President Trump's Saudi Speech

    

Since President Trump concluded his speech in Saudi Arabia, I have read a lot of positive things about the speech and a lot of negative things. Personally I think it was brilliant.

Do I wish he would have added a few things? Sure. Am I a little concerned about the arms deal? Certainly. I don't imagine anyone could give a speech that long I would agree with every word of.

I do think if he follows through with his speech it will go down in history as one of the top 5-10 speeches in American Presidential History.

In a following article I am going to break the speech down, but I am a huge believer in my readers educating themselves and making their own decisions. Not simply taking my word for anything. That being said, here is the complete transcript, in its entirety, unedited with my opinions:

Read the full transcript of President Trump's speech to Muslim leaders at Sunday's Arab Islamic American Summit:

Thank you. I would like to thank King Salman for his extraordinary words, and the magnificent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting today's summit. I am honored to be received by such gracious hosts
 I have always heard about the splendor of your country and the kindness of your citizens, but words do not do justice to the grandeur of this remarkable place and the incredible hospitality you have shown us from the moment we arrived

You also hosted me in the treasured home of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the kingdom who united your great people. Working alongside of another beloved leader, American President Franklin Roosevelt, King Abdul Aziz began the enduring partnership between our two countries. King Salman, your father would be very, very proud to see that you are continuing his legacy

And just as he opened the first chapter of our partnership, today we begin a new chapter that will bring lasting benefits to all of our citizens.

Let me now also extend my deep and heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of the distinguished heads of state who made this journey here today. You greatly honor us with your presence and I send the warmest regards from my country to yours.

Thank you. I know that our time together will bring many blessings to both your people and to mine. I stand before you as a representative of the American people to deliver a message of friendship and hope and love. That is why I chose to make my first foreign visit a trip to the heart of the Muslim world, to the nation that serves as custodian of the two holiest sites in the Islamic faith.

In my inaugural address to the American people, I pledged to strengthen America's oldest friendships and to build new partnerships in pursuit of peace. I also promised that America will not seek to impose our way of life on others, but to outstretch our hands in the spirit of cooperation and trust

Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity in this region and all throughout the world. Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to god

And so this historic and unprecedented gathering of leaders, unique in the history of nations, is a symbol to the world of our shared resolved (sic), and our military that will protect the safety of our people and enhance the security of (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY) and made record investments in our military that will protect the safety of our people and enhance the security of our wonderful friends and allies, many of whom are here (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY) -- closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce

For Americans, this is a very exciting time. A new spirit of optimism is sweeping our country. In just a few months, we have created almost a million new jobs, added over $3 trillion in new value, lifted the burdens on American industry, and made record investments in our military that will protect the safety of our people and enhance the security of our wonderful friends and allies, many of whom are here today

Now there is even more blessed news that I am pleased to share with you. My meetings with King Salman, the crown prince, and the deputy crown prince, have been filled with great warmth, good will, and tremendous cooperation. Yesterday, we signed historic agreements with the kingdom that will invest almost $400 billion in our two countries and create many hundreds of thousands of jobs in America and Saudi Arabia

This landmark agreement includes the announcement of a $110 billion Saudi-funded defense purchase. And we will be sure to help our Saudi friends to get a good deal from our great American defense companies, the greatest anywhere in the world. This agreement will help the Saudi military to take a far greater role in security and operations having to do with security

We've also started discussions with many of the countries present today on strengthening partnerships and forming new ones to advance security and stability across the Middle East and far beyond. Later today, we will make history again with the opening of the new global center for combating extremist ideology located right here in the central part of the Islamic world.

This ground-breaking new center represents a clear declaration that Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in combating radicalization, and I want to express our gratitude to King Salman for his strong demonstration and his absolutely incredible and powerful leadership. I have had the pleasure of welcoming several of the leaders present today to the White House, and I look forward to working with all of you

America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture. We are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership based on shared interests and values to pursue a better future (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY)

Here at this summit, we will discuss (TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY). But above all, we must be united in pursuing the one goal that transcends every other consideration. That goal is to meet history's great test, to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces terrorism brings with it every single time. Young Muslim boys and girls should be able to grow up free from fear, safe from violence, and innocent of hatred.

When young Muslim men and women should have the chance to build a new era of prosperity for themselves, it has to be done and we have to let them do it. With God's help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for those who practice terror and spread its vile creed. At the same time, we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the beginning of peace in the Middle East and maybe even all over the world

But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it. Few nations have been spared the violent reach of terrorism. America has suffered repeated barbaric attacks from the atrocities of September 11 to the devastation of the Boston bombings to the horrible killings in San Bernardino and Orlando. The nations of Europe have also endured unspeakable horror. So too have the nations of Africa and South America. India, Russia, China, and Australia have all been victims

But in sheer numbers, the deadliest toll has been exacted on the innocent people of Arab, Muslim, and Middle Eastern nations. They have borne the brunt of the killings and the worst of destruction in this wave of fanatical violence. Some estimates hold that more than 95 percent of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim. We now face a humanitarian and security disaster in this region that is spreading across the planet

 It is a tragedy of epic proportions. No description of the suffering and depravity can begin to capture its full measure. The (INAUDIBLE) of ISIS, if you look at what's happening, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and so many others must be counted not only in the number of dead; it also must be counted in generations of vanished dreams

The Middle East is rich with natural beauty, vibrant cultures, and massive amounts of historic treasures. It should increasingly become one of the great global centers of commerce and opportunity. This region should not be a place from which refugees flee but to which newcomers flock. Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest sites in one of the world's great faiths. Each year millions of Muslims come from around the world to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Hajj

 In addition to ancient wonders, this country is also home to modern ones, including soaring achievements in architecture. Egypt was a thriving center of learning and achievement thousands of years before other parts of the world. The wonders of Giza (ph), Luxor, and Alexandria are proud monuments to that ancient heritage. All over the world people dream of walking through the ruins of Petra in Jordan

 Iraq was the cradle of civilization and is a land of natural beauty.
And the United Arab Emirates has reached incredible heights with glass and steel, and turned earth and water into spectacular works of art. The entire region is at the center of the key shipping lanes of the Suez Canal, the Red Se, and the Straits (sic) of Hormuz. The potential of this region has never, ever been greater. Sixty-five percent of its population is under the age of 30. Like all young men and women, they seek great futures to build, great national projects to join, and a place for their families to call home

But this untapped potential, this tremendous cause of optimism, is held at bay by bloodshed and terror. There can be no coexistence with this violence. There can be no tolerating it, no accepting it, no excusing it, and no ignoring it. Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith

Terrorists do not worship God; they worship death. If we do not act against this organized terror, then we know what will happen and what will be the end result. Terrorism's devastation of life will continue to spread, peaceful societies will become engulfed by violence, and the futures of many generations will be sadly squandered. If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing, then not only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by God

This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life and decent people, all in the name of religion. People that want to protect life and want to protect their religion. This is a battle between good and evil. When we see the scenes of destruction in the wake of terror, we see no signs that those murdered were Jewish or Christian, Shia or Sunni.
When we look upon the strains (sic) of innocent blood soaked into the ancient ground, we cannot see the faith or sect or tribe of the victims. We see only that they were children of God whose deaths are an insult to all that is holy. But we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong, and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden. Terrorism has spread all across the world, but the path to peace begins right here on this ancient soil in this sacred land.

