Beltway Insider: Obama/State of Terror; Thailand Attacks; Germany Policy; Milwaukee; Rio Unites World; DEA Says No

President Obama spoke in depth during a recent press conference addressing the State of the Terror Dismantle and Destroying campaign waged along with sixty-six nation coalition focusing on the ultimate destruction of the Islamic State Regime.

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week, increased by two percentage points to 54% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased two percentage points to 43%. 

Sixty-Six Nation Coalition Continues Dismantle/Destroy ISIS Campaign; Gains Intelligence

President Obama updated the media, in a recent press conference, as to the state of the ISIS/ISIL Terror Coalition and dismantle/destroy campaign reiterating the successes and moving forward to an obviously well prepared message.

"Our air campaign continues to hammer ISIL targets.  More than 14,000 strikes so far.  More than 100,000 sorties, including those hitting the ISIL core in Raqqa and in Mosul.  And in stark contrast to ISIL, which uses civilians as human shields, America's armed forces will continue to do everything in our power to avoid civilian casualties," President Obama said.

Sorties are attacks from a defensive or position of strength with specific or designated mission. 

It has been known throughout the intelligence community the Islamic State Regime has endured several deep hits and are losing ground which appear to be the motivation behind the strikes outside the "home" terrorist to create the picture of strength and solidarity with a well-organized network stretching throughout Europe and beyond.

"We continue to take out senior ISIL leaders and commanders. This includes ISIL's deputy minister of war, Basim Muhammad al-Bajari; a top commander in Mosul, Hatim Talib al-Hamdani; and, in yet another significant loss for ISIL, its minister of war, Umar al-Shishani.  None of ISIL's leaders are safe," the President said.

The Islamic State Regime is not an archaic or outdated organization depending on obsolete technology or software. With the recent advances by the United States and coalition forces the recovery of state of the art intelligence storage devices have been secured.  

Thailand Bombings

In a 24-hour period five provinces in Thailand were hit by eleven bombings, in some instances twin bombings were detonated in others only one bomb exploded. At the end of the unprecedented attacks killed four and injured at least 34.

Hua Hin province, south of Bangkok, was the hardest hit with four bombs detonated in two attacks exploding twin bombings in each single instance. Two were killed and 24 were injured. The next four attacks centered in the Southern Thailand region near the tourist heavy Phuket province.

Phang-nga province was hit with a twin bomb attack. No injuries have been reported from this attacks. In the Surat Thani region, they were also hit with a twin bomb attack in which one person was killed and three injured.

Phuket, the pristine tourist destination and ground zero for the 2009 Tsunami which decimated the entire region as a wall of water, from the Indian Ocean, some 30km high washed over the land destroying everything in its wake, was hit with a twin bomb attack; one minor injury was reported.

South of Phuket, Trang Province which sits more inland and on the western side of Thailand was also hit with a single blast in which one person was killed and six sustained injuries.

The Islamic State fighters have not claimed responsibility for the attacks nor have any other local, homeland or lone wolf terrorist organization. Thailand Police have announced that citizens from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria are among the dead. The governments have expressed the desire to assist in the judicial process.

Germany Accelerates Immigration Changes

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, following a recent surge in terror attacks, has announced Germany's leading coalition parties are readying a set of new security laws to fight extremism which will include measures accelerating deportations, abolishing dual citizenship, and loosening medical confidentiality.

The measures, which have yet to become implemented, will radically change the policy toward the immigration position in which Germany absorbed the bulk of the fleeing Syrians resulting in a documented increase of nearly 350,000 disenfranchised, traumatized, scared and lonely refugees, all needing social services, medicine, schools, housing, food, money and employment.

The majority of those, as was with the initial first wave of mass migration, were not documented, arriving without papers or even proper language skills, upon entry into the European Union, and depending on the route used the entry points would often dictate the amount of paperwork completed.

Germany has maintained a more rigorous documentation process as part of its implemented immigration policy for a myriad of reasons of course the wave of terror supporters, the attacks around the world and in nearby France and Belgium weigh heavy on all decisions regarding the immigration process.

