The President Demands Free Speech in Universities

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


This is something I consider as an important development in improving our universities and protecting free speech. Per his executive order (see first link below), the President has put universities on notice that if they expect to continue receiving federal funding, they must insure that everybody-including conservatives- has the right to enjoy free speech protections on campus.


https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/media/White%20House%20Executive%20Order.pdf

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/UC-Berkeley-in-spotlight-as-Trump-expected-to-13704663.php

Though UC Berkeley is in the spotlight here for good reason, the problem exists almost everywhere in academia. Most of the executive order concerns efforts to lower the coat of tuition, which is also a valid concern. I could have suggested that the cost of college could be drastically lowered by eliminating useless departments like ethnic studies, women's studies, gender studies, and Middle East studies (in its current Pan-Arab, anti-Israel, anti-West form). That would save a lot of 6-figure salaries for deans, their assistants, and other bureaucrats.

As for the free speech angle, I wish the order had gone into greater specificity. In other words, universities could have been put on notice that if certain groups have their events disrupted, or they have their speakers cancelled, or roadblocks like high security deposits are put in place, they risk losing federal funds. If Jewish and pro-Israel students continued to be harassed, no more funding. If campus police cannot or will not effectively enforce the law and protect all students, no more funds.

As always, the government must exercise care in controlling education. This should not be a tool to rid universities of all their liberal professors. There is, however, an old adage: If you take someone;s money, expect they will have a voice in how it is spent. Universities are under no compulsion to accept federal dollars. What is being said here is that the federal government can be in the business of funding education, but it doesn't want to fund indoctrination.

Final comment: Kudos to the College Republicans, a once moribund organization, that is now making real change possible for free speech advocates. They are the hope for the future of the Republican party, which has too many fossils sitting in Washington.

The Democrats' Abuse of the Law

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


As I write this piece, we are still awaiting Robert Mueller's report on the Trump-Russian collusion investigation to be handed over to the attorney general, possibly sometime this week. Even the Democrats seem to know that Mueller has found no evidence that Trump had anything to do with the Russians' attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

No matter. Already, the House Democrats (who are now in charge of the House of Representatives) are signalling their intentions to launch numerous investigations of every aspect of Trump's life and career. They want his income tax returns. They want to subpoena members of his family to testify. They want to subpoena his past associates to testify. They want to subpoena former White House staff to testify. Even diplomatic interpreters who sat between Trump and Vladimir Putin. Already, they have dragged in discredited lawyer Michael Cohen to tell them and the nation that Trump is a "racist, a con-man, and a liar". It is clear that the Democrat controlled House under committee chairmen like Jerrold Nadler and Adam Schiff are determined to either impeach the President or at the very least, make him unelectable in 2020.

Partisanship aside, here is where they are going wrong, and I say this based on my experience as a retired federal agent (Drug Enforcement Administration). Law enforcement's job is to investigate crimes. That is, when a crime is committed, it is the job of law enforcement to determine who committed the crime. We investigate individuals based on information that they may have committed a crime. What the Democrats are now doing is taking an individual (Trump) and trying to find out everything they can about him in the hopes of finding something-anything- that he has done wrong in his life and career both prior to and during his political career. That is against the very spirit of the law in a free society. There are very few of us who could undergo such scrutiny, and I say this as someone who not only enforced the law but who has obeyed the law.  That said, most all of us have something in our past that at the very least, would sink our chances if we were running for elective office.

What the Democrats in Congress are now saying is this: "Here is the individual (Trump). Let us find the crime." To that, I say, "What is the crime?" Answer (and I have heard this said)? "That's why we need to investigate."

What if we turn all this around and say, "Let's investigate every aspect of Rep. Nadler's life-or Adam Schiff's life. We'll find something eventually. How about Maxine Waters seeing that she has gone off unhinged again at Trump this week? How quickly would we find dirt on her if she were put under the microscope? One day of hearings would be all it takes, but that's not going to happen.

This is not to suggest that Trump is a choir boy-far from it. I could be proven all wrong if tomorrow, Mueller hands over convincing evidence that Trump colluded with the Russians even though even the Democrats seem to know that will not be the case. If that is, indeed, the result of Mueller's investigation, then the Democrats in Congress are reduced to going back to square one and launching multiple investigations against an individual in the hopes of finding a crime. That is not what our criminal justice system is supposed to be about. That is a KGB tactic, whether done by police or political parties in charge of one branch of government.

