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Monday, February 15, 2010

An American Congressman Fights for Gaza

Stand up and notice, an American Congressman, Brian Baird of Washington, is fighting for Gaza.

Currently Congressman Baird is in Gaza on his third trip there.

A visit to his website gives his statement on the Goldstone Report with his strong statement of why it should not be discounted by HR 867: "Israel and Gaza Deserve Better than a Misguided Resolution" Writing from his own convictions after gaining his own first hand knowledge of the situation in Gaza he wrote:

Since scarcely a dozen House Members have actually been to Gaza, what actual first-hand knowledge do the rest of the Members of Congress possess on which to base their judgment of the merits of H.Res. 867 or the Goldstone report?

What will it say about this Congress and our country if we so readily seek to block "any further consideration" of a human rights investigation produced by one of the most respected jurists in the world today, a man who led the investigations of abuses in South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Kosovo and worked to identify and prosecute Nazi war criminals as a member of the Panel of the Commission of Enquiry into the Activities of Nazism in Argentina?



Now Congressman Baird is calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza. But not only is he calling for this, he is also calling for a massive lift of aid to Gaza.

"We ought to bring roll-on, roll-off ships and roll them right to the beach and bring the relief supplies in, in our version of the Berlin airlift," he said, adding that the supplies could be delivered to U.N. aid agencies. (SOURCE)

In December Al-Jazeera covered Congressman Baird's and Keith Ellison's efforts. Watch closely in this video. Congressman Brian Baird of Washington stood before the House of Representatives with a poster showing dead Palestinian children. He stated, "Those children deserve someone to ask, why they died" Yes they do.................................




This is the video that Congressman Baird an Congressman Ellison presented to the New America Foundation almost a year ago





Be sure to visit Congressman Baird's website to view his videos and pictures from his trips to Gaza (at the bottom)

Indeed Congressman Baird's voice is rare as the Al-Jazeera report noted. COURAGE in the face of the Israeli lobby controlled Congress is rare!

I too am only one American.

THANK YOU Congressman Baird.

Amelia Earhart
Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Twenty-Two Executives and Employees of Military and Law Enforcement Products Companies Charged in Foreign Bribery Scheme

Twenty-Two Executives and Employees of Military and Law Enforcement Products Companies Charged in Foreign Bribery Scheme
Defendants Arrested in Las Vegas and Miami; 21 Search Warrants Executed in United States and United Kingdom

WASHINGTON—Twenty-two executives and employees of companies in the military and law enforcement products industry have been indicted for engaging in schemes to bribe foreign government officials to obtain and retain business, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips for the District of Columbia; and Assistant Director Kevin Perkins of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. Twenty-one defendants were arrested in Las Vegas yesterday. One defendant was arrested in Miami. The indictments stem from an FBI undercover operation that focused on allegations of foreign bribery in the military and law enforcement products industry.

The 16 indictments unsealed today represent the largest single investigation and prosecution against individuals in the history of DOJ’s enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a law that prohibits U.S. persons and companies, and foreign persons and companies acting in the United States, from bribing foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The indictments unsealed today were returned on Dec. 11, 2009, by a grand jury in Washington, D.C.

In connection with these indictments, approximately 150 FBI agents executed 14 search warrants in locations across the country, including Bull Shoals, Ark.; San Francisco; Miami; Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Sarasota, Fla.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Sunrise, Fla.; University Park, Fla.; Decatur, Ga.; Stearns, Ky.; Upper Darby, Penn.; and Woodbridge, Va. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s City of London Police executed seven search warrants in connection with their own investigations into companies involved in the foreign bribery conduct that formed the basis for the indictments.

“This ongoing investigation is the first large-scale use of undercover law enforcement techniques to uncover FCPA violations and the largest action ever undertaken by the Justice Department against individuals for FCPA violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. “The fight to erase foreign bribery from the corporate playbook will not be won overnight, but these actions are a turning point. From now on, would-be FCPA violators should stop andponder whether the person they are trying to bribe might really be a federal agent.”

“Corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or retain business erode public confidence in our free market system and threaten to undermine foreign governments,” said U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips. “These indictments set forth serious allegations and reflect the Department's commitment to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who try to advance their businesses through foreign bribery.”

“Investigating corruption at all levels is the number one priority of the FBI’s Criminal Division,” said Assistant Director Kevin Perkins of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “In this era of global commerce, the FBI is committed to curbing corruption at home or overseas. Companies should prosper through honest business practices, not the practice of back room deals and bribery.”

The indictments allege that the defendants engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to the minister of defense for a country in Africa. In fact, the scheme was part of the undercover operation, with no actual involvement from any minister of defense. As part of the undercover operation, the defendants allegedly agreed to pay a 20 percent “commission” to a sales agent who the defendants believed represented the minister of defense for a country in Africa in order to win a portion of a $15 million deal to outfit the country’s presidential guard. In reality, the “sales agent” was an undercover FBI agent. The defendants were told that half of that “commission” would be paid directly to the minister of defense. The defendants allegedly agreed to create two price quotations in connection with the deals, with one quote representing the true cost of the goods and the second quote representing the true cost, plus the 20 percent “commission.” The defendants also allegedly agreed to engage in a small “test” deal to show the minister of defense that he would personally receive the 10 percent bribe.

The indictments charge the following executives and employees of the various companies in the military and law enforcement product industries:

* Daniel Alvirez, 32, and Lee Allen Tolleson, 25, the president and director of acquisitions and logistics at a company in Bull Shoals, Ark., that manufactures and sells law enforcement and military equipment;

* Helmie Ashiblie, 44, the vice president and founder of a company in Woodbridge, Va., that supplies tactical bags and other security-related articles for law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide;

* Andrew Bigelow, 40, the managing partner and director of government programs for a Sarasota, Fla., company that sells machine guns, grenade launchers and other small arms and accessories;

* R. Patrick Caldwell, 61, and Stephen Gerard Giordanella, 50, the current and former chief executive officers of a Sunrise, Fla., company that designs and manufactures concealable and tactical body armor;

* Yochanan R. Cohen, aka Yochi Cohen, 47, the chief executive officer of a San Francisco company that manufactures security equipment, including body armor and ballistic plates;

* Haim Geri, 50, the president of a North Miami Beach, Fla., company that serves as a sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries;

* Amaro Goncalves, 49, the vice president of sales for a Springfield, Mass., company that designs and manufactures firearms, firearm safety/security products, rifles, firearms systems and accessories;

* John Gregory Godsey, aka Greg Godsey, 37, and Mark Frederick Morales, 37, the owner and agent of a Decatur, Ga., company that sells ammunition and other law enforcement and military equipment;

* Saul Mishkin, 38, the owner and chief executive officer of an Aventura, Fla., company that sells law enforcement and military equipment;

* John M. Mushriqui, 28, and Jeana Mushriqui, 30, the director of international development and general counsel/U.S. manager of an Upper Darby, Penn., company that manufactures and exports bulletproof vests and other law enforcement and military equipment;

* David R. Painter, 56, and Lee M. Wares, 43, the chairman and director of a United Kingdom company that markets armored vehicles;

* Pankesh Patel, 43, the managing director of a United Kingdom company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries;

* Ofer Paz, 50, the president and chief executive officer of an Israeli company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries;

* Jonathan M. Spiller, 58, the owner and president of a Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., company that markets and sells law enforcement and military equipment;

* Israel Weisler, aka Wayne Weisler, 63, and Michael Sachs, 66, owners and co-chief executive officers of a Stearns, Ky., company that designs, manufactures and sells armor products, including body armor;

* John Benson Wier III, 46, the president of a St. Petersburg, Fla., company that sells tactical and ballistic equipment.

All of the defendants except Giordanella were arrested yesterday by FBI agents in Las Vegas. Giordanella was arrested in Miami, also by FBI agents.