As in any nation, working with the government and the need to produce documents ranges from a nightmare to a headache, Germany's is not different. Without eyeing each émigré with suspicion, spotting the ISIS fighter or the lone wolf sympathizer and even the easily radicalized are now part of the immigration process.

Also Beltway Insider: Obama/Singapore; Rio Games; ISIS Loses Ground/Belgium/London Attack; Election 2016; Teala Thompson

Mosque Prayer Leader in Queens, NY Assassinated

The assassination of Bangladeshi Imam Maulama Akonjee, the Mosque Prayer leader, Thara Uddin, his assistant, as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque Saturday afternoon, in Queens, New York brought the terror fight to the streets of New York.

A day after a lone gunman fatally shot a Queens imam and his assistant, the mosque congregants gathered Sunday to mourn and demand justice for their deaths. The gunman and motive for the attack have not been identified.

A police artist sketch has been released depicting a man with beard and moustache, oval edged glasses, dark short cropped hair, strong eyebrows and dark eyes. The sketch is in black and white with the possibility the assailant is of muslin or descent.

No personal motive, other than the possible terror or Islamic State retaliation ties, has been established.

Milwaukee Violence

Residents of Milwaukee are resting somewhat easier after the city erupted in a wave of violence and protests that resulted in vandalism, car bombs, rioting and looting after a man was fatally shot by police.

According to published reports a vehicle was stopped. During the routine vehicle stop, which was identified by MPD Police Chief Ed Flynn as "suspicious" the two occupants one of which was Slyville Smith, 23, exited the car and ran from the scene.  He allegedly refused to comply with Police orders and was shot and killed.

News immediately spread through the city of another officer involved shooting in which a black man was killed. By 3:00am PST, Milwaukee Riot Police were out in force. Rage sparked unrest and one single action sparked civil disobedience. Those involved will be arrested after a thorough investigation.  

More than a dozen building and businesses were looted, burned and/or destroyed as rioters protested the killing raising Mr. Smith as a martyr to a continued spiral of violence that seems to have no end. The facts had yet, and in all reality, the facts other than the vehicle actually being rented to either Mr. Smith or the second, still, unknown occupant will be blurred.

A running man, at midnight, in any city pursued by police would meet, to some degree, a similar fate.

Violence and protests erupted in Milwaukee overnight after a man was fatally shot by police during a foot chase. Police said the victim, 23, was armed with a handgun and shot dead by an officer after fleeing a traffic stop on Milwaukee's north side Saturday afternoon.

Professor Henry Louis Gates

As each of these horrendous stories release new waves of tension across every city in America the story of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates who while on his front porch in Boston was ordered by Boston PD to exit the porch.

The thoughtful neighbors of Professor Gates called in a suspicious person [presumably of color] on the front porch. Professor Gates is African American. When the police arrived he was ordered at gunpoint to exit the porch and was removed and booked. While all is well, allegedly, the sad fact remains when a law enforcement officer has a gun pointed at you [or anyone else for that matter] one must comply.

Olympic Athletes Spark Ignite National Pride

A welcome respite to the epic mudslinging between Presidential candidates, Hillary R. Clinton and Donald J. Trump, have been placed on the back burner as America's real champions, the 2016 Rio Olympics are singlehandedly reigniting national pride.

From the most decorated Gymnast in the world, to the most decorated swimmer world record and Olympic records have been falling as United States Athletes are stepping up and dominating the World Best at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The United States leads with a record 61 Medals; 25 Gold; 18 Silver and 18 bronze (at press time). China follows with 41 and Great Britain with 32.

The Women are securing the top spots with more Gold than Ice-T. World record bling holders include Simone Biles, the powerhouse gymnast who has become the most decorated gymnast of all time with 21 medals, 16 Gold; Three Silver and two bronze medals.

She is a member of a team that has continued to steamroll the competition. Biles, born in Columbus, Ohio to an addicted mother who was unable to care for her and a father she never knew as he abandoned the family, was adopted by her grandparents. As she talks about what others tell her she has missed out on she smiles and reminds them that others are not two-time World Champions or Gold Medalists and Olympians. She turned Pro after signing a letter of intent with UCLA Bruins and is represented by Octagon.