America is prepared to stand with you in pursuit of shared interests and common security, but the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their country, and frankly for their families, for their children. It's a choice between two futures, and it is a choice America cannot make for you. A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the extremists

Drive them out. Drive them out of your places of worship. Drive them out of your communities. Drive them out of your holy land. And drive them out of this earth. For our part, America is committed to adjusting our strategies to meet evolving threats and new facts. We will discard those strategies that have not worked and will apply new approaches, informed by experience, talent, and judgment. We are adopting a principled realism rooted in common values, shared interests, and common sense.

Our friends will never question our support and our enemies will never doubt our determination. Our partnerships will advance security through stability, not through radical disruption. We will make decisions based on real world outcomes, not inflexible ideology. We will be guided by the lessons of experience, not the confines of rigid thinking. And wherever possible, we will seek gradual reforms, not sudden intervention. We must seek partners, not perfection. And to make allies of all who share our goals
Above all, America seeks peace, not war. Muslim nations must be willing to take on the burden if we are going to defeat terrorism and send its wicked ideology into oblivion. The first task in this joint effort is for your nations to deny all territory to the foot soldiers of evil. Every country in the region has an absolute duty to ensure that terrorists find no sanctuary on their soil. Many are already making significant contributions to regional security

Jordanian pilots are crucial partners against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Saudi Arabia and a regional coalition have taken strong action against Houthi militants in Yemen. The Lebanese army is hunting ISIS operatives who try to infiltrate their territory. Emirati troops are supporting our Afghan partners and supporting them strongly. In Mosul, American troops are supporting Kurds, Sunnis and Shias fighting together for their homeland. Qatar, which hosts the U.S. Central Command, is a crucial strategic partner.

Our long- standing partnership with Kuwait and Bahrain continue to enhance security in the region. Our courageous Afghan soldiers are making tremendous sacrifices in the fight against the Taliban and others in the fight for their country. As we deny terrorist organizations control of territory and populations, we must also strip them of their access to funds. We must cut off the financial channels that let ISIS sell oil, let extremists pay their fighters, and help terrorists smuggle their reinforcements

I am proud to announce that the nations here today will be signing an agreement to prevent the financing of terrorism called the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, co-chaired by the United States and Saudi Arabia, and joined by every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is another historic step in a day that will be long remembered

I also applaud the Gulf Cooperation Council for blocking funders from using their countries as a financial base for terror and for designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which they certainly are, last year. Saudi Arabia also joined us this week in placing sanctions on one of the most senior leaders of Hezbollah
Of course, there is still much work to be done. That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamic extremism and the Islamists and Islamic terror of all kinds. We must stop what they're doing to inspire, because they do nothing to inspire but kill. And we are having a very profound effect if you look at what's happened recently. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians

Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear -- barbarism will deliver you no glory. Piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be fully condemned. And political leaders must speak out to affirm the same idea. Heroes don't kill innocents; they save them

Many nations here today have taken important steps to raise up that message

Saudi Arabia's vision for 2030 is an important and encouraging statement of tolerance, respect, empowering women, and economic development

The United Arab Emirates has also engaged in the battle for the hearts and souls, and with the United States launched a center to counter the online spread of hate

Bahrain too is working to undermine recruitment and radicalism
I also applaud Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon for their role in hosting refugees

The surge of migrants and refugees living, and just living so poorly, that they're forced to leave the Middle East depletes the human capital needed to build stable societies and economies. Instead of depriving this region of so much human potential, Middle Eastern countries can give young people hope for a brighter future in their home nations and regions. That means promoting the aspirations and dreams of all citizens who seek a better life, including women, children, and the followers of all faiths

Numerous Arab and Islamic scholars have eloquently argued that protecting equality strengthens Arab and Muslim communities. For many centuries, the Middle East has been home to Christians, Muslims, and Jews living side by side. We must practice tolerance and respect for each other once again, and make this region a place where every man and woman, no matter their faith or ethnicity, can enjoy a life of dignity and hope

In that spirit, after concluding my visit in a fabulous place that we're at today, Riyadh, which I've gotten to know so well in so short a time, I will travel to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and then to the Vatican, visiting many of the holiest places in the three Abrahamic faiths. If these three faiths can join together in cooperation, then peace in this world is possible, including peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I will be meeting with both Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas

Starving terrorists of their territory, of their funding, and the false allure of the craven ideology will be the basis for easily defeating them. But no discussion of stamping out this threat would be complete without mentioning the government that gives terrorists all three -- safe harbor, financial backing, and the social standing needed for recruitment. It is a regime that is responsible for so much instability in that region. I am speaking, of course, of Iran
From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds arms and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region. For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror. It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this very room

Among Iran's most tragic and destabilizing interventions, you've seen it in Syria. Bolstered by Iran, Assad has committed unspeakable crimes, and the United States has taken firm action in response to the use of banned chemical weapons by the Assad regime, launching 59 missiles at the Syrian air base from where that murderous attack originated. Responsible nations must work together to end the humanitarian crisis in Syria, eradicate ISIS, and restore stability to the region and as quickly as possible
The Iranian regime's longest suffering victims are its own people. Iran has a rich history and culture, but the people of Iran have endured hardship and despair under their leader's reckless pursuit of conflict and terror. Until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together to isolate it, deny it, funding for terrorism, cannot do it, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they so richly deserve

The decisions we make will affect countless lives. King Salman, I thank you for the creation of this great moment in history and for your massive investments in America and its industries and its jobs. I also thank you for investing in the future of this part of the world, the fertile region -- and it is so fertile -- has all of the ingredients for extraordinary success: A rich history and culture, a young and vibrant people, a thriving spirit of enterprise. You can only unlock this future if the citizens of the Middle East are freed from extremism, terror, and violence

