Archive
Straight-Talk
Balanced Security
August 1, 2011
More than 140 people were killed in Syria on Sunday as the Syrian army continued its brutal crackdown on protestors.
The Europeans say that adoption of a fourth (count 'em) sanctions measure on Syria is "imminent." No doubt Syria and the rest of the Arab world are shaking in their boots, especially in light of NATO's performance in the (ongoing) war between the almighty Alliance and Libyan nutjob, Moammar Gadhafi [see "The Keystone Allies" in today's WSJ].
China and Russia are leading the opposition to a UN Security Council resolution condemning Assad's assault (so what else is new...).
And our Social Worker-in-Chief, who is currently trying to gut our defense budget under the ruse of debt-ceiling negotiations, compromises and balanced approaches, says the U.S. will "increase [its] pressure on the Syrian regime, and work with others around the world to isolate the Assad government." To which Syria and our enemies throughout the world heave a collective Y-A-W-N.
The #1 responsibility of Commander-in-Chief is to keep us safe. Anyone wanna compromised or balanced approach to that?!
[Posted by R.S.]
Quotes of the Day
July 31, 2011
Two Quotes of the Day, from two very interesting pieces.
The first one:
Multiculturalism has been a failure in Europe, while, here in the States, Obama has managed a dishonest public discourse with Muslims as if everything were hunky-dory, fabricating knowledge he did not have and which was false in the first place (like his Cairo narrative of the Barbary wars and the ensuing diplomacy), inventing wrongs against them to stir up progressive outrage (was the IRS really blocking contributions to legitimate Muslim charities?), taking sides in intra-civilizational disputes that put him on the side of religious orthodoxy and the narrow-souled of Islam.
The second one:
"If you think we're in a crisis now about coming up on a debt ceiling, imagine a crisis where we face terrorists or rogue states with nuclear weapons. That is the definition of crisis," Bolton argued. It is critically important, according to Bolton, to restore America's national security 'to the very top' of the list of our nation's priorities.
And a bonus one that explains how we got ourselves into this mess:
Let's face it, why would a man who has only been a community organizer, adjunct law professor, state legislator, and very briefly a senator with a bad attendance record have a real feel for international affairs? The fact that he is an ideologue and arrogant even by the usual standards of politicians and presidents makes things worse.
And so it is...
[Posted by R.S.]
So We’re Winning?
July 13, 2011
Today, three bomb blasts rocked crowded districts of Mumbai during rush hour, killing at least 21 and injuring over 100 people (casualty numbers are still coming in).
On Monday, Syrian mobs attacked and thrashed the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus.
And on Thursday (Turkish time), Turkish authorities captured 15 al Qaeda "militants," who were planning attacks on the U.S. embassy in Ankara, as well as other unspecified foreign targets; and seized 1,500 pounds of chemicals used in bomb-making, along with assault rifles, munitions and city maps.
These are just a few of the incidents in the last couple of days, yet the latest Rasmussen poll of Likely Voters shows that:
- 52% believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the "War on Terror."
- 13% believe the terrorists are winning.
- 25% say neither side currently holds the advantage. [Are these like the Undecideds, you know, the ones who after months and months of non-stop campaign ads, debates, news coverage, etc., are still undecided the day before a presidential election?]
Thomas Jefferson once said, "Information is the currency of democracy." No wonder the U.S. Dollar is tanking.
[Posted by R.S.]
Welcome To Another Planet's Hell
June 30, 2011
Okay folks, I'll make it short & not-so-sweet today:
The Obama Administration has added Israel to the list of countries that support terrorism, while removing North Korea from the list (see here).
The UN Office in Geneva has issued a press release announcing that North Korea has assumed the Presidency of the UN Conference on Disarmament (see here).
The Obama Administration has opened formal contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood (see here).
Writer Aldous Huxley (author of the book "Brave New World") was right when he said: "Maybe this world is another planet's Hell."
[Posted by R.S.]
You Can't Make This Stuff Up
June 29, 2011
Some tidbits from today:
In today's press conference on the "economy", President Obama was asked about Libya. "We've done exactly what I said we would do," said Obama, adding that "Muammar Gaddafi, who prior to Osama bin Laden was responsible for more American deaths than just about anybody on the planet" is now "pinned down and the noose is tightening around him."
Message to Mr. Obama: "we've done exactly what I said we would do" is not an end in itself. And if Muammar Gaddafi is public enemy #2 (second only to Osama bin Laden), then Muammar should be swimming with the fishes (and Osama), and not pinned down in Libya. "Hostilities" began over five months ago, and one of the perks of being a superpower is being able to get things done QUICKLY.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the House of Commons today that Iran has "been carrying out covert ballistic missiles tests and rocket launches, including testing missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload." So the loons in Iran have (or are on the verge of having) real nukes, and now missiles capable of actually delivering them?! For those who are worried about a radioactive smoke plume from the wildfires raging today near Los Alamos, NM (the site of our top nuclear-weapons laboratory), wait till you see the plumes after Iran makes a delivery or two!
"Glenn Beck is on the fringe," said US Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) today as she visited Israel's Knesset (Parliament), as part of the International Conference of Jewish Parliamentarians. "[Israel] is a free country, and people are free to invite whoever they want, but I don't understand why or wherefore someone would bring Glenn Beck to speak in the Knesset," added Lowey.
Message to Ms. Lowey: Well, maybe it's because there is no one, repeat, NO ONE, who has spoken out in support of Israel, or educated the public here about the existential threats Israel faces today, more than Glenn Beck. So while you may not appreciate it, the Israelis sure do, and that's really all that counts, right? (Also, Ms. Lowey, given our debt crisis, unemployment crisis, economic crisis, nuclear crisis, Libya/Afghanistan/Pakistan/Yemen/Iran crises, I don't understand why or wherefore someone would worry about Glenn Beck?!)
Message to the Israelis: Smile, be civil, be polite, and let it go in one ear and right out the other...
[Posted by R.S.]
Notable Quotables
"Mr. Netanyahu is one of the most media-savvy politicians on the planet. On Friday he appeared live via video link on 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' taking the host’s alternately sardonic and serious line of questioning with gazelle-like alacrity."
~ Anthony Grant, jourrnalist who has written for many major newspapers and worked in television at Paris and Tel Aviv, interviewing former PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, at the outset of Mr. Netanyahu's new book (more here).
And Then Some
Dangling Israel
March 24, 2022
New Global Leaders
March 23, 2022
Ukraine Can Learn From Israel
January 31, 2022