K9 Down

K9 Chris
Yancey County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Breed: Dutch Shepherd
Age: 8
Gender: M
Tour: 7 years
Cause: Gunfire

K9 Chris was shot and killed inside the kennel at his handler's home in the Bald Mountain area of Yancey County.

K9 Chris had been placed in his kennel at approximately 8:30 pm and its body was discovered at approximately 5:00 am. Investigators believe that Chris was known to be a sheriff's canine when shot.

K9 Chris had served with the Yancey County Sheriff's Office for seven years.

Rest in Peace Chris…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Corrections Officer Shana Tedder
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas
End of Watch: Friday, June 9, 2017
Age: 41
Tour: 12 years

Corrections Officer Shana Tedder died after suffering a suspected heart attack following a use of force incident with an inmate at the Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville, Texas.

She began to experience shortness of breath following the incident and collapsed after walking to a different area of the facility to rest. Other officers immediately began CPR as medics responded to the facility, however, they were unable to revive her.

Officer Tedder had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 12 years.

Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

K9 Down

K9 Dingo
Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Utah
End of Watch: Thursday, July 6, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 7
Gender: M
Tour: 5 years
Cause: Gunfire

K9 Dingo was shot and killed while attempting an apprehension of a wanted fugitive near the intersection of 3300 South and 1100 East.

Members of the United States Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team had located the subject driving in the area at about 1:00 am. The man fled when they attempted to stop him. Spike strips were successfully deployed but the man continued to drive until abandoning his car and fleeing on foot. K9 Dingo was released and caught the subject, but the man produced a gun and fired several shots, fatally wounding Dingo.

Other officers were able to take the man into custody without further incident.

K9 Dingo had served with the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake for five years.

Rest in Peace Dingo…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Police Officer Nathan Michael Desjardins
Fryeburg Police Department, Maine
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Age: 20
Tour: 3 months
Incident Date: 5/27/2017

Police Officer Nathan Desjardins succumbed to injuries sustained on May 27th, 2017, in a boating accident on the Saco River.

He was participating in his first day of water rescue training when he and his training officer were dispatched to assist with the rescue of three boaters who had been thrown overboard when their canoes capsized. One of the missing boaters drowned during the incident.

Officer Desjardins' patrol boat struck a submerged object in the water as it came around a bend in the river. Both officers were thrown overboard and Officer Desjardins suffered a severe head injury.

Both officers were flown to Central Maine Medical Center where Officer Desjardins remained in a coma until succumbing to his injuries on June 6th, 2017.

Officer Desjardins served as a part-time officer with the Fryeburg Police Department for three months and was a full time student at the University of New England. He is survived by his parents and brother.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Officer Joshua Sanchez Montaad
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Age: 25

Officer Joshua Montaad was killed in a single vehicle crash on U.S. 19, near Burley Brannen Road, in Taylor County.

His patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree during a period of heavy rain. The vehicle caught fire and became engulfed in flames.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

K9 Down

K9 Mojo
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
End of Watch: Thursday, July 6, 2017
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Gender: M
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Mojo died after unintentionally being left in his handler's patrol car following their shift.

His handler had returned home and became distracted due to an incident involving his newborn child. K9 Mojo was located in the back of the patrol car approximately four hours later.

Rest in Peace Mojo…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff Devin Hodges
Anderson County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, June 1, 2017
Age: 30
Tour: 8 years

Deputy Sheriff Devin Hodges was killed in a boating accident while participating in a joint marine patrol training exercise with the Army Corps of Engineers at Singing Pines Recreation Area in Starr, South Carolina.

He and two other occupants of the boat were ejected from it during the training at approximately 9:30 am. He was then struck by the propeller of the empty boat, which had come back around after everyone had been ejected.

Deputy Hodges was pulled from the water and transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries one hour later.

Deputy Hodges had served with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office for six months and had served in law enforcement for eight years. He had previously served with the Lander University Department of Public Safety, Abbeville County Sheriff's Office, Laurens County Sheriff's Office, and the Calhoun Falls Police Department. He is survived by his wife and children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Time for some music....

Glen Campbell passed a couple of weeks ago. Hated to see him in the last few years, Alzheimer's was taking its toll.

I was looking at some old stuff on Youtube and I found a video before there were video's of Rhinestone Cowboy." Also, a young Kenny Rogers with his signature hit, "The Gambler>" And a (if poor quality) copy of the Eagles, with Jackson Brown (the song's co-writer) on lead vocals, playing "Take it Easy" in tribute to Glenn Frey.

Enjoy!

Again, I’m asked to believe the author or my lying eyes…

With the set up race riots in Charlotte and rent a mobs protest throughout the county, we now have this propaganda. From this morning’s Foreign Policy, a “correspondent” of the BBC (to think, this used to be regarded as a great news source) is saying, “No America, it’s not the militant Muslims you have to worry about, it’s the Confederates/Neo NAZIs.

The Real Threat to America Comes From Americans

Just as the Arab world struggles to come to grips with jihadism, the United States has failed to grapple with its own demons.
BY KIM GHATTAS

Kim Ghattas is a BBC correspondent covering international affairs and a public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center. She is the author of The Secretary: A Journey With Hillary Clinton From Beirut to the Heart of American Power.

This month, a man was arrested in Oklahoma City for trying to detonate 1,000 pounds of explosives in a cargo van parked downtown. The attack, he hoped, would cripple the government and start a revolution. Last October, three men were arrested in Kansas for plotting to bomb an apartment complex and a mosque using four cars laden with explosives.

In these febrile days, where terrorists have sought to wreak fear and chaos from Orlando to Paris, and now Barcelona, you’d expect wall-to-wall coverage on cable news about these foiled plots. Terrorism experts would be wheeled out to opine for hours on all angles, from the explosives used to the profile of the would-be attackers to how and why they were radicalized.

