Victor Davis Hanson put together a good summary of what the Left has bequeathed our dying nation. I tried to shorten it‚ but you can jump right to VDH’s summary below. Filibusters are only for Democrats‚ and so are the Electoral College‚ election laws‚ and balloting laws. They’ve defined an insurrectionist as a Republican doing […] The post What the Left Has Bequeathed Us by Victor Davis Hanson appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Tens of thousands of Americans across the country had their cellular service disrupted earlier Thursday morning as AT&;T’s network was reportedly down for over 60‚000 customers.  There were also reports of outages from Verizon and T-Mobile customers. The outages mainly impacted people in Houston‚ Atlanta‚ San Antonio‚ Miami‚ Dallas‚ Indianapolis‚ and Louisville‚ leaving them unable to call‚ text‚ or use the internet on their cell phones‚ according to tracking site Downdetector.  The spike in outages first occurred at 3:33 a.m. CST with 32‚836 reports of disruptions before dipping at around 5:00 a.m. before jumping back up to around 66‚000 by 6:51 a.m.‚ according to Downdector.  T-Mobile customers also reported nearly 1‚500 disruptions‚ with highest number reported at 6:39 a.m. Around the same time‚ over 3‚500 Verizon customers reported disruptions as well. The Verizon and T-Mobile customers largely overlapped with the areas where the AT&;T outages were reported. According to T-Mobile‚ this occurred because they were attempting to communicate with people on other networks.  The San Francisco Fire Department said early Thursday morning that it was aware of the service problems saying that people were having trouble calling 911.  “We are aware of an issue impacting AT&;T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911)‚” the department said in a post on X. “We are actively engaged and monitoring this. The San Francisco 911 center is still operational.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The department also told people to try call using a landline instead of a cell phone. “If you are an AT&;T customer and cannot get through to 911‚ then please try calling from a landline. If that is not an option then please try to get ahold of a friend or family member who is a customer of a different carrier and ask them to call 911 on your behalf.Do not call or text 911 to simply test your phone service‚” the department said.  AT&;T has not yet issued any statements on why the outages have occurred‚ but a spokesman did tell Fox that the network encourage people to use WiFi calling in the meantime. “Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored‚” spokesman Jim Greer told Fox.

The Republican National Committee’s director of security said that the explanation of the purported January 6 pipe bomb plot‚ and the response by authorities‚ “make no sense whatsoever.” Kenneth Capolino‚ a former Capitol Police officer who went on to work as the RNC’s director of security‚ was the man who personally alerted Capitol Police to the bomb near the RNC and managed the emergency response. Capolino told The Daily Wire‚ in his first public remarks on the incident‚ that it looked like a stereotypical IED‚ or improvised explosive device‚ that is used by law enforcement in training sessions. “Any of the IED awareness training I’ve been to with law enforcement‚ that’s like the quintessential training device‚” he told The Daily Wire. “That’s exactly what it looks like.” His firsthand account adds to questions about the purported pipe bombs‚ which went undetected for a long period of time outside both the RNC and its Democrat counterpart‚ the Democratic National Committee. The bomb plot is by far the most dramatic part of January 6‚ but the FBI has made no progress in determining who planted them — and Democrats investigating the plot appear to have gone out of their way to avoid mentioning their existence since. Capolino says law enforcement would be able to identify the device immediately upon seeing it. “They set up scenarios like that so you know what to look for‚ so they have to make training devices‚” he said. “There was so much about January 6‚ but nothing about the pipe bombs‚ which I thought was so‚ so strange.” The bomb‚ found minutes before protesters entered the Capitol‚ was attached to a 60-minute egg timer‚ but it had been there since the night before. “I was two feet from it. Why would someone construct a device with a one-hour kitchen timer‚ place it 8:30 p.m. the night before‚ if they intended for it to detonate 16 hours later?” he asked. Though referred to in the media as the RNC bomb‚ it was actually at the neighboring Capitol Hill Club‚ a Republican hangout. Capolino said his guards would have found it during their hourly sweeps if it was on RNC property. A similar bomb was found minutes after the RNC bomb was detected‚ directly in front of the DNC beside a bench‚ raising questions about how the DNC would not have located it for seventeen hours‚ despite a bomb-sniffing dog that walked by it. Kamala Harris‚ at the time a U.S. Senator and the vice-president elect‚ was at the DNC‚ meaning there would likely be extra security in place‚ Capolino explained. Capolino said it’s implausible that the Secret Service would not have swept the DNC premises before Harris entered‚ and that “if anyone was patrolling the DNC that should have been found at like 9 p.m.” But Capolino said that whether or not it was a real bomb‚ the FBI’s story that it was placed at 8:30 p.m. on January 5 is true‚ at least for the