Saudis to be held accountable: Today's news for September 29th

Fox News:

Congress rejects Obama veto of 9/11 bill, in first override of presidency

Congress on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected President Obama’s veto of a bipartisan bill letting families of Sept. 11 victims sue the Saudi Arabian government, in the first successful veto override of Obama’s presidency.

Marking a significant defeat for the White House, the House ensured the bill will become law after voting 348-77 to override Wednesday afternoon. This followed a 97-1 vote hours earlier in the Senate.

Despite last-ditch warnings from the Obama administration that the legislation could hurt national security and was “badly misguided,” lawmakers dismissed the concerns.

"This bill is about respecting the voices and rights of American victims," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speaking on the Senate floor moments before Wednesday's vote in that chamber, pushed back hard on Saudi government objections to the legislation.

“It’s very simple. If the Saudis were culpable, they should be held accountable. If they had nothing to do with 9/11, they have nothing to fear,” Schumer said.

Lawmakers in both chambers needed to muster a two-thirds majority to override, and did so easily. The lone "no" vote in the Senate was Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Reid is Washington's village idiot who thinks taxes are voluntary, Take his vote for what it is worth.

Regardless, the Obama administration's arguments against the bill were lame and elitist-sounding:

Despite an expectation that Congress would override, the White House made a last-ditch attempt to fight it. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Reid, Obama warned the bill could cause chaos in U.S. foreign affairs, as other countries would use the measure to justify the creation of ways to target "U.S. policies and activities that they oppose."  

"As a result, our nation and its armed forces, State Department, intelligence officials and others may find themselves subject to lawsuits in foreign courts." Obama wrote in a letter delivered Tuesday. 

This measure targets Saudi Arabia and not "other countries". This excuse doesn't fly.

As for the Saudis, considering they already support terrorists in our country, explain why we should be more concerned about what they might do?

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in a letter Monday to a senior member of Congress, said he's sympathetic to the intent of the measure. But the legislation could lead to the public disclosure of American secrets and even undercut counterterrorism efforts by sowing mistrust among U.S. partners and allies, according to Carter. 

The only one this affects is Saudi Arabia. They aren't much of an ally considering they are working against us.

Speaking about presidents...

The Detroit News:

Endorsement: Gary Johnson for president

Today this newspaper does something it has never done in its 143-year history: endorse someone other than the Republican candidate in a presidential contest. 

Since its founding in 1873, The Detroit News has backed a Republican every time it has made a presidential endorsement (three times we have sat on the sidelines — twice during the Franklin Roosevelt elections and in the 2004 Bush/Kerry contest). 

We abandon that long and estimable tradition this year for one reason: Donald J. Trump. 

Read the entire endorsement. It is one of the better conservative endorsements for Gary Johnson overall, taking into full account both Trump's and Hillary's flaws, as well as Johnson's strong suits.

The Detroit News even goes so far as to point out what they consider to be Johnson's big weakness:

Our apprehension about Johnson rests with foreign policy. He holds to conventional libertarian non-interventionism. But he understands America’s position in the world, and we are certain that once the weight of leadership is on his shoulders, he will meet that responsibility. 

He pledges to honor all existing treaties and obligations, and supports NATO, though he wants the European nations to live up to their commitment to pay 2 percent of GDP for the common defense; a reasonable expectation.

I disagree with their view on non-interventionism. Libertarian foreign policy brings "do unto others as you would have done to you" philosophy onto the international level. As Americans, we do not want any foreign interests interfering in our internal affairs, so why would we interfere in the affairs of others? If we are to be the "shining city upon the hill" of which former President Ronald Reagan spoke, then we need to behave as a model international citizen.

Within conservative ideology, there is a strong case to be made for non-interventionism. Hopefully, Gary Johnson is the person to make that case.

In other news...

CNN:

Police: Man killed by officer pointed vaping device 

For a second consecutive night, protesters gathered Wednesday in El Cajon, California, holding signs and demanding accountability following an officer-involved shooting of an unarmed black man.

Alfred Okwera Olango, 38, pulled a vape smoking device from his pocket and pointed it at police before one officer fatally shot him and another discharged a Taser, El Cajon Police said.

His death set off demonstrations in the San Diego suburb as activists demanded that authorities release video of the shooting. They also want a federal probe into Olango's death.

Some protesters threw water bottles at police while others gathered in the street and parking lot where the shooting happened. Many held signs saying "black lives matter" as police wearing helmets with shields looked on.

Really?

Look at that picture above. This is clearly a "suicide by cop" incident. This is not some kind of abusive racist incident.

If the black community wants to know why nobody is taking them seriously, this is a perfect example. They think they have a right to protest because one idiot who happens to have black skin points an e-cigarette at a cop and ends up dead? Sorry, but no. They look stupid protesting this. In fact, they look like spoiled children throwing a tantrum.

There is an old saying which the black community would be wise to consider:

"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious."--Sun Tzu

This is one situation where the black community would have been wise not to fight. In fact, this kind of behavior encourages the very racism they are incorrectly assuming from the police involved. This is "the boy who cried wolf" writ large.

Speaking of the Far East...

AFP:

Ancient Roman coins unearthed at Japan castle

Japanese archaeologists said Wednesday they have for the first time unearthed ancient Roman coins at the ruins of an old castle.

The discovery of 10 bronze and copper coins -- the oldest dating from about 300-400 AD -- in southern Okinawa caught researchers by surprise.

It was the first time Roman Empire coins have been discovered in Japan, thousands of kilometres from where they were likely minted.

"At first I thought they were one cent coins dropped by US soldiers," archaeologist Hiroki Miyagi told AFP.

"But after washing them in water I realised they were much older. I was really shocked."

While this is an incredible find, it is entirely feasible. The Silk Road trade route (which ran from Europe to China and points along Asia's eastern coast) dates back to the 3rd century BCE. Prior to this, the Japanese islands were not considered as part of the maritime Silk Road trade route. However, they are not so distant from them. This proves the Silk Road may have extended to these islands, or at least to Okinawa.