December 10, 2015 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Human Rights Day 2015 – Machine Guns at the United Nations Started with Appeasement of Extremists

Of all the wonderful things, we can and should say about the 67th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the image of the United Nations’ Geneva, Switzerland, Palais de l’Europe guarded by security men with sub-machine guns describes just how much work is ahead of us in promoting universal human rights. But I know how we got to this sorry state of affairs. It began with deciding that we could compromise again and again on defending our Universal Human Rights.

Much of the world has been in active war for the past 14 years. But we saw the violence of war within nations and the regional wars dramatically overflow across their borders on September 11, 2001. The “answer” to the September 11 attacks was focused on tactics only of security measures and war. The tactics of security measures resulted in an ever increasing net of security, until people could no longer tolerate it. The tactics of war, unfortunately, was primarily more war and violence, with the predictable result of escalating violence, with occasional changes in the war fronts.

But while the world war has ebbed and flowed, we have made little progress on the human rights challenges of defying extremism. Highly educated and powerful people decided that they would not learn the lessons of human rights from history, but decided instead to make their own rules by trying to stop the violence of extremists by appeasing them. However, the idea of “appeasing” extremists NEVER WORKS. NEVER. We know it. We have seen it through history; we have countless examples of this. But as the years went by, the argument for appeasement just became too popular, and the view that we should struggle to challenge anti-human rights views became just too much work for many. It was easier just to find a way to “get along” with anti-human rights forces, no matter who or where they were persecuting others.

If you think about it, it is understandable to some extent. Most people don’t want to be in a state of conflict. It is exhausting. It is painful. It is expensive. Then people ask themselves, what do they really have to show for all of the effort? Perhaps it is better just to be a little blind and deaf, and just “get along” already. After all, some will tell us, that “we can’t change the world.”

But weariness and weakness only fuels the resolve of extremists, who believe (rightly for some) that if they only persevere, the champions of human rights and equality will get tired and give up. Too many powerful individuals simply decided that giving up wasn’t such a bad idea, and that we should pretend that we don’t know that appeasement is wrong.

This failure was clearly obvious to me in 2008, when I was daily assisting counterterrorism professionals, who believed the answer to terrorism was to empower “non-violent” extremists. They thought we could “tolerate” extremism, as long as we could keep it from getting “violent.” In 2008, I declared to counterterrorism and foreign policy professionals that such an idea that we could make “deals” with extremists was absurd. Some believed we could use diplomatic strategies of (ironically called) “smart power” to “engage” with extremists, and somehow by tolerating (and legitimizing) their cause, we could “talk them out” of extremism, or at least make them less violent – to US anyways. Some “professionals” didn’t like that I found appeasement to be absurd. Some in the British government were unhappy with me. Some in the U.S. government were unhappy. But they were then, and they are today – WRONG. Appeasement of extremists always fails. We know this. We have seen this again and again in history.

But the view that we could appease extremists was viewed as a solution to violence and war. The so-called “solution” was that extremists could come up with their own ideas of “democracy” and their own views on “human rights,” because after all if we urged extremists to accept standard views on “democracy” and “human rights,” that would mean we were “cultural imperialists.”

It is simply nonsense. We know it, too.

Now, the foreign policy and counterterrorism professionals don’t want to hear this. They want to say it is perfectly fine for everyone to have their own version of democracy, or human rights, or freedom. They believe that “equality” is a dirty word. Instead of equality, we need to believe in RELATIVISM. So if someone has a version of democracy, that is un-democratic, well, that should be fine, because democracy is not really one type of democracy, it should be relative to every person, every group, every extremist view, and every culture, so no one is offended. The same holds for “human rights.”

The results of relativism are that you have (incredibly) nations like the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) stating that they are great supporters of “human rights,” when they put political prisoners in concentration camps, force women to have abortions (while one major U.S. political candidate actually claimed they provide better maternity care), deny democracy, and deny religious freedom. But that won’t stop people talking about the CCP’s commitment to “human rights.” Because after all, the “professionals” argue, we can’t OFFEND the Communist Chinese government!

