On Monday, March 9, forty-seven Republican Senators signed an open letter to the leaders of Iran telling them frankly that a nuclear arms deal made with the Obama might not stand. It is a fair warning. The president may have the authority to negotiate foreign treaties, but the Senate has to ratify those treaties before the United States will be bound to them. The Senators are letting Iran know that any treaty that will allow them to develop nuclear weapons at any time in the future will not stand.
Hillary Clinton immediately tweeted that the letter undermines American leadership and no potential candidates for the presidency should be signing on to it. NBC Nightly News took up the torch on the 11th, claiming that the letter violated the Logan Act and that the Senators have committed treason.
Oh, yes, Hillary and NBC have taken the high ground and are standing up for ... what? The rule of law? Really? This open, transparent letter, put out for everyone to see is equal to treason? And it is unprecedented? Well, let's see. What does NBC think of the following?
Was it treason when Ted Kennedy wrote a letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov in 1983 attempting to undermine Ronald Reagan's diplomatic efforts with the Kremlin?
Was it treason when Jimmy Carter wrote a letter to the United Nations in 1990 undermining President G.H.W. Bush's efforts to build a coalition against Saddam Hussein?
Was it treason when Senator John Kerry traveled to Nicaragua in 1985 to meet with the communist ruler, Daniel Ortega, whom the Reagan Administration was opposing?
Was it treason when Nancy Pelosi traveled to Damascus to show support for Syrian President Assad after President G.W. Bush named Syria as part of an axis of evil, and after Bush requested she not go?
Was it treason when Michigan Congressman David Bonior traveled to Baghdad to meet with Saddam Hussein and undermine President Bush right before the invasion of Iraq?
Where were Hillary and NBC when these letters and events happened? Why weren't they crying "treason" over these? Oh, yeah, I forgot. The rule of law only applies to Republicans. Democrats have always considered themselves above the law. That's because they are such bastions of truthfulness, integrity, and transparency!
The Logan Act, which they are now all touting, is a 1799 law that makes it a felony for unauthorized citizens to enter into negotiations with foreign governments on behalf of the United States. But that is not what is happening here. The forty-seven Senators are not negotiating. They are the ones who will be voting on whether or not to approve any treaty Iran signs with Obama. They are just giving a clear warning that any treaty that gives away the store and allows Iran to develop nuclear weapons will not stand.
The letter also stands as a reminder to Obama that the Senate means to follow the rule of law. Obama's immediate reaction was to guarantee that any treaty he enters into with Iran will not allow them to build nuclear weapons. If that cannot be verified there will be no treaty. Of course, we all know how credible Obama's promises are, and there is really no reason to believe this one will be any different.
If NBC were really concerned about treason, they'd be looking at the White House. Of course....
Friday, March 13, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Benjamin Netanyahu's Speech to Congress
Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before a joint session of Congress last night was an example of statesmanship which we have not seen in America since Ronald Reagan. Not only did he identify the problem and the enemy, he boldly stated that Israel would stand alone if it had to. There was no waffling on who the terrorists are, what religion drives them, or who is supporting them. There was no naiveté, no blind reliance on the "goodness" of the murderous, terrorist exporting Islamic Iranian regime to change and give up their nuclear arms ambitions. There was no feckless leadership from behind. This is a man who understands the world, understands Islam, understands Iran, and understands the threat to peace, not only in Israel, but in America and the world.
Netanyahu was firm and deliberate as he laid out the danger of Obama's proposed treaty with Iran. At the same time he was kind and generous in his comments to Obama, his gratitude for things that Obama has done for Israel, such as intelligence sharing, and lesser known aid such as assisting the Israeli Embassy in Cairo when it was under siege. He also mentioned strategic issues known only to him and Obama because of their sensitivity. He thanked the Congress for their generous military assistance including the Iron Dome missile defense system. In his opening remarks he wished a quick recovery for Senator Harry Reid, who was injured while exercising, even though Reid has been no friend of Israel.
What a contrast to the spoiled little brat Obama, his administration, and over fifty Democrat members of Congress, who had a tantrum and refused to attend. Obama said later that he did not have time to even watch the speech on television. Why? What was he so busy doing, planning his next golf outing? And what a pathetic display of childishness by Nancy Pelosi who stood and turned her back on Netanyahu every time there was a standing ovation during his speech.
What a missed opportunity for Obama to show himself statesmanlike by overlooking pettiness and attending. Netanyahu entered the House chamber down the same isle on the Democrat side that the president uses when entering for State of the Union speeches. He entered to a standing ovation and shook hands with many Democrats, including Harry Reid who spoke very warmly to him for several seconds. Obama's presence would have been a show of great magnanimity and would have helped to strengthen U.S. and Israeli relations. His absence proved where his real interests lie. He wants a treaty with Iran regardless of the consequences and he wasn't about to sit in the House chamber and hear the truth about his giving away the store negotiations.
Netanyahu stated his profound obligation to speak about the future of Israel's survival. He referred to the story of Esther in the Old Testament who saved the Jewish people by obtaining their right to defend themselves against their enemies. He said that now Israel, for the first time in a hundred centuries has the ability to defend itself, and would never give up that right. He compared the situation in ancient Persia to the current Iranian situation. The Ayatollah has openly used Twitter to call for the destruction of Israel. He wrote to the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, "If all Jews gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of chasing them down all around the world."
