Excerpt:

 ”Everybody in the mission” in Benghazi, Libya, thought the attack on a U.S. consulate there last Sept. 11 was an act of terror “from the get-go,” according to excerpts of an interview investigators conducted with the No. 2 official in Libya at the time, obtained by CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

“I think everybody in the mission thought it was a terrorist attack from the beginning,” Greg Hicks, a 22-year foreign service diplomat who was the highest-ranking U.S. official in Libya after the strike, told investigators under authority of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hicks, the former U.S. Embassy Tripoli deputy chief of mission, was not in Benghazi at the time of the attack, which killed Chris Stevens – then the U.S. ambassador to Libya – and three other Americans.

When he appears this week before the committee, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Hicks is expected to offer testimony at odds with what some American officials were saying in public – and on “Face the Nation” – just five days after the attack. Benghazi whistleblowers have rallied attention to discrepancies among the administration’s reaction to the attack, which The Weekly Standard suggests was frayed by ever-evolving talking points that sought to remove references to al Qaeda.

On Sept. 16, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice hit the media circuit, appearing on all five Sunday talk shows to dispel the notion that the strike was a premeditated terrorist act and to perpetuate the case that it began “spontaneously” out of protests in Egypt. Rice’s spot on “Face the Nation” that day was preceded by the new President of Libya Mohammed al-Magariaf, who said his government had “no doubt that this was preplanned, predetermined.”

[...]Appearing on “Face the Nation” to address Hicks’s remarks, chairman Issa agreed Sunday that the “fatal error” in a debacle that marked a “misinformation campaign at best, and a cover-up at worst,” was tossing into the lurch the relationship between the United States and Libya.

Read the whole article for a lot more about this critical scandal.

The attack was pre-planned. American personnel on the ground in Libya knew it was a pre-planned attack. The talking points that were put out were false. The purpose of the talking points was to save Obama’s re-election campaign by hiding the fact that his weakness emboldened our enemies to commit more terrorist attacks than happened under Bush. Frank Gaffney even suggests that the cover-up was meant to hide the Obama administration’s efforts to supply Syrian opposition forces, including Al Qaeda, with heavy weapons. A sort of “Fast and Furious ” gun-walking program for Jihadis, instead of Mexican drug cartels.

Other links

• Doug Ross: a complete Benghazi timeline

Related posts

• Benghazi whistle-blower: assets to protect the embassy were available
• Hysterical Hillary Clinton shrieks out her victimhood over Benghazi cover-up
• Benghazi security officials on the ground contradict CIA’s account
• Obama administration refused to engage top counter-terrorism resource for Benghazi
• Classified cable sent on August 16th warned of vulnerability of Benghazi consulate
• Requests for support from Benghazi defenders denied by the Obama administration
• White House told that terrorists took credit for Benghazi attack within two hours
• Unmanned drone observed Benghazi attack, no help sent for 7 hours
• CIA in Libya reported that Benghazi was a terrorist attack in first 24 hours
• Obama’s Watergate: State Department falsifies Obama’s Benghazi cover-up
• Benghazi attack was a massive failure of Obama’s security policy
• Obama justifies censorship by blaming a Youtube clip for a planned terrorist attack

After dinner I dropped them off at home because he has to work at 3am. Then I went over to a Kentucky derby party…which I was clearly late too haha Either way, it was alright, and quick. My friend who’s brother I’m texting, her ex-girlfriend was there. Needless to say I wasn’t interested in talking to her…but at the same time she came and talked to me lol Figures! I was nice, and we didn’t mention my friend but I knew she wanted to. She is a nice person, they just didn’t make sense together…but that still doesn’t mean I want to talk to you lol Anyhow!

I’ve been texted my friend’s brother all day…talking about absolutely nothing interesting but it’s interesting anyways…does that make sense? haha I was surprised that he text me when he got back home (in Vermont), pleasantly surprised of course! It made me feel good that’s for sure!!! It’s funny how good a text can make you feel

Well I’m off to bed since I clearly partied all day long!! Night!

