You Said What?: Sue Myrick "The Iranians are Coming"

Well the thing that concerns me, and you mentioned this briefly, Iran is working with Venezuela. And they're transiting through Venezuela, taking Spanish for maybe six months. They're getting the false documents that they need, coming up through Mexico and if they're stopped, they just say well I'm Spanish. And it, oh I mean Mexican, and it only takes a smart border agent who knows the difference in the accents. He can tell, but if he doesn't have that, there's no way to know.

And the other thing that we're seeing, and we're seeing it in your state in particular in the prisons is Farsi tattoos. Farsi is basically a Persian language, which Iran is, and we know we've seen Arabic tattoos in our prisons for a long time, but we haven't seen Farsi tattoos in a long time. That's a pretty good indication that these people coming across our border are not just coming from Mexico and other countries that are looking for work. And that's what scares me. Being on Intelligence, we know there are people who are are here who do want to do us harm who are already in the country and it's not a matter of will they get in anymore, it's a matter of they're already here because of our lax border laws.

Well, as I'm sure you'll agree, this is mighty disturbing.  Rather sophisticated Iranians - capable of learning Spanish in six months - are infiltrating our country.  The only thing that stands between "them" and "us" are the language skills of our border patrol.  If they can't tell a Mexican or Spanish accent from  a Farsi  one, we're in for big trouble.

Of course, if they have those "Farsi tatoos", I suppose that would be another way to catch them.  Though I have to admit it's unclear why they would have these tattoos.  Wouldn't that undermine their clever disguises?

And if they're in jail, haven't we already caught them? Or is this a diabolical plan to take over our prisons?  And what greater threat to our nation?  For what more symbolizes a nation than its prisons? 

Perhaps, convenience stores?  And there's another threat lurking there.  And it isn't Apu.

After all this AA is pretty scared but not more than by two chilling facts:

1. Representative Myrick has represented the 9th Congressional District in North Carolina since 1995 .
2. She has a seat on the House Intelligence Committee.

I'm hoping the name signifies the Committee works to raise the intelligence level of its members.  No Representative left behind, no matter how far back he or she starts out.

Kuwait on the Brink

Picture Copyright AlQabas Newspaper Kuwait

Friday's AlQabas first page headline - largest word "Fauda"  = Chaos.  

Most likely next we'll see a resignation by the government.    Then the Amir will call "recess".

Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Golden Jubiliee

Congratulations to the KCCI on its 50th Anniversary.

Something apparently all can agree on: here and here.

Maybe some of the pioneers mentioned in the articles could nip over to the Majlis AlUmma and give a few pointers.

The "Two Powers" Continue Their Check Flap

The check flap is now a legal battle royale (in more than one way!).

There's also an account in AlQabas of debate earlier this Summer in the Majlis AlUmma on the Executive Branch's proposed 2009/2010 budget along with an extract of key comments by MPs - which gives some background flavor on the nature of the dispute and the various issues.   For those who don't read Arabic, the headline discusses secret payments and preferences in land (presumably the latter refers to allocation of lands).

Dysfunction in Kuwaiti Government

Technically, I don't suppose this strictly fits the definition of news.

It's certainly not something new or novel. 

It's actually more like an ongoing soap opera.

The "Two Powers" are ratcheting up their struggle.

The most recent flap over a KD200,000 check issued by the Prime Minister.

Stories in English here with the Prime Minister's reaction in Arabic huna.  The latter headline reads "I Will Sue You".

Parliament is also getting ready for one of its periodic interpellation sessions.

With sights set on five ministers this time.  The PM, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, Works Minister, and the Interior Minister.

If the Executive Branch wishes to avoid the grilling.  the two time honored methods are resignation by individual ministers or dissolution of the Majlis AlUmma.