He pointed out that Iran's threat is not just to Israel but to the whole world. Iran was hijacked by religious zealots in 1979, who gave the country a new constitution designed to fulfill the Koran's resolution to jihad. He made the contrast between the Iranian and American constitutional philosophies clear. America offers life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while Iran pledges death, tyranny and the pursuit of jihad. He called out the "goons in Gaza, the lackeys in Lebanon, and the Shia'a in Syria," which are all sponsored by Iran. Today four capitols in the Middle East are controlled by Iran including Beirut, Damascus, Gaza, and of all things, Baghdad. Two years ago sanctions on Iran were eased and we were told to give the new regime in Iran a chance to change. The change has been more persecution of Christians, more murders, and more terror.
Then Netanyahu clearly explained the difference between Iran and ISIS. They are both competing for the same crown, he said. The crown of a militant Islamic Empire. Iran is Shia'a, and ISIS is Sunni, but they both want to control a world-wide caliphate in which there will be no rights for women, no freedom of religion. ISIS commands the world's attention right now but it is not the greater threat. ISIS is using small arms and IEDs. Iran has intercontinental ballistic missiles.
It is often said that in war the enemy of your enemy is your friend. But in this case, Netanyahu explained, "The enemy of your enemy is your enemy." A treaty with Iran that only delays them from getting nuclear weapons is winning a battle in the short term but it is losing the war. The deal being offered to Iran now by the Obama administration will guarantee that Iran will eventually get nuclear weapons. He pointed out that any deal that allows Iran to keep it's vast nuclear facilities with centrifuges spinning will allow them a short breakout time to a weapon of six to twelve months. He gave North Korea as an example of how meaningless a supervised treaty would be. Obama's deal would allow Iran to keep 6,000 centrifuges, but the Supreme Leader of Iran has stated his plan to build 190,000. And intercontinental ballistic missiles are not even a part of the negotiations.
Netanyahu also warned that a nuclear Iran would lead to a nuclear arms race all across the Middle East. It will be a "farewell to arms control." We don't have to gamble on Iran changing for the better. We must not lift restrictions until three things happen. First, Iran must stop aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East. Second, it must stop supporting terrorism around the world, and third, it must stop threatening to annihilate Israel. This led to the longest and loudest ovation of the evening.
Netanyahu finished his speech recognizing the presence of Elie Wiesel, holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winner, and warning the Congress not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He then pointed to an image of Moses on the wall at the rear of the gallery and quoted Moses: "Be strong and resolute, neither fear or dread them." He closed hoping that Israel and America will always stand together.
It was a speech of magnificent proportion. There was no political correctness or blind belief in the goodness of the Islamic religion. It clearly identified the players and the situation, and stated the threat to not just Israel, but to the Middle East and the world.
The presence and non-presence of key individuals in the House also clearly illustrated the difference between real leadership and proud, little buffoons who play a game with words, but don't understand the stakes and take no action of substance. It showed the difference between a heroic man and a cowardly community organizer. Bibi Netanyahu was a war hero, a member of an elite Israeli special forces unit, wounded twice in battle. Obama smoked pot, wrote phony autobiographies and plays golf. Netanyahu lives in the real world where Islam is the greatest evil and threat to peace since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Obama dithers in a fantasy realm where Islam is the source of all good, the fabric of America, and its prayers the most beautiful sound on earth.
By the way, I'm tired of hearing everybody, conservatives included, talking about radical Islam, which has hijacked a peaceful religion. Islam is not a religion of peace, and there is no radical Islam. There is Islam based on the Koran that teaches hatred and jihad to overcome the infidels, which is followed to the letter by devout Islamic terrorists, and there is moderate Islam that doesn't live by the Koran, but will not condemn those who do. What we see in Islamic terrorism is Islam by the Koran.
Netanyahu knows this. But until we learn this lesson, we are never going to win the war on terror. Netanyahu's speech ought to be played and studied in every political science and history class in the nation, as well as the White House, until we understand that what he has told us is the truth, and we ignore it at our own peril.
Netanyahu was firm and deliberate as he laid out the danger of Obama's proposed treaty with Iran. At the same time he was kind and generous in his comments to Obama, his gratitude for things that Obama has done for Israel, such as intelligence sharing, and lesser known aid such as assisting the Israeli Embassy in Cairo when it was under siege. He also mentioned strategic issues known only to him and Obama because of their sensitivity. He thanked the Congress for their generous military assistance including the Iron Dome missile defense system. In his opening remarks he wished a quick recovery for Senator Harry Reid, who was injured while exercising, even though Reid has been no friend of Israel.
What a contrast to the spoiled little brat Obama, his administration, and over fifty Democrat members of Congress, who had a tantrum and refused to attend. Obama said later that he did not have time to even watch the speech on television. Why? What was he so busy doing, planning his next golf outing? And what a pathetic display of childishness by Nancy Pelosi who stood and turned her back on Netanyahu every time there was a standing ovation during his speech.