We in this room are the leaders of our peoples. They look to us for answers and for action. And when we look back at their faces, behind every pair of eyes is a soul that yearns for justice and yearns for peace

Today, billions of faces are now looking at us, waiting for us to act on the great question of our time. Will we be indifferent in the presence of evil? Will we protect our citizens from its violent ideology? Will we let its venom spread through our societies? Will we let it destroy the most holy sites on earth? If we do not confront this deadly terror, we know what the future will bring -- more suffering, more death, and more despair. But if we act, if we leave this magnificent room unified and determined to do what it takes to destroy the terror that threatens the world, then there is no limit to the great future our citizens will have

The birthplace of civilization is waiting to begin a new renaissance. Just imagine what tomorrow could bring, glorious wonders of science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire mankind. Great cities built on the ruins of shattered towns. New jobs and industries that will lift up millions and millions of people. Parents who no longer worry for their children, their families, and who no longer mourn for their loved ones. And the faithful who finally worship without fear

These are the blessings of prosperity and peace. These are the desires that burn with a righteous flame in every single human heart. And these are the just demands of our beloved people. I ask you to join me, to join together, to work together, and to fight together, because united we will not fail. We cannot fail. Nobody, absolutely nobody, can beat us

Thank you. God bless you, God bless your countries, and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. Thank you

Trump's Wall: The Humane Thing to do

    

When it comes to the wall in particular, and immigration reform in general, I am in an unenviable position. I am a Christian Preacher. I am a Patriotic American. I have served as a Police Chief, a Police Officer, and a Patrol Officer. I have seen all sides of the issue first hand.

I know a family well whose parents brought them here as very small children, undocumented from Mexico. They raised 3 fine young men. I would be honored to have either of the 3 in my family. These 3 young men now have legal status, but for years they lived in fear of being deported. As members of the Church they attended, as compassionate Christians, as friends we shared their fear.

Having been in Law Enforcement, I have also dealt with the issue of less desirable undocumented, illegal immigration. Even though many liberals like to deny it, this is a very real issue. Most who come here are good people just trying to improve their quality of life, and provide a better life for their children than they had. Isn't that what every good parent wants? Some however, are simply criminals, gang members, etc.

Immigration reform is needed in our country. It shouldn't be a Republican issue, nor a Democratic issue. It is an American issue, and yes a Christian issue. It should be dealt with in a bipartisan fashion. Take out all the rhetoric, all the talking points and fix it. That is why we send representatives to Washington. To keep us safe and solve major problems. That is an article for another day however, back to the wall.

For my Conservative friends and readers sorry if I offended you in the first couple of paragraphs, I have to write what God puts on my heart. For my liberal friends and readers, please read the entire article before you start sending hate mail.

I don't understand how liberals can be so vehemently opposed to the wall. If they truly cared about the undocumented or illegals depending on which side of the political spectrum you are on, they would want the wall. A Christian should want the wall. It is the Christian thing, and the humane thing to do.

Because of my illness I have a lot of time on my hands. I spend much of it watching documentaries, reading, and studying. One of the books I have been researching for the past year and a half is about the drug cartels. In doing that research I have seen just how involved they are in both human trafficking and human smuggling.

Those who think the wall is racist, bigoted, etc. need only look at the terrible things that happen to these migrants due to the elements, the drug cartels, coyotes, crooked Mexican Law Enforcement, etc., it is absolutely appalling.

As many as 80% of the women and young girls are raped. Some are sold into sex slavery once they arrive in the U.S. Many migrants lie in unmarked graves in the desert. Anthropologists discover unmarked graves on a regular basis. Some headless bodies, some simply heads buried. Some appear to have been tortured first.

Many are brought into our country and placed in so called "safe houses" where they are often held hostage until their families can come up with even more money to pay the cartels. While being held they are often beat or sexually abused on video. The video is then sent to a family member to extort money from them. If they can't or don't pay, the migrant is either killed or sold into slavery.

Refusal to secure the border allows these atrocities to continue. Securing the border and enforcing immigration laws will dramatically reduce the number of migrants who attempt to cross the border. It will reduce violence on both sides of the border. Significantly reduce income for the drug cartels. It is the humane thing to do for the migrants and their families.

Some statistics for the liberals to back my statement. I am going to use as many liberal sources for the statistics more believable for my liberal readers.

From The Huffington Post:

As the number of Central American women and girls crossing into the U.S. continues to spike, so is the staggering amount of sexual violence waged against these migrants who are in search of a better life.

According to a stunning Fusion investigation, 80 percent of women and girls crossing into the U.S. by way of Mexico are raped during their journey. That’s up from a previous estimate of 60 percent, according to an Amnesty International report.

This year alone, immigration authorities expect more than 70,000 unaccompanied minors to come through the United States unlawfully, the majority of whom are from Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The number of unaccompanied Central American girls caught at the Southwest border has rapidly outpaced the number boys, according to a July Pew Research study.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/12/central-america-migrants-rape_n_5806972.html

More than 6,000 immigrants have died crossing the southern border since 1998, according to federal records, and hundreds of them have never been identified.

Typically when someone is missing in the United States, family members file a police report, an investigation ensues, and then, as hope fades, relatives provide DNA samples in case an unidentified body is found.

But the families of immigrants who go missing along the border — likely victims of exposure or dehydration — are largely shut out of this system. Because no one really knows precisely where they disappeared, there is no straightforward way for family members to file an official missing person report or to deposit a DNA profile in the FBI’s national database to match to the bodies found along the border.

Police often refuse to take missing person reports. Border Patrol and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they do not investigate such cases.

And many families of the missing have no idea where to file reports anyway, or they fear getting deported if they contact police.

As a result, hundreds of unknown bodies — including children — have been buried in Arizona and Texas, where the largest numbers of deaths are recorded.

In recent years, the deaths have soared in one of the worst places for immigrants to die: Brooks County, Texas, a vast, sun-baked expanse of cattle ranches an hour north of the border on the way to Houston, a hub where immigrants can catch a ride to anywhere in the United States. The path through Brooks County is one of the routes officials say is commonly traveled by thousands of immigrants from Central America. Santos, who crossed the border near McAllen, Texas, may well have been among them.

Brooks County doesn’t have its own medical examiner. Until last year, only an elected justice of the peace declared people dead, then turned them over to funeral homes without taking a DNA sample as required by state law, partly because the county could not afford it. The funeral homes buried the dead in Sacred Heart Cemetery in the county’s only city, Falfurrias.