Instead, the two incidents got barely any coverage — some brief news spots here and there and a few mentions online. Ask any Arab-American or Muslim in America why those incidents weren’t covered ad nauseam and they’ll reply deadpan: because the would-be attackers were white.
So why has this growing threat not received the same coverage as attacks carried out by Islamist jihadis or Muslim lone wolves? The answer goes to the heart of what every society struggles with: admitting that it can produce darkness.

The alternative explanation — that the plots were ignored because they failed — doesn’t hold water. Just think of the alarmist coverage every time a plot hatched in Yemen targeting the United States is foiled. Nor were these isolated incidents. The FBI just warned that white supremacist groups have already carried out more attacks in the years since 9/11 than any other domestic extremist group and were likely to carry out more.
These attacks happen regularly — and receive barely any media attention. When a mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota, was torn apart by a homemade bomb on Aug. 5, the response was muted. When an Indian man was shot dead in February in a bar in Olathe, Kansas, by a white man who shouted, “Get out of my country,” I struggled to find any coverage on American cable television. The BBC was one of the few media outlets to cover the story in any depth…

You mean when the country’s attention was drawn to shooting of a woman by a Somali-America police officer named Mohamed Noor two weeks before. All of a sudden a mosque has a small bomb…in an area where no one is going to be…at 500am, when there are no people present in the building…where it takes the nation’s attention off the police shooting. And you think this was muted:

BOMB EXPLODES AT MINNESOTA MOSQUE DURING MORNING PRAYERS; FBI TERRORISM TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING

Supporters stream past Bloomington mosque after fire-bombing

‘You Are Minnesota & You Are America’: Hundreds Gather At Bloomington Mosque

FBI Investigates Bombing at Bloomington, Minnesota, Mosque

Or that there was not good coverage of Srinivas Kuchibhotla murder:

Hate Crime Is Feared as 2 Indian Engineers Are Shot in Kansas

The Fatal Shooting Of An Indian Man in South Carolina Is Under Investigation

Suspect in Kansas bar shooting of Indians apparently thought they were Iranians

Indian Man Killed in Shooting at Kansas Bar, Witnesses Say Gunman Shouted 'Get Out of My Country'

Ms Ghattas, this “muted coverage” was found with two Bing searches. Looks like it was covered extensively in America media, not counting foreign news services.

...People prefer to think evil comes from the outside, not from within. White nationalists and supremacists get treated as a curiosity and described as “dapper” even in progressive magazines like Mother Jones (the magazine was mocked and promptly changed the headline). It’s much easier to believe that the real threat emanates from people from “over there,” who wish Americans harm and threaten their way of life, than to ask hard questions about one’s own society and its unresolved issues.

Until last week, there was no liberal-conservative divide here. From Fox News to MSNBC, the approach was the same. This double standard in media coverage and political discourse, which also feeds Islamophobia, has now received more attention in the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, but it took a horrific car attack that killed a woman and white men brandishing torches chanting “Jews will not replace us” for the threat of domestic terrorism to rise to national attention.

The repeated invocations of those appalled by the Charlottesville violence has been: “We are better than this” or “this is not who we are.” It reminds me of friends in the Arab world shaking their heads at the violence meted out by the so-called Islamic State or the many awful suicide attacks of jihadi Islamists across the region. In the Middle East, too, the response of many to these crimes is to create distance from the perpetrators, often by blaming outsiders. The Islamic State is the creation of America, these people might say, or 9/11 was a Mossad plot to make Arabs look bad.

Yet the hard truth is that those who perpetrate terrorism are a product of their societies, even if they’re a minority. They’re the result of unresolved issues, deep-seated problems that have been glossed over.

Societies in the Arab world have long struggled with this conversation. Only when militants conducted suicide attacks inside Saudi Arabia in 2003 did the kingdom acknowledge that its austere interpretation of Islam had opened the way for some on the fringes to take it to violent extremes. The rise of the Islamic State again brought to the fore the debate about intolerant religious teachings used by radical clerics to whip disenfranchised youth into a frenzy. But only now is the sectarian hate speech favored by some clerics finally being called out forcefully and very publicly in the kingdom.

In the United States, Republicans harangued Democrats during the 2016 presidential campaign for allegedly refusing to use the words “radical Islamic terrorism” to describe the crimes of the Islamic State and other jihadis. Donald Trump apparently needed convincing to condemn Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan after Charlottesville but wasted no time in tweeting about the threat of Islamic terrorism after the Barcelona attack. Understandably, Democrats and many others are wary of using broad terms that could alienate 1.8 billion Muslims, who find their own world wrecked by a minority of radical violent extremists…

OK, I’ve had enough, read the rest of the article if you choose to. But not counting the 9/11 attacks (conveniently), lets look at the number of people who haven’t been murdered in white racist attacks since 2001:

Dylann Roof murders nine in a church in Charleston, S.C

And the driving over of several people in a riot in Charlottesville VA.

Radical Muslim terrosit attack since 9/11:

Lee Boyd Malvo and John Allen Muhammad murder 21 more people in a crime wave that stretched from coast to coast.

Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, an Iranian-American seeking to “avenge the deaths of Muslims worldwide” and “punish” the U.S. government, intentionally runs down nine people on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A 62-year-old Jewish man, Paul Schrum, who had gone to the movies in a heavily Jewish area near Baltimore, Maryland, is shot by Muslim gunman Mujtaba Rabbani Jabbar, 24. Jabbar shot Schrum three times in the upper body.

Michael Julius Ford, a 22-year-old convert to Islam, uses a long-barrel handgun to shoot four co-workers and a police officer at a Denver, Colorado, Safeway, claiming the attack was “Allah’s choice.”

Muslim Pakistani man Naveed Afzal Haq shot six women, killing one, at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle building in Seattle, Washington. Haq grabbed a 14-year-old girl and used her as a hostage during the attack. Officials classified the attack as a “hate crime” rather than terrorism.