Capitol Hill Club. He personally retrieved‚ reviewed‚ and handed over to the FBI‚ RNC footage showing the suspect. “We have the guy walking through the back alleyway at that time‚” he said. Surveillance video identified recently by Rep. Thomas Massie showed that after a passerby informed police officers of the DNC bomb‚ the officers dawdled casually for multiple minutes‚ even letting children walk in front. Capolino said that was odd: “Our response at the RNC was very quick. Watching the video of the DNC response‚ I was surprised at the delay in reaction.” The DNC would not tell The Daily Wire whether‚ like the RNC‚ it evacuated staff from the building upon finding the bomb. Massie told The Daily Wire that residents of Capitol Hill reported that it wasn’t until about six months ago—more than two years after the fact—that the FBI knocked on doors in the area to ask residents if they had seen anything related to the bomb. Capolino said that although he provided video to the FBI immediately after the event‚ the FBI showed up at the home of the security officer who was manning the booth six months ago to reinterview him‚ and asked for his supervisor’s information‚ “but I never heard from them.” The FBI initially released only a couple of grainy pictures of the suspect‚ despite the existence of many more videos and photos. The still photos made it impossible for people to identify the suspect by the way he walked‚ Capolino said. “I’m the last one to speculate‚ but it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t at all‚” he said. Eight months later‚ the FBI released video that showed that after the suspect placed the purported bombs‚ he circled back to the Capitol Hill Club and‚ while directly in front of the scene of the crime‚ waved to a police officer who drove by. “This may be something or nothing‚” Capolino said. The FBI has arrested more than 1‚200 people for charges as minor as trespassing at the Capitol on January 6‚ using high-tech techniques like “geofencing” cell phone records. But despite video showing the suspect using a cell phone on January 5‚ an FBI official told Congress that it could not find the suspect in cell phone records‚ perhaps because a batch of cell phone data had gone missing. Journalist Julie Kelly reported that the Capitol Hill resident who found the bomb near the RNC‚ Karlin Younger‚ worked for an FBI contractor. The news outlet Public on Monday quoted a security analyst questioning Younger’s demeanor in the video of her discovering the bomb‚ saying she “never expressed any worry” and “leaned down and placed her ear near the device to listen if the timer was ticking.” Younger approached the RNC’s guard shack to ask for whoever was in charge. The guard summoned Capolino. “I spoke to her and she said‚ ‘I was taking out my garbage and I see this weird pipe thingy with wires coming out of it‚’ so I ran over there and there it was next to the garbage cans‚” he said. He took a picture of the bomb and walked towards the Capitol South Metro station‚ where he knew a Capitol Police officer would be stationed‚ and showed him the picture. “He immediately alerted USCP command center via radio‚ I used the guards that I had to set up containment while Capitol Police set up their quarantine‚ then we went into the building to evacuate while that was going on. Shortly after that was when the FBI used their bomb robot. I saw them manipulating the robot. I’m not sure what method of disposal they used for the device‚ but I believe they disrupted it‚” he said. As a result of law enforcement closing off the area‚ they noticed a red pickup truck full of a cache of weapons‚ Capolino said. The truck was parked in a prominent spot in front of the RNC and near the Capitol South Metro‚ a highly-policed area. “So there were two separate FBI crime scenes going on simultaneously‚” he said. The owner of the vehicle eventually identified himself to law enforcement because the pipe bomb quarantine prevented him from retrieving his vehicle. To Capolino‚ the pipe bomb and the truck full of weapons and Molotov cocktails directly outside of the RNC and next to Capitol office buildings‚ were the most dramatic and dangerous elements of the day. Yet the pipe bombs were barely ever spoken of‚ and few even know the red pickup truck incident occurred. “That doesn’t sit well with me. They’re not even talking about it‚” he said. Court records confirm the red pickup truck incident and show that prosecutors offered a lenient plea deal to the owner of the weapons cache‚ even advocating for the judge to give him a lower sentence. The records show that Lonnie Leroy Coffman‚ a 72-year-old veteran of the Vietnam war and Alabama resident‚ parked the pickup truck containing “loaded firearms within arms-reach of the driver’s seat‚ including a 9mm handgun‚ a rifle‚ and a shotgun. Also inside the pickup truck and in its covered bed were hundreds of rounds of ammunition‚ large-capacity ammunition feeding devices‚ a crossbow with bolts‚ machetes‚ camouflage smoke devices‚ a stun gun‚ cloth rags‚ lighters‚ a cooler containing eleven… Molotov cocktails” modified to operate like napalm. Coffman also had a gun on his person. Prosecutors charged Coffman with 17 counts‚ then agreed to dismiss all but one count of possession of an unregistered firearm‚ a federal offense‚ and carrying a pistol without a license‚ a violation of city law. They took a tone more sympathetic than that taken in the prosecution of unarmed protesters‚ with the prosecutor saying at sentencing that “he met