But the “professionals” really like “relativism” because you can’t measure it. They can use relativism to twist words like “human rights” into any politically convenient argument they want, and never be wrong. Most of all, they can never be accountable, and certainly NEVER be RESPONSIBLE.

That is WHY is, in 2009 I founded “Responsible for Equality And Liberty.” Because our commitment to universal human rights cannot be left to the “professionals” who are only worried about no one actually being held “responsible” for anything. Political powers find the idea of real “responsibility” repugnant – they would argue if we hold nations, groups, and people “responsible,” then maybe we would have to also be “responsible,” and they believe we can’t do that. To the “professionals,” being responsible is a “bad” thing. “Responsibility” threatens their power, their political influence, and their careers.

Furthermore, the professionals will tell us, if we are not “relativists” on human rights, maybe we are secretly “bigots,” or “racists,” or some other foul accusation. After all, how “dare” we ask people to stop torturing, murdering, persecuting, or oppressing others?

The professionals would then ask, what gives us the RIGHT to question the actions of others?

The answer is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by the nations of the world on December 10, 1948.

THAT is what gives us the RIGHT.

On December 10, 1948, in the shadow of the Holocaust and the Axis powers’ mass murders, organized terrorism, concentration camps, persecution, and world war, the people of world decided we aren’t going to take this insanity and depravity anymore.

On December 10, the United Nations of the world decided we would create a code of UNIVERSAL human rights that every person of every identity group in every nation of the world has – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It uses the words “ALL,” it demands “EQUAL RIGHTS,” and it calls for such universal human rights for “all peoples and all nations” – including “equal rights of men and women.” It speaks in detail to all of the UNIVERSAL human rights that we have: for freedom of speech, for freedom of religion and conscience, for life, for liberty, for the right to vote, for security, for dignity, for asylum, for freedom of movement, for justice, for education, for peaceful assembly, and for general welfare in a democratic society.

You won’t see the words: “but,” “except,” “not for,” or “relativism” – anywhere in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Please look. Be certain for yourself. You need understand for yourself the human rights, the liberty, and yes, the EQUALITY, that the powers of the politically elite and the oppressors of the world don’t want us all to have around the world.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – gives us the “right” to demand such universal rights, security, and dignity for ALL PEOPLE. Not some people. Not for those people when it is convenient. Not relative to the views of extremists or those we are afraid of offending. Not just for people we like or people like us. No, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is for ALL PEOPLE.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives us the authority and the responsibility not just to ask, but also to demand, that every one of our brothers and sisters in human is given the same human rights everywhere in the world, no matter what extremist group, not matter what tyranny, not matter what political force of oppression or denial may claim. We have the code of the nations of the world which we can demand a basic standard and consistent level of human rights for all people – no matter the anti-human rights forces might claim.

ISIS Terrorist Group - An Enemy of Humanity, Human Rights, Dignity, Security - for people of Every Nation, Race, Sex, Religion, Ethnic Group, and Political View (Responsible for Equality And Liberty - R.E.A.L.) — ISIS Terrorist Group – An Enemy of Humanity, Human Rights, Dignity, Security – for people of Every Nation, Race, Sex, Religion, Ethnic Group, and Political View
(Responsible for Equality And Liberty – R.E.A.L.)

Among its most important statements, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

— “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,”

— “Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,”

— “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,”

— “Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,”

— “Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,”

— “Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,”

— “Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,”

“Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”

Human Rights Day - Remembering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — Human Rights Day – Remembering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

But the political powers of the world have decided they only support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, when it is convenient, or when no one will actually hold them RESPONSIBLE for it.

That has to change. Because when we give up on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we end up with violence, death, and oppression, running out of control around the world, and we can’t even begin to stop it. Because there will never be enough law enforcement, enough security measures, enough weapons of war and soldiers, until WE AGREE that EVERYONE DESERVES and is RESPONSIBLE for defending our universal human rights.