Jan. 1, 2008 – Egyptian-born cab driver Yaser Said shoots and kills his two daughters in Irving, Texas, because they were dating non-Muslim boys. The daughters had run away from home a week earlier, fearing their father would kill them.

July 6, 2008 – Muslim Pakistani man Chaudry Rashid, 56, strangled his 25-year-old daughter in Jonesboro, Georgia, after she said she wanted out of an arranged marriage. Police said the daughter, Sandela Kanwal, had argued with her father about the arrangement of her marriage to a man in Chicago. An officer explained, “At some point during the altercation, he ended up killing his daughter.”

Feb. 12, 2009 – Pakistani-American Muzzammil Syed Hassan was the CEO of the first American Muslim TV network broadcast in English, Bridge TV. Hassan beheaded his estranged wife, Aasiya Zubair, after she filed for divorce. Her body was found at the TV station. When he was arrested, he said he “felt an incredible amount of relief” after he killed the woman.

April 12, 2009 – Upon learning that they had patronized a strip club, a Muslim man shoots and kills his brother-in-law and another man in Phoenix, Arizona.

June 1, 2009 – In a drive-by shooting, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad – a convert to Islam who had traveled to Yemen and was deported to the U.S. for overstaying his visa – opened fire on U.S. soldiers standing in front of a Little Rock, Arkansas, recruiting office. Muhammad killed one private and injured another. When he was arrested Muhammad explained that he had planned to kill as many soldiers as possible and was given the assignment by Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula.

November 2009 – Iraq-born Muslim man Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, intentionally hit his daughter with his car and killed her because she had become “too Westernized.” He also attacked the mother of the girl’s boyfriend. Police said, “It occurred because [of] her not following traditional family values. He felt she was becoming too westernized, and he didn’t like that.” His daughter had backed out of an arranged marriage.

Nov. 5, 2009 – Muslim gunman Nidal Malik Hassan, an Army psychiatrist, fatally shoots 13 people and wounds 30 others at Fort Hood, Texas.

Dec. 4, 2009 – A Muslim graduate student from Saudi Arabia, Abdulsalam S. al-Zahrani, stabbed his non-Muslim Islamic studies professor, Richard T. Antoun, to death to avenge “persecuted” Muslims.

April 14, 2010 – A Muslim convert, James A. Larry, 33, became angry that his family would not convert to Islam and shot his mother, pregnant wife, infant son and two nieces in Marquette Park, Illinois.

April 30, 2011 – Rahim Abdul Alfetlawi, 46, shot his step-daughter in the head at point-blank range in Warren, Michigan, after she refused to strictly adhere to Muslim customs.

Sept. 11, 2011 – Three Jewish men are discovered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with their throats slit from ear to ear and nearly decapitated. Authorities believed the murders were not random, and thousands of dollars in cash and marijuana were left at the scene. According to reports, authorities believe Boston Marathon bombers Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his younger brother, both Muslims, may have been responsible for the triple homicide.

Jan. 15, 2012 – A Jordanian Muslim man, Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, 57, gunned down Iranian medical student, Gelareh Bagherzadeh, a friend of his daughter and a Christian convert who widely denounced Islam. He later killed his Christian son-in-law after his daughter married him without permission. Assistant Harris County District Attorney Tammy Thomas told a district judge, “He said, ‘I killed that b–ch, and you’re next. No one insults my honor as a Muslim and gets away with it.'”

Feb. 7, 2013 – Yusuf Ibrahim, 28, shot two Coptic Christians to death and beheaded them in Buena Vista, New Jersey. He also removed their hands before burying their bodies in the backyard of an abandoned house. Quran 8:12 states, “When thy Lord was revealing to the angels, ‘I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast into the unbelievers’ hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them!”

March 31, 2013 – Reshad Riddle walked into an Ashtabula, Ohio, church and fatally shot his father after an Easter service. After the shooting, witnesses say, walked through the church holding the gun and shouted that the slaughter was “the will of Allah. This is the will of God.”

April 15, 2013 – Muslim Chechen brothers Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev detonate two pressure cooker bombs during the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring an estimated 264 others.

Aug. 4, 2013 – A Muslim convert, Daymond Agnew, 34, went to an Ace Hardware store on a “mission from Allah to help people” before he fatally stabbed employee Daniel Joseph Stone 17 times.

April 27, 2014 – A 30-year-old Muslim man, Ali Muhammad Brown, is accused of shooting to death two men in Seattle and a man in New Jersey. According to local reports, he told police the killings were “vengeance” for U.S. actions in the Mideast. .

Sept. 25, 2014 – Alton Nolen is accused of beheading a woman in Moore, Oklahoma. Co-workers reported that Nolen had been trying to convert them to Islam. Nolen reportedly used “some Arabic terms” during his attack and had an interest in beheadings. Nolen told a judge, “I’m Muslim. My question is, do you have any Muslims that can represent me as a Muslim?”

May 3, 2015 – In Garland, Texas, Pamela Geller, along with her group the American Freedom Defense Initiative, hosted a “Draw Muhammad” event. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi of Phoenix responded to a call to “avenge the prophet” and traveled to Garland, where they were shot and killed by a security guard after opening fire in an apparent attempt to get into the building. The guard was wounded in the attack. Islamic radicals have since called for Geller’s head, and vow to kill anyone who “blasphemes” Muhammad.

July 16, 2015 – Four U.S. Marines have been shot dead in an attack, reportedly by a lone Islamic gunman, on U.S. Navy facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said five people died in all, including the gunman. Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that the shooting suspect was identified as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24. Abdulazeez was born in Kuwait and emigrated to the U.S. where he reportedly became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Might I add a Muslim named Omar Mateen murdered 49 people in a night club and shouted Allahu Akbar. Or multiple terrorist attacks in Great Britain and France by Muslim extremist in the last 12 months.

So yes, there is a small issue with morons calling themselves white separatist, etc. However, the larger terrorist threat at this moment is radical Islamic followers. And as soon as people like this author get that around their heads, perhaps we can start handling it.

