has been seized and at least 24 employees of the diplomatic staff there have been kidnapped.

ISIL is moving towards Baghdad, and one of the largest embassies of the U.S. is there. Currently the most proactive measure so far to protect our embassy is to put out travel warnings.

Since the invasion of Iraq by the coalition forces in 2003, Iraq had been the mandate of a multi-national contingent led by the U.S. However, as control began to slip away from this multi-national contingent, and later U.S. troops also started to pull out of Iraq, the Quds Force, which is the special-ops unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran, under the leadership of the enigmatic Major General Qasem Soleimani, by taking advantage of the situation managed to replace the multi-national force.

Dozens of comprehensive reports published in the past couple of years show that Soleimani has been wielding considerable power in Iraq and been enjoying a privileged position behind the political scene in that country. As it seems, he has under his thumb both Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of Iraq, and Masoud Barzani, the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. By exploiting his immense clout in Iraq, he has been tirelessly setting up numerous Shi’ite militia bands and training and equipping them, not only to enhance his influence and maintain his empire in Iraq but also to keep the road to Syria, where many pro-Islamic Republic contingents fight for the Assad regime, secure.

So, perhaps it is easier to explain by just looking at maps. The question now is what comes next? The power struggle is convoluted but it does include Iran’s al Quods force, Kurds, al Nusra, AQIM, Haqqani, Taliban, ISIS, which make up the whole region.