In 2012, the number of bodies found in the brush or on roadsides in Brooks County doubled to 129, and more than half were unidentified. The next year, according to the sheriff’s department, officials discovered 87 bodies, and 44 percent were unidentified. So far this year, they have found 43 bodies.

Last August, Brooks County started sending unidentified bodies to a medical examiner in another county for autopsies and DNA samples. But the only people trying to identify the bodies buried in Sacred Heart, with the county’s permission, are about three dozen college students from Baylor University and the University of Indianapolis and their teachers. They are forensics specialists who say the dead should be identified, just as nations are expected to identify soldiers who die during wars.

In Falfurrias, unidentified bodies are scattered throughout Sacred Heart Cemetery, but in one particular section last month, the students found corpses stuffed into body bags, rolled in blankets, or even placed in garbage bags.

Baylor anthropology professor Lori Baker said one was in a plastic funeral home bag that said “dignity,” and another bag held three skulls. As many as five bodies were dumped in a single grave.

Baker called the scenes “horrific” and said federal officials should have helped local governments address this problem years ago as illegal immigration surged.

“It’s a total systems failure,” Baker said. “It’s a job that a medical examiner ought to do, but these counties really can’t afford to do it.”

Please go to the Boston Globe and read the rest. It is heartbreaking:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/26/students-make-efforts-identify-immigrants-buried-unmarked-graves-near-southwest-border/4iDqnsqHzu9m8N6pPZXffI/story.html

The large and persistent influx of illegal aliens contributes to an environment of vulnerability and abuse. Wherever the law fails to hold people accountable, crime will flourish. The federal government’s failure to effectively address the illegal alien dilemma creates and perpetuates an environment in which exploitation runs rampant.
It is estimated that 17,000 to 19,000¹ foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. Trafficking is the recruitment and possible transport of persons within or across boundaries by force, fraud, or deception for the purpose of exploiting them economically. Victims are lured with false promises of good jobs and better lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhuman conditions. Victims of trafficking are exploited for purposes of commercial sex, including prostitution, stripping, pornography live-sex shows and other acts. However, trafficking also takes place as labor exploitation, including domestic servitude, sweatshop factories, agricultural work and more. After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing.
While anyone can become a victim of trafficking, illegal aliens are highly vulnerable to being trafficked due to a combination of factors, including lack of legal status and protections, limited language skills and employment options, poverty and immigration-related debts, and social isolation. They are often victimized by traffickers from a similar ethnic or national background, on whom they may be dependent for employment or support in the foreign country.
The information below, taken from news and government sources, demonstrates the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States and the precarious nature many illegal aliens face. American immigrants seek opportunities far better than these nightmares, but often fall victim to a flawed immigration enforcement system. Human trafficking violates the promise that every person in the United States is guaranteed basic human rights. A critical strategy in ending human trafficking is better enforcement of our immigration laws and improved federal-local cooperation in law enforcement.
Examples of Human Trafficking in the United States

• June 2016 — Aroldo Castillo- Serrano was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for his part in smuggling Guatemalan workers, including minors, and making them work 12 hour days. They were forced to live in cramped conditions and were made to pay off a significant debt incurred by Castillo-Serrano. Ana Angelica Pedro Juan was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for her part in the operation.


• January 2015 — Rafael Alberto Cardena-Sosa was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for participating in a family run sex trafficking organization. His family member, Carmen Cadena, pleaded guilty and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The two family members are responsible for luring young women and girls from Mexico and illegally smuggling them into the United States. They then imposed a smuggling debt and forced them into prostitution with physical force and death threats.


• January 2015—Three brothers, Jorge, Ricardo and Leonel Estrada-Tepal pled guilty to sex trafficking charges. The Mexican nationals illegally transported females from Mexico to the United States and forced them to work as prostitutes in various cities. They face sentences ranging from a minimum of ten years behind bars to a maximum of life in prison.


• September 2014—Charles Marquez was sentenced to life in federal prison for recruiting women in Mexico by placing an advertisement in Ciudad Juarez offering jobs in the United States. Once recruited, he harbored them in motels and forced them into prostitution. He worked with Martha Jimenez Sanchez who faces up to ten years in prison after pleading guilty. Sanchez was released on bond and is awaiting sentencing.


• May 2013 — German Rolando Vicente-Sapon, an illegal alien, was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for illegally smuggling and trafficking a 14 year old Guatemalan girl to Chattanooga, TN for $2,000 and coercing her into having sex. He will be deported after completing his prison sentence.


• March 2013 — Susan Lee Gross was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in using a massage parlor as a front for a prostitution house. She transported women to work as prostitutes at her parlor and laundered the proceeds. Gross made them travel to various places around the United States. The women were originally from Korea and some were unlawfully present in the United States. Most lacked language and employment skills.


• March 2013 — Moonseop Kim, who was illegally in the country, pleaded guilty to illegally transporting women from South Korea into Mississippi for financial gain with a sex trafficking organization. He posted an internet ad offering Korean female escort services. He is facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison as well as a deportation following the completion of his prison term.


• July 2012 — Omelyan Botsvynyuk and Stepan Botsvynyuk were convicted of recruiting workers from Ukraine and forcing them to work through physical violence and threats of sexual assault. The victims never received compensation, but were rather instructed to work until their debts, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, were paid off. They told victims that their families would be kidnapped and forced into prostitution if anyone attempted to escape. The two brothers were found guilty and received sentences of life plus 20 years in prison and 20 years.


• October 2011 — Edk Kenit and Choimina Lukas pleaded guilty to document servitude and labor trafficking. The Micronesian couple recruited the victim from their home country to become their domestic servant. When she arrived, the couple took her passport in order to compel the victim to work for them. The couple prevented the victim from having friends, going out of the house or participating in social gatherings.


• January 2011 — Lucinda Lyons Shackleford was indicted on charges of forced labor and document servitude (The withholding of an individual’s legal documents). He promised to take care of the victim after placement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Family Reunification Program, but instead forced him to engage in various types of labor. Shackleford failed to provide him with adequate food or any form of payment for his labor.

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Endnotes

1. Shandra Woworuntu, “My life as a sex-trafficking victim,” BBC News, March, 2016, ; Trafficking in Persons Report, 2007, U.S. Department of State.