Breakfast: 1 cup Special K Red Berries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 box raisins
Lunch: 2 slices cheese pizza, 1 cup salad, 1/2 cup beets, 2 tbl walnut vinaigrette
Dinner:  2 biscuits, 1 slice velveta cheese
Snack: 1 string cheese, 1 Seadog blueberry beer, 2 vodka club soda and limes

Current weight:  212.1 lbs
Current feeling: Excited

XOXO,
HopefulAddict

Anyhow after work I went to Dziadziu’s and can I just say he cracks me up so bad sometimes!!! lol His toilet broke the other day so my Dad bought a new one and they had it replaced…well he didn’t know how to get rid of the old toilet…so he did what any other Polish guy would do, he smashed it up with a hammer and buried it in the garden of course!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I laughed so hard it was so funny!! I love the crap out of that man!!!

Anyhow afterwards we went grocery shopping, he has requested stuffed hamburgers again this week hopefully this time I don’t mess them up lol

Then I went to my best friend’s house, had sushi with her and her brother for a birthday dinner for her!!

That was fun, then I dropped her brother off at his house and went to a bar to meet up with my friend from works’ brother again. Same guy from yesterday (in case you’re checking lol). We hung out for an hour and a half and then my friend met up with us after she got out of work. He’s a really nice guy, attractive, funny, smart…the only thing that sucks is the fact that he lives in Vermont…yuck city. He drives home tomorrow morning but he’ll be back next weekend and he told me he’d keep in touch about next weekend…when he’s home again for Mother’s Day.

I have no idea what will happen if anything but we’ll see. Right now I’m just going to see where it goes with no expectations! lol I probably would have kissed him tonight but his sister walked out of the bar with us and well that was awkward hahahahaha

Good times!

Breakfast: 1 cup Special K Red Berries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 box raisins
Lunch: 1/2 cup rice, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 tbl guacamole
Dinner:  2 cucumber avocado sushi rolls, 1 sweet potato sushi roll
Snack: Two 100 calorie popcorns, 2 slice velveta cheese

Current weight:  210.9 lbs
Current feeling: Nervous

XOXO,
HopefulAddict

What’s not annoying is the fabulous pizza I had tonight. It was like the pizza that wasn’t pizza at all!!! It was called salad pizza…literally salad on top of pizza crust, no sauce, no cheese, AMAZING!!

I’ve never had pizza without cheese and it was the best flavor ever for having just vegetables on it. I am in love with artichokes on a pizza…so damn good!!! I highly recommend you try it if you have a pizza place around you that has something similar it was very satisfying!!!

I went out with my friend from work because she’s having a hard time with family stuff right now, like really sad situation but she’s hanging in there. Anyhow, her brother is in town because of it and so I met him…she’s trying to play matchmaker haha He told her I looked like Drew Barrymore. Honestly I don’t see it I’ve always been told I look like Kate Hudson…and I also don’t think Drew Barrymore is that pretty…no offense Drew. We have similar eyes, but that’s about it haha Oh and some girl comes up to me…completely drunk and she asked me what my name was and I’m like ‘Michelle’ and she’s like ‘You are a beautiful girl’ hahahaha That has NEVER happened to me before lol And she was a really pretty girl so I took that as a compliment more so than the Drew Barrymore “compliment” lol Such a random night of randomness!

Anyhow her brother was nice but he lives in Vermont!!! lol Well I’m off to bed because it’s 2AM and I have to be up in 5 hours haha Oops. Happy Friday!!!

Breakfast: 1 cup Special K Red Berries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 box raisins
Lunch: 6 pieces turkey bacon, 1/2 cup baby carrots
Dinner:  4 slices salad pizza
Snack: 1 gala apple

Current weight:  213.7 lbs
Current feeling: Annoyed

XOXO,
HopefulAddict

Najam Sethi, the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab province, ordered the judicial inquiry. He directed officials to ensure that the probe was completed in 15 days.

