From the Trenches World Report

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Time growing desperately short, Senate leaders took command of efforts to avert a Treasury default and end the partial government shutdown Tuesday night after a last big attempt by House Republicans abruptly collapsed.

Aides to both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, expressed revived optimism about chances for a swift agreement — by Wednesday at the latest — that could pass both houses. Their efforts toward a bipartisan resolution had seemed likely to bear fruit a day earlier before House conservative were given a last-minute chance for their version.   Continue reading “On the edge: House shutdown plan fails; now Senate”

Fox News – by Perry Chiaramonte

A group formed from the ruins of ACORN is hard at work signing people up for ObamaCare, and may be collecting taxpayer cash for their work despite Congress’ efforts to cut the organization and its affiliates off from government funding, a watchdog group charged.

The United Labor Unions Council Local 100, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, announced last month it would take part in a multi-state “navigator” drive to help people enroll in President Obama’s health care plan. The labor council was established by ACORN founder Wade Rathke after his larger group was broken up amid scandal in 2009 and banned from receiving taxpayer funds.  Continue reading “Ex-ACORN operatives helping roll out ObamaCare”

The New Yorker – by Andy Borowitz

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Adding his voice to the eleventh-hour debate about the government shutdown, Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) today proposed reopening just enough of the government to hold new hearings on Benghazi.

“Across this great nation of ours, people are suffering,” he told Fox News’s Megyn Kelly. “Suffering, Megyn, because they still don’t know what really happened in Benghazi.”

Century Link – by Jennifer Kay – Associated Press

White House Dossier – by Keith Koffler

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell resumed talks tonight on a compromise to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling, and there seemed to be growing optimism they will reach a deal, possibly Tuesday night.

The talks resumed as Speaker Boehner decided he lacked enough support to pass a proposal that would have raised the debt ceiling until February 7 and fund the government through December 15.   Continue reading “Senate Talks Resume as House Cancels Vote”

The Foundry – by Ted R. Bromund, Ph.D.

The U.S. Senate responded decisively today to Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent signature on the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In a bipartisan letter led by Senators Jerry Moran (R–KS) and Joe Manchin (D–WV), half of the Senate has officially pledged to oppose the ratification of the ATT. The signatories include every Republican Senator except Mark Kirk (R–IL) and five Democratic Senators. The letter, with its 50 signatories, ends any prospect in the foreseeable future of Senate ratification of the ATT.   Continue reading “Senate Decisively Rejects U.N. Arms Trade Treaty”

Northeast Intelligence Network – by Catherine Crabill

This past weekend it was a distinct honor to have participated in the liberation of our war memorials in Washington, D.C.  Keep in mind the pretext of closing these sites was because of “budget constraints.” They could not afford to leave open that which has always been left open, but they could afford a massive police presence working overtime. They could afford thousands of rented barricades and printing of thousands of signs. They could afford untold millions for Obama vacations, ‘Obama phones,’ expanded welfare and disability rolls. The list goes on and on, but no money for our military families and in particular, the very sites dedicated to them and because of them.   Continue reading “Behind the scenes of tyranny – a first-hand account”

The Organic Prepper

A major challenge when living from your stockpiled foods is getting enough fruits and vegetables.  Without produce, your family can be at risk for nutritional deficiency diseases like scurvy and their immune systems will be compromised.  A minimum of 5 servings per day is recommended, but during the long winter, how can you meet that goal with the contents of your pantry?

Supplying your family with produce that will provide the necessary nutrients that their bodies need to thrive is a twofold process.  Not only should you preserve the summer’s bounty for the winter ahead, but you should also come up with ways to add fresh greens outside of the growing season.   Continue reading “The Pantry Primer: Stocking Your Supply of Fruits and Vegetables”

USA Today – by Catalina Cami

Impeachment. There’s that word again directed at President Obama — and this time it’s coming from Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Dewhurst, a Republican who’s drawn three primary rivals, called for Obama to be impeached over issues such as the administration’s handling of the deadly attack last year on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and the national health care law.   Continue reading “Texas Lt. Gov. Dewhurst calls for Obama’s impeachment”

The Rundown Live – by Kristan T. Harris

Could the SNAP EBT (Food Stamp) disaster that occurred across 17 states last weekend have been a planned drill rather than system failure? This letter sent out by the USDA makes your brain turn.

A USDA letter has surfaced that has been sent to states across the nation. States are being told to “stop the supplemental nutrition assistance program for the month of November, pending further notice.”  Which could mean that  if Congress doesn’t reach a deal to get federal government back up and running somebody at the Whitehouse decided you will not get your benefits. Worse yet, they have not sent anyone a letter letting people across the nation know their benefits are going to be postponed.   Continue reading “USDA Letter Leaked: Food Stamps Could Be Cut Off as Soon as November”

Common Dreams – by Cora Currier, ProPublica

The United States is loosening controls over military exports, in a shift that former U.S. officials and human rights advocates say could increase the flow of American-made military parts to the world’s conflicts and make it harder to enforce arms sanctions.

Come tomorrow, thousands of parts of military aircraft, such as propeller blades, brake pads and tires will be able to be sent to almost any country in the world, with minimal oversight – even to some countries subject to U.N. arms embargos. U.S. companies will also face fewer checks than in the past when selling some military aircraft to dozens of countries.   Continue reading “In Big Win for Defense Industry, Obama Rolls Back Limits on Arms Exports”

Consumerist – by Mary Beth Quirk

Gather close, you young folk, and listen to a tale of times past, when everyone had phones that connected them to the rest of the world through wires. In days gone by, people relied on these so-called landlines especially in times of natural disasters or power outages. As such, one New Jersey island’s residents are none too pleased that Verizon won’t reinstall its landlines after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the original lines.   Continue reading “New Jersey Island Won’t Get Its Landlines Back After Sandy Because Copper Is Too Expensive”

Voice of Russia

Max Velocity Tactical

There have been a  few inquiries about how to set up a battle belt. I took a couple of photos of my battle belt after this weekend’s training. It’s an evolving thing but this is the current configuration.

This is a variation of a full battle belt that is ideally used for dismounted light infantry operations. It sits your gear nicely on your waist and the harness (suspenders) is important to take up some of that weight and ensure that you don’t have to do up the belt itself uncomfortably tight to stop it falling down over your hips. This kind of battle belt should sit below your hips. You can still wear a PC with it for the ballistic protection, and a ruck or patrol pack will sit nicely on your back, resting on the rear pouches.   Continue reading “MVT Battle Belt”