Link to Source:

http://www.fairus.org/issue/human-trafficking-exploitation-of-illegal-aliens

http://www.fairus.org/issue/human-trafficking-exploitation-of-illegal-aliens

From ICE during the middle of the liberal Obama years:

January 16, 2013

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative agency within the Department of Homeland Security, enforces a wide range of crimes related to border security, including investigations of human smuggling and human trafficking. In fact, ICE is one of the primary federal agencies responsible for combating human trafficking.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States is a destination country for thousands of men, women, and children trafficked from all areas of the world. These victims are trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. Many of these victims are lured from their homes with false promises of well-paying jobs; instead, they are forced or coerced into prostitution, domestic servitude, farm or factory labor or other types of forced labor.
Victims often find themselves in a foreign country and cannot speak the language. Traffickers frequently take away the victims' travel and identity documents, telling them that if they attempt to escape, the victims or their families back home will be harmed, or the victims' families will assume the debt. We recognize that men, women and children that are encountered in brothels, sweat shops, massage parlors, agricultural fields and other labor markets may be forced or coerced into those situations and potentially are trafficking victims.

Trafficking vs. Smuggling

Trafficking vs. Smuggling: What's the Difference?

Human trafficking and human smuggling are distinct criminal activities, and the terms are not interchangeable. Human trafficking centers on exploitation and is generally defined as:

• Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
• Recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.

Human smuggling centers on transportation and is generally defined as:

• Importation of people into the United States involving deliberate evasion of immigration laws. This offense includes bringing illegal aliens into the country, as well as the unlawful transportation and harboring of aliens already in the United States.

Human Trafficking Indicators

Human trafficking indicators include:

• Does the victim possess identification and travel documents? If not, who has control of these documents?
• Did the victim travel to a destination country for a specific job or purpose and is victim engaged in different employment than expected?
• Is victim forced to perform sexual acts as part of employment?
• Is the victim a juvenile engaged in commercial sex?
• Does the victim owe money to an employer or does the employer hold wages?
• Did the employer instruct the victim on what to say to law enforcement or immigration officials?
• Can the victim freely leave employment or the situation?
• Are there guards at work/harboring site or video cameras to monitor and ensure no one escapes?
• Does the victim have freedom of movement? Can they freely contact family and friends? Can they socialize or attend religious services?

ICE's Role in Combating Smuggling and Trafficking

ICE works with its law enforcement partners to dismantle the global criminal infrastructure engaged in human smuggling and human trafficking. ICE accomplishes this mission by making full use of its authorities and expertise, stripping away assets and profit incentive, collaborating with U.S. and foreign partners to attack networks worldwide and working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations to identify, rescue and provide assistance to trafficking victims.

Victim-Centered Approach

ICE recognizes that in order to successfully investigate and prosecute traffickers, victims must be stable and free from fear and intimidation to be effective witnesses. Equal value is placed on the identification and rescue of victims and the prosecution of traffickers. ICE has more than 350 collateral duty victim/witness coordinators who work with NGOs to assist in the provision of victim services. Short-term immigration relief is provided to certified victims of trafficking in the form of continued presence status.

Recent Anti-Human Trafficking Successes

Trafficker Arrested in Cameroon

In Baltimore, a 10-year-old girl from Cameroon was brought to the United States for the purpose of domestic servitude and subjected to physical abuse and isolation. The trafficker fled the United States and was later arrested in Cameroon. The trafficker was brought back to the United States to serve a 17-year sentence for involuntary servitude and harboring for financial gain. The trafficker was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim.

Sex Traffickers Sentenced to 40 years

In Los Angeles, 15 women and girls were forced by a family-run human trafficking organization into prostitution. As a result of the investigation, seven Guatemalan and two Mexican nationals were found guilty of conspiracy, sex trafficking of children by force and importation and harboring of illegal aliens for purposes of prostitution. They received prison sentences ranging from two to 40 years depending on their level of involvement.

Traffickers Arrested in Hair Braiding Salon

In Newark, 20 young women and girls from Togo and Ghana were brought to the United States through a visa scheme, forced to work in hair braiding salons under appalling conditions, and subjected to physical abuse and threats. Six traffickers from Togo entered guilty pleas or were convicted by a jury for offenses involving forced labor, conspiracy, document servitude, visa fraud, transportation of a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity and alien smuggling.

Cooperation with Mexican Law Enforcement Rescues 24 Victims

In New York, an ICE-led investigation, in collaboration with the Government of Mexico, targeted a trafficking organization that smuggled Mexican women into the United States and then subjected them to commercial sexual exploitation. Twenty-four women were forced into prostitution at brothels on the East Coast through threats of violence against them and their children. The principal traffickers were sentenced to terms of imprisonment from 25 to 50 years each. The mother of the main defendants was arrested in Mexico and later extradited to the United States where she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her involvement in the scheme.

Russian, Ukrainian and Czech Labor Trafficking Victims Rescued in Detroit

In Detroit, a concerned citizen reported women being forced to work against their will as exotic dancers. Ten women were brought to the United States through a visa fraud scheme where they were forced to work as dancers through threats of violence, sexual abuse and threats of jail and deportation. The investigation resulted in the arrest and indictment of nine defendants. All of the defendants pleaded guilty and their sentences ranged from probation to 14 years imprisonment.

Domestic Servitude Victim Rescued on Long Island

On New York's Long Island, ICE agents arrested a husband and wife as a result of a domestic servitude investigation. The couple was alleged to have held two Indonesian females in their residence where they were forced to perform domestic services. They were found guilty by a jury of forced labor, peonage, document servitude, harboring aliens and conspiracy. The wife was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and her husband was sentenced to three years. The jury ordered that their residence, valued at $1.5 million, be criminally forfeited in order to assist with victim restitution

https://www.ice.gov/factsheets/human-trafficking

From NPR:

For many migrants trying to reach the U.S. from Mexico, the border region is a terrifying, lawless place, and their fear is often justified. Things are so bad in Matamoros, a border city just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, that last month the city's police were stripped of their weapons, ordered off the streets and replaced by soldiers.

Gang members openly sell pirated gasoline that they've stolen from government pipelines, and lookouts for the drug cartels monitor the south bank of the Rio Grande to make sure no one tries to swim across who hasn't paid for the privilege.

While the overall number of migrants trying to cross illegally into the U.S. has dropped dramatically over the past few years, the trip has grown more dangerous, as some of Mexico's most brutal drug cartels now earn millions of dollars each year from the extortion and smuggling of migrants. Last year, hundreds of migrants went missing or were killed in Mexico, and more than 20,000 were kidnapped.

Extortion And Kidnapping At The Border
Juan Perez, 24, and his girlfriend arrived in Matamoros a couple of days ago from the southern Mexican state of Tabasco. They've run out of money and now find themselves stuck at the border.

"There's a lot of criminals at the river. You have to pay to cross the river," Perez says. "And on the other side you have to be careful of the Border Patrol. And there's a lot of crime here in Matamoros right now."