“Chief Minister Najam Sethi has directed the Home Department to prepare terms of reference for a judicial inquiry into the murder of Sarabjit Singh. The inquiry would be completed within 15 days,” a Punjab government spokesman said.

The inquiry will be conducted by a High Court judge, state-un Radio Pakistan reported.

Mr Sethi also directed authorities to beef up security for all foreign prisoners in jails across Punjab province, the spokesman said.

The Punjab government has formed an eight-member medical board headed by Umer Farooq Baloch to conduct an autopsy on Sarabjit’s body.

]]> http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/paks-punjab-cm-orders-judicial-probe-into-sarabjits-death/ Fri, 03 May 2013 06:06:21 +0000 Shawn Elan http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/paks-punjab-cm-orders-judicial-probe-into-sarabjits-death/ http://phaadu.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/sikh-group-offers-1-mn-reward-for-sajjans-conviction/ Fri, 03 May 2013 05:59:39 +0000 ankururdu http://phaadu.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/sikh-group-offers-1-mn-reward-for-sajjans-conviction/


A US-based Sikh rights group has announced an award of USD 1 million to any individual, whose testimony and evidence may result in conviction of Sajjan Kumar, the senior Congress leader from Delhi.

“The ‘Million Dollar’ reward will be given to those individuals who will come forward with tips, evidence and testimony leading to the reversal of Judge Aryan’s April 30 order acquitting Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for role in the killing of Sikhs in November 1984,” Sikh for Justice said in a statement.

Justifying the reward attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, alleged that killing of Sikhs took place in broad day light while hundreds of citizens helplessly watched the systematic and gruesome killings of people in the first week of November 1984.

“Now is the opportunity for those who witnessed the killings to come forward with testimony and evidence to help victims in seeking justice against those Congress leaders who organized violence against Sikhs,” Pannun said.

Since Judge Aryan gave “benefit of doubt” to Sajjan, Pannun said victims will challenge the acquittal of Kumar before Delhi High Court based on the precedent set by the Supreme Court in Devenderpal Singh Bhullar’s case.

]]> http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/sikh-group-offers-1-mn-reward-for-sajjans-conviction/ Fri, 03 May 2013 05:59:36 +0000 Shawn Elan http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/sikh-group-offers-1-mn-reward-for-sajjans-conviction/ http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/17110/ Fri, 03 May 2013 01:54:53 +0000 syrianfreepress http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/17110/ http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17099/ Thu, 02 May 2013 17:55:49 +0000 syrianfreepress http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17099/ http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17094/ Thu, 02 May 2013 17:50:27 +0000 syrianfreepress http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17094/ http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17089/ Thu, 02 May 2013 17:39:51 +0000 syrianfreepress http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17089/ http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17078/ Thu, 02 May 2013 08:29:20 +0000 syrianfreepress http://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/17078/ http://phaadu.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/terror-attacks-on-election-candidates-continue/ Thu, 02 May 2013 05:39:55 +0000 ankururdu http://phaadu.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/terror-attacks-on-election-candidates-continue/


SHIKARPUR/QUETTA: At least two people were injured in a suicide attack which occurred near the Shikarpur toll plaza on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.

The blast took place near the convoy of National Peoples Party’s candidate Dr Ibrahim Jatoi in Shikarpur who remained unhurt.

In another incident, three people were reported injured when a bomb exploded in Balochistan’s Dera Murad Jamali region.

The blast took place near the convoy of an independent candidate for PB-32, Allah Dino, in the district’s Kachchi Pul area.

Rescue teams had reached the site of the attack and started an operation.