I also want to address the issue of Trump's tax returns. The Democrats are demanding that he turn them over because they are convinced that a thorough examination of his multi-billion dollar business dealings will eventually reveal something. That is possible, but not the point. The point is that tax returns are private and Trump is under no obligation to show them to anybody. Let me give you an example. When I was a DEA agent-and US Customs agent before that- I had occasion to work often with IRS's Criminal Investigation Division. They were an effective tool in tracing the financial dealings of drug traffickers. However, I never had the ability to gain access to IRS tax returns (unless under specified and very limited circumstances). Were an IRS agent to share someone's tax returns with me, we would have been both liable to prosecution. So Trump should basically give the middle finger to those demands. Is he hiding something? Who knows? He is, however, within his legal  rights, and at the moment, legal rights are more important than ever.

Why? We have already witnessed the abuses of the FBI in whitewashing the crimes of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and manufacturing a case against candidate Trump. A cabal at the highest levels of the FBI and Justice Department have abused their powers and tried to interfere in an election because they could not abide the thought of Trump actually defeating Clinton. It is arguably the biggest political scandal in our nation's history. And it isn't over yet. The Democrat party is actively trying to overturn the results of an election. Plan A was to tie Trump to the efforts of the Russian government to influence our election. With that effort apparently about to fail, Plan B is to start with the individual (Trump) and find a crime-any crime. That is not what our criminal justice system is all about.

CAIR's March 23 Fundraiser in LA

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Hat tip Investigative Project on Terrorism



Hussam Ayloush

As previously reported, the Southern California chapter of CAIR will be holding yet another fundraiser on March 23, in which Minnesota Congresswoman  Ilhan Omar (D) will be a featured speaker. In the wake of her recent anti-Jewish statements, it is no coincidence that CAIR, whose SoCal director, Hussam Ayloush, has his own history of anti-Jewish statements, would host this already disgraced freshman member of Congress.


Ilhan Omar


But it gets worse. Also appearing at this annual whoopey is CAIR's Florida director, Hassan Shibly, a supporter of Hizbollah, also no stranger to controversy. Shibly is most recently in the news because he is representing none other than Hoda Muthana, the woman who went off to join ISIS and now wants to return back to the US. Presently, the Department of State is refusing to allow her to return. There is a dispute as to whether she is a legitimate US citizen. Shibly argues that she is a citizen and should be allowed to return.

I had forgotten, but Muthana came up in Fousesquawk back in 2015 when she left the US. Back then, Shibley, who is an attorney, was representing the Muthana family in Alabama.



But how coincidental that Ayloush, who back in 2015 was speaking at an event entiltled, "The Crisis of ISIS" in Garden Grove and was complaining that everybody was talking about the "about 20" Muslim Americans who had gone off to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria while nobody was talking about the "thousands" of Jewish American men who had joined the Israel Defense Forces "killing the people of Gaza". And now he is hosting the very man representing one of those jihadists. Small world, indeed.

And returning to Omar, it has recently been disclosed that back in 2016, she was writing to a judge arguing for leniency for 9 Muslims who had been arrested for trying to join ISIS themselves.

Given the natuire of the personalities at this March 23 event, I guess the theme will be something along the lines of, "Bring our troops home."

Typhus Breaks out at LA City Hall

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com

Last month, Los Angeles' hapless mayor, Eric "Yoga Pants" Garcetti, finally announced he would not run for the Democrat nomination for president in 2020. This after he wasted everybody's time and money traipsing around places like Iowa when he should have been minding the store at home.

That fact has been underlined this week with the revelations that typhus-TYPHUS- has broken out in and around the rat infested, flea infested City Hall.

It doesn't take the Center for Disease Control to figure out the cause; the area around City Hall is filled with homeless encampments. The lack of hygiene, coupled with urine and feces on the sidewalks, and voila! Welcome back to the Middle Ages. All while the empty suit mayor was off testing the presidential waters.

But there was good news out of City Hall on Friday. A resolution affirmed  that the city is, indeed, a sanctuary city. LA City Councilman, "One Bill Gil" Cedillo and Council President Herb Wesson, who had to have his flea-infested carpeting removed from his office, introduced this "blockbuster" back in September 2017. Things move slowly in LA and not just the traffic. (Cedillo earned his nickname when he was in state government in Sacramento for his never-ending efforts to  allow driver's licenses for illegal aliens in California.) Concerning those carpets having to be removed from City Hall, City Councilman Paul Koretz showed he knows about priorities when he stated his fervent hope that the carpets could be recycled. At least he didn't ask for the fleas to be released back into the wild. Meanwhile, the New Sheriff in Town, Alex Villanueva, is sticking to his guns in not allowing ICE agents in the county jail to harass and deport those unfortunate illegal alien criminals. 

