Prospect for Peace

If only Israel would cease settlement building, if only the Jews in the land of their ancestors would stop having babies because that naturally necessitates larger homes, if the Jewish people living in the Jewish State would cease groundbreaking unless of course it is to dig their own graves, if only the Palestinian leadership had the slightest interest in giving up their desire to push the Jews into the sea, if only Secretary of State Kerry and Barack Hussein Obama were not committed anti-colonialists who believe Israel is a vestige of Western imperialism that really has no place in the Arab world, then stability might be achieved in a region where peace will never flourish. Israel has no partner interested in forging a peace and the United States can no longer be trusted to have Israel's back.

Assad with Bluster

Syria's tyrant may now be so confident that his allies will back him to the hilt while the West leaves his opponents hanging without enough support to finish the Assad regime that Assad has now apparently announced that Russia has supplied him with a super high-tech antiaircraft missile system. Assad is openly challenging Israel now in the Golan Heights as well, as he realizes the free world is craven and lacks the will to stop him and his Iranian backers.

A Crying Shame

In a story that recalls the privations of Valley Forge or the horrors of a hospital in the era of the American Civil War before Joseph Lister began the fight against dangerous microbes, injured US personnel in Afghanistan have been operated on in conditions that resemble a slaughterhouse. Why would our multi-trillion dollar Federal government not have ample medical supplies including clean sheets on which to treat our wounded heroes? This Elizabeth Sheld article exposes how our forces have been abandoned by military and political leaders:http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/05/27/Local-Woman-Collects-Clean-Sheets-for-Afghanistan-MASH-unit.

Red Chinese Spy

Who would have thought it? That Communist Chinese would be engaged in economic and strategic espionage against the United States and our allies is about as predictable as gambling at Rick's. The People's Republic of China is not a friend or trading partner, but at best, a currency-manipulating economic rival and a burgeoning military threat. It is a shame that those responsible for our nation's safety do not see the reality of a growing Red Chinese menace as America cuts back defense and China pours resources into becoming the dominant force in Asia and the Pacific.

Global Warming Update

Louisville is definitely warming. I have no doubt the temperature is rising dramatically. Earlier this morning it was in the sixties, already an hour before noon, the thermometer must be pushing eighty. Al Gore warned us and he must be right, or it could just be the start of summer.

Liberty and Life

They answered the call when the nation faced strife/ Willing to risk even life/ To preserve our freedom dear/ When the hand of oppression drew near/ But they did not make it back to hearth and home/ Falling on the march with Mark Clark toward Rome/ Or on Korea's contested hills or in Vietnam's rice paddies/ Never able to make it back to mothers and wives or sweethearts and daddies/ So whether they died last year in Afghanistan or in 1863 freeing the slaves/ Go forth and decorate their graves

Bidding Charleston Adieu

This week the publisher of this blog has been privileged to visit one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the world, Charleston, South Carolina. Anyone with the opportunity to visit this gracious and welcoming city of Sumter and Spoleto should jump at the chance. Charleston could aptly be described as the jewel in the Southern crown.

No Settlement Freeze

US Secretary of State Kerry demands that Israel curb her settlement enterprise in the interests of peace. Unfortunately, Israel's "partner for peace" the Palestinian Authority consider any Jew on the land in the Jewish State is a settler and that includes Tel Aviv. No amount of territorial compromise by the Jews will tamp down the desire of Islamists to push the Israel's Jewish populace into the sea.

Religion of Peace

I wish I could say the barbarism that visited London was an anomaly as a pair of Islamists butchered an unarmed British serviceman they ambushed on the street, but this is not uncommon behavior for the most fervent true believers in Sharia. In France, three Jewish children, three French soldiers, and a rabbi were murdered just last year. Remember the Boston Marathon bombing just weeks back? These crimes were not perpetrated by raging Buddhists or Episcopalians but by Muslims in the name of their faith.

Aiming for Recovery

After the Oklahoma tornado with so much destruction, at least there seems to be a political consensus emerging to do what is necessary to help the stricken communities heal. There have been partisan remarks about the storms being caused by "global warming", but virtually all political figures are in agreement about disaster aid being made available to promote rebuilding.

Uninvited Guest Redux

I am in Charleston, South Carolina and this beautiful and historic city just experienced its worst one day rain total ever. I was in my hometown of Nashville during our millennial flood of May 2010, and in Orlando during the record rains of October 2011, and now it seems I am drowning Charleston. If I visit your locale, start building an ark.

Oklahoma Rocked Again

A tornado wrought unbelievable devastation to a community still recovering from a 1999 super storm. Moore, Oklahoma essentially ceased to be when two hundred mile per hour winds obliterated every building in their path including the elementary school. Aid and prayer are needed now more than ever.