PS: I really love that she is a fellow at the “policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center.” Wilson was one of the biggest racist in presidential history and was very comfortable with his party’s affiliation with the KKK.

K9 Down

K9 Endy
Cache County Sheriff's Office, Utah
End of Watch: Monday, July 3, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 8
Gender: M
Tour: 7 years
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Endy died after suffering heat exhaustion when he was unintentionally left in his handler's patrol truck following their shift.

Endy had served with the Cache County Sheriff's Office for one year and had previously served with the Logan Police Department for six years. He served as a narcotics detection canine and patrol canine.

Rest in Peace Ends…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Lieutenant Aaron Lloyd Crook
Bluefield Police Department, West Virginia
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Age: 32
Tour: 9 years
Badge # 210

Lieutenant Aaron Crook was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Princeton Avenue and Lee Street shortly after midnight while involved in a vehicle pursuit of a suspected drunk driver.

He suffered fatal injuries when his patrol car collided with another Bluefield Police Department patrol car and a West Virginia State Police patrol car. He was transported to Bluefield General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The officers in the other two patrol cars suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The subject involved in the pursuit was arrested and charged with several felonies and misdemeanors.

Lieutenant Crook was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Bluefield Police Department for nine years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

The inmates are running the asylum.

I turned on NFL Network to watch my hometown team play a football game. Granted, it’s preseason, but at least it’s football. So I would expect any other coverage on the NFL Network, which is supposed to stand for National Football League, should cover, get this, football.

Well I turn it on and there is a black man looking at an old house in the middle of a large lot. For a moment I’m thinking this may be the story of a young man who makes it up from humble beginnings all the way to the NFL. Well, the first thing the interviewer talks about it’s been five generations since his family owned slaves. And I immediately mute the TV.

I wonder if the morons who run the NFL understand what the league is about. Yes, I know, first of all, it’s a business. Got it. And I understand in business the customer is not always right. However, the NFL is there to entertain the consumer, to provide an escape from the daily drudgery of life. Or put another way, offer something to the customer. He will spend this money to be entertained, and if the NFL won't do it, the customer will go elsewhere.

The league staff is doing its best to destroy the NFL. I know people who would never miss a game in years past have shut off their TVs on Sunday. I’ve had a friend from New Orleans mail in all of his Saints gear to the commissioner in protest of that moron Colin Kaepernick. They seem to like the approval of the New York/LA champaign set. Fine, but understand, the base of the leagues fans, the men and women who buy the tickets, pay for NFL GameDay, purchase the team merchandise, are Mr and Mrs Joe Six Pack, and they don’t care for spoiled multimillionaires insulting this country.

I’ve read Jimmy Johnson laid down the law with the Cowboys, you don’t stand for the National Anthem, you are off the team. Roger Goodell, that is how you handle these spoiled players. Right now the inmates running the asylum. Get control of your league or you will see it die.

Good boy Shep!

A suspect tried to outrun this K9. His name is Shep.

The suspect choose...poorly.

Officer Down

Special Agent Michael T. Walter
Virginia State Police, Virginia
End of Watch: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Age: 45
Tour: 18 years
Incident Date: 5/26/2017

Special Agent Michael Walter was shot and killed in the 1900 block of Redd Street in Richmond, Virginia, while investigating a suspicious vehicle at approximately 7:30 pm.

He and several Richmond Police Department officers were conducting high visibility patrols in the Mosby Court public housing complex due to a recent trend of shootings and other crime. The officers were approaching a vehicle parked facing the wrong direction on Redd Street. As they spoke to the two occupants of the vehicle the passenger opened fire on them, striking Special Agent Walter.

Special Agent Walter was transported to VCU Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds early the following morning.

The subject who shot him fled the scene but was arrested in Northumberland County, Virginia, several hours later.

Special Agent Walter was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Virginia State Police for 18 years and was assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations' Drug Enforcement Section. He is survived by his wife, daughter, nd two sons.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

K9 Down

http://K9 Aron
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi
End of Watch: Sunday, July 2, 2017
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 6
Gender: M
Tour: 5 years
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Aron died after suffering heat exhaustion when his handler's patrol car suffered a mechanical malfunction, causing the vehicle and it's hot box backup system to shut off.

K9 Aron had served with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department for five years.

Rest in Peace Aron…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff William Durr
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Age: 36
Tour: 6 years

Deputy Sheriff William Durr was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call at 2871 Lee Drive in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, at approximately 11:30 pm.

When he arrived at the scene a male subject shot and killed him before murdering three females at the home. The subject then drove to two more locations in Brookhaven where he murdered four more people. He was taken into custody the following morning after attempting suicide-by-cop.

Deputy Durr had served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office for two years and had previously served with the Brookhaven Police Department for two years.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

K9 Down

K9 Drago
Forest Preserves of Cook County Department of Law Enforcement, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Gender: M
Tour: 3 years
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Drago died when the air conditioner in his handler's vehicle failed.

His handler had gone to the Oak Forest Police Department to process an offender who had just been arrested. While the handler was inside the air conditioner failed and began blowing hot air. Rescue personnel rendered aid to Drago but were unable to save him.

Drago had served with the Forest Preserves of Cook County Department of Law Enforcement for three years.

Rest in Peace Drago…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Officer Down

Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Age: 30
Tour: 8 years
Incident Date: 5/20/2017

Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales succumbed to wounds sustained four days earlier when he was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in El Paso, Texas, while off duty.

Agent Morales and several friend were walking to their cars in the 12000 block of Tierre Este when they were confronted by the subject. Agent Morales identified himself as a United States Border Patrol agent in an attempt to diffuse the situation. The man then attacked him with a knife and stabbed him in the eye.

Despite the wound, Agent Morales chased the subject with several witnesses. The man was subdued by citizens and taken into custody by responding officers.

Agent Morales was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until passing away on May 24th, 2017.