Eventually, somebody will wake up and get the message that homeless encampments are not a good idea for society. If a typus outbreak can't do the job, I guess nothing will. One would have thought that cities like LA and SF would have woken up after illegal alien criminals murdered their citizens on the city streets. Incredibly, not even that has been enough to do the trick. Now LA's own city hall is hit with a typhus outbreak. Will it be enough to open their eyes to the blight that surrounds them every day as they go in and out of City Hall? Don't hold your breath.

Anti-Semitism in Swedish Schools

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


The below article appeared as an op-ed in Aftonbladet, one of Sweden's oldest and largest news outlets. It was sent to me by my friend, Kronans Martell in Sweden. I have translated it into English. This is written by a school teacher who teaches children from other countries, mostly Africa, and the Middle East. She has discovered that these children not only have a negative opinion of Jews, but very little to no knowledge of the Holocaust.

https://www.aftonbladet.se/debatt/a/0EREjJ/mina-nyanlanda-elever-tror-att-judar-ar-farliga

My Newly Arrived Students Think that Jews Are Dangerous

Teacher: We have a duty to do something about ignorance

This is a debate article. It is the writer who stands for the opinions expressed in the text, not Aftonbladet.

During more than four years in teaching newly-arrived (in Sweden) pupils, mostly from the Middle East, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia, I have noticed a large ignorance  about Jews, the state of Israel, and the Holocaust.

This ignorance can lead to fear and in the worst case hate. Many pupils have become brainwashed  in their home countries that Jews are dangerous and that they should beware of them.

Comments such as "they are terrorists and we have a right to throw rocks at them", and that "they burn children alive" are some of the stories  that come up in discussions with pupils and during lectures in school.

During a series of lectures, we talked about the Nazis' genocide, and it was shown that none of our newly-arrived pupils knew about the Holocaust and its background, where over 6 million Jews were put to death.

The question over Jews and Israel is controversial, and we have had a hard time talking about the subject even though only 20,000 Jews live in Sweden, and they have protection as a Swedish minority.

Tolerance, co-existence, justice and love for fellow humans are born of knowledge, discussion, and analysis based on each person's right to freedom and to be able to feel safe in their society. Together we must punch through this darkness and this ignorance which can have terrible consequences for the Jews who live in Sweden and the rest of Europe-often behind armour, forced security, and not daring to even acknowledge their existence, religion, or their origin.

The numbers from the EU's Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) say it in its clear language. In the report, 16,000 Jews were queried in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Great Britain. Countries where around 96% of Europe's  Jews reside.

About 90% of those queried say that anti-semitism is growing in their home countries, and as many as 75% say it is evident in the public space.

The kinds of harassment and anti-semitism revealed by FRA include, for example, destruction of Jewish burial sites, vandalism of Jewish buildings or institutions, and open hostility towards Jews.

The report also points out  that Sweden is one of the countries where the most are of the opinion that anti-semitism has increased. More that 8 out of 10 respondents in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden believe that anti-semitism is a "very big" or "rather big" problem.

We can not betray the Jews through passivity and silence. Anti-semitism must be fought, and our responsibility for this must be clear-through enlightenment, knowledge by various authorities and in the school.

Those who attack Jews in Malmo and Gothenburg must be condemned  clearly, and political unity on the issue is required. Jewish and Muslim congregations need to continue to meet for cooperation. The forces for good must receive support.

More than four years (worth of) knowledge from my work with the newly-arrived has made me convinced that we must act. My pupils, for example, want to have all the information they can get about the Holocaust, Jews, and Israel in their native language.

They want to understand and they want to know so they can form their view based on knowledge from different sources. It doesn't work if the knowledge fails-first in their home countries and also here in Sweden.

It requires several conversations and discussions with our pupils  to create an understanding of the basis for the Holocaust even being possible and what mechanisms began the process. A single lecture that quickly disappears from memory is not sufficient.

We have a duty to dare to take on these issues even if difficult and thought of as controversial and politically "dangerous". It is so easy to end up in a discussion about right or wrong concerning Israel's policy, but the question is that people should be able to live side by side in Sweden and respect each other.

Otherwise, dark forces take over the empty space we leave behind.. Maybe 2019 will be the year that we take joint action against anti-semitism and its darkness-not just today on Holocaust Memorial Day but all other days of the year.

Annelie Danling Brash, head teacher for newly-arrived (pupils) and learning at Nyköping High School with help from Jonathan Brash, teacher, grades 4-6
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I applaud the article, but what is missing here is the fact that these children have learned their negative opinions of Jews in their homes and most likely from their religion. I suppose in politically correct Sweden, the writer couldn't go that far. I hope education in a Swedish school will turn their attitudes around, but I am sceptical. Their religion (Islam) teaches them a different message about Jews. Hopefully, some can be turned around.