]]> http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/terror-attacks-on-election-candidates-continue/ Thu, 02 May 2013 05:39:46 +0000 Shawn Elan http://latesturdunews.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/terror-attacks-on-election-candidates-continue/ http://imnothungryimaddicted.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/may-1-2013-people-frustrate-me/ Thu, 02 May 2013 03:47:19 +0000 hopefuladdict http://imnothungryimaddicted.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/may-1-2013-people-frustrate-me/ Today was a frustrating day, start to finish. Work was the same ole bullsh*t, people sucking at their job, not caring about my show, blah, blah, blah.

At lunchtime I went to my apartment to meet up with my fix it guy who installed a medicine cabinet in my bathroom and then told me there was nothing he could do to fix my hot water situation in my shower…yet I’m supposed to sign my lease tomorrow and my rent is going up $8? Are you serious?? How unfair is that? If you can’t guarantee me hot showers then I shouldn’t have to pay extra since hot water is the only thing you offer!!! Annoying.

And then after work I went to my landlord..who wasn’t there, paid my rent at least and then went out to dinner with my host and two other friends. It was a good dinner and then we went over to my hosts apartment to hang out. Insert frustration here. First of all my one friend kept hitting on my other friend, who is a lesbian, and it made me feel like dog sh*t because everything he said was about how hot she is, blah, blah, blah. I wish guys wouldn’t do that when there’s another woman in the room…made me all self conscious!!! And then my host invites this other girl over to his apartment…a girl who is currently a client of my show, a girl I went to high school with, a girl I don’t want to hang out with. I was SO mad. I’m like dude I don’t want to hang out with my clients!!! Of course he said I was being ridiculous, unreasonable, stupid, annoying, blah, blah, blah. Clearly wouldn’t even try to understand my point of view. My other friends were on board with me NOT wanting to hang out with her but then the next thing you know…she’s there! Wanted to scream.

Quick background. Highschool was by far the worst time of my life, as it is for most. But in my case I was harrassed in school because of my family situation at home, called names, pushed down stairs, my twin brother was constantly getting into fights and in trouble with police because of it, it was bad. I had people telling me they wanted to kill me and my whole family. I had a guy drive his car through my yard and really f*ck it all up during a rain storm…just some intense stuff. I don’t want to get into specifics about my family that led to this nightmare because I don’t want to relive it at all….but all you need to know is that it was the worst time of my life, the worst time of my familys lives and I wouldn’t wish what happened to me onto anyone.

Insert highschool classmate who knows the truth, who knew what happened, who knows my inner most darkest secrets that no one else knows…and I’m VERY uncomfortable….and to top it off…she’s a client of mine, which is awkward enough for me. And my host doesn’t know about the highschool stories, him and I are not ever going to be close enough for me to ever even want to tell him or trust him with that information….but it should have been enough for me to say I didn’t want to hang out with her. He should have never invited her without asking us if it was ok…especially because she’s my client, and it just goes to show you how little respect he has for me, and how rude he really is.

He knew I was pissed, he knew I was uncomfortable, tried to apologize WHILE SHE WAS THERE making it even more uncomfortable…he just doesn’t get it and I’m too pissed off to even care about his apology right now.

It’s like I wasn’t allowed to have feelings and emotions and no matter what it was me that was being unreasonable and stupid…f*cked up.

Tomorrow I fully plan on ignoring him at work. I’ll fake it till I make it because we work together but I’m done hanging out with him right now. Furious.

Breakfast: 1 cup Special K Red Berries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 box raisins
Lunch: 1 small chicken fajita; peppers, salsa, black beans, shredded cheese
Dinner:  1/2 portabella mushroom sandwich, 1/2 chicken pizzette
Snack: 2 string cheese, 1 biscuit, two 100 calorie pack popcorn

Current weight:  212.1 lbs
Current feeling: Annoyed

XOXO,
HopefulAddict

               The Manchin/Toomey Gun Bill was a bipartisan piece of legislation that was decimated by Republicans and a handful of Democrats. Senator Harry Reid dropper the ball on filibuster reform. Tie filibuster has been a thorn in President Obamas side for 4 years and 100 days. It is near impossible to pass a bill when you need 60 votes just to talk about it.