He says the gangs want $100 per person just to let migrants swim across the river; it's $3,000 if you want to get delivered to Dallas. Perez can't even afford to jump into the water.

The couple is staying at a church-run shelter. They've heard about other migrants getting kidnapped, robbed and beaten here. They don't have the bus fare to return to Tabasco, but Perez worries he'll get abducted if he goes out to try to find a job.

"The truth is ... I'm afraid to go out in the streets," he says.
Perez says they wanted to go to the U.S. to look for work. Now they just want to go home.

Catholic priest Francisco Gallardo Lopez runs the shelter where Perez and his girlfriend are staying. At his office attached to a simple white church, Gallardo says the situation for migrants has deteriorated significantly over the past few years.

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/08/137647286/brutal-cartels-make-crossing-u-s-border-even-riskier

The statistics quoted in the above articles are really only the tip of the iceberg. No one really knows just how many migrants have died or been killed in the desert and mountains on either side of the border and just left in shallow graves.

No one knows for sure how many young children have been sexually assaulted or forced into sex slavery. How many have been beat, tortured, or kidnapped. The area is to vast and secluded to ever know the true numbers.

The only way to stop or slow this carnage is to secure the border so well most people will stop trying. Make the criminal penalties so hard on the Coyotes and Drug Cartels for human smuggling and human trafficking that it just isn't worth the risk.

All the liberals who are opposing the wall because they care so much for migrants. Or oppose enforcing the border because they care so much for migrants are really only siding with the cartels and smugglers and placing migrants in more and more danger.

Liberals have to understand the border will have to be secured before much needed Immigration Reform will ever become a reality. Conservatives will not fall for your tricks again. If you won't seal the border for the safety of American Citizens, do it for the migrants.

For Every Action...

    

Ok, we retaliated against Syria, what now? Should we have done it? Was it proportionate? Should we have warned Russia?

Short answers in my opinion, yes we should have done it. Yes it was proportionate. Yes we should have warned Russia. So what now?

Obviously I am no military strategist. I'm no smarter than anyone who reads my articles.  I just try to pay attention to what is happening and use common sense. Most of the experts I've heard last night seem to think we will know what the reactions will be in the next 24 - 72 hours. Obviously they are the experts, not me, but I'm not sure we will know that quickly.

President Trump's swift, determined response to Assad's chemical weapon attack will make all the world players have to think of their response. This Commander in Chief is different from the previous one. We will look at it by country.

Russia

Putin has to do something to save face. Hopefully it will be a measured response that won't result in a "tit for tat" response from the U.S. so that things escalate. The "never Trumpers" will use our warning to Russia as "proof" President Trump colluded with Russia in the election. Bovine waste.

Had we not warned Russia and there been Russian loss of life, Putin would have had no choice but to retaliate. The Russian people would have demanded it. Putin and Russia are not our friends. One only has to look at Afghanistan to see that. Russia is helping arm The Taliban. Russia and the Taliban were mortal enemies for years. Many experts say their fight against the Taliban is a large part of what brought about the break up of The Soviet Union. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has described the break-up of the Soviet Union as the "greatest geopolitical disaster of the last century". The only reason Putin would even consider arming The Taliban is because he hates the U.S. even more.

I think Putin will bluff and bluster publically and have some type of measured response. Unfortunately behind the scenes I think he will do more to arm and support our enemies such as Iran, the Taliban, etc.

Iran

There is no doubt Iran will retaliate. Again, to save face they have no choice. The question are how soon and how publically. Will they go as far as ordering a terrorist attack inside of America? They do have the people here with the capability to carry out terror attacks. I really don't think they will go that far, yet. That day will come.

I look for them to use the Shia Militias in Iraq to try and carry out a terror attack on our troops in Iraq. Maybe even try to take an American Soldier alive which would be horrible. Possibly a Hezbollah attack on Israel.

Turkey

I haven't really heard any experts mention Turkey yet, which I think is a mistake. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey is an evil snake. He has publically applauded the attack on Syria which is concerning. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has an ulterior motive for everything he says and does. He thinks he should be the leader of the next Islamic Caliphate. In order to achieve that he needs to be able to pound the Kurds under the guise of helping to depose Bashar Hafez al-Assad.

Anything Erdogan is happy about is bad for the world.

North Korea

Kim Jong-un, the short fat crazy kid who is the dictator of North Korea is a wild card in this thing. Can and will China stop him from doing something crazy? I don't know. He is certainly insane enough to do something in the wake of this to provoke things.

There have been rumors from defectors from North Korea that some military leaders in North Korea are almost ready to stage a military coup of the short fat crazy kid. I can't see them having the courage to attempt a coup without the Chinese giving behind the scenes permission. They know without the Chinese agreeing to stay out of any coup attempt they would be brutally crushed.

China

I probably have less of an instinct of what China will do than any of the other countries. I would think President Xi Jinping would be a little unnerved to see America now has a President who would have this attack occur as the two of them were having dinner.

The end result? I think President Trump did the right thing. The right way. Time will tell.

What Are They Trying to Hide?

    

Has anyone else noticed a change in the Democratic Pundits since Monday? Every one I have seen on every network seems angry. Well much more angry than usual. Have you noticed the Mainstream Media's reaction to the news about Susan Rice?

Something big is behind the unmasking and leaking. Something that will make Watergate look minuscule. I don't know what, but I know Democratic politicians, Democratic pundits, and the MSM wouldn't be working so hard to cover it up if not.

From Don Lemon at CNN:

"There is no evidence whatsoever that the Trump team was spied on illegally," Lemon said on "CNN Tonight." "There is no evidence that backs up the president’s original claim."

"And on this program tonight, we will not insult your intelligence by pretending otherwise, nor will we aid and abet the people who are trying to misinform you, the American people, by creating a diversion," he added.

Mr. Lemon, your job is to report the news. Susan Rice unmasking of American citizens, then lying about it on PBS is news. It isn't fake news, it isn't a diversion, it is real news.

It was the day after Bloomberg News broke the story about Susan Rice before ABC and NBC reported on it. CBS did that night but to defend Mrs. Rice.