Each of the indictments allege that the defendants conspired to violate the FCPA, conspired to engage in money laundering, and engaged in substantive violations of the FCPA. The indictments also seek criminal forfeiture of the defendants’ ill gotten gains.

The maximum prison sentence for the conspiracy count and for each FCPA count is five years. The maximum sentence for the money laundering conspiracy charge is 20 years in prison.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Laura N. Perkins of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Matthew C. Solomon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The cases were investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office squad that specializes in investigations into FCPA violations.

Read the unsealed indictments: All companies listed in parenthesis were researched by me.

* Agreed Statement of Facts

# 01/19/10 - Twenty Two Executives and Employees of Military and Law Enforcement Products Companies Charged in Foreign Bribery Scheme

* Daniel Alvirez And Lee Allen Tolleson - Indictment (ALS Technologies)
* Helmie Ashiblie - Indictment (I-Shots Shooting Sports)
* Ofer Paz - Indictment (Israel-Foreign Corrupt Policies Act, money laundering, Paz Logistics)
* Andrew Bigelow Indictment (Defense Logistics International)
* R. Patrick Caldwell And Stephen Gerard Giordanella - Indictment (Giordanella former CEO of
Protective Products of America
- WEBSITE - Patrick Caldwell current CEO-sidebar: Chapter
11 proceedings and related information
)

* Haim Geri Indictment (High-Tech USA)
* Saul Mishkin - Indictment (Peru, Orkil International LLC- WEBSITE)
* John M. Mushriqui And Jeana Mushriqui - Indictment (Mishriqui Consulting)
* Jonathan M. Spiller - Indictment (Jm Spiller and Assoc., former CEO of Armor Holdings Inc
which was bought out by BAE)
* John Benson Wier III - Indictment (President of SRT Supply)
* Amaro Goncalves - Indictment (Smith and Wesson Vice-President of Sales)
* David R. Painter and Lee M. Wares - Indictment (British employees of O'Gara Group-
WEBSITE)
* Israel Weisler - Indictment (US Calvary Store Inc-Kentucky, former CEO of Ayit which sold
equipment to the Israeli Defense Forces.)
* Pankesh Patel - Indictment
* John Gregory Godsey - Indictment
* Yochanan R.Cohen - Indictment (HighCom Security)

READ ALSO

Haartz: US Indicts Four Israelis in International Bribery Case

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Catholic Diocese in Dominican Republic Leased "Hotel" to Laura Silsby

Sometimes the irony is so thick it makes your head spin. As Central Valley Church in Idaho professed their "team" going to Haiti to set up their "new ministry opportunity" in their published news letter, the Catholic Diocese of the Dominican Republic leased their own facility to Laura Silsby to house her "orphans". Mind you, while Haiti is 85% Christian, the largest denomination being Catholic, Drew Culberth was praying because people were dying and going to hell! While most Haitians are Catholic, the "national religion" of Haiti is Voodoo. Most voodooists believe that their religion can coexist with Catholicism. Most Protestants, however, strongly oppose voodoo. Gotta' go save those HEATHENS.

So with Central Valley Baptist taking the donations in through their church tax exempt account to support the "temporary orphanage in Cabarete" and their "Dominican Republic response team" the members of the "team" snatched children from Haiti who would become their "new ministry opportunity". Meanwhile, the Catholic diocese in the Domincan Republic leased them their property for six months for ther "temporary orphanage" Full circle. Would have been pretty darn interesting arrangement if it had panned out!

With the call from Central Valley Church going out sometime before January 22 stating $10,000 had already been raised and an imediate $2000 more was needed, just how much money was going to have to continue to be raised constantly to sustain this "new ministry opportunity" with $7,000 per month needed for rent for the temporary facility alone? Needless to say, the permanent New Life Children Refuge facility was also supposed to be constructed during this time. What kind of pipe dream was this endeavor that involved scouring the streets of Haiti for orphans to fulfill their "call from God"? Did anyone ever sit down and lay the financials out? Or was prayer supposed to constantly be their source of success?

