Westgate Stabbing Friday Night

MoonHowler

Westgate became an armed camp around 5:30 Friday night.  Sirens screamed, a chopper swarmed overhead, Rescue squads streamed down the street as well as fire trucks.  Prince William County police are searching for a man, David Marcelis Frye, age 37 and have issued warrants for him for aggrevated assault and malicious wounding.  Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend was transported from the  96oo block of Lafayette Avenue to an area  trauma unit with life-threatening injuries from knife wounds. 

Frye is also wanted for making threatening phone calls and for failure to show up for court.  Meanwhile this man is not in custody and is being sought by the police.  He is black, with short hair, around 220 pounds and approximately 6 ft. tall.

Human and Systemic Failures

MoonHowler

Today President Obama spoke more forcefully as more information has unfolded.  There were bits and pieces of information that should have been pieced together, which suggests that US intelligence dropped the proverbial ball. When 300 plus lives are at stake, our intelligence sources simply cannot afford to overlook connecting the dots:

According to the NY Times:

 

 

Mr. Obama addressed reporters in his second public statement on the matter in two days, announcing that a review already had revealed a breakdown in the intelligence system that did not properly identify the suspect as a dangerous extremist who should have been prevented from flying to the United States.

“A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said. He said he had ordered government agencies to give him a preliminary report on Thursday about what happened and added that he would “insist on accountability at every level,” although he did not elaborate.

Mr. Obama alluded to the intelligence in his statement. “Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged,” the president said. “The warning signs would have triggered red flags, and the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.”

Was President Obama tough enough today?  Should he say ‘alleged?’  Should he be firing people?  This is our second thread on the Christmas Underpants terrorist.  I feel there needs to be more discussion.  As long as Americans and other innocent people are cannon fodder for these deranged religious zealots. we need to talk and demand safety.

What Makes a ‘Hero?’

MoonHowler

candycaneTime for a fireside chat about heroes in general and America security:

 

Yesterday the United States escaped yet another terrorist attack on a plane.  A Nigerian ignited an incendiary device in his lap while the NW/Delta flight descended into the Detroit, Michigan airport.  The flight originated in Amsterdam. 

The terrorist who is being described as having Al Queda  connections picked up his marching orders and incendiary device in Yemen.  The terrorist, however, was unsuccessful.  His actions were thwarted by some brave passenger on the flight.  Basically he was jumped by passengers and flight attendants who ran towards him with fire extinguishers, according to witnesses.

We don’t know any full details  yet and we do know that eye witness accounts are often inaccurate and lack accurate facts.  However, on this blog we have discussed the concept of the ‘hero.’  Most of us have stated that we feel the term is overused and overworked and used to describe people who really haven’t showed extraordinary behavior.  We just say ‘hero’ because its a nice word.

Are these passengers and flight attendants heroes for stopping a terror attack?  What makes a real hero?  We hope you will participate in our fireside chat.  Click the arrow to start the fireplace.

American Airlines Jet Breaks Apart on Jamaican Runway

MoonHowler

 

An American Airlines plane originating from DC broke overshot the runway in Jamaica and broke apart.  Witnesses report that  the plane ran off the runway, through a fence and ended up on the beach very close to the water.  There was substantial wing and engine damage and fuselage damage.  The plane was carrying 148 people.  About 40 were injured, some seriously.

 

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Sesquicentennial Plans Withdrawn

MoonHowler
Part 2
Part 2

UPDATE:

Multiple sources have reported that the Virginia Civil War Events, Inc has withdrawn its request to partner with Prince William County as an events planner for the Sesquicentennial in 2011. ‘Withdrawn’ can be a temporary situation. It can simply mean ‘for now.’

The BOCS had decided to revisit the plans for the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with this group in January.

 

 

No explanation was provided via our sources. It could very well be that the harsh reality of the extremely austere budget cuts Virginia is facing signalled that there simply is no money.  Or…The organization’s chair could be revising his plans.  Stay tuned.

Previous links:

BOCS Meeting 12/8/09

Sesquicentennial Plans Presented to BOCS

Manassas Council to spend $100K on Civil War Anniversary

Ben Bernanke-Time’s Person of the Year 2009

MoonHowler

Ben Bernanke, the 56-year old chairman of the Federal Reserve,  has been chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2009.  He is credited with saving the economy.  The Federal reserve is the central bank of the U.S.  It is perhaps the most important and least understood financial force shaping America, and thus, the world economy.

Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time, had the following to say:

The following 4 individuals were runners up:  General McCrystal, Nancy Pelosi, Usain Bolt, and the Chinese worker. 

People have different feelings about Bernanke.  What we all have to agree on is we have no clue what would have happened had another financial road been taken.

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Little Known Facts about Past Persons of the Year

MoonHowler

 

 My apologies.  I embedded the wrong video.  12/17/09

Reminder, persons of the year are not always heroes.  Quite often, they have been villans.  The tradition started in 1927  and has featured people who have influenced the world, not necessarily in a good way.  Click  to see past selections.

Who is your favorite ‘person of the year?’  Who is your least favorite?  Do you have your own story to tell?  Who is the only person to be selected 3 times?  When did the selection switch from Man of the Year to Person of the Year?