Aly Raisman, the captain of the Fierce Five, the nickname given the U.S. Women's Olympic team. Aly has competed in two Olympic games, Three World Championships, Two Pacific Rim Championships and the American Cup taking Gold in London, Rio, Tokyo, Melbourne with the U.S. Team. Individually she has taken Gold and Bronze in London, Bronze in Tokyo, Silver in Melbourne. Her medal total to date equals 20. Her parents have often been recorded sheering and calling the next moves from the stands.

The Women's swim team is stunning the world and none more than Simone Manuel, who has a woman of color has challenged and broken through barriers than may have in the past held others back. She is a sprint swimmer and locked down the gold for the U.S. team securing the 1000th Gold Medal for Team USA. She has taken 2 Gold and 2 Silver in Rio.

And then there is Lily King, the American swimmer who won Gold in the 100m Breaststroke, beating Russian Yulia Efimova. King commented after her win that she proved "you can compete clean and still come out on top," alluding to the Russian-sponsored doping scandal that led to many Russian athletes being banned from Olympic competition.

No swimming, men's or women's article would be complete with mentioning the remarkable career of Michael Phelps who secured a stunning 23 Gold medals through his career. Swimming in what could be his last race of his career he remarked on the finality of it all. Through the tears he spoke of tomorrows that before this race were not consideration.

Sixty-one medals; sixty-one stories, the good the bad, the heartbreaking, missteps, not quite and finally the sweet taste of victory. With all the chaos and upheaval in the world these athletes have decided to simply compete, dominate and challenge the world to rise above the national developments with them.

The world celebrates with each of these athletes as they inspire, rise above the fray, implement a strategy that takes them from cities, towns, villages, outposts, to a stadium and global audience that applauds each one.

Week Two - Track and Field

As the XXXI Olympiad moves into the second week we are already witnessing tremendous displays of prowess in Track and Field events and are looking forward to the finals. 

Men's Swim Team Robbed At Gunpoint

Olympic Gold medal winner Ryan Lochte, Gunner Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen were outside the Olympic Village visiting a hospitality house sponsored by the French. They were in a taxi heading back to the village when the vehicle was stopped by men posing as military and armed guards. The assailants put a gun to the forehead of Lochte (spike white blonde hair) and demanded money and personal items.

They apparently complied and were freed. The snatch and grab robbery was reported and the swimmers are cooperating with local authorities.

President Obama Names Closing Ceremony Delegation

The Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil will be held on August 21, 2016. 

The delegation will attend athletic events, meet with U.S. athletes, and attend the Closing Ceremony.

The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation

The Honorable Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Department of State

The Honorable Eric Fanning, Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense

Ms. Bess Evans, Senior Associate Director and Senior Policy Advisor, White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council

Ms. Lauren Kelly, Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary, Office of the First Lady

Mr. Jason Collins, Retired NBA Player and Member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

Ms. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, three-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time Olympic silver medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, women's heptathlon and long-jump, and Founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

DEA Delivers Weed Setback

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday denied requests to loosen the classification of marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medical use. The classification does not in any way affect current legalized or decriminalized laws or jeopardize current state referendums.

The decision is the DEA's response to a 2011 petition by two former state governors who had urged federal agencies to reclassify marijuana as a drug with accepted medical uses. It has become well known and well accepted form of treatment to prescribe marijuana to combat the symptoms associated with cancer treatment and other predetermined medical, psychological and emotional conditions.

It is possible and in all likelihood probably that either candidate will address the changes in states marijuana laws and move on the DEA to incorporate new policy.

The next ten states to move forward with some sort of Marijuana initiative for their state include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma all of which are slated for 2016.

Ohio has listed two referendums, Ohio Medicinal Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Amendment and Ohio Cannabis Control Amendment both slated for the ballot in 2017.

Mississippi is set to send Marijuana Cannabis Freedom Act, Initiative 52, to the floor and ballot in 2018

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com, ballotpedia.com,

Haute Tease