Al-Qaida Media Analysis Memo: "Big Fan of 60 Minutes" - Fox News a "Channel in the "Abyss"

Guardian - Al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn a fan of 60 Minutes, but said Fox News "lacks neutrality" and CBS is "close to being unbiased." Adam Gadahn wrote that MSNBC, "may be good and neutral a bit," but he changed his mind when it fired Keith Olbermann.
Osama bin Laden pondered the merits of US television news channels as he considered how to extract the best propaganda benefit from the tenth anniversary of 9/11 last year, and concluded that CBS was "close to being unbiased."
But an American-born media adviser for al-Qaeda warned Bin Laden to beware of the broadcasters' "cunning methods" as he described Fox News as a channel in the "abyss" that should "die in anger", CNN as too close to the US government and MSNBC as questionable after it fired one of its most prominent presenters, Keith Olbermann. In a memorandum made public by the US military's Combating Terrorism Center on Thursday, Bin Laden asked for advice on exploiting the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "We need to benefit from this event and get our messages to the Muslims and celebrate the victory that they achieved. We need to restore their confidence in their nation and motivate them. We should also present our just cause to the world, especially to the European people," he said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Al-Qaida Media Analysis Memo: "Big Fan of 60 Minutes" - Fox News a "Channel in the "Abyss"

Courtesy of Conservative Daily News

     

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Losing the Drug War: Two newly retired experts on the border speak freely about the status of the Arizona/Mexico dividing line

Dan Wirth (left) and Keith Graves

NewsNM Swickard: Same border just a bit East is New Mexico. Same issues. From Tucson Weekly - by Leo W. Banks - Dan Wirth and Keith Graves spent significant portions of their careers working on the Arizona-Mexico border. They know these troubled lands inside and out. Both have reputations as straight-shooters, and both retired last December.  Now able to speak freely, they agreed to talk to the Tucson Weekly with only one topic off-limits—the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in Peck Canyon on Dec. 14, 2010. At his retirement, Graves promised the Border Patrol he wouldn't discuss what he knows about the case. Graves was the Nogales district ranger for the Coronado National Forest from 1998 to 2010. When he left that post, he was named a liaison between the Forest Service and the Secure Border Initiative, focusing on strategies for dealing with the dramatic impact that illegal crossings were having on the forest, from fires to trash to illegal trails. Wirth was a senior special agent for the Department of Interior. He coordinated the department's law-enforcement activities across the Southwest, giving frequent briefings to the secretary of the interior, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Defense, the White House Homeland Security Council and members of Congress. We met at a quiet Mexican restaurant in Barrio Hollywood, on Tucson's westside. The discussion began with a dust-up last May, when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Sen. John McCain asked her about cartel scouts, or spotters—armed men who sit on mountaintops in Arizona to guide loads around law enforcement. The senator wanted to know how Napolitano could call the border secure when there are 100 to 200 cartel spotters working in our state. Napolitano disputed his assertion, saying she asked the Border Patrol, "Where are the spotters that I keep hearing about?" She said the agency told her there are a couple of hundred mountaintops from which a spotter could work, "But there are not, sitting there, 200 drug-spotters." The truth is that McCain greatly understated the problem. Read article

Losing the Drug War: Two newly retired experts on the border speak freely about the status of the Arizona/Mexico dividing line

No TV games scheduled for New Mexico football in 2012

From KOB-TV.com - The New Mexico Lobos football team has been a disappointment on the field for fans recently. UNM has three wins in the past three seasons combined. New head coach Bob Davie said he will turn the program around, but fans might not have a chance to watch the Lobos rebound on TV. On Thursday, the Mountain West Conference released its national television schedule for the 2012 football season. The Lobos were absent from the schedule. Mountain West officials said it could have more TV games to announce in the coming weeks, but fans were still disappointed with the current schedule. "I do think with the new coach, coach Davie, there's going to be a higher level of excitement than there has been in recent years, so it's a missed opportunity,” one Lobos fan said. The past few seasons UNM has had its football games broadcast on the Mtn. Network. But the sports channel is expected to go black in the coming months. Read more

No TV games scheduled for New Mexico football in 2012

3 Photographers Found Dead in Mexico

From nytimes.com -The bodies of three photojournalists were found dismembered on Thursday in the eastern state of Veracruz, days after a crime reporter for a national magazine was killed in her house there. The motives for the killings were not immediately known, and few such cases in Mexico are ever solved. But human rights groups condemned the deaths as another worrying sign of the vulnerability of journalists reporting on the wave of drug and organized crime violence that has rocked Mexico in the past six years and left more than 50,000 people dead.“What we have seen in Mexico in the last years is a systematic attempt to muzzle the press that has been successful in various parts of the country, where the press has been effectively censored,” said Rosental Alves, director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, in Austin, Tex. “This unprecedented blood bath is fueled by a certainty of impunity, as the cases of crimes against the press usually don’t even reach a court of law.”   More here

3 Photographers Found Dead in Mexico

Lower Rio Grande Farmers Approaching Groundwater Limits for 2012

From kunm.org -In a statement released today, the Office of the State Engineer says it will begin sending letters to irrigators in southern New Mexico who are already in danger of using more than their share of groundwater for the year. During last year's drought, farmers facing reduced allocations of river water pumped up twice as much groundwater as in either of the two previous years. Then in August, the Third Judicial District Court set limits on groundwater use as part of the adjudication process in the lower Rio Grande. According to the release: State Engineer Scott Verhines notes, “2012 is a difficult year for New Mexican farmers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Rio Grande Project surface water supplies are low, and the 2008 Project Operating Agreement compounds the hardship by allocating less surface water to our EBID [Elephant Butte Irrigation District] farmers. We recognize that limiting over-diversion of groundwater may feel unfair during such dry times. However, over-diversions in one area can impact neighbors in another. Our team is working to protect the sustainability of our water resources, protect our farmers for the long term, and follow the decisions determined by the court. We encourage any and all questions and will work with irrigators to help them survive this dry year.”

