In the United States, our defense budget and military resources (to include personnel, serviceable aircraft, tanks, ships, munitions, etc.) are finite. The U.S. military is currently the most powerful in the world. As the National Defense Strategy concedes: "the central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term, strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers.

Not a day goes by wherein someone is not trying to influence your thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. It can be a company using an advertisement on the internet, television, billboard or magazine. It can be a political figure or activist in a news story, an op-ed or a Tweet. It can even be that annoying jingle you remember from watching Saturday morning cartoons as a kid that still makes you buy a certain brand of chewing gum. More dangerously, it could be propaganda or mis/dis-information intended to deceive, mislead and divide.

The Industrial Revolution improved living standards for people in most nations where technology proliferated. Populations in modern societies are not overly concerned with accessing food or water on a daily basis. In particular, the availability of clean, fresh water is a reasonable expectation throughout the modern world. However, a growing lack of water (“water scarcity”), propelled by continued technological advancement and high demand, is creating a global crisis. This resource scarcity will change long-held expectations and demonstrate the capacity to disrupt the security and stability of entire regions.

The devastation in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico has been terrifying, engaging multiple FEMA regions and significant military support to rescue, recover and rebuild.  While Puerto Rico has only limited electric power, mainly due to decades old negligence of their electric grid utilities to ensure resiliency to hurricanes, we know that it will happen again if allowed to retain their aged and fragile power generation, above ground transmission and distribution lines (wooden poles).

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration in the lead up to 9/11 and the failure of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to properly regulate the nuclear power industry. Now we’ve gone from the ridiculous to the sublime. Kim Jong Un has threatened to conduct a nuclear electromagnetic pulse missile test over the Pacific. Hawaii and Guam have issued warnings and distributed guidance to their citizens regarding precautions to take in the event of such an attack. The situation is dire because our government has failed to heed a decade of warnings from the Congressional Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. 

With the foundations of global stability being challenged by disruptive powers such as Russia and China, and rogues like North Korea and Iran, there’s scarcely been a more dangerous time to lose faith in each other and our government system. Yet, from social issues to economy and politics to defense, the U.S. struggles to deflect deliberate efforts to speed the loss of our national identity and unity. Make no mistake, “we the people” are the target in this diabolical campaign. 

Knowledge is power. This axiom has been proven time and again throughout history. Knowledge – or information – is used for great good such as education and technological advancement, for building free and prosperous societies and making the future better for our progeny. However, it can also be used for evil – dis and mis-information, deception and lies – in war, by corrupt governments, by cult leaders and others who seek to abuse and use people as a means to their wicked ends.

Feeling distress is a normal reaction to negative events, especially ones that often feel personal. It can be helpful to let yourself feel those feelings rather than to try to avoid them. The VA recommends several strategies for managing ongoing distress.

As George Washington became our first president in 1789, he turned to solid political leadership for this brand new adventure of the American republic.  To help with the administration of the newly formed government, Washington collected a modestly sized group of department heads, the cabinet, to help him conduct the daily business of governing.  The group consisted of Thomas Jefferson as his Secretary of State, Henry Knox, Secretary of War, and Edmund Jennings Randolph, the Attorney General (although not an official cabinet position until 1870).

The purpose of this work is to provide factual unbiased information from Islamic sources concerning the essence and true nature of Islam.

Because of the tragic event that took place in Buffalo on May 14, 2022, CPR would like to remind families, parents, teachers, and concerned family members to be aware of their children’s and students’ behaviors.