Agent Morales had served with the United States Border Patrol for eight years and was assigned to the Ysleta Border Patrol Station.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Reusing What-a-Burger signs....

For you non-Texans, What-a-Burger is a state institution. I've often said if I'm going to waste that many calories on a burger at McDonalds or BK, I might as well do it right. Now, you order in normally they give you a number sign and bring the platter out to you. Looks like some Houston cops reused the signs.

Now I've used cups and other items to mark evidence before, but I've never used these..

Houston police put an end to the use of Whataburger tents as crime scene markers

HPD has put an end to the use of Whataburger tents as crime scene markers, although a spokeswoman said the widely publicized practice only happened once.

That most Texas of crime scene spottings - the Whataburger evidence marker - is officially a thing of the past.

Even before the Wall Street Journal turned its gaze to the Houston Police Department's occasional use of the kitschy orange tents at crime scenes, HPD brass had already put the kibosh on the practice, the Houston Chronicle learned Monday.

"We got a lot of concerns as to whether Whataburger was endorsing us or whether we were endorsing Whataburger and whether they were a sponsor of the police department," HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva said.

Sadly, the beloved fast food establishment is not a sponsor of Houston police, so no free fries with that speeding ticket.

Although at least one older image of Whataburger numbers at a Houston-area crime scene is circulating online, the one that sparked concerns was a March homicide on West Little York...a young mother friends described as the "life of the party," was shot to death in her car on the way home from a club - and police needed to mark the evidence.

Typically, Silva said, police would wait for Crime Scene Units with the Houston Forensic Center to come put out evidence markers. But sometimes, officers want to make sure nothing gets kicked or ignored or drenched in rain, so they improvise with whatever's handy.

And in the case of the West Little York shooting, there was a Whataburger nearby.

"We became aware when it first happened because people called and asked if Whataburger was sponsoring us now and we took action immediately to let the people on the scene know not to do that again," Silva said. Patrol captains sent out a directive to officers ordering them not to use marked items with visible brand names. Thus no Starbucks cups or Wendy's bags - but also no Whataburger tents.

"I think somebody was very well-intentioned when they did it," Silva said, adding that it seemed to be a one-time thing...

With all respect to the command staff of the police department, this order may not be fully followed. If you need to secure the evidence and have not other means but a McDonald's cup, well, you gotta accomplish the mission.

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore
Broadwater County Sheriff's Office, Montana
End of Watch: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Age: 42
Tour: 15 years
Badge # 43-8

Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore was shot and killed while involved in a pursuit of a vehicle near mile marker 109 on Highway 287, south of I-90.

The vehicle he was pursuing had fled as he attempted to stop it for a traffic violation. During the pursuit the occupants opened fire, severely wounding him and causing his vehicle to go off the roadway. The subjects then made a U-turn and returned to the patrol car where they fired over two dozen rounds into it, striking Deputy Moore twice in the head.

A short time later, members of the Montana Highway Patrol located the suspect vehicle in Butte-Silver Bow County and attempted to stop it. The ensuing pursuit travelled through several counties as the occupants continued firing at officers. Tire deflation devices were successfully deployed in Powell County, bringing the pursuit to an end. The passenger of the vehicle then exited the car and exchanged shots with officers before being mortally wounded. The vehicle's driver was taken into custody and subsequently charged with 16 counts of premeditated deliberate homicide.

Investigation revealed that the father and son had intended to murder locate and murder a law enforcement officer that night.

Deputy Moore had served with the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office for three years and had served in law enforcement for a total of 15 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Sexy Star Trek...

A recent addition to Facebook, Sexy Star Trek. Interviews with the staff, clips from the shows and movies, or in this case, an introduction that was never aired for Where No Man Has Gone Before.

Have a great weekend.

K9 Down

K9 Freckles
Florida Department of Corrections, Florida
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Breed: Beagle
Age: 11
Gender: F

K9 Freckles died after suffering heat exhaustion while tracking a wanted fugitive as part of a multi-day manhunt in the Laurel Hill area of Okaloosa County.

The suspect had lead officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission on a pursuit before abandoning the stolen truck he was driving and fleeing on foot. A handgun was found in the truck following the pursuit. It is believed the man then committed several burglaries and vehicle larcenies in the area over several days.

Freckles had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for 11 years at the Okaloosa Correctional Institution.

Rest in Peace Freckles…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!

In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace

And who could ever forget that beautiful face

Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test

They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play

But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day

While working on the job with their partner one day

They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give

They gave up their life; so someone could live

The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say

Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze

The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees

The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall

Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek

The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek

Far up above; in the deep blue sky

They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall

Chasing each other; and just having a ball

They play all day; from morning to night

There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow

Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow

The harps would play and the angels would sing

As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty

And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty

Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free

With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take

Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake

A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore

Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above

They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love

We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night

In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

What's going on in the World Today 170809

HYPERLINKS MAY REQUIRE AN EMAIL:

USA

The White House Pulls Out the Trade Hammer

Just a few days after Trump tweeted his exasperation with China over North Korea, the White House pulled out the trade sledgehammer. The U.S. Trade Representative will investigate China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 over its alleged practice of forcing technology transfers in exchange for market access. The decision is a bit out of the norm, considering the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement mechanism is the more common avenue for countries to file such cases and the United States is still required by law to work through WTO channels to settle the case. But the United States has pulled the Section 301 card successfully before, against Japan in the 1980s, and the Trump administration is hoping for a repeat of that success.