Why Iran Persists

Iran continues to export terror and build a nuclear weapons capability because of a lack of will on the part of the nations that oppose Tehran's aggressor agenda. The "mad mullahs" see no consequence imposed on North Korea for belligerence and intransigence and so figure that Iran too is immune from serious repercussions no matter how much carnage Iranians inflict taking up the side of Assad in Syria, how much they aid Hezbollah to dominate Lebanon or export terror attacks aimed at Israeli or Jews the world over, or even as it becomes undeniable that the aim of Tehran's nuclear project is to create an atomic attack capability. Appeasement does not prevent war but causes worse conflagration than early decisive action.

North Korean Mischief

Just when you think simmering tension between the sane world and Pyongyang has abated, North Korea test fires three short range missiles to prove they are still relevant enough to menace. Maybe the little leader wants another Dennis Rodman visit or to extract additional concessions from the weak-kneed West. Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum to garner attention, generally unreliable North Korea can be counted on to upset the apple cart the moment that simmering hostility actually seems to be cooling down.

To the Rescue

The cockroaches at ABC News tried to deflect attention away from the Obama scandals by smearing a reverend who has done enormous good for decades for some ill-considered offhand remarks in his dotage. No matter what Pat Robertson said, four Americans were not slaughtered because of it (as happened in Benghazi). No suppression of conservative ideas eventuated because Robertson voiced an unpopular opinion (as happened when the IRS engaged in viewpoint discrimination). No American had rights diminished because an avuncular pastor exercised his right of speech.

Libyan Arms Smuggling

Glenn Beck has contended that the Benghazi massacre occurred in the midst of an operation to transfer arms by way of Libya to Syrian rebels, This is entirely plausible. An arms transfer involving surface to air missiles might also be the reason no US aircraft were summoned to disrupt the attack as it would have been awfully difficult to explain why planes from a NATO airbase were shot out of the air by a missile that American agents had recently provided to militants.

The Triple Threat

Freedom of speech was attacked when TEA Party groups received extraordinary scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service. Freedom of the press was assailed when the AP was spied on by the US government, and when these two Constitutionally-enshrined freedoms were attacked, it amounted to an assault on freedom of thought. George Orwell warned us that even the inner-workings of the human mind could be criminalized, and sadly that is the direction Barack Hussein Obama and his fellow enforcers of political correctness have taken us.

The Dam Breaks

I sensed this would be a scandal-ridden administration, and now am vindicated in that assessment. There are now three controversies embroiling Team Obama. The abuse of power by the IRS for partisan advantage is the most significant. The information grab by the Department of Justice from the venerable AP is the second, and the Benghazi cover-up is the third and will linger over the future political prospects of then Secretary of State and presumed Presidential aspirant Hillary Clinton. One of the impeachment charges that brought down Richard Nixon involved a similar use of the Internal Revenue Service to attack political opponents. America has seen Presidential administrations brought down before and may yet witness a special counsel to investigate the excesses of Obama and his underlings.

Your Heart Out

A video is circulating purporting to show a member of the so-called "Free Syria" forces cannibalizing an Assad government soldier. There is no great force for moral good contesting darkness in the Syria conflict. There are only dangerous tribal and sectarian groups vying for power in this dog eat dog horror.

A Rogue Administration

It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are not rogue elements within the administration but a rogue administration that is not encumbered by respect for law or Constitution. Barack Hussein Obama has no moral authority left.

Instrument of Oppression

US Supreme Court Justice John Marshall said it best a century before the country lost her bearings in the throes of progressivism, "the power to tax is the power to destroy". The Internal Revenue Service enjoys awesome power. If that organization turns that power against a citizen or group of citizens, there is little that can be done to resist that authority. That is why seeing the IRS politicized is so disturbing. To utilize a tax enforcement body to quiet opposition is a classic hallmark of despotism.

Worse Than Nixon

What was the body count in the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up? How many Americans died in Benghazi? Did Nixon use the IRS against domestic opposition? Does Barack Hussein Obama have an "enemies list"? Obama's Internal Revenue Service has now admitted to targeting TEA Party and so-called "Patriot" groups for special scrutiny. Obama's minions even singled out a pro-Israel organization for intrusive examination. The reporting on using the IRS as a political weapon has now been extensively documented. The less well known anti-Zionist aspect is reported by Kevin Williamson here:http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/348013/irs-inquisition-update.

Reverence for Life

One glaring distinction between the two major political parties in the United States is the sanctity in which the Republican Party holds life. This is in vivid contrast to the Democrat Party, where Barack Hussein Obama actually became the first sitting US President to speak to the national Planned Parenthood convention, supported denying care to babies who survived an attempted abortion as an Illinois state senator, and pushed the rationed care that is the Affordable Care Act into law. The GOP continues the good fight against the looming death panels as is manifest in this Brett LoGiurato article: http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacare-ipab-boehner-mcconnell-death-panels-2013-5. May the Republican Party maintain the resolve and legislative power to thwart deliberate care rationing meant to hasten death.