What a missed opportunity for Obama to show himself statesmanlike by overlooking pettiness and attending. Netanyahu entered the House chamber down the same isle on the Democrat side that the president uses when entering for State of the Union speeches. He entered to a standing ovation and shook hands with many Democrats, including Harry Reid who spoke very warmly to him for several seconds. Obama's presence would have been a show of great magnanimity and would have helped to strengthen U.S. and Israeli relations. His absence proved where his real interests lie. He wants a treaty with Iran regardless of the consequences and he wasn't about to sit in the House chamber and hear the truth about his giving away the store negotiations.
Netanyahu stated his profound obligation to speak about the future of Israel's survival. He referred to the story of Esther in the Old Testament who saved the Jewish people by obtaining their right to defend themselves against their enemies. He said that now Israel, for the first time in a hundred centuries has the ability to defend itself, and would never give up that right. He compared the situation in ancient Persia to the current Iranian situation. The Ayatollah has openly used Twitter to call for the destruction of Israel. He wrote to the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, "If all Jews gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of chasing them down all around the world."
He pointed out that Iran's threat is not just to Israel but to the whole world. Iran was hijacked by religious zealots in 1979, who gave the country a new constitution designed to fulfill the Koran's resolution to jihad. He made the contrast between the Iranian and American constitutional philosophies clear. America offers life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while Iran pledges death, tyranny and the pursuit of jihad. He called out the "goons in Gaza, the lackeys in Lebanon, and the Shia'a in Syria," which are all sponsored by Iran. Today four capitols in the Middle East are controlled by Iran including Beirut, Damascus, Gaza, and of all things, Baghdad. Two years ago sanctions on Iran were eased and we were told to give the new regime in Iran a chance to change. The change has been more persecution of Christians, more murders, and more terror.
Then Netanyahu clearly explained the difference between Iran and ISIS. They are both competing for the same crown, he said. The crown of a militant Islamic Empire. Iran is Shia'a, and ISIS is Sunni, but they both want to control a world-wide caliphate in which there will be no rights for women, no freedom of religion. ISIS commands the world's attention right now but it is not the greater threat. ISIS is using small arms and IEDs. Iran has intercontinental ballistic missiles.
It is often said that in war the enemy of your enemy is your friend. But in this case, Netanyahu explained, "The enemy of your enemy is your enemy." A treaty with Iran that only delays them from getting nuclear weapons is winning a battle in the short term but it is losing the war. The deal being offered to Iran now by the Obama administration will guarantee that Iran will eventually get nuclear weapons. He pointed out that any deal that allows Iran to keep it's vast nuclear facilities with centrifuges spinning will allow them a short breakout time to a weapon of six to twelve months. He gave North Korea as an example of how meaningless a supervised treaty would be. Obama's deal would allow Iran to keep 6,000 centrifuges, but the Supreme Leader of Iran has stated his plan to build 190,000. And intercontinental ballistic missiles are not even a part of the negotiations.
Netanyahu also warned that a nuclear Iran would lead to a nuclear arms race all across the Middle East. It will be a "farewell to arms control." We don't have to gamble on Iran changing for the better. We must not lift restrictions until three things happen. First, Iran must stop aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East. Second, it must stop supporting terrorism around the world, and third, it must stop threatening to annihilate Israel. This led to the longest and loudest ovation of the evening.
Netanyahu finished his speech recognizing the presence of Elie Wiesel, holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winner, and warning the Congress not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He then pointed to an image of Moses on the wall at the rear of the gallery and quoted Moses: "Be strong and resolute, neither fear or dread them." He closed hoping that Israel and America will always stand together.
It was a speech of magnificent proportion. There was no political correctness or blind belief in the goodness of the Islamic religion. It clearly identified the players and the situation, and stated the threat to not just Israel, but to the Middle East and the world.
The presence and non-presence of key individuals in the House also clearly illustrated the difference between real leadership and proud, little buffoons who play a game with words, but don't understand the stakes and take no action of substance. It showed the difference between a heroic man and a cowardly community organizer. Bibi Netanyahu was a war hero, a member of an elite Israeli special forces unit, wounded twice in battle. Obama smoked pot, wrote phony autobiographies and plays golf. Netanyahu lives in the real world where Islam is the greatest evil and threat to peace since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Obama dithers in a fantasy realm where Islam is the source of all good, the fabric of America, and its prayers the most beautiful sound on earth.
By the way, I'm tired of hearing everybody, conservatives included, talking about radical Islam, which has hijacked a peaceful religion. Islam is not a religion of peace, and there is no radical Islam. There is Islam based on the Koran that teaches hatred and jihad to overcome the infidels, which is followed to the letter by devout Islamic terrorists, and there is moderate Islam that doesn't live by the Koran, but will not condemn those who do. What we see in Islamic terrorism is Islam by the Koran.
Netanyahu knows this. But until we learn this lesson, we are never going to win the war on terror. Netanyahu's speech ought to be played and studied in every political science and history class in the nation, as well as the White House, until we understand that what he has told us is the truth, and we ignore it at our own peril.
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