Still, the move got Beijing’s attention. On Aug. 5, The United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to adopt fresh sanctions against North Korea, further banning exports and limiting investment in the country with the goal of slashing import revenue by a third. Neither China nor Russia wielded their veto power to harpoon the measures. This is the culmination of nearly a month of talks between the U.S. and China, with Beijing keeping Moscow very much in the loop. These talks bore fruit, with Washington obtaining enough of a Chinese commitment on meatier sanctions against North Korea to move forward with a U.N. Security Council vote. Of course, China still has limits on how far it’s willing to go to destabilize North Korea, and Russia can also come in to assist with helping to sustain the North Korean regime…

U.S. Troops Train in Eastern Europe to Echoes of the Cold War

NOVO SELO TRAINING RANGE, Bulgaria — After more than a decade spent fighting Islamic insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States Army is scrambling to relearn Cold War-era skills to confront potential threats from Russia here in Eastern Europe, territory formerly defended by the Soviet Army.

The adjustments to the new threats are wide ranging. Hundreds of desert-tan battle tanks and armored fighting vehicles must be repainted dark green to blend into European terrain. Soldiers accustomed to operating from large, secure bases in Iraq and Afghanistan must now practice using camouflage netting to disguise their positions and dispersing into smaller groups to avoid sophisticated surveillance drones that could direct rocket or missile attacks against personnel or command posts…

AFRICA

UN sees early warning signs of genocide in CAR
The UN is calling for more peacekeeping forces to be deployed in the Central African Republic amid renewed clashes.

Renewed clashes in the Central African Republic (CAR) are early warning signs of genocide, the UN aid chief said on Monday, calling for more troops and police to beef up the UN peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn country.

Some 180,000 people have been driven from their homes this year, bringing the total number of displaced in the CAR to well over half a million, said Stephen O'Brien.
"The early warning signs of genocide are there," O'Brien told a UN meeting following his recent trip to the CAR and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"We must act now, not pare down the UN's effort, and pray we don't live to regret it."
READ MORE: Muslims return to CAR to find their homes are gone
O'Brien said it was time to authorise an increase in troops and police serving in the MINUSCA peacekeeping force to enable the mission to "deliver on its critical protection mandate".

ASIA

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tillerson-asia-philippines-idUSKBN1AN1X7?il=0&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief

Foiled plots to bomb plane, release toxic gas 'most sophisticated' ever in Australia http://abcnews.go.com/International/foiled-terror-plots-bomb-plane-release-toxic-gas/story?id=49032126

Two men charged in connection with a foiled plot to bring down an airplane were also accused by Australian police of trying to build a device that could unleash poisonous gas in a public space.

The two suspects, Khaled Khayat and Mahmoud Khayat, were charged Thursday night and appeared Friday morning in Parramatta Local Court in Sydney via video link from their jail cells, where they have been remanded in custody as they await a trial date. Each faces two counts of acts done in preparation for, or in planning, a terrorist act, and the charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. No plea was entered Friday.

Australian police have not detailed whether the men are related…

…The would-be attackers were among four men arrested in Sydney on Saturday over allegations of a potential terrorist attack. One man was released from police custody without charge Tuesday…

BANGKOK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday pressed Thai leaders for more action on North Korea during the highest level visit to Thailand by a U.S. official since a military coup in 2014 soured relations with the United States.

Tillerson's top priority has been urging Southeast Asian countries to do more to cut funding streams for North Korea.

The United States believes North Korean front companies are active in Thailand and is trying to encourage the Thais to shut them down, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton told reporters aboard Tillerson's plane.

The companies are using Bangkok as a regional hub and change their names frequently, she said.

Before meeting Tillerson, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand would support a U.N. resolution on new sanctions on Pyongyang over its missile tests. But he made no mention of specific action…

Thailand's military seized power in May 2014 after months of street protests with a promise to eventually restore democracy, but elections will not happen before next year and a new constitution retains a powerful political say for the army.

Since the coup, Thailand has aligned itself more closely with Beijing, and this year approved purchases of more than $500 million worth of Chinese submarines, tanks and helicopters, besides construction of a new rail link.

Another source of friction is Thailand's trade surplus over the United States. It was the 11th largest last year, at nearly $19 billion, although Thai officials expect a sharp rise in U.S. imports to reduce it.

U.S. May Begin Airstrikes Against ISIS in Philippines

The Pentagon is considering a plan that allows the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes on ISIS in the Philippines, two defense officials told NBC News.

The authority to strike ISIS targets as part of collective self-defense could be granted as part of an official military operation that may be named as early as Tuesday, said the officials. The strikes would likely be conducted by armed drones.

If approved, the U.S. military would be able to conduct strikes against ISIS targets in the Philippines that could be a threat to allies in the region, which would include the Philippine forces battling ISIS on the ground in the country's southern islands.

EUROPE

The EU Prepares to Pursue Reforms Under Brighter Skies

Forecast Highlights

After the German general elections in September, EU members will start a long dialogue to reform the bloc.

The negotiations will again expose the different, and often conflicting, interests between the European Union's northern and southern members.

A key player to watch in the coming years is Italy, as the future role of the country will be an important topic during Franco-German negotiations on EU reform.

By the end of the year, the political situation in Europe will look much clearer than it did at the start of 2017. In March, the British government formally announced its plans to leave the European Union, triggering a two-year negotiation process. In June, French voters elected a president who, barring an unexpected crisis, will remain in office for the next five years. In September, Germany will hold general elections that will probably keep pro-EU forces in power. Afterward, with the political environment likely more conducive to reform than it has been over the past decade, EU member states will start working on the future of Continental integration. But as in the past, their different interests and priorities will shape the negotiations and their outcome…

MEXICO/LATIN AMERICA

Arrests were made after Venezuelan soldiers apparently tried to launch an uprising against President Nicolas Maduro, ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela's deputy leader, Diosdado Cabello, said, BBC reported Aug. 6. http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/06/americas/venezuela-unrest/index.html?utm_source=CNN%20Five%20Things&utm_campaign=7c7fb7d932-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_08_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6da287d761-7c7fb7d932-82080869

Mexico's Cartels Find Another Game Changer in Fentanyl

By Scott Stewart

VP of Tactical Analysis, Stratfor

In my July 13 On Security column about the Mexican government's anti-cartel policy, I discussed how the dynamics of the cocaine trade affected the historical trajectory of Mexican organized crime. In short, cocaine provided cartels with unprecedented quantities of cash that they then parlayed into power. Starting in the 1980s, Mexican criminal organizations began fighting over the immense profit pool produced by the lucrative trade in powder, and this infighting has continued in one form or another to this day.