                VAWA was a big issue that Republicans voted against, then said that they voted for it. He starts making a budget and the Republicans object to it before they know whats in it. They stick with Paul Ryans joke budget, that is filled with fake math.

           We had the Boston Marathon bombing, the first terrorist attack on the U.S. under his watch. They were picked up within 5 days and authorities just arrested 3 more people in connection to that. Although they are not arrested for taking part, bit for removing items from the Dzhokhar’s room.

           I think the biggest problem is the Sequester. President Obama told the Republicans it would have negative affects on the economy, jobs and the American people. They can’t agree with Democrats on anything but get a bill done to halt airport delays in less than 2 weeks. President Obama should find other ways to inconvenience conservatives to get more things done. The Republicans subscribe to austery all of a sudden, look at Europe to see how that works.

            It has been a tough first hundred days. But President Obama is a good man, as well as a good President. He will get these things done, or will just take time. He has tried to work with Republicans, they inherently refuse. There cannot be a one sided compromise. The next hundred days will he stronger and things will get done.

Posted from WordPress for Android

Excerpt:

A military special ops member who watched as the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi unfolded last September told Fox News the U.S. had highly trained forces just a few hours away, and said he and others feel the government betrayed the four men who died in the attack.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, and appearing in a Fox News Channel interview with his face and voice disguised, the special operator contradicted claims by the Obama administration and a State Department review that said there wasn’t enough time for U.S. military forces to have intervened in the Sept. 11 attack in which U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, an embassy employee and two former Navy SEALs working as private security contractors were killed.

“I know for a fact that C-110, the EUCOM CIF, was doing a training exercise in … not in the region of North Africa, but in Europe,” the operator told Fox News’ Adam Housley. “And they had the ability to act and to respond.”

The C-110 is a 40-man Special Ops force capable of rapid response and deployment specifically trained for incidents like last year’s attack in Benghazi. During the night of the Sept. 11, 2012, attack in Libya, in which U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in Libya, the C-110 were training in Croatia, just 3 ½ hours away.

“We had the ability to load out, get on birds and fly there, at a minimum stage,” the operator told Fox News. “C-110 had the ability to be there, in my opinion, in a matter of about four hours…four to six hours.”

Being so close, C-110s would have been able to respond had there been a second attack, the source added.

Will this testimony come to light at a hearing, or will it be covered up by the Obama administration?

Fox News reports that the Obama administration is threatening whistle-blowers.

Excerpt:

At least four career officials at the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency have retained lawyers or are in the process of doing so, as they prepare to provide sensitive information about the Benghazi attacks to Congress, Fox News has learned.

Victoria Toensing, a former Justice Department official and Republican counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee, is now representing one of the State Department employees. She told Fox News her client and some of the others, who consider themselves whistle-blowers, have been threatened by unnamed Obama administration officials.

“I’m not talking generally, I’m talking specifically about Benghazi – that people have been threatened,” Toensing said in an interview Monday. “And not just the State Department. People have been threatened at the CIA.”

Toensing declined to name her client. She also refused to say whether the individual was on the ground in Benghazi on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, when terrorist attacks on two U.S. installations in the Libyan city killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

However, Toensing disclosed that her client has pertinent information on all three time periods investigators consider relevant to the attacks: the months that led up to the attack, when pleas by the ambassador and his staff for enhanced security in Benghazi were mostly rejected by senior officers at the State Department; the eight-hour time frame in which the attacks unfolded, and the eight-day period that followed the attacks, when Obama administration officials incorrectly described them as the result of a spontaneous protest over a video.

“It’s frightening, and they’re doing some very despicable threats to people,” she said. “Not ‘we’re going to kill you,’ or not ‘we’re going to prosecute you tomorrow,’ but they’re taking career people and making them well aware that their careers will be over [if they cooperate with congressional investigators].”