I must also shake my head at Aftonbladet's disclaimer that this is an opinion piece and only reflects the opinions of the writer and not Aftonbladet. I am sure this disclaimer is routine when they publish an opinion piece, but my God-the optics are terrible. 

The Insanity in Sacramento

Hat tip Daily Wire


Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Out here in the one-party state of California, it's one big bhong party in Sacramento. The latest is the bit of insanity from Hannah-Beth Jackson, Democrat (what else?) from Santa Barbara. She (excuse the pronoun) has decided that only gender-neutral pronouns will be used during committee hearings.


https://www.dailywire.com/news/42389/watch-democrat-state-senator-announces-politically-amanda-prestigiacomo?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=062316-news&utm_campaign=dwbrand



                                                                                                             


 

Not only do our legislators have to take a Berlitz course in the New English, imagine the extra work for the stenographers (whoever they may be) who have to record every mistake in language and subsequent correction from people like Hannah-Beth Jackson.

Asia Bibi and Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun: The World Is Watching

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


This article first appeared in New English Review.



As I write this piece, there are two dramas playing out in Pakistan and Thailand. Both involve two young women, one a Pakistani Christian, the other a Saudi woman of 18 who has fled her family and renounced Islam. At this point, their fates are yet to be decided as Western nations debate offering them asylum.

Asia Bibi was arrested in Pakistan and accused of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Mohammad. Blasphemy against Islam is a capital offense in Pakistan-as it is in Islamic law. Sentenced to death, she languished in prison for several years until her conviction was recently overturned by the Pakistani Supreme Court. She is now in hiding, living under security at an undisclosed location until a country can be found to give her asylum. All the while, mobs roam door to door in an effort to find and lynch her. Great Britain, a country that never ceases to prostrate itself to radical Islamic forces, has already refused. Further complicating her situation is that the Pakistani government has now ruled that it will not let her leave the country until the prosecutor's appeals are fully resolved.

Then this week, an 18-year-old Saudi girl named Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, fled her family residing in Kuwait and wound up at Bangkok Airport with an Australian visa. It appeared initially that she was going to be put on a flight back home until the Thais turned the matter over to the UN refugee officials. They have now determined that she is a legitimate refugee. At this writing, she is still in Bangkok and awaiting a decision by the Australians.

Any sensible observer would immediately conclude that by any humanitarian measure, both of these women should already be relocated to a country where they can live in freedom and security from vengeful Islamic law. But consider that another Saudi woman, Dina Ali Lasloom 24, who was trying to flee a forced marriage, was forcefully put on a plane back home from Manila where she was seeking asylum in 2017. Her fate remains unknown.

These cases deserve the widest possible publicity for several reasons beyond even human decency and considerations of human rights. The world needs to confront the basic severity of Islamic law as practiced by countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The death penalty for apostates is affirmed by every leading school of Islamic thought and is enforced throughout Islamic societies either by national courts, tribal councils, or the families involved. It stands in stark contrast not only to our laws in the West, but also against basic principles of human rights. Laws against apostasy and blasphemy have no place in the West or any other civilized society.

Hopefully, Alquhun will be on the next flight from Thailand to Australia. If the Pakistani government insists on keeping Bibi in country until her case is finally "resolved", I would hope the US government and others will inform the Pakistanis that good diplomatic relations and foreign aid will hinge on justice for Asia Bibi.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stand in shame before the world. If the West doesn't step up and provide refuge for Asia Bibi and Rahaf Mohammed Alquhun, we will stand in shame as well. Our governments and other "human rights" organizations bend over backwards to grant refuge and asylum to hundreds of thousands of people migrating around the world who should not qualify for refugee status. Many of these so-called refugees are Muslims. That we would turn our backs on Bibi and Alquhun would be a disgrace and would signal that we are submitting to Islam. After all, Islam in Arabic means "submission".

The time has come for the US and the West to re-evaluate their relationships with these two countries that still live in the Middle Ages. As for Britain, over history, enemies from Napoleon to Hitler have reportedly called them "a nation of shop keepers". If so, they proved both wrong, but the phrase sure fits now. Winston Churchill must be spinning in his grave.

As We Try to Celebrate Christmas

Gary Fouse
Fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


Hat tip Memri and Jihad Watch


First of all, let me wish a Merry Christmas to all my Christian readers. For my Jewish readers who just recently celebrated Hanukkah, I also extend my love and best wishes.

But it is hard not to  feel a sense of anger when Christians and Jews are being persecuted around the world.

