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Americans joining ISIS

Supporters of Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front hold placards calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a “terrorist” and denouncing Arab states that have joined anti-Islamic State group campaign, as they demonstrate in the northern city of Alepppo on September 24, 2014. A US-led coalition carried out air strikes against positions of Al-Nusra Front yesterday as well as the Islamic State group. The US designates Nusra a “terrorist” group although recently Washingon has focused more on the Islamic State group as it assembles a coalition to target jihadists in Syria and Iraq. Nusra has fought against IS in parts of Syria, and has also battled alongside moderate and Islamist rebels against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. (Photo credit ZEIN AL-RIFAI/AFP/Getty Images)

The U.S. has been stockpiling mass quantities of weapons and gear in Kuwait to prepare for a possible coordinated attack against the terrorist group ISIS, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The military gear is being stored near a busy commercial port, which is now the place where roughly 3,100 vehicles — mostly ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs — are parked, in addition to electronic equipment and other supplies, the magazine reported, citing defense officials.

Earlier this month, PPD reported that President Obama ordered 250 hardened paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to Iraq at the end of December. The order from the White House was first announced by the administration on November 7, but garnered little attention from media outlets.

Now the military equipment, which is reportedly primarily supplied by the U.S. Army, will be assessed for use as strategists decide what the coalition forces will need to defeat Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

“From June to December, we’ve worked a lot on moving items into Kuwait,” Air Force Maj. Gen. Rowayne “Wayne” Schatz, the director of operations and plans for U.S. Transportation Command, told U.S. News. “The Army is holding the gear there, and it has room to hold it, as the mission fleshes out.”

The U.S. military reportedly is planning a massive spring offensive to help Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take back territory from Islamic State. But Lt. Gen. James Terry said, “I don’t want to disclose any timelines.”

The original plan, which included destroying, selling or giving away as much as $7 billion worth of equipment in Afghanistan to aid the war effort there, was scrapped as the rise of Islamic State — also known as ISIL or by “Daesh,” its Arabic acronym — prompted the military to stash some of that equipment back toward Iraq.

More than 1.1 billion pounds of equipment has been turned into scrap materials, U.S. News reported, citing documents the magazine was given by the Defense Logistics Agency.

Some of the excess equipment, known as “white goods” – like power tools, air conditioners and tractors – is sold in yard sales that have brought in roughly $2 million to date.

As many as 140,000 people and 333,000 tons of cargo shipments that have included thousands of vehicles and 20-foot shipping containers were moved so far this year.

The U.S. has been stockpiling mass quantities

Mideast-Jordanian-Pilot-Islamic-State

Dec. 24, 2014: Friends and relatives of Mu’ath Safi al-Kaseasbeh, a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State group, gather in the town of Aey near Al Karak in southern Jordan. (Photo: AP)

The father of a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State group in Syria pleaded for his son’s release on Thursday, though the group’s track record offers little comfort to the family.

The father reminded the Islamic militants holding his son that they share the same faith, but there has been silence from the group in return. 1st Lt. Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh was carrying out air strikes against the militants when his warplane crashed near the northern Syrian city of Raqqasince, which is considered the group’s capital. ISIS militants quickly took him from the crash site Wednesday morning, dragging him to an undisclosed location.

According to photos published by the Raqqa Media Center, which operates in areas under IS control, al-Kaseasbeh appeared to be able to walk and the only visible injury was what is believed to be a bloody mouth.

The pilot’s father, Safi Yousef al-Kaseasbeh, made his plea while speaking to journalists in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

“I direct a message to our generous brothers of the Islamic State in Syria: to host my son, the pilot Mu’ath, with generous hospitality,” he said. “I ask God that their hearts are gathered together with love, and that he is returned to his family, wife and mother.”

“We are all Muslims,” he added.

The pilot is the first known military member of the international coalition — which includes the Arab nations of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates — to be captured by the Islamic State. Qatar, a corrupt nation that in many ways is friendly to radical Islam, is providing logistical support only.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The father of a Jordanian pilot captured

Rep. Michael Grimm

Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal tax evasion charge, but refuses to reign.

New York Republican Rep. Michael Grimm pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal tax evasion charge just weeks after cruised to re-election, but refuses to resign. Grimm, the Staten Island and Brooklyn-area representative, will be sentenced on the one count of tax evasion on June 8, and could face up to three years in federal prison.

He told reporters as he left the courthouse that he’s sorry for the mistakes he made as a small business owner. However, he stressed that all this happened before he entered Congress, and when asked if he would resign, said he’d serve as long as he is able.