We can’t stop extremism when we teach our children that human rights only matter to people we like, or when it is convenient. Our children are looking for leadership, and our political leaders are giving them weak and cowardly relativist excuses. Our children see right through such nonsense. They are looking for answers. We have answers, but our political leaders have decided it would be too much trouble to actually be RESPONSIBLE for the truths that we hold self-evident.

Our political leaders have decided that it would be too difficult to actually work to acknowledge and defend our international code of universal human rights for ALL people.

So we, the people, have to DO something else. We are not going to get out of this mess with the leadership of our politicians, who base their lives and their view of the world on meaningless relativism.

We, the people of the world, in our different nations, need to take a stand – TOGETHER. We need to decide and make a commitment that we will be united in standing by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for ALL people.

We, the people of the world, in our different nations, need to take a stand that we will work together to defend these universal human rights, and defy the forces of extremism and anti-human rights, no matter when, how, or where, they appear.

We must be CONSISTENT on our universal human rights for ALL. We cannot believe they only apply to some people. The relativist politicians will argue that only certain rights matter for some people, but we have tell our fellow human beings that this is wrong.

If the enemies of human rights can work together, build coalitions, spread violence, attack and kill people the world over, why can’t the defenders of human rights work together around the world, build our own coalitions, spread peace, reject extremist views, and call for equality of human rights and dignity the world over?

We can. We must. Our unity in universal human rights is the best hope we have today. We CAN change the world, just like the United States of America and so many other nations have changed. We can make change for all of our brothers and sisters in humanity.

We do not have to surrender to relativism. We do not have to give in to defeat and despair.

We can make another CHOICE.

On this Human Rights Day, and every day, we can CHOOSE to be Responsible for Equality and Liberty.

R.E.A.L.'s Orange Ribbon Campaign for Equality And Liberty — R.E.A.L.’s Orange Ribbon Campaign for Equality And Liberty

American ISIS – New Jersey Man Confesses ISIS Terror Conspiracy

On December 10, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice reports that American ISIS recruit Nader Saadeh from Rutherford, New Jersey, has confessed to conspiring to support the ISIS terrorist organization. The FBI has also reported that: “Nader Saadeh said that ISIL’s execution of a captured Jordanian Air Force pilot by burning him alive and the murders of several staff members of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier this year were justified.” He sought to recruit an army of American ISIS terrorists. IBD reported: “Perhaps most chilling, the radicalization of the Saadeh boys appears to have had the blessing of their Jordanian father, who had been deported from the U.S. along with Saadeh’s mother after “sustaining criminal convictions.” The FBI says the father advised one of his sons to ‘delete everything off his phone’ to avoid federal authorities detecting their plans.”

The U.S. Department of Justice states:

A former resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, today admitted that he conspired to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel of the FBI’s Newark Division.

Nader Saadeh, 20, a former resident of Rutherford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton of the District of New Jersey in Newark to an information charging him with one count of conspiring with others to provide material support to ISIL. He remains detained without bail.

“Nader Saadeh conspired with others, including his brother, to travel to Syria to join ISIL,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Counterterrorism is the National Security Division’s highest priority and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Nader Saadeh is the last of the three defendants charged in the District of New Jersey in this case to admit his role in trying to provide material support to a known terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “ISIL is intent on threatening the safety of Americans here and abroad, and we and our law enforcement partners are just as intent on stopping them.”

“Today in the District Court of New Jersey Nader Saadeh admitted he conspired to provide material to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL),” said Special Agent in Charge Frankel. “He is one of three New Jersey men who conspired to travel overseas to join ISIL but were stopped by the outstanding work of the Newark FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. I ask the citizens of New Jersey to remain vigilant and contact the FBI if they see or hear something suspicious.”

On August 10, 2015, the FBI previously reported on:

A former resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, was arrested this morning for allegedly conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel of the FBI’s Newark, New Jersey, Division.

Nader Saadeh, 20, a former resident of Rutherford, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with conspiring with other individuals in New Jersey and New York to provide material support to ISIL and with attempting to provide material support to ISIL. He is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. EDT before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor of the District of New Jersey.