If you read Spanish, the article is HERE (hat tip to "Joe" at Baby Love Child) Here is the article run through Google translate.

PUERTO PLATA
Bishop leased to local missionary group
Manuel Gilbert - 2/6/2010
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The Education and Training Center in Cabarete that was leased to house the 33 children orphaned in Haiti.

Cabarete, Puerto Plata .- The diocese's vicar general of Puerto Plata in the Catholic Church, Francisco Hernandez Rodriguez, said Thursday that Bishop Julio César Amaro Corniel leased for six months, forty-five rooms of Education and Training Center located in the town of Cabarete on the northern province of Puerto Plata to the organization New Life Children's Refuge.

When questioned by telephone, the priest told Listin Diario that the property where until 2006 ran a three-star hotel, was converted into a school where he taught technical courses and language classes to economically disadvantaged youth and a retreat for church staff members of the Catholic flock in the country of diverse peoples. Both the school as the withdrawal are operated by the Innovation Foundation.

Similarly, the priest has revealed that Rodriguez Hernandez reports indicating that Mrs. Laura Silsby, head of the group of Americans arrested in Haiti on Saturday while riding in a bus with 33 Haitian children, aged two months and 12 years, bought land in the hamlet of Yagua Magante section of the town of Gaspar Hernandez, Espaillat province.

The link between Lavonne Laura Silsby and Bishop Julio César Corniel Amaro, was the independent estate agent, Jose Hidalgo, who said he was looking for several days in Cabarete suitable facilities to house the 33 infants, but under that there's rents are quite expensive, they resorted to the prelate who rented part of the facilities of the Center for Education and Training.

The property seller stated that the main principles of the Catholic Church hierarch of the Diocese Gaspar Hernandez, Joba Arriba, JAMA, Pedro Garcia and Puerto Plata, objected to rent the premises, under the pretext that was used for manufactured Training Center and the hotel to retreat, but to say they had the urgency of finding a place to house orphans and destitute children of Haiti, the priest agreed to rent for six months in forty-five rooms for a total of $ 7,000.00 per month.

Hill reported that after agreeing with the bishop Corniel Amaro sought the American volunteers, who accepted the premises and immediately entrusted to one of them, experts in disasters, to make a list of arrangements had to be done to leased facilities to ensure the safety of children would be housed there, including the stairs, doors and allotted an area for recreation of children.
***************************************

To add, reading the Spanish article, the facility that Silsby leased is called
Centro de Capacitación in Cabarete. Noting that they teach language classes, and googling the Spanish name, I came up with this forum which mentions the Centro de Capacitación: "There are classes in Spanish available for English speakers at the Centro de Capacitación located in the old Costa Liza Hotel. I am not that familiar with Cabarete and do not know how close that would be to your resort."

View tourist sites for Costa Liza Hotel (in German, so run them through Google language tool)
HERE and HERE.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Why is all the blame being put on Laura Silsby when her own pastor was involved?

This is going to be brief (considering the massive amount of information concerning this matter), bullet point style, to make the point clear

*Every single news agency is focusing on Laura Silsby's guilt in this matter in Haiti. Bloggers and news outlets have dug up her fliers for her planned orphanage, even the incorporation papers which were filed in the state of Idaho Novemeber 24,2009

*The New York Times reports (concerning the Haitian attorney appointed to represent all ten in the matter) "When Mr. Coq was asked about the other nine Americans, he echoed their friends and relatives here: “completely innocent,” he said".

*NOW: Contrary to what is being reported, I have found THIS document dated January 21, 2001 from the Central Valley Baptist Church that Laura Silsby attended

READ:

The other is the Haitian Orphan Rescue being spearheaded through our
local church.As early as next week, we will have a brand new ministry opportunity located in theDominican Republic. Pray for our team
that is sacrificing in every way to be there. Pray for their physical safety and their emotional well-being.

These ministry opportunities are but a small way to help fight for life...a
battle that every Christian must engage in. The future of our culture is at
stake!

