What’s interesting in the news today?
1. Perhaps this is why folks are so concerned about the 5 just released.
From TheTelegraph/UK “The FBI “most wanted” mugshot shows a tough, swarthy figure, his hair in a jailbird crew-cut. The $10 million price on his head, meanwhile, suggests that whoever released him from US custody four years ago may now be regretting it.
Taken during his years as a detainee at the US-run Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, this is the only known photograph of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria. But while he may lack the photogenic qualities of his hero, Osama bin Laden, he is fast becoming the new poster-boy for the global jihadist movement.
Well-organised and utterly ruthless, the ex-preacher is the driving force behind al-Qaeda’s resurgence throughout Syria and Iraq, putting it at the forefront of the war to topple President Bashar al-Assad and starting a fresh campaign of mayhem against the Western-backed government in Baghdad.
On Tuesday, his forces achieved their biggest coup in Iraq to date, seizing control of government buildings in Mosul, the country’s third biggest city. Coming on top of similar operations in January that planted the black jihadi flag in the towns of Fallujah and Ramadi, it gives al-Qaeda control of large swathes of the north and west of the country, and poses the biggest security crisis since the US pull-out two years ago.”
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2. CONTENT WARNING!!!! Some of the photos at the link are extremely gruesome. Baghdad is their next target.
From TheDailyMail “The full horror of the jihadists’ savage victories in Iraq emerged yesterday as witnesses told of streets lined with decapitated soldiers and policemen. Blood-soaked bodies and blazing vehicles were left in the wake of the Al Qaeda-inspired ISIS fanatics as they pushed the frontline towards Baghdad.
They boasted about their triumphs in a propaganda video depicting appalling scenes including a businessman being dragged from his car and executed at the roadside with a pistol to the back of his head. The extent of the carnage came as:
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Images from captured cities such as Mosul and Tikrit showed deserted streets, burnt out vehicles and discarded uniforms left by government troops fleeing the brutal fanatics;
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ISIS leaders urged their bloodthirsty followers to continue their march and warned that battle would rage in Baghdad and in the holy city of Karbala;
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Thousands of residents in the capital answered a call to arms to repel the invaders amid fears the government’s own troops were not up to the job;
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Aid groups warned of a new refugee crisis after half a million terrified Iraqis left their homes to escape the jihadists.
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3. Of course they did. This has always been orchestrated by top Democrats from day one.
From PowerLine “It is just about impossible to keep up with all of the Obama administration scandals, but the corruption of the Internal Revenue Service ranks near the top. Unfortunately, it has gone hand in hand with Barack Obama and Eric Holder’s corruption of the Department of Justice. The perversion of law enforcement agencies for political ends is starkly revealed by the fact that in 2010, as part of its effort to stem the Tea Party movement, the IRS gave the FBI disks containing more than 1.1 million pages of documents on Section 501 non-profits, so that the FBI could selectively prosecute conservative groups and donors.
The facts, as we know them so far, were laid out yesterday in a letter from Congressmen Darrell Issa and Jim Jordan to John Koskinen, Commissioner of the IRS. The letter includes a series of emails that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has finally obtained, after more than a year of stonewalling by the Obama administration. The IRS originally told the House committee–falsely–that the disks contained only publicly available filings by the non-profit organizations. But the IRS later admitted that it had illegally transferred confidential taxpayer information to the FBI.
The IRS’s purpose was explicitly political. Sarah Ingram, Lois Lerner’s predecessor in charge of tax-exempt organizations at the IRS, wrote in a September 21, 2010 email, the subject of which was a favorable front-page story in the New York Times:“
Thanks, as always, for the excellent support from Media. I do think it came out pretty well. The “secret donor” theme will continue–see Obama salvo today and Diane Reehm (sp).”
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4. The FBI has finally opened up a criminal probe of the VA scandal.
From CNN “The FBI says it has opened a criminal investigation of the Veterans Affairs Department, which is grappling with a scandal over long waiting lists to provide care and allegations that paperwork was faked to make delays appear shorter.
FBI Director James Comey told a House hearing on Wednesday the bureau’s Phoenix office has joined an ongoing review by the VA inspector general.
The move at least partly satisfies requests from key members of Congress from both parties who have pressed for a full probe by the Justice Department as the scandal accelerated in recent weeks and led to the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in May.
Officials have said the inspector general is sharing findings with federal prosecutors, and the Justice Department could launch a full-blown criminal probe if any of the information meets the standard for doing so.”
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Wandering Views 
I don’t have much time today, but:
Following up on the discussion about religious marriage of same sex couples.
The Roman Catholic Church considers marriage a Holy Sacrament, along with the Eucharist,
Baptism, etc.
That is, grace is bestowed by the very act of participation.
We Baptists don’t believe that.
But I believe the Constitution protects the conviction and right of any priest to deny marriage to any of his choosing. i.e. You can’t force a priest to bestow grace.
The same for a Baptist pastor. It is a religious ceremony even if it doesn’t bestow grace.
We’re getting into serious Constitutional considerations here.
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Enter the Kurds: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/06/12/revenge_of_the_kurds?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Flashpoints&utm_campaign=Flashpoints+June+12
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An aspect of Israel not often acknowledged within the Christian community: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/tel-aviv-gay-pride-parade-attracts-80-000-revellers-1.2674565
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Where does the shrimp you eat come from? Warning! Video contains disturbing graphics.
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Christians who have studied Israel understand that a large percentage of its people are essentially atheists. The homosexuals marching in Israel probably have friends and relatives parading in New York and San Francisco, but NOT Moscow.
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rickyweaver,
“…but NOT Moscow.”
So, the Russians have gotten rid of one particular sin?
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Chas, the Constitution no long protects us from anything. Haven’t you figured that out by now?
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Krugman’s take on the defeat of Cantor — some of you might actually agree.
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And to those who watch FIFA World Cup —– Hup Holland Hup
The Oranje crushed Spain 5-1
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On our nation’s growing partisan divide:
http://news.yahoo.com/growing-partisanship-splitting-u-two-191000316.html
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michele — the Kurds will be a force for stability. The Arabs should forget their bigotry and be glad the Kurds are there.
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Bob Buckles, That is one more than the Perverted States of America.
HRW, Thanks for the World Cup update. I was wondering if any country had scored yet.
HRW, I did agree with parts of this Krugman piece, and that is the first time I ever agreed with him on anything.
Donna J, I hope the headline of your article is literally true.
Now back to the golf.
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