Skip-Links For This Issue:
#1--To Jihad or not to Jihad?
#2--Media pre-spinning Iraq War Report?
#3--The "Jellybean Summit"
#4-- Border Fence Progress Report
#5--Anti-gun protests this week
#6--The end of summer

#1--To Jihad or not to Jihad?
I want to direct you to a particularly interesting FireSociety forum thread on jihad. The thread, in my opinion, is a very good example of how these new types of forums do a better job at communicating real information than newspapers or TV news. You have to sift a bit -- many of the comments are quite raw. But don't miss the gems to be unearthed here... the seriousness of the issue, the concern that all muslims not be stereotyped, the detailed responses about the nature of Islam. Click here to read the thread.

#2--Media pre-spinning Iraq War Report?
The next two weeks marks the crucial lead-up to the release of the pivotal Iraq war report. Like many Americans, I have questions about the war. And I am not a military expert on these matters. But it is clear the media are in full bias mode. It seems the media is trying to pre-condition the public before the report is released. The best way to get reports on media bias is through our friends at the Media Research Center.

#3--The "Jellybean" Summit
Last week’s Security and Prosperity Partnership summit in Canada was cut short -- ending a day earlier than planned. Each of the three leaders went out of his way to downplay the SPP and almost belittle their own multi-year effort to build a “North American Framework.” Canada’s Prime Minister Harper essentially said all this effort was about nothing more than standardizing the jelly bean: “Is the sovereignty of Canada going to fall apart if we standardize the jelly bean? I don't think so.”
Read my full report on the Jellybean Summit.
Be sure to read team member comments (over 90 thus far).

#4-- Border Fence progress report
Congressman Duncan Hunter recently sent a letter to President Bush about the border fence. Rep. Hunter wrote, “We are falling behind in the construction of border security fencing” and “deadlines for the completion of fencing will not be met.”

Vital statistics on the fence: 854 miles authorized, 17.9 miles built. 392 miles due to be completed by 5/31/08; an additional 30 miles by 12/31/08. Grassfire is re-launching our “Where’s The Fence?” TV and grassroots campaign this week, including a new ad featuring those nice ladies. Stay tuned for updates. Read Duncan Hunter’s letter here.

#5--Anti-gun protests this week
This week, on the 44th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s march on Washignton, D.C., anti-gun activists will be conducting protests across the country against the “scourge of illegal gun trafficking.” So far so good, except we expect the “guns are bad” message could lead Congress to push anti-gun legislation this fall. Plus, the groups are trying to capitalize on the brutal deaths of New Jersey college students -- at the hands of illegal aliens -- to promote their agenda. Our radar is up.

#6--End of summer
While the calendar says summer will last nearly another month, this week certainly puts a wrap on summer for the vast majority of us. At least by our internal clocks. Labor Day provides a springboard for that last summer getaway, one more cookout and maybe a dip in the pool or a trip to the beach (or lake for you landlocked souls).

Soon enough the kids will be in the full swing of school, the leaves will turn, the air will chill, and the Yankees will be in the playoffs (I hope) -- and Congress will be back pushing amnesty, hate-crimes bills and the lot.

But for now, one last chance to soak in the sun. Enjoy!

Steve Elliott, President
Grassfire.org

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Thank you so much for the stand you are taking.