But cocaine was merely the first of several drugs that were game changers for Mexican organized crime groups. The latest of them, fentanyl (and related synthetic opioids), is the most profitable yet, and is rapidly becoming the deadliest drug for users north of the border...

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, U.S. Exits, and Iran Comes In

An Afghan police officer at his unit’s outpost overlooking the districts north of Farah, the capital of the province that goes by the same name. In October, the Taliban overran posts like this one in a siege. Bryan Denton for The New York Times
FARAH, Afghanistan — A police officer guarding the outskirts of this city remembers the call from his commander, warning that hundreds of Taliban fighters were headed his way.

“Within half an hour, they attacked,” recalled Officer Najibullah Amiri, 35. The Taliban swarmed the farmlands surrounding his post and seized the western riverbank here in Farah, the capital of the province by the same name.

It was the start of a three-week siege in October, and only after American air support was called in to end it and the smoke cleared did Afghan security officials realize who was behind the lightning strike: Iran.

Four senior Iranian commandos were among the scores of dead, Afghan intelligence officials said, noting their funerals in Iran. Many of the Taliban dead and wounded were also taken back across the nearby border with Iran, where the insurgents had been recruited and trained, village elders told Afghan provincial officials.

The assault, coordinated with attacks on several other cities, was part of the Taliban’s most ambitious attempt since 2001 to retake power. But it was also a piece of an accelerating Iranian campaign to step into a vacuum left by departing American forces — Iran’s biggest push into Afghanistan in decades…

CHINA

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho, in a meeting in the Philippines on Aug. 6 that Pyongyang should stop carrying out nuclear and missile tests, BBC reported.

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and China agreed on Aug. 6 to endorse a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, according to a a statement by the Philippine foreign ministry, The Washington Post reported Aug. 2.

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and China agreed to endorse a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, according to a a statement by the Philippine foreign ministry, The Washington Post reported Aug. 2. According to the intital draft, the proposed framework will serve as a mechanism to settle territorial disputes within the region. Critics of the proposed accord say the brief outline covers only previously agreed upon principles and fails to address China's artificial islands or a 2016 arbitration ruling that overturned China's claim to roughly all of the South China Sea.

IRAN

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement Aug. 3 that the new U.S. sanctions were a violation of the 2015 Joint Plan Comprehensive Plan of Action deal that eased sanctions in exchange for Iran to curtail its nuclear program, AFP reported.

IRAQ

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

ISRAEL

Israel: Communications Minister Attempts to Pull the Plug on Al Jazeera


Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara announced in a press conference on Aug. 6 that Israel was taking "several practical steps to block Al Jazeera's incitement against Israel." Kara said he had called on the Government Press Office and on cable and satellite companies to block the broadcasting of Al Jazeera in Israel and to revoke the media credentials of the network's journalists. But those agencies and companies have not yet shown any willingness to block the channel nor could they block the independent transmission of the channel to private satellite dishes, so these efforts might be fruitless.


KOREAN PENINSULA

North Korea’s No. 65 Factory Is Not a Missile Base

The July 28 test launch of North Korea’s Hwasong-14 (KN-20) has raised concerns both over North Korea’s progress in developing an operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability, but also about the nature of the facility itself and why the North conducted the test launch from this location.

Contrary to published reports, test launch was conducted from the No. 65 Factory,[1] not the Yongnim Missile Base or any kind of missile operating base. It is also not one of the Strategic Force’s missile operating bases or missile storage facilities.

This site is under the Second Economic Committee and is associated with the Strategic Force, as it was used to modify trucks into transporter-erector-launchers (TELs). It was likely chosen to demonstrate the DPRK’s ability to launch ballistic missiles from varied locations in the country, not just those associated with Strategic Force infrastructure, to enhance both security and survivability in case of attack—another sign of the difficulty the United States would have in conducting effective military strikes against North Korean missile sites…

…Located on the west side of the Changja River (i.e., the Changja-gang), immediately west and northwest of the city of Chonchon (40.611369, 126.467036), the No. 65 Factory occupies approximately 12.5 km2, encompasses seven named towns and is dominated and segmented by a mountain that is approximately 680 m high. While a number of administrative and support buildings, warehouses and erection halls are located in the valleys around the mountain, there is a massive underground facility (UGF) underneath the mountain in which the main production facilities are located. This UGF was constructed to protect the valuable production lines from damage in a future war…

A Nodong TEL inside one of the TEL Conversion Halls at the No. 65 Factory, 2013. 

The No. 65 Factory grounds, site of the July 28 Hwasong-14 Launch.

Aug 7, 2017 | 18:01 GMT
North Korea: New U.N. Sanctions Will Not Discourage Nuclear Development


The U.N. Security Council finally delivered on the sanctions against North Korea that have been in the works for the past month. On Aug. 5, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to approve the tougher measures, which the United States proposed in early July after North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test and accelerated following the second. This marks a symbolic victory for the U.S. administration, which has been pushing China to apply pressure on North Korea and which last week signaled it was preparing to unleash severe trade measures against China. Nevertheless, these fresh U.N. sanctions will not discourage North Korea from its continued goal of attaining a deliverable nuclear device…

US spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat

Despite the United States' insistence that North Korea halt its missile tests, U.S. spy agencies detected the rogue communist regime loading two anti-ship cruise missiles on a patrol boat on the country’s east coast just days ago.
It's the first time these missiles have been deployed on this type of platform since 2014, U.S. officials with knowledge of the latest intelligence in the region told Fox News on Monday.