See You Sunday,
Pastor Clint

Prayer for the Haiti Team

We are in the process of sending out a team to Help with the Haiti effort.
The team will be traveling to Haiti this Saturday. There are many needs.
One of our church family has been working on building an Orphanage in
the Dominican Republic for rescued orphans from Haiti. NOW the need
is even greater. We are building a team to go now and lease a temporary building to house them until the orphanage is built.

***************************************************************

That statement does NOT say that Laura Silsby is leasing a building to house the children until the orphanage is built. It says WE are building a team to lease a temporary building (the hotel obviously). The statement clearly REFERS to Laura
Silsby's planned orphanage but also CLEARLY states that it is WE-the TEAM who is going ahead NOW. Pastor Clint wrote, "Pray for our team"

Believe me, I am not trying to take any blame away from Laura Silsby and her actions, but she didn't cook THIS plan up all on her own!

Who are the members of "our team" that Pastor Clint referred to?

The Team
Laura Silsby, Charissa Coulter, Carla Thompson, Nicole Lankford,Corinna Lankford (plus Pastor Drew went to Haiti-note that? Drew Culberth whose statement is featured on the Central Valley Baptist Idaho newsletter is a part-time youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas")

Furthermore, scroll down that document further and see the words of Pastor Drew (Culbert) who is also being held in Haiti. Let's read what he has to say about the opportunity that natural disasters offer:


Jesus gives us a number of essential principles here.
My comments here will focus on the issue of naturaldisasters. First, natural disasters remind us thatdeath may take place at any moment. We must
remember that God is control of all things, especially
life.

Second, natural disasters remind us that the penalty
of sin is a plague that effects us all. The question is
not, "Why did this happen in Haiti?" The question
should rather be asked, "Why did this not happen to
me?" We tend to think of ourselves as good people
who deserve the best. The reality is that we are
sinners deserving of death and hell.

Third, natural disasters remind us that we must
repent and be reconciled to God. We were created
for a relationship with the Almighty God, shouldn't we
seek to be rightly restored?

Fourth, natural disasters should challenge us in our
mission. Again, life is short.
People are dying and
going to hell. Preach the gospel
!


Got that? People are dying and going to HELL. They need to get down there ASAP!! Grab up as many "orphans" as you can and PREACH THE GOSPEL at their "brand new ministry opportunity located in the Dominican Republic"!!

Now let's read from the CACHE of the blog of the pastor of the other Idaho church (Eastside Baptist in Twin Falls) Pastor Paul Thompson who is also being held in Haiti. (His blog is now closed BUT there is CACHE-interestingly the blog thread titled "new-life-children-refuge-haitian.html is now even removed from cache) This post there is dated January 14, 2010 and is titled, "Haiti Response"

January 14, 2010

Haiti Response
Dear Church,
I'm heavy of heart (I feel even to the point of depression) but I'm lifted in my spirit to know that if there is any hope, any hope at all for the people of Haiti (and my neighbor for that matter) it will only come from our Lord. I have checked my passport; it is current, I will make way to the health clinic to find out what vaccinations I need, I have checked my heart to be sure I'm not responding in a simple humanitarian mindset so that when the call comes for Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to respond I will be ready, and that the greater need than what every picture reports is the great need of salvation is foremost in my mind.
I'm overcome today by the grace of God. My Hope is Built on Nothing Less!


"Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent , you will all likewise perish. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:2-5 (NASB)


by Paul Thompson

Someone needs to explain to me what "simple humanitarian mindset is" because I DON'T GET IT. Nope, I sure don't! Not when the plan was to scoop up 150 "orphans" and wisk them away to a HOTEL in the Dominican Republic in order to SAVE their poor little SOULS!

I simply can hardly stomach this whole CRIMINAL fiasco that these so-called "Christians" were trying to pull off. My own mind is in an absolute whirl.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!!!


This is Google's cache of http://www.centralvalleybaptist.com/. It ...