In general, Democrats are not strong on foreign policy, because they blame America for everything and praise our enemies when they attack us. You won’t get much security from that attitude. When things go wrong, they will try to cover it up. They will even resort to outright lies in order to avoid the blame they deserve for opening us up to terrorist attacks.

Related posts

• Hysterical Hillary Clinton shrieks out her victimhood over Benghazi cover-up
• Benghazi security officials on the ground contradict CIA’s account
• Obama administration refused to engage top counter-terrorism resource for Benghazi
• Classified cable sent on August 16th warned of vulnerability of Benghazi consulate
• Requests for support from Benghazi defenders denied by the Obama administration
• White House told that terrorists took credit for Benghazi attack within two hours
• Unmanned drone observed Benghazi attack, no help sent for 7 hours
• CIA in Libya reported that Benghazi was a terrorist attack in first 24 hours
• Obama’s Watergate: State Department falsifies Obama’s Benghazi cover-up
• Benghazi attack was a massive failure of Obama’s security policy
• Obama justifies censorship by blaming a Youtube clip for a planned terrorist attack
• Al Qaeda chief suspect in Libya terrorist attack, Obama flies to Las Vegas fundraiser
• Obama administration warns contractors to delay layoffs to after election
• Obama wants to send $1 billion of aid to Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
• Report: Iran shipping arms and personnel to Syria through Iraq
• Obama is skipping over half of his daily intelligence briefings (PDBs)
• The top 10 foreign policy failures of the Obama administration
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• Richard Miniter: Obama canceled Bin Laden kill mission THREE TIMES
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• Is the Obama administration behind the leak of Israel’s plan to strike Iran?
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• Iran set to steal military technology from the drone Obama gave them

(1 John 4:18 NKJV)

A few weeks back in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings, I found myself experiencing a wide range of emotions. Like most Americans I first felt a sense of bewilderment. I also felt a deep sense of kinship and empathy with those affected by this tragedy. But my empathy was soon accompanied by outrage toward those responsible for this unspeakable deed. When the alleged suspects were caught, I felt a sense of deep grief when I learned that they were young men with their whole lives in front of them. These events caused me to think deeply about terrorism.

Simply put, terrorism is demonic. This is true not so much because of its measurable casualties as much as its immeasurable effect on the human psyche. Terrorism by definition is a belief in and subscription to acts of terror and their aftermath on humankind. Terrorism is a distinct kind of anti social madness that tends to spring from a dangerous cocktail of fear, anger, loathing and isolationism. This cocktail of social madness is then codified into a dogmatic doctrine of hate. Our collective global dilemma is the fact that a growing number of downtrodden and disaffected youths around the world are especially vulnerable to this phenomenon.

But the irony of terrorism is not in its perpetrators it is in its ‘victims’ (you and I). Terrorism breeds an anti social madness that affects the masses, not just the few who commit its terrible acts. This anti social madness is called fear. As humans it is hardwired into our psyche to become self-protective and guarded in our demeanor when we feel threatened. But another human reality is the fact that we are at our very best in the midst of danger and tragedy. That is, when we are not controlled by fear we rise to amazing levels of selflessness that are expressed in astounding sacrifices for one another.

On April 15, many persons in Boston ran towards the blasts. They did so without knowing how many explosions there would be. Many did not think of their own welfare or safety on that day because they were more concerned about their fellow human beings. Many tied tourniquets around bleeding extremities where limbs had been decimated by the explosions. Many ran to help the injured amidst the blood and human carnage of the crime scene. Many doctors and medical professionals set up impromptu triage centers (outdoor hospitals) to mend and heal the wounded in the blast. The scene of the bombings was nothing like the chaotic atmosphere that terrorists hope to create. Rather, the scene of the bombings was calm, orderly and un-panicked. In fact, if it had not been for those who were at their best during this tragedy, there would have undoubtedly been far more fatalities on that day than there actually were. What motivated these many heroes who rose to the occasion on that fateful afternoon?