In fact, even before he formally entered the plea, Democrats were calling on him to resign.

“Now that the election is over, Congressman Grimm is finally admitting the truth to his constituents,” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said. “Clearly, Speaker Boehner must insist that Congressman Grimm resign immediately.”

“We won’t have any announcements until the speaker discusses the matter with Mr. Grimm,” said Speaker John Boehner’s spokesman, Michael Steel.

A senior GOP aide also said Pelosi has “zero credibility” on the issue after standing behind other Democrats accused of wrongdoing.

Grimm was arrested in April, and the indictment against Grimm alleged the tax fraud began in 2007 after he retired from the FBI and began investing in a Manhattan eatery called Healthalicious. It alleged he was underreporting more than $1 million in wages and receipts to evade payroll, income and sales taxes, in part by paying immigrant workers, some of them in the country illegally, in cash.

In court on Tuesday, Grimm acknowledged that while operating the restaurant, “we underestimated gross receipts and used money to pay employees off the books. The tax returns were false.”

Judge Pamela Chin made no modification to his bail — he’s free on $400,000 bond — and Grimm was able to leave the courthouse.

Despite the investigation and bad press, Grimm handily defeated his Democratic opponent in the 2014 midterm elections by a whopping 13 points.

“Certainly, if I was not able to serve, then of course I would step aside and there would be a special election,” Grimm responded when asked whether he would resign if found guilty during an October debate.

However, outside the courthouse, Grimm was singing a different tune.

“As long as I’m able to serve, I’m going to serve,” Grimm said at his courthouse appearance.

The congressman was likely helped in the district when he made news in January telling a reporter he would “break you in half” and throw him off the Capitol balcony. The reporter had sandbagged him during an interview, asking about the charges and a federal investigation into campaign finance activity after claiming he would not beforehand.

The lawmaker was never charged with fundraising fraud. But a Texas woman romantically linked to him, Diana Durand, pleaded guilty in September to charges she lined up straw donors for his 2010 campaign.

Durand admitted she had asked “two friends” to make $12,000 contributions to Grimm and another politician and then secretly reimbursed them as a way to circumvent campaign contribution limits. She denied through her attorney that Grimm knew anything about it.

New York Republican Rep. Michael Grimm pleaded

wall street stock markets

Barclays trading desk on Wall Street. (Photo: REUTERS)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 18000 for the first time Tuesday after data showed the U.S. economy posted its strongest growth in more than a decade.

The blue-chip index climbed 64.73 points, or 0.4 percent to 18024.17, marking its 36th record for the year, while he S&P 500 index tacked on 3.63 points, or 0.2 percent to 2082.17, marking its 51st closing high of 2014. The Nasdaq Composite fell 16 points, or 0.3 percent to 4765.42, but was weighed down by broad declines in health-care stocks. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology exchange-traded fund fell 4.7 percent.

The market’s latest milestone comes after a string of economic news pointed to an uptick in economic growth, despite small business sentiment at record lows. The Commerce Department Tuesday announced an upward revision of GDP in the U.S. economy from 3.9 percent to 5 percent, the quickest pace in nearly 11 years.

A new survey Tuesday found U.S. consumer sentiment increased in December to its highest level in nearly 8 years, but the housing market data was still rather grim.

New home sales for single-family units in the U.S. fell for a second straight month in November, despite the increased risk the government is injecting into the sector.

The National Mortgage Risk Index (NMRI) for Agency purchase loans rose in November to 11.69 percent, up from the average of 11.29 percent for the prior three months (revised). The risk indices for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, and the VA all hit series highs in November.

“The increase in risk for all the major government agencies over the past two years is cause for concern,” said Stephen Oliner, co-director of AEI’s International Center on Housing Risk. “This is especially true for FHA loans, which would experience a tidal wave of defaults if we have another severe financial crisis.”

The Dow’s crossing of 18000 is the latest milestone in the nearly six-year bull market. The move to 18000 was the fifth-quickest 1000-point rise for the blue-chip index. It has been 119 trading days since the blue chips broke 17000. The fastest 1000-point rise was in 1999, when the Dow jumped to 11000 in just 24 trading days.

Further, investors say the markets are still posed to increase.

“We’re not at the end yet,” said Andrew Slimmon, who oversees about $4.2 billion as managing director of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s Global Investment Solutions. He said valuations aren’t yet too expensive, even though they’re above long-term averages. The S&P 500 is trading at 16.5 times forward earnings, higher than the 10-year average of 13.9. Adding to his positive view is the fact that investors remain cautious on stocks, as opposed to the high levels of enthusiasm often associated with a market top.