Lower Rio Grande Farmers Approaching Groundwater Limits for 2012

Republican Party of New Mexico Files Formal Federal Elections Complain Against Independent Source PAC

The Republican Party of New Mexico today filed a formal complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against the union-funded Super-PAC "Independent Source PAC," which is run by Bill Richardson's private investigator, Michael Corwin. ISPAC is funded entirely by a national labor union, who contributed $190,000 to the PAC.  ISPAC is already under federal investigation by the FEC for failing to file proper disclosure reports, among other violations. (see:http://gopnm.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6cc43c8fe9e15c9653372258&id=f9e65a8744&e=11d8f6ea04914/12330003914/12330003914.pdf#navpanes=0) 

 RPNM's complaint alleges several more clear violations of federal law, including:

• ISPAC is  committing fraud by stating to the FEC that it is making independent expenditures to promote President Obama, when the clear purpose of its expenditures and commercials is to smear Republican elected officials and candidates at the state and local level, and on issues that have nothing to do with the Presidential campaign, such as the law to repeal driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
• ISPAC committed the fraud in order to avoid New Mexico state laws, which places limits on PACs engaged in these activities at the state level.
• ISPAC has illegally failed to file numerous required disclosure reports with the Federal Elections Commission.
• ISPAC's commercials break federal law by failing to make proper disclosures to the public.

"Michael Corwin has picked up where his former client Bill Richardson left off — skirting laws to illegally funnel money into campaigns," said Republican Party of New Mexico spokesman Annaliese Wiederspahn. "Corwin's activities have nothing to do with the presidential campaign and everything to do with smearing Republicans at the state and local level on issues like driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, and ending social promotion in education." 
Wiederspahn noted that this isn't the first time Corwin has been accused of breaking federal election law. In 2010, Corwin created a website littered with falsehoods against a congressional candidate that many felt was an anti-Catholic smear. The campaign Corwin had been working for immediately disowned the website and claimed Corwin had gone rogue. However, it was later discovered that funds from the campaign had been funneled through a media consultant to pay Corwin and it was alleged that payment was for the research and creation of the website. "This is a shady group that is blatantly breaking federal law and has demonstrated through their actions that they have absolutely no credibility," said Wiederspahn.

Read Formal Complaint Here

Republican Party of New Mexico Files Formal Federal Elections Complain Against Independent Source PAC

New Mexico Attorney General takes on New Mexico Gas Company, defends customers

Gary King

Farmington Daily Times - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King filed a petition Wednesday asking the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to stop New Mexico Gas Company from cutting service to 71 customers in San Juan County. The petition says that New Mexico Gas Company violated state law by not hosting abandonment hearings prior to informing customers that natural gas services were going to be canceled, said Phil Sisneros, the director of communications for the attorney general's office. "We want them to follow the law," he said.

In his letter, King asks the PRC to order the gas company not to stop services to the customers and to schedule the necessary abandonment hearings. Last month, New Mexico Gas Company told 71 customers in unincorporated parts of San Juan County the gas company was cutting service to them beginning Sept. 30. The notice prompted businesses and residents to contact the attorney generals office, San Juan County and other governmental agencies asking them to intervene. "That's great news," Jay Walden, the manager of Abe's Motel and Fly Shop, said of King's petition. "I was hoping some government intervention would happen." The fly fishing business in Navajo Dam was one business affected by the gas company's decision. The business operates a 60-room hotel, restaurant and fishing store, and has been in business for more than 50 years, Walden said. Read More News New Mexico

New Mexico Attorney General takes on New Mexico Gas Company, defends customers

Pray for our leaders, for the future of our nation

Steve Pearce

Washington D.C. - Today, Congressman Steve Pearce released the following statement on the National Day of Prayer:

 “On the National Day of Prayer, we are reminded again how imperative it is to pray for our leaders, for guidance, and for the future of our nation,” said Pearce. “People are seeking truth, and it is time for people of faith to stand up and give voice to those truths. We are one nation under God, and we must act in faith and pray.” Congressman Pearce will be attending three National Day of Prayer events across New Mexico’s Second Congressional District.

Pray for our leaders, for the future of our nation

Las Cruces area Stahmanns Farms closes mail-order business, to shutter stores

Las Cruces Sun-News -  If you wanted to buy a Stahmanns Farms gift basket or a can of mile chocolate pecans or roasted, salted pecans etc. as a Mother's Day gift, you might have to hurry. Stahmanns Farms has already closed its world-wide mail order business and removed its website. Now the company has announced that is it closing both of its stores - one at the Mesilla Plaza and the other, the original "Country Store" on Highway 28 in La Mesa. Starting today, Stahmanns is holding a sale of 25 percent to 40 percent off the products at its stores. The company, which dates back to 1932, reports that its shelling plant and wholesale business will continue. A call placed with the company has not yet been returned. Read More News New Mexico

Las Cruces area Stahmanns Farms closes mail-order business, to shutter stores