Love.

The behaviors and actions of many on that day matched the words of The Apostle John: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. Fear and Love cannot coexist in the same place. We tend to think, decide and behave in impulse to one or the other. Many police officers, firemen and first responders (many of whom were civilians and bystanders) at the Boston Marathon Bombing thought, decided and acted on the basis of Love and Love alone – without respect to Fear. There was simply no time for Fear in the wake of the tragedy. This is the very best of the human spirit. This is the highest expression of God’s Image in humankind.

John also makes another observation that has great relevance with regard to terrorism: Fear involves torment. The demonic nature of terrorism is that it is conceived, shaped and produced by Fear. Terrorism is not the root of violent acts against civilians – not even hatred. Fear is. Terrorism is the messenger of Fear. Terrorism is the manner in which Fear says “Look at what I’ve just done! Do you see it? Do you want more of the same? Then succumb to my demands … or else!” If terrorism bought a commercial spot its sole sponsor would be Fear (“The preceding message has been brought to you by … Fear”). This is the genesis of the anti social madness that can ensue when bad things happen to us as humans. Fear and the terrorism that it spawns torments its captors relentlessly. Long after crashed planes, collapsing towers, detonated bombs and human fatalities there are lingering memories that can haunt our collective psyche. In view of this, there are only two options available to us in the face of tragedy and terror: we can either succumb to Fear’s demands at the pleasure of terrorists, or we can fulfill Love’s mandates as we attempt to heal one another.

John also tells us, He who fears has not been made perfect in love. In other words, Fear hinders us from becoming our best selves and performing our greatest deeds. Love is a kind of tutor and finishing school that coaches us on how to be and do our best toward one another. Love ‘perfects’ us and sees to it that we fulfill the purposes and destinies for which we were crafted during our relatively short time on earth.

Lastly, John reminds us of the rationale behind Love: We love … because He first loved us. With regards to Love, God is not asking anything of us that He has not already provided for us Himself. Essentially, God expects us to love one another because we are loved by Him. This is, by far, the most compelling argument for living a life shaped, defined and characterized by Love.

My words here are not meant to be a strategy for Counterterrorism (I’ll leave that to the President, The FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc.) but they are meant to be a strategy to Counter … terrorism. That is, when bad things happen to you, don’t let these events distort your thoughts, feelings, decisions or actions. Succumb to neither Fear nor its demands. Instead, be ‘perfected’ by Love and thus fulfill Love’s mandates. When people, places and things disappoint and hurt you (and they will) don’t shut down and protect yourself. Don’t be guarded and stifled in your expression of love towards your fellow man in fear of ever-present dangers and invisible perils. When Fear detonates a Bomb of Disappointment, Disillusionment and Distrust – run towards the blast … and dare to Love.

- PJ

Anyhow…sitting at home for that long is dangerous. I had a crappy dinner, ate a lot of crappy food for once again no reason at all and then I dissected myself in the mirror thinking about this bridesmaid dress of death and destruction and I HATE MY ARMS!!! I have sagging skin from losing weight, and it’s only going to get worse the more weight I lose. I’m going to look like a reject at that wedding in a strapless dress with saggy droopy arms. I’m trying really hard not to think about it but I just can’t get it out of my mind!!!

With that said I’m tired and I hate today…goodnight lol

Breakfast: 1 cup Special K Red Berries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 cup strawberries, 1 box raisins
Lunch: 2 cucumber avocado sushi rolls
Dinner:  1 wrap, 2 slices provolone, 6 slices turkey bacon, 2 cups brussells sprouts
Snack: 2 string cheese, 1 biscuit, 1 slice pepperjack cheese, two 100 calorie pack popcorn

Current weight:  213 lbs
Current feeling: FAT!

XOXO,
HopefulAddict