Some of what has been in the MSM:

ABC:

Transcript for Susan Rice faces accusations of 'unmasking' Trump officials

Now we'll dig into that story about Obama national security adviser Susan rice and the questions over how and why she unmasked trump administration officials. That term unmasking is new for most of us. When the U.S. Spies on a foreign target an American may get caught up in the surveillance. Those names are not revealed. John Smith becomes U.S. Person. But national security officials can ask for the names to be unmasked if they feel it's necessary to understand the intellige intelligence. Unmasking is legal. Leaking ab unmasked name to the press is not legal. Cecilia Vega is covering the story from the white house. Good morning, Cecilia. Reporter: Good morning and there is a strong denial from Susan rice. She said she did not leak any of those names and did nothing illegal but Democrats and Republicans see this very differently. The left sees Susan rice as a scapegoat. The right sees her as the smoking gun that proves the president's wiretapping claims. This morning, allies of president trump joining in a chorus of anger. Three Republican members of congress sending this letter to senate and house intelligence committees demanding president Obama's former national security adviser be called to testify saying that Susan rice's behavior appears negligent at best and criminal at worst. To them she could be the smoking gun that proves president Obama wiretapped president trump but from rice a firm denial. I leaked nothing to nobody. And never have and never would. Reporter: She does admit she asked to un-marv the identities of Americans picked up by surveillance. But she says it was all part of her job. This is not anything political has been alleged. That's absolutely Faust. We can't be passive consumers of this information and not -- and do our jobs effectively to protect the American people. Reporter: Rice would not "The name of god is mercy"s but sources tell ABC news that as the intelligence community investigated Russia's election meddling in some cases trump campaign and transition officials were caught up in surveillance. Rice requesting their identities. Republican lawmakers outraged. So if this is what the people are saying it is, this is totally unusual and I think totally wrong and inappropriate. Reporter: And senator Rand Paul tweeting, smoking gun found. But rice says there was nothing illegal and there was no wiretapping. The intelligence community, the director of the FBI has made that very clear. There was no such collection, surveillance on trump tower or trump individuals. Reporter: So adamant denial. Another Republican calls rice the typhoid Mary of the Obama administration. Surprisingly the white house has been pretty restrained on this one, George. Sean spicer calling these reports about rice and unmasking troubling. Okay, Cecilia, thanks very much. Let's bring in John avlon of "The daily beast" and author of "Washington's farewell." Thanks for coming in. Let's try to unpack this whole unmasking controversy if it is, indeed, a controversy. As Cecilia said in the piece unmasking legal, proper, routine for national security officials. If that information were leaked it would be a problem. That's right but there's no evidence at this point and goes to the intent of an unmasking. What'shaing is the politicization of national security in order to deflect from the focus of much of the point on capitol hill which the FBI investigation about possible Russian contact with the trump transition and campaign. But this is being pumped up by partisan media by something equivalent to validate the president's claims. It has nothing to do with the president's claims about wiretap. Nothing to do with wiretapping at all but that distinction is not -- is without a difference to most hard-core partisans who are trying to defend the president or deflect away from the main investigation

NBC:

It doesn't have the ring of "Benghazi," or "Whitewater," but Republicans are seizing upon what they see as a new scandal: "Improper unmasking."

The issue: Did President Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, do something wrong when she requested that the identities of some Trump aides be "unmasked," or revealed to a small group of cleared government officials, after those names turned up in surveillance reports of foreigners in the waning days of the last administration?

"Now we know that someone in the Obama administration was eavesdropping and specifically searching a databank looking for the Trump (people)," Sen. Rand Paul proclaimed Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

Senior Obama administration officials don't dispute that Rice requested the "unmasking" of certain Americans whose names appeared in intelligence reports resulting from eavesdropping on foreigners — meaning the foreigners were discussing the Americans or talking to them. Usually, those names are blacked out. But the blackout can be lifted if doing so is necessary to help understand the intelligence.

Requesting that is a routine thing for national security advisers to do, according to former senior officials, including Keith Alexander, who directed the National Security Agency.

Related: What Does It Mean That Trump May Have Been Incidentally Surveilled?

Rice didn't and couldn't "order" the unmasking of any American, current and former officials say. The agencies that hold the raw surveillance transcripts — usually the NSA or the FBI — make that decision. It's a process subject to rules and reviewed by lawyers, and it has to be justified by an intelligence purpose

Rice's role was first discussed by Mike Cernovich, who is also known for promoting a false story that a Washington, D.C. pizza parlor was a nest of pedophiles connected to Hillary Clinton. Unmasking was then the subject of a story by Eli Lake, a conservative columnist for Bloomberg View.

Related: Nunes Backs Down From Assertion Trump Was Monitored

It's hard to imagine FBI Director James Comey or NSA Director Mike Rogers participating with Obama officials in "political" surveillance of the Trump transition, which is the allegation some Republicans are making. Rogers, after all, has acknowledged that he met with Trump about a job in his administration. Comey has been criticized for how he handled the Hillary Clinton email investigation, and for actions that polls show helped Trump.

Alexander told NBC News he routinely turned down requests for unmasking by senior officials in the Bush and Obama administrations.

At the end of the Obama administration, the FBI and the NSA were sifting through intelligence reports on Russian hacking. One goal of their investigation, FBI Director James Comey has made clear, was to learn whether any Trump associates colluded with the Russian effort to interfere in the election on Trump's behalf.

If Russians under surveillance were talking about or to Trump associates, the names of those people would have been relevant.

Related: Trump's Communications Possibly Picked Up By 'Incidental' Surveillance, Intel Chair Says

Likewise, if two Chinese officials were talking about business relationships with an incoming government official, that person's identity also might be relevant.

These are hypotheticals. That's all we have at the moment, because all the surveillance reports are classified and nobody is talking in detail about them.

That brings up another point: "unmasked" does not equal made public. The surveillance reports containing the names of Trump and his aides were still highly classified and viewable by a limited number of cleared individuals.

CBS:

We learned more today about the President's allegation that he and his aides were caught up in Obama-era surveillance,” Anchor Scott Pelley said, teeing up reporter Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Evening News.” Strangely, Pelley stayed away from flinging the fiery insults which drew him much praise from the left. Instead of calling Trump’s claims ‘baseless’ he kept it neutral, only referring to them as “allegations.” He also described what the concern was as “Obama-era surveillance,” something he had not done in the past.

Brennan played defense for Rice, stating, “Well, Scott, as national security adviser to the president, Susan Rice could and did request the names of individuals who were picked up during legal surveillance of foreign nationals.” She then cited unnamed sources who told her there was nothing wrong with what Rice did:

Now, according to a former national security official, Trump associates were not the sole focus of Rice's request, but they may have been revealed when she asked to understand why they were appearing in intelligence reports. However, Rice did not spread the information according to this former official, who insisted that there was nothing improper or political involved.

President Trump Outsmarts Media and Democrats!

    

Has President Trump been vindicated for his claims of "wiretapping?' I think so. I also think even more proof will come out very soon. What I want to hear, if or when that happens is an apology from every person in the media who excoriated President Trump over his accusations.