U.S. stocks increases were sparked by the Fed’s most recent policy-setting meeting, in which the Fed signaled more easy and loose money via interest rates. They are not expected to raise rates until at least the second half of 2015.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above

The number of Americans filing for first-time jobless benefits fell last week to a seasonally adjusted 280,000. The number of new unemployment claims beat the 290,000 expected, the Labor Department said on Wednesday,

The Commerce Department Tuesday announced Tuesday an upward revision of GDP in the U.S. economy from 3.9 percent to 5 percent. The new number means the U.S. economy grew at its quickest pace in 11 years in the third quarter.

Still, despite the recent positive news, the pace of growth is likely than not to slow in the fourth quarter.

The number of Americans filing for first-time

New homes sales data reported by the Commerce Department. (Photo: REUTERS)

New home sales for single-family units in the U.S. fell for a second straight month in November, the latest sign of a struggling housing market. The Commerce Department released a report Tuesday that showed sales declined 1.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 438,000 units, while October’s sales pace was revised down to 445,000 units from 458,000 units.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales rising to a 460,000-unit pace last month.

New home sales, which account for roughly 8 percent of the entire housing market, are typically volatile on a month-to-month basis. However, taken together with housing market data in its entirety, the sector is undoubtedly struggling. Juxtaposed to November of last year, sales were down 1.6 percent.

A report on Monday showed home resales tumbled to a six-month low in November.

The housing market is being hobbled by a slow pace of household formation, a result of sluggish wage growth.

The housing market has struggled in the second half of 2013 in the wake of a small increase in mortgage rates, which have since pulled back from their peaks. Even with increased government involvement, which once again is artificially injecting risk into the market, it is barely propping up sales.

The National Mortgage Risk Index (NMRI) for Agency purchase loans rose in November to 11.69 percent, up from the average of 11.29 percent for the prior three months (revised). The risk indices for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, and the VA all hit series highs in November.

“The increase in risk for all the major government agencies over the past two years is cause for concern,” said Stephen Oliner, co-director of AEI’s International Center on Housing Risk. “This is especially true for FHA loans, which would experience a tidal wave of defaults if we have another severe financial crisis.”

Last month, new home sales fell in the Northeast, the Midwest and the South, but rose 14.8 percent in the West. The stock of new houses available on the market rose 1.4 percent last month to 213,000, or the highest since May 2010.

The regional sales should be digested with the FHA’s NMRI, which stood at 24.26 percent in November, up 0.3 percentage point from the average for the prior three months (revised). The November level is 1.7 percentage points  higher than a year earlier and 3.4 percentage points higher than two years ago. The high level risks fueling home price volatility, particularly in lower income and minority areas.

According to the ICHR research, the softness in mortgage lending is not due to tight standards. but rather due to reduced affordability, loan put back risk, and slow income growth for many households.

Meanwhile, progressing at November’s sales pace would take 5.8 months to clear the supply of houses on the market, up from 5.7 months in October. The median new home price rose 1.4 percent from a year ago to $280,900.

New home sales for single-family units in

the_interview_movie

The premiere of Seth Rogen and James Franco’s comedy “The Interview” in New York was canceled after the Sony hackers threatened a 9/11-style attack on theaters showing the film. Now, the film will not be showing anywhere.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (NYSE:SNE) announced Tuesday they will move forward on a limited release of the comedy film “The Interview” beginning Christmas Day, reversing a controversial decision to cancel showings following an ominous message from North Korean-backed hackers who call themselves “Guardians of Peace.” They threatened an “11th of September”-style attack on movie theaters showing an upcoming film, which included the latest leaks of employee emails.

Hollywood, who slammed Sony for the decision to cancel the showing in the first place, took to Twitter to show their support. The film’s stars Seth Rogen and James Franco, were quick to voice his support on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/JamesFrancoTV/status/547459588875112459

The move comes after the studio’s widely criticized move to cancel the movie’s release following threats from hackers who crippled the company’s infrastructure and published the private information of thousands of employees and business associates.

“We have never given up on releasing ‘The Interview’ and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment. “At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”

“I want to thank our talent on ‘The Interview’ and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month,” Lynton said. “While we hope this is only the first step of the film’s release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech.”

A Change.org petition from independent theater owners had been posted pledging solidarity with Sony and urging the studio to make the movie available to them.