According to documents filed in this case:

The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) have been investigating a group of individuals from New York and New Jersey who have allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIL. Nader Saadeh lived in Rutherford until leaving the country on May 5, 2015, allegedly to join ISIL. Nader Saadeh’s brother, Alaa Saadeh, was a resident of West New York, New Jersey, until he was arrested on June 29, 2015, and charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIL, aiding and abetting an attempt to provide material support to ISIL and witness tampering. Samuel Rahamin Topaz was a resident of Fort Lee, New Jersey, until he was arrested on June 17, 2015, and charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIL. Conspirator 1 (CC-1) was a Queens, New York, resident until he was arrested in New York on June 13, 2015, on terrorism charges.

Between 2012 and 2013, Nader Saadeh sent CC-1 electronic messages expressing his hatred for the United States and desire to form a small army that would include their friends. On July 1, 2014, the day ISIL’s leader declared an Islamic caliphate in Syria and Iraq, Nader Saadeh posted images of ISIL’s flag and the flag of the Islamic caliphate on his Facebook page.

According to an informant who was close to him for years, by April 2015, Nader Saadeh had become a radicalized supporter of ISIL who was preparing to travel overseas with other individuals. In addition, Nader Saadeh said that ISIL’s execution of a captured Jordanian Air Force pilot by burning him alive and the murders of several staff members of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier this year were justified.

During the investigation, the FBI obtained computer files showing that Nader Saadeh viewed ISIL propaganda videos and researched the availability of flights to Turkey, which borders Syria, where ISIL claims to control territory. The FBI also obtained electronic messages sent to Nader Saadeh on April 21, 2015, by family members living overseas, including his mother, who pleaded for him not to join ISIL.

On May 5, 2015, Nader Saadeh traveled overseas via John F. Kennedy International Airport, allegedly in order to join ISIL. On his way to the airport, while accompanied by Alaa Saadeh and CC-1, he said that he, Alaa Saadeh, CC-1 and Topaz had plans to reunite overseas within a few weeks.

On the day of his arrest, Topaz told the FBI that he agreed with Nader Saadeh, CC-1 and Alaa Saadeh to travel to join ISIL. In addition, Alaa Saadeh told the FBI in a post-arrest interview that he, Nader Saadeh and Topaz all watched ISIL propaganda videos together and discussed going overseas to join ISIL. Alaa Saadeh also stated that the night before Nader Saadeh left for Jordan, CC-1 provided Nader Saadeh with the name and number of an ISIL contact near the Turkey/Syria border who would facilitate his travel to ISIL-controlled territory.

Each count in the complaint carries a maximum of potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

American ISIS – Akron, Ohio Indicted for Terror Solicitation of Murder

An American ISIS recruit from Akron, Ohio, Terrence J. McNeil, has been indicted for soliciting the murder of U.S. military personnel and posting specific personal information on and photographs of 100 U.S. service members to assist in targeting them for terrorist attacks in the United States, specifically calling for the beheading of such Americans.

American ISIS terror plotter McNeil claimed it was his religious duty to promote murder, stating: “O Brothers in America, know that the jihad against the crusaders is not limited to the lands of the Khilafah, it is a world-wide jihad and their war is not just a war against the Islamic State, it is a war against Islam…Know that it is wajib (translated to “necessary”) for you to kill these kuffar! and now we have made it easy for you by giving you addresses, all you need to do is take the final step, so what are you waiting for? Kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their streets thinking that they are safe…”

On December, 8, 2015, the FBI reported that:

A six-count indictment was filed today charging an Akron, Ohio, man for soliciting the murder of members of the U.S. military.

Terrence J. McNeil, 25, was indicted on three counts of solicitation of a crime of violence and three counts of threatening military personnel. He was arrested on Nov. 12, 2015, on federal charges that he solicited the murder of members of the U.S. military.

The charge was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Division.

“According to the indictment, Terrence McNeil solicited the murder of members of our military by disseminating ISIL’s violent rhetoric, circulating detailed U.S. military personnel information and explicitly calling for the killing of American service members in their homes and communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “ISIL and its followers continue to use social media in an attempt to incite violence around the world, including in the United States. The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism and we will use all of our tools to disrupt threats and acts of violence against our military members and their families.”