The very liberal Bloomberg News released the following story today:

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-04-03/top-obama-adviser-sought-names-of-trump-associates-in-

Even Eli Lake in his story said, " The ranking Democrat on the committee Nunes chairs, Representative Adam Schiff, viewed these reports on Friday. In comments to the press over the weekend he declined to discuss the contents of these reports, but also said it was highly unusual for the reports to be shown only to Nunes and not himself and other members of the committee.
Indeed, much about this is highly unusual: if not how the surveillance was collected, then certainly how and why it was disseminated."

You think Eli?

We now know Susan Rice was one of Obama's Senior people involved. There will be others.

President Trump could have released this information much sooner. Instead he sat on it while the MSM and the Democrats railed on. Now he has allowed them to destroy what little credibility they had left. Now they have to wonder what else does he know, and wait for the other shoe to drop. It was a stroke of genius.

Adam Schiff's attitude sure has changed.

No wonder President Obama has kept quiet on this. This will end up going all the way to the top.

A Victim of the War on Opioids

    

I am a victim of the war on opioid addiction. Among other health issues, I live with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. On the McGill Pain Index it is rated as the number one most painful of all chronic pain diseases. For 17 of the past 20 years I have been going to pain management clinics.

During those 17 years I have had a minimum of 6 random drug screens a year. Most years more than 6, never less than 6. I have never failed a drug test. Never. Every since Obamacare started I have dealt with a steady decrease in the amount and or type of pain medication I am allowed. All while the cost has gone up.

When I was first diagnosed I was fussed at by my Dr. for not using all the opioids I was prescribed and told the stress of living with such pain would eventually wear my heart out. I was also told I would get  to the point it wouldn't be worth getting out of bed to do things. It just wouldn't be worth the suffering I would go through the next few days after having a fairly active day. One of my Drs. even told me I was the strongest man he had ever met, but I would get to that point.

Since 2010, my pain medicine has been reduced from 3- 80 mg OxyContin's, 4- 2mg Diluaded's, and 4 -10 mg Valiums a day to now 3 Percocet's a day and 3 - Baclofins The pain hasn't changed. The disease hasn't changed. My cost has changed. It has gone up! My quality of life has changed. It has gone down. Way down. I had to cancel my birthday party with just family this year because I absolutely couldn't get out of bed to be with my small family.

My heart is showing the effects of living with the stress. I have more days I have to just lay around than I ever have. I am not saying this to get sympathy from anyone, just to show there are unintended consequences from this war on opioid addiction.

This "war" will drive more people who have true needs to seek alternative sources for pain control which will turn them into criminals. It will also expose them to drugs with no quality control which will lead to more overdoses. Their only other option will be to do as I do and spend more and more time suffering alone in their bedrooms. Putting those who love them through sheer hell on earth as they watch them just waste away.

I used to work narcotics as a Police Officer. I have seen what narcotic abuse causes. The lives ruined. I have seen the damage done from Narcotics abuse in people I truly care for. A friend of mine who was living in severe pain from a back injury died with a heroin needle in his arm 34 years ago. He wasn't chasing a high, he was chasing pain relief. I understand the need to do something. Something has to be done. There has to be a way to do something about addiction without making those of us who have a true, legitimate medical need pay the price, physically, medically, financially, and emotionally.

I am not smart enough to know what the answer is, however I know the answer is not to cut my life short because of the stress put on my heart from living with such intense pain. The answer is not to sentence me to a life of misery waiting around for my heart to wear out because of the pain and lack of activity.

When President Obama got Obamacare passed, and people begin to see a lot of Americans were being hurt by Obamacare I watched as he said in an interview, "anytime we have sweeping changes like this there will be winners and losers. Some will be hurt by Obamacare, they just have to understand its for the greater good." I and my family were hurt by Obamacare. Bad. Now I hear the same thing about the war on Opioid Addiction.

My challenge to President Trump and Governor Christie, find an answer that helps addicts, their families and friends that doesn't hurt those of us who have legitimate needs.

The Hypocrisy of Susan Rice

    

What we don't need is someone who has been as complicit in lying to the American people as Susan Rice has lecturing anyone on the need to tell the truth. Susan's hypocrisy was on full display in her recent op-ed in The Washington Post. Susan, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Excerpts from her op-ed are in red.

Last week, the British intelligence agency GCHQ took the rare step of debunking as “utterly ridiculous” the Trump administration’s insinuation that Britain spied on Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. On Monday, FBI Director James B. Comey testified plainly that “I have no information that supports” President Trump’s accusations that his predecessor ordered the “wires tapped” at Trump Tower. These false statements from the White House are part of a disturbing pattern of behavior that poses real and potentially profound dangers to U.S. national security.

The foundation of the United States’ unrivaled global leadership rests only in part on our military might, the strength of our economy and the power of our ideals. It is also grounded in the perception that the United States is steady, rational and fact-based. To lead effectively, the United States must maintain respect and trust. So, when a White House deliberately dissembles and serially contorts the facts, its actions pose a serious risk to America’s global leadership, among friends and adversaries alike.

Really Susan? Did you really go there? You who lied to not just American citizens about Benghazi being about a YouTube Video, but also lied to our allies? You who worked for the first Administration who leaked that our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel, does in fact have nuclear weapons. You who worked for the Administration who was caught spying on the leaders of our allies?

You who worked for the Administration who admitted in an interview with The New York Times they manipulated the press and lied to our allies especially Israel, to get their "deal" with Iran? You who worked for the Administration that issued the "red line warning" to Syria then did nothing when they crossed it. You don't think that damaged our standing in the world?

Who can forget Time Magazine's Lie of the Year? Don't you remember your boss, President Obama winning it for, "If you like your Dr. you can keep your Dr., if you like your Insurance you can keep your Insurance." Who can forget Jonathan Gruber admitting the intentional lies and misinformation used to pass Obamacare?

You worked for an Administration who has been caught lying to the American people and our allies more than any Administration in my memory. You participated in many of those lies. How do you think our Allies in Europe felt when they heard your boss caught on a "hot mike" saying "tell Valdimer  I will have more flexibility after my election." Do you really think that didn't damage our credibility with our allies?

Susan for the reasons listed above, among others, you have earned our Hypocrite of the Week award. 

If you want to read the entire op-ed you can read it here:

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/susan-rice-when-the-white-house-twists-the-truth-we-are-all-less-safe/2017/03/21/f7cdef86-0e45-11e7-9d5a-a83e627dc120_story.html?utm_term=.addd314c5d69