with a woman who felt sorry for him and who also had her vehicle within that law enforcement perimeter‚ and she kind of felt sorry for him. It was cold. They didn’t know what to do‚ and they ended up going — jumping on the Metro and going to Pentagon City and sharing a pizza.” Prosecutors never mentioned why Coffman had the weapons if they were so sure he did not intend to use them‚ leading the judge to say that “the key unanswered question for me‚ which is still frankly unanswered and probably won’t be able to be answered‚ is what was the purpose of driving all the way from Alabama to D.C. with these destructive items in his possession?” Coffman was sentenced to 46 months in prison. The Department of Justice has sought stiffer sentences for at least 134 people who entered the Capitol than it did for the man who parked a truck full of guns and Molotov cocktails in one of D.C.’s prime locations‚ a Daily Wire review of sentencing records showed. Prosecutors presented some evidence that suggests Coffman was not an FBI plant‚ including that he “was identified by law enforcement several years ago as a participant at an armed gathering of militia groups in Texas‚” that he had notes about “leftists‚” and that he had tried to contact Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) about election fraud concerns. (Cruz’s staff thought he was behaving oddly and rebuffed him.) Democrats mentioned the pipe bombs and the red pickup truck only in the appendix of their January 6 report‚ on page 706. Then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund has called the pipe bombs a “diversionary” tactic that caused police to divert resources at a critical time‚ leading to trespassers entering the Capitol unimpeded. Capolino‚ who previously was a senior member of a Capitol Police SWAT team‚ said he believes there should be more transparency around the events of that day. “This whole thing just doesn’t make sense‚” Capolino said. “People need to have all the information to find out what was actually going on. I don’t feel like the public is getting all the information.” Related: FBI Tied January 6 Pipe Bomber To Metro Card Of Ex-Gov Official‚ But Blocked Interview Of Him‚ Former Agent Says

In a sobering reminder of threats yet unvanquished‚ intelligence sources have identified a disquieting surge in activity within Al-Qaeda training camps—a stark echo of the same environments that birthed the devastating September 11 attacks. The rise in such activities is more than a mere shadow of history; it is an incisive call to vigilance for the national security apparatus of the United States and its allies as Al-Qaeda appears to have rekindled its perilous flame in regions fraught with unrest. As whispers turn to warnings‚ it is critical to explore the geopolitical laxity that has permitted such radical factions to reclaim footholds in territories once thought to be under the aegis of democracy and rule of law. Recent administrations have been faulted for neglecting the simmering cauldrons of extremism‚ which now boil over unchecked‚ with the United States’ commitment to counterterrorism operations overseas seemingly waning in favor of domestic policy pursuits. BREAKING: Al-Qaeda resurfaces in Afghanistan with new terrorist training camps‚ according to UN Security Council; while Biden insists he didn't botch the withdrawal‚ according to new book 'The Internationalists'https://t.co/XnN2DHUOQR — Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) February 22‚ 2024 Against the tapestry of international relations‚ the resurgence of these training camps is painting a grim picture for the West. Al-Qaeda’s demonstrated capacity to indoctrinate‚ train‚ and deploy operatives for global attacks reveals a fissure in the globe’s security infrastructure‚ one that many conservative thinkers argue could have been cemented through more resolute foreign policies that prioritize the irreducible reality of international terror networks. Furthermore‚ the evidence of reviving training camps illustrates not just a failure to eradicate extremist sanctuaries but a misstep in gauging the enduring appeal of jihadist ideologies. This ideological threat transcends borders‚ enabling Al-Qaeda to not only regroup in the shadows but to inspire new followers worldwide‚ including possible cells in democratic states‚ leveraging technology and social media for indoctrination and recruitment. Monitoring:- Alarming Rise of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: Training Camps‚ Safe Houses‚ and the Taliban Connection Al Qaeda is on the rise in Afghanistan‚ establishing more than eight training camps and safe houses across the country. Notably‚ four of these are located in… pic.twitter.com/nCKG6lVv8w — Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) February 21‚ 2024 The implications for national security are significant and multifaceted. These terror nurseries plant seeds that grow into the operatives who can infiltrate the streams of international travel‚ trade‚ and communication that bind the world together. This necessitates a robust and proactive approach to intelligence‚ surveillance‚ and interdiction—a clarion call for a reinvigorated and unbridled offensive against terrorism’s root structures. This alarming development calls for a reassessment of the country’s defense and intelligence resource allocations. Conservative voices advocate for a recommitment to external defense initiatives to preempt and dismantle threats before they reach our shores‚ rather than scaling back