Americans Despise Graft

Most people do not resent those who pay for their own extravagant lifestyle, but they deplore those who are supposed to serve the public wringing every advantage out of the taxpayer. Whether it is round after round of golf played by Barack Hussein Obama or frequent and separate vacations for the President, the First Lady, and the Presidential daughters, they are enjoying a high life that they could not possibly personally afford at our expense, but it is not just the First Family. Other Federal bureaucrat and so-called public servants are all telling us in the manner of Marie Antoinette to "eat cake." Read this Jamie Dupree post and see more abuse of our precious tax-confiscated dollars: http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/jamie-dupree/2013/may/09/federal-court-defends-judicial-conference-georgia-/.

Bangladesh Manufacturing Tragedy

In the wake of more than one thousand workers being killed in a factory collapse, a fire burned yet another Bangladeshi plant with more casualties to the bottom line mentality that has sent orders and contracts to that developing nation. Dhaka seemingly suffers a Triangle Shirtwaist magnitude loss (or worse) every few months. No matter how cheap the merchandise, I would be hesitant to buy items made in Bangladesh until their workplace safety and work conditions are raised to acceptable levels.

The Real Bully

The Democrat US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has declared that the junior Republican US Senator from Texas Ted Cruz is like a schoolyard bully. Think, one young US politician upholding conservative convictions is able almost on his own to hold the radical agenda at bay. I say "bully" for Senator Cruz. I can not wait for the day we have fifty more GOP Senators who believe as Cruz does governing alongside him.

Miracle and Horror

That three young females were abducted, raped, and held against their will for several years (for two- over a decade)is absolutely hideous. That one broke away and enabled the rescue of the others is miraculous. Regardless of depredation and degradation, remember, so long as there is life, there is hope.

An Imperial Capital

These are the best of times for the Federal government and the government crony class but not so much for we mere peons out here in the hinterlands. If you are a bureaucrat or a lobbyist, you are in high cotton, but if you are a business owner in the real America, times are as tenuous as ever. I do not like having masters in Washington. It is long past time to remind the governing elite that they are still "public servants".

Syria Versus Sanity

Did you ever think you would see Syrian Sunni elements associated with and sharing the same ideology as al-Qaeda cheering Israel for anything? Well that is purportedly just what is happening after the Israelis allegedly attacked Assad regime organs in and around Damascus from the air twice in the past few days. The saddest aspect of the Syria slaughter is that it has been absolutely unnecessary. Assad could long ago have abdicated and been granted sanctuary in a country sympathetic to him as the corrupt leader of Tunisia Zine el Abidine Ben Ali had the good sense to do back at the start of the Arab Spring. The seventy thousand (or more) deaths so far in Syria should have been avoided.

Friends Like These

Barack Hussein Obama extended his "Apologize for America's Existence" tour, this time in Mexico. The United States is not, contrary to Obama's assertion, responsible for the problems of our neighbor to the south. Mexico's ills are not because of our guns or our supposed lust for drugs as a nation, but the product of endemic corruption in Mexico itself. Limiting natural rights in America by tearing away at our Second Amendment will not make Mexico any safer or more prosperous. If the USA is so bad, why do so many Mexicans risk all in the attempt to come to our country?

Warning for Malaysia

If the Malaysian people vote in an Islamist government in the coming election, they live under Islamic law for the rest of time. A Sharia party only needs to win one national plebiscite to hold power forever.

Rape the Taxpayer

Please read Joel Gehrke's excellent article from The Washington Examiner detailing how the Federal government is now paying fifty-nine dollars ($59) per gallon for environmentally-friendly (sometimes termed "green")jet fuel when the prevailing price paid for regular jet fuel now by airlines and private jet owners is less than $3.80 per gallon here http://washingtonexaminer.com/pentagon-pays-59-a-gallon-for-green-jet-fuel/article/2528692. This overpayment is just as bad as the $800 reputedly paid by the Department of Defense for a toilet seat a couple decades back.

The Other Shoe

If you think the full truth has emerged about the murder of four Americans in Benghazi, you should vote for Barack Hussein Obama in the 2016 Presidential election. You probably believe this administration when they say no intervention was possible to save the ambassador and his subordinates. I will tell you US fighter jets from Aviano could have been there in time to at least harass the attackers before the final American deaths occurred. I hope the US House of Representatives is relentless in pursuing the truth in this Libya tragedy, no matter where it leads.

A Real Mistake

Barack Hussein Obama will be exacerbating the mistake of Benghazi if weapons that can later be turned against us or our allies are provided to Syria's rebels. The US should absolutely provide medical aid and gear to detect and counter chemical and biological weapons to the forces opposing Assad, as this will never be turned against the US or her allies. US and NATO aircraft could create no-fly zones to ground Assad's air power and could even fly ground support missions for free Syria elements, strafing Assad's tanks, artillery, and rocket launchers, but guns provided to the Free Syrian Army will later, no doubt, be turned against Israel.