It also points to more evidence that North Korea isn't listening to the diplomatic threats from the West.
“The best signal that North Korea could give us that they're prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in the Philippines Monday.

North Korea loaded two Stormpetrel anti-ship cruise missiles on a Wonsan guided-missile patrol boat at Toejo Dong on North Korea’s east coast.

South Korea: Another Roadblock to a Missile Defense System Rollout Is Removed

The South Korean Ministry of Defense said Aug. 3 that it would deploy the remaining Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers in Seongju before the completion of an environment assessment if told to do so by the South Korean government. Two of the six launchers in the system are already in place, but South Korean President Moon Jae In suspended the remaining four on June 8 pending the environmental assessment...

UNSCR 2371: An Invitation to Evasion

By: Joseph DeThomas

August 7, 2017

There are a few good things to say about the UN Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2371, which increases sanctions on North Korea. The most important one is that the US put in the time and effort to grind out a sanctions resolution that was passed unanimously. The resolution itself is also good news, given the state of US-Russia relations and the competing public chatter about China by the White House that seemed to close the door on further joint diplomatic efforts to tighten the screws on Pyongyang. The resolution is also a good alternative to more dangerous options, such as the possibility of preventive war, as was recently discussed in an interview with US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. But the resolution is being oversold and is unlikely to produce the kind of economic damage that its sponsors are advertising. Moreover, it opens new doors for successful evasion, which in the current environment—with a volatile US administration and high public alarm—could easily lead to sudden movements towards very dangerous over-reactions...

RUSSIA

Russia Finds a New Way to Wage an Age-Old War

War isn't what it used to be. Perhaps nowhere is this clearer than in Russia's ongoing struggle with the West for influence, which now seems to take place in the shadows as often as it does in plain view. With the dawn of the digital age, conflicts between great powers have spread from battlespace to cyberspace, something the Kremlin has embraced with open arms by honing its capabilities in hybrid warfare.

The term "hybrid warfare" may be in vogue these days, but it has been in practice for centuries. The Napoleonic Wars, revolutions across the Americas and the Cold War all featured it in one way or another by combining conventional and unconventional tactics. But the recent evolution of technology and mass media has reinvented the concept, changing its very nature with the introduction of elements like trolls, bots and hacktivists. Though there is some debate about the term's definition, hybrid warfare — at least for the purposes of this analysis — now can include the deployment of any number of tools in the cyber realm, in addition to traditional troops, paramilitary groups, punitive economic measures, political manipulation and the spread of propaganda and disinformation. And as the costs of conventional conflict have risen, so, too, has hybrid warfare's prominence as a tool in international relations…

The Front Line Drawn Across Russia's Backyard

Globalization has changed how we think about time, space and distance, but geography is still the same where it counts: national security. The former Soviet states lining Russia's border know this better than most, since their proximity to the eastern giant renders them more vulnerable to Moscow's hybrid warfare tactics than countries farther afield. Nations like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova sit on the front line of Russia's lasting battle with the West for influence in the international system, and they are the countries most at risk of being caught in the crossfire.

Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics vary by country and region. There are three broad categories, or tiers, into which various Western or Western - leaning countries fall within Russia’s hybrid strategy - the former Soviet periphery, the European periphery and the core Western states.

Russia's goal within this first tier of states is simple: to weaken the West's influence while strengthening its own…. .

SYRIA

Turkey has sent six howitzers and tanks with military vehicles to its Kilis province, which borders the Kurdish-controlled Afrin region of Syria, Reuters reported Aug. 5.

MIDDLE EAST GENERAL

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

MISC

GPS killed the radio nav in 2010, but a high-def version is set to return.

Sean Gallagher - 8/7/2017

Way back in the 1980s, when I was a young naval officer, the Global Positioning System was still in its experimental stage. If you were in the middle of the ocean on a cloudy night, there was pretty much only one reliable way to know where you were: Loran-C, the hyperbolic low-frequency radio navigation system. Using a global network of terrestrial radio beacons, Loran-C gave navigators aboard ships and aircraft the ability to get a fix on their location within a few hundred feet by using the difference in the timing of two or more beacon signals.

An evolution of World War II technology (LORAN was an acronym for long-range navigation), Loran-C was considered obsolete by many once GPS was widely available. In 2010, after the US Coast Guard declared that it was no longer required, the US and Canada shut down their Loran-C beacons. Between 2010 and 2015, nearly everyone else shut down their radio beacons, too. The trial of an enhanced Loran service called eLoran that was accurate within 20 meters (65 feet) also wrapped up during this time.
But now there's increasing concern about over-reliance in the navigational realm on GPS. Since GPS signals from satellites are relatively weak, they are prone to interference, accidental or deliberate. And GPS can be jammed or spoofed—portable equipment can easily drown them out or broadcast fake signals that can make GPS receivers give incorrect position data. The same is true of the Russian-built GLONASS system…

Hacker cracks smart gun security to shoot it without approval

Smart guns are supposed to be safer than traditional weapons. They're designed to only fire when paired with a second piece of technology that identifies the shooter, like an electronic chip or a fingerprint.

Supporters say they could stop accidental shootings or misfires. And they've been lauded by law enforcement to prevent criminals from using stolen or misplaced guns.
However, like any technology, they're not unhackable.
A hacker known by the pseudonym Plore doesn't want to put a stop to smart guns, but he wants the firearm industry that's increasingly manufacturing these devices to know that they can be hacked.

The model Plore hacked is called the Armatix IPI. It pairs electronically with a smart watch so that only the person wearing the watch can fire it. The devices authenticate users via radio signals, electronically talking to each other within a small range.

Plore broke the security features in three different ways, including jamming radio signals in the weapon and watch so the gun couldn't be fired, and shooting the gun with no watch nearby by placing strong magnets next to the weapon.

"Future smart guns might use different authorization mechanisms," Plore said. "But you'd want to make future smart guns robust against interference, intentional or unintentional, even if it doesn't use radio signals…"