On November 15, 2015, the FBI reported that:

An Akron, Ohio, man was arrested today on federal charges that he solicited the murder of members of the U.S. military.

Terrence J. McNeil, 25, appeared in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio after being charged with one count of solicitation of a crime of violence.

The charge was announced by Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Division.

“According to the allegations in the complaint, Terrence McNeil solicited the murder of members of our military by disseminating ISIL’s violent rhetoric, circulating detailed U.S. military personnel information, and explicitly calling for the killing of American service members in their homes and communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “ISIL and its followers continue to use social media in an attempt to incite violence around the world, including in the United States. The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism and we will use all of our tools to disrupt threats and acts of violence against our military members and their families.”

“As this nation honors our veterans, we must make clear that we will not tolerate threats of violence against our service members,’ said U.S. Attorney Dettelbach. “This defendant is charged with urging harm to our men and women in uniform and will now answer for those threats.”

“While we aggressively defend First Amendment rights, the individual arrested went far beyond free speech by reposting names and addresses of 100 U.S. service members, all with the intent to have them killed,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony. “We will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop those who wish to support these despicable acts.”

According to an affidavit filed in the case:

McNeil professed his support on social media on numerous occasions for the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

On or about Sept. 24, 2015, using a Tumblr account, McNeil reblogged a file with the banner “Islamic State Hacking Division,” followed by “Target: United States Military” and “Leak: Addresses of 100 U.S. Military Personnel.”

The file type is a .gif file, which allows multiple still images to be looped in one file, with a timed delay between each image. The text of the first file reads “O Brothers in America, know that the jihad against the crusaders is not limited to the lands of the Khilafah, it is a world-wide jihad and their war is not just a war against the Islamic State, it is a war against Islam…Know that it is wajib (translated to “necessary”) for you to kill these kuffar! and now we have made it easy for you by giving you addresses, all you need to do is take the final step, so what are you waiting for? Kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their streets thinking that they are safe…”

The file then loops several dozen photographs, purportedly of U.S. military personnel, along with their respective name, address and military branch.

The final image looped is a picture of a handgun and a knife with text that reads “…and kill them wherever you find them…”

A charge is not evidence of guilt. It is the government’s burden to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and a defendant is presumed innocent until that time.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Cleveland. This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office

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Illinois – American ISIS Recruit – Jonas Edmonds Pleads Guilty

American ISIS terrorist Jonas Edmonds planned to be dressed as a U.S. Army soldier when he attacked the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported on December 10, 2015 that American ISIS terrorist Jonas Edmonds, from Aurora, Illinois, pleaded guilty” to federal charges involving conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization in the Middle East. According to the plea agreement, Jonas Edmonds intended to carry out an act of terrorism in the United States after Hasan Edmonds had departed for the Middle East. Specifically, in March 2015, the cousins devised a plan for Jonas Edmonds to carry out an armed attack at the U.S. Army National Guard base in Joliet, Illinois, during which time Hasan Edmonds was a member of the Army National Guard and had been training at the Joliet installation. According to the plea agreement, the plan called for Hasan Edmonds to provide military uniforms for Jonas Edmonds to wear during the attack, as well as a list of officers for Jonas Edmonds to kill.”

Jonas Edmonds and his cousin, Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Edmonds, were recruited by the ISIS terrorist organization to commit acts of terror.

As previously reported, “Jonas Edmonds asked the FBI undercover employee to assist in the attack and explained that they would use Hasan Edmonds’ uniforms and the information he supplied about how to access the installation and target officers for attack.”

As the New Yorker also reported on their case, Jonas Edmonds wrote “about ‘bring[ing] the pain to them here,’ maximizing ‘damage and mayhem,’ and ‘something like the brother in Paris did.’ ”

Illinois: American ISIS Pleaded Guilty on December 10, 2015 to U.S. Terrorist Plot — Illinois: American ISIS Terror Recruit Jason Edwards Pleaded Guilty on December 10, 2015 to U.S. Terrorist Plot

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.