such mechanisms in a time when vigilance should be at its zenith. In a world that remains infested with the specters of extremism‚ a strong military presence and international collaboration are indispensable. The revival of Al-Qaeda’s formidable training camps should stir a tangible sense of urgency within the corridors of power and among the citizenry. Potential warning signs‚ no matter how seemingly insubstantial‚ must be pursued with rigor and determination. It is a matter of time before these sleeper cells manifest the nightmarish truths they harbor‚ truths that demand to be taken with the utmost seriousness. As the nation gazes into the abyss once more‚ recoiling from the brink requires a steadfast resolve reinforced by historical cognizance. The defense of our values‚ our security‚ and our way of life necessitates a recharged‚ unwavering stance against the terror machines that plot in silence. May we never grow complacent‚ but rather renew our commitment to liberty by extinguishing the embers of hatred before they can ignite into flames that threaten to consume us all anew.   The post Al-Qaeda Resurgence in Training Camps Stokes Fears of Looming Threat appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

As an adult‚ making new friends can often feel complicated. But a kid named Tallulah McLellan is showing us all that there are more opportunities to forge friendships than we may think. In 2020‚ she took note of the fact that her local delivery driver‚ Tim Joseph‚ is deaf. This inspired the thoughtful girl to learn sign language so she and the driver could communicate. At first‚ the two of them communicated through hand-drawn cards. So‚ to say that Tim was moved by Tallulah’s kind gesture would be an understatement! The then 8-year-old’s mom captured one of their conversations‚ and it quickly went viral once she shared it online. Little Girl Learns Sign Language to Chat With Deaf Delivery Driver @wealth Tallulah McLellan‚ an 8-year-old from Greater Manchester‚ learned sign language to talk to her deaf delivery driver‚ Tim Joseph! Their friendship‚ starting with a hand-drawn card and growing through shared sign language‚ is the most wholesome thing you’ll see today. Like this content? Follow us @Wealth Video: @mummybear1903/IG #emotional #inspiration #love #amazing ♬ original sound – Wealth As Tallulah started to learn sign language‚ she began communicating kind phrases to Tim. This includes simple sentences like “have a nice day‚” “good morning‚” and “good afternoon.” In order to thank Tallulah for her kindness‚ the delivery driver brought her a photo of the two of them together. Like Tallulah learning sign language‚ this kind gesture for the 8-year-old meant the world. And because she was prepared‚ Tallulah was able to say “thank you” in sign language. YouTube “It’s lovely to be able to communicate with her‚” Tim shares with a translator. “And I look forward to seeing her on my round.” Who knew that an 8-year-old and a delivery driver would become such fast friends? It goes to show that when you stay open to it‚ you can make positive connections in the most unexpected ways! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Little Girl Learns Sign Language To Surprise Their Deaf Delivery Driver. appeared first on InspireMore.

A Louisville‚ KY‚ bus driver is a hero to a little boy who almost couldn’t participate in a special school spirit day. Larry Farrish Jr. was taking his typical route one morning when he noticed a first grader named Levi was having an emotional morning. He stepped in and made it right. Facebook “Normally when I pull up‚ he’s standing there waiting for me with a big smile‚” he told TODAY. “But on this day‚ he was sitting on the ground with a jacket over his head. I asked him‚ ‘Hey buddy‚ what’s going on? What’s wrong?’” Levi looked at Larry with tears in his eyes and explained that it was Pajama Day‚ but he didn’t have any pajamas. Levi got on the bus and sat down with his friends and didn’t say another word about it. “I thought‚ ‘I gotta fix this‚” Larry continued. After the bus driver dropped off the kids‚ he drove to a Family Dollar and bought two pairs of pajama sets for Levi then took them back to the school. “I said‚ ‘You were hurting this morning‚ you were crying‚ so I got you these pajamas‚” Larry shared. “He was so excited — you should’ve seen how his face lit up.” Little Boy Praises His School Bus Driver‚ “Mr. Larry.” Levi was thrilled to have the pajamas and held them tight to his chest before changing into them and celebrating with his classmates. Facebook “I can tell Mr. Larry is nice‚ and his heart is filled with joy. When he got me the pajamas‚ I did a happy cry‚” Levi said in a statement.   Jefferson County Public Schools posted the heartwarming story on Facebook‚ and it turns out Larry has been making a difference in more than just one life. “Mr. Larry is the absolute best. We were blessed with him as our bus driver for 4 years. Top-notch human‚” a local parent wrote. Earlier in his life‚ Larry worked as a truck driver and a correctional officer. He began driving school buses seven years ago. He believes he’s right where he needs to be. “It’s my passion because I get to build bonds with the children‚” he said. “I truly love every minute of it.”  You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Tearful Boy Thinks He’s Going To Miss Out On Special Day—Until His Bus Driver Steps In! appeared first on InspireMore.

'So it’s not that we’re refusing to extradite‚ it’s simply that we’re going to go'