As I write, the city of Barcelona is under high alert over credible reports that an unidentified Moroccan man may be planning to strike the city on this holiest of Christian holidays.

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/12/barcelona-police-warn-of-muslim-plotting-jihad-massacre-on-christmas-day-city-on-high-alert

Here is a Spanish report from El Pais (Spain), which I have not had time to translate as yet.

https://elpais.com/ccaa/2018/12/24/catalunya/1545661368_910928.html


From Canada comes yet another report of a Muslim cleric urging his followers not to wish Christians a Merry Christmas. Yes, Canada has a real problem with hate being preached in many of their mosques.

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/12/canada-muslim-cleric-says-wishing-christians-merry-christmas-is-worse-than-murder

Also on high alert are the always beleaguered Christians of Pakistan, fearing attacks on Christmas day as one of their own, Asia Bibi, remains in hiding while Western nations (and the Vatican) studiously ignore her pleas for asylum. It is an international disgrace.

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/12/islamic-republic-of-pakistan-security-high-at-churches-for-christmas-asia-bibi-still-in-hiding

Meanwhile, Pope Francis continues to ignore the persecution of Christians in Muslim majority countries while lecturing Europeans that they must continue to bring in more and more Muslims, some of  whom will torment Europe's Jews and plan attacks on Christmas markets, which are now the target of choice.

And the politicians in Western Europe (with the exception of Italy, Austria, and possibly Denmark) are on the Pope's side as they continue their insane immigration policies, no matter how many people are murdered and no matter how many women are raped. Jews continue to live in fear and many are emigrating. Politicians make statements of support and place guards in front of synagogues and Jewish schools, but the importation of Jew-hating Muslim men continues unabated, thus, the threat continues to increase.

I emphasize  that I am not referring to all Muslims, but the threat is very real and deeply rooted in Islamic doctrine.

But it is not only Muslims who need to take a look in the mirror. Our political and religious leaders, both Christian and Jewish, are letting us down. They are afraid to stand up to the Islamists in our midst and call them out for their hatred. Interfaith events, which appear to be noble on their surface, are nothing more than exercises in surrender by Christian and Jewish religious leaders who allow Muslim leaders to lie to us about Islam's "peaceful" nature. Many of these same Muslim leaders have a completely different (and more hateful) message when speaking to their own followers. Again-not all, but far too many.

Praying for peace seems to be an exercise in futility, but at least we can pray that today will not be marred by Islamic terror in Spain, Pakistan or anywhere else.

Merry Christmas.

Dan Bongino - Obama, Mueller and the Biggest Scam in American History

Complements: David Horowitz Freedom Center Restoration Weekend 2018

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UC Berkeley Has to Pay for Abridging Free Speech

Gary Fouse
fousesquawk
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com


UC Berkeley has learned the hard way there can be a price to pay for abridging free speech on campus. Now they are paying out $70,000 to Young America Foundation.


https://www.yaf.org/news/yaf-wins-landmark-free-speech-lawsuit-uc-berkeley-to-pay-70000-and-rescind-unconstitutional-policies/?fbclid=IwAR1rahcMqkjCI6AJv0Sd2AwxtLYUDV4g9hAeiBBE0wvTsNfGtaSVmOfr2ks

It is more subtle than a university refusing a student group to bring in a particular speaker. There are other ways a university can limit or eliminate free speech by certain speakers they don't like. They can charge outrageous security fees, for example, that they would not charge to other groups.

Several years ago, I attended an event at UC Irvine where David Horowitz appeared. Not only did the university switch his meeting room at the last minute to a more obscure part of the campus, none of the whiteboard markers had enough ink. Horowitz repeatedly laughed it off at the UCI administrators in the audience who were documenting his words on their laptops.

When Milo Yiannopoulos appeared at UCI not long ago, the event was placed in a room much too small to accomodate the hundreds of people (including myself) who were trying to get in-and whose names were on the registration list.

I salute the YAF for holding UCB's feet to the fire. These institutions all have a ready made statement they release to the media when these things happen to the effect that they are "100 committed to the principles of free speech, inclusions, etc etc etc". It is a joke. When students and assorted riff-raff rioted at UC Berkeley a few years ago forcing a last minute cancellation to Yiannopoulos's appearance, the university all but put their seal of approval on the assaults and destruction of property as campus police stood around like potted plants. Other universities, like UCI, seem to be allowing disruptions to continue for a set period of time before gently ushering the protesters out with no consequences.

Left to their own devices and with the public not paying attention, universities will continue to limit conservative speech and indoctrinate our youth. They need to be countered, and, when appropriate, sued.