The petition site posted a statement that they had a achieved a “victory” and that Sony was making the movie available.

“Sony has authorized independent theaters to show ‘The Interview’ beginning on Christmas Day!”

Sony’s attorney in the hacking scandal said on Sunday that the movie would be released in some form or fashion but did not say how or when.

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced Tuesday they will

David Webb, a black conservative and radio host, debates the straw that broke the camel’s back with Mayor Bill de Blasio against Bernard Whitman on Fox News.

Meanwhile, from his vacation, a “really angry” Bill O’Reilly called into his program Monday night to rip New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and call for his resignation. Two NYPD officers were shot and killed Saturday after a gunman opened fire on them as they sat inside a patrol car as “revenge” for Eric Garner.

Yet, leftist Mayor Bill de Blasio aligned himself with Al Sharpton and protestors, calling the assault “alleged” despite the fact it, too, was caught on camera. Further, in a press conference following the grand jury’s decision, de Blasio claimed that he had told his own 17-year-old, mixed-race son, Dante, to be careful around police officers.

Meanwhile, protesters part of Al Sharpton’s “Million Marchers” chanted “What do we want?… Dead cops!” as they marched in New York City last Saturday. They were caught on video prior to the executions, which preceded Ferguson protesters taking to the streets in St. Louis– also caught on video — taunting officers with a phrase the cop killer used on Instagram just before committing the executions.

”Pigs in a blanket! Fry ‘em like bacon!” the protestors shouted as police officers stood in a line.

(Video: H/T RightSightings)

David Webb, a black conservative and radio

us consumer sentiment

Shoppers look over the offerings at the new Trader Joe’s store in Boulder, Colorado February 14, 2014.
(Photo: REUTERS/RICK WILKING)

U.S. consumer sentiment increased in December to its highest level in nearly eight years fueled by cheaper gas and better job prospects, according to Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s final 2014 reading. Their reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment measured in at 93.6, which is its best showing on a final basis since January 2007 and the latest in a string of increases since August.

The reading was up from 88.8 the month before but under the preliminary reading of 93.8. It was above the median forecast of 93.5 among economists polled by Reuters.

“Consumers held the most favorable long-term prospects for the national economy in the past decade,” said Richard Curtin, the survey’s director. “Importantly, the 2014 gains in jobs and wages were widespread across all population subgroups and regions.”

The survey’s barometer of current economic conditions rose to 104.8 from 102.7 in November, versus a forecast of 105.1.

The survey’s gauge of consumer expectations also climbed to 86.4 from 79.9 in November and was above the expected 85.0.

The survey’s one-year inflation expectation was unchanged from November at 2.8 percent but down from 3.0 percent a year earlier, Curtin said in a commentary.

A new survey shows U.S. consumer sentiment

import_export_gdp_growth_reuters

(Photo: Reuters)

The Commerce Department Tuesday announced an upward revision of GDP in the U.S. economy from 3.9 percent to 5 percent. The new number means the U.S. economy grew at its quickest pace in 11 years in the third quarter.

The Commerce Department cited stronger consumer and business spending than it had previously assumed, driving growth to the fastest growth pace since the third quarter of 2003.

GDP growth has now been revised up by a total of 1.5 percentage points since the first estimate was published in October, yet big revisions have become a comment occurrence since the recession, as the government does not have full information when it makes its initial estimates and has changed the calculations to inflate GDP Numbers.

The economy expanded at a 4.6 percent rate in the second quarter, meaning it has now experienced the two strongest back-to-back quarters of growth since 2003. Economists polled by Reuters had expected growth would be raised to a 4.3 percent pace.

Still, the pace of growth likely slowed in the fourth quarter.

In a second report, the Commerce Department said non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched report for business spending plans, was unchanged after declining 1.9 percent in October.

The continued weakness in the so-called capital goods orders is at odds with industrial production data, which has shown strong momentum in the manufacturing sector.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, increased at a 3.2 percent pace, which also is the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2013 and more than the previously reported 2.2 percent rate.

Growth in business investment was increased to an 8.9 percent pace from a 7.1 percent rate, with upward revisions to equipment, intellectual property products and nonresidential structures accounting for the revision.

But inventories are likely to drag on output in the fourth quarter.

Spending on residential construction was also revised higher, as were government outlays. Export growth was cut to a 4.5 percent rate from the previously reported 4.9 percent pace, while imports were also revised down.

The Commerce Department Tuesday announced an upward

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