Jan 30, 2010 ... If you agree to pray, Jeannette will e-mail you a list of prayer ... Pastor Clint Henry, 208-888-4189. Central Valley Baptist Church ...
myweb.cableone.net/.../Haitian%20Orphan%20Rescue%20Mission.htm - Cached


While Laura Silsby claimed "tax exempt non-profit" status for her New Life Children's Refuge, the media has uncovered the obvious, the corporation was only formed Nov 24 and had not obtained this status yet. So HOW were they taking "non-profit tax exempt donations? THROUGH WEST VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH!!!!

HOW YOU CAN HELP!!!
Urgent and Immediate Needs

Finances:
  • Support the Temporary Orphanage in Cabarete, Dominican Republic
  • Support a Response Team to Dominican Republic $1500.00 each
Both of these are tax deductable donations that need to be given through
Central Valley Baptist Church. Write on the Memo Line: Haitian Orphans.

FURTHERMORE; a look at the sidebar states that Carla Thompson holds the title, MISSION COORDINATOR.
Carla Thompson now has signed a note given to NBC news stating they had been lied to by Laura Silsby. But I ask, WHO holds the position and responsibilty for missions done by West Valley Baptist? Laura Silsby or Carla Thompson?

What are Pastor Clint AND Carla Thompson, "MISSIONS COORDINATOR" asking for? MONEY to be run through the CHURCH'S account to achieve tax exemption for New Life Children's Refuge.

Rescue Team Needs $2000 in 24 hours Greetings!

We need to raise $2,000 in the next 24 hours for our Haiti Rescue Team. We have already had $10,000 committed to this mission. Please help us! Call the church office and bring your gift in right now! Some of the team members have already left today and more team members will be heading out Friday and Saturday. The need is immediate! You may be able to make a large contribution or a small contribution. This will take all of us working together!!

--From Pastor Clint

We have sent a team to Haiti to assist with the relief effort. There are many needs. One of our church family has been working on building an Orphanage in the Dominican Republic for rescued orphans from Haiti. NOW the need is even greater. We are sending a team now and leasing a temporary building to house them until the orphanage is built. Ask God what you can do to help. PRAY? GIVE? GO?
--From Carla Thompson


Contact Information

New Life Children Refuge:
Laura Silsby,
Executive Director and Founder
Cell: 208-861-7879 Email: laura.s317@yahoo.com

Charisa Coulter,
VP and co-founder
Cell: 208-340-8856 Email: charisacoulter@yahoo.com

Website under construction: newlifechildrensrefuge.org

Central Valley Baptist Church
Carla Thompson,
Missions Coordinator 208-407-0269

Pastor Clint Henry
, 208-888-4189
Central Valley Baptist Church
600 N. Ten Mile
Meridian, Idaho 83642



To read more, I suggest reading two excellent essays, "Naivete and Best Intentions or Trafficing in Children for Religious Purposes" by Jodi Jacobson and also "Haiti and the Evangelist Shock Doctrine" by Mamiel

Ask yourselves, why is the mainstream media not reporting that it was the pastor of the Central Valley Baptist Church itself who asks that OUR TEAM be prayed for and then the same CHURCH document states "WE are building a team to go now and lease a temporary building to house them until the orphanage is built" and instead are putting all the blame on Laura Silsby? She certainly IS culpable, but so is the PASTOR and anyone else in that church who had a damn thing to do with this! Is she going to end up being the sacrificial lamb in this? Again, do not think I am taking ANY blame away from her, I am just asking a very direct question BASED on what that church document states. The media is reporting that they are holed up in their church not answering questions. I wonder why! There had been talk about bringing the ten back to the US for trial. I say they broke the law in Haiti, all TEN need to be tried there, but anyone and everyone HERE who had anything to do with aiding and abetting this venture needs to be investingated here to the full extent of the law.

Edited to add: "Prosecuting missionaries, good for Haiti, families and church" by Fritz Gutwein, Baptist minister, a therapeutic foster and adoptive parent as well as co-director of the Quixote Center and coordinator of their Haiti Reborn program.