The Political Fish

This is not typical of what I would post on this blog as far as your typical political rant or story of the day. However, I stumbled across this website today and felt compelled to share this bit of history with all the Political Fish readers. History and politics are intricately interwoven and a fresh look back at history will surely affect your current view of the world today.

Israels Yad Vashem posted the Auschwitz Album on its website for the world to get an even closer look at the evil that took place there. Here is an excerpt from the introduction to the album.

The Auschwitz Album is the only surviving visual evidence of the process of mass murder at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a unique document and was donated to Yad Vashem by Lilly Jacob-Zelmanovic Meier.

The photos were taken at the end of May or beginning of June 1944, either by Ernst Hofmann or by Bernhard Walter, two SS men whose task was to take ID photos and fingerprints of the inmates (not of the Jews who were sent directly to the gas chambers). The photos show the arrival of Hungarian Jews from Carpatho-Ruthenia. Many of them came from the Berehovo Ghetto, which itself was a collecting point for Jews from several other small towns.

Early summer 1944 was the apex of the deportation of Hungarian Jewry. For this purpose a special rail line was extended from the railway station outside the camp to a ramp inside Auschwitz. Many of the photos in the album were taken on the ramp. The Jews then went through a selection process, carried out by SS doctors and wardens. Those considered fit for work were sent into the camp, where they were registered, deloused and distributed to the barracks. The rest were sent to the gas chambers. They were gassed under the guise of a harmless shower, their bodies were cremated and the ashes were strewn in a nearby swamp. The Nazis not only ruthlessly exploited the labor of those they did not kill immediately, they also looted the belongings the Jews brought with them. Even gold fillings were extracted from the mouths of the dead by a special detachment of inmates. The personal effects the Jews brought with them were sorted by inmates and stored in an area referred to by the inmates as “Canada”: the ultimate land of plenty.

I highly recommend you click the link and visit this stirring tribute and reminder of the Holacaust.

May this world NEVER revisit the days of this kind of evil. Keep your knowledge of history fresh insomuch that we will not be doomed to repeat it.

There appears to be conflicting reports out today as to the capture of treasonous American Taliban Adam Gadahn. From the AP this afternoon.

KARACHI, Pakistan – The American-born spokesman for al-Qaida has been arrested by Pakistani intelligence officers in the southern city of Karachi, two officers and a government official said Sunday as video emerged of him urging U.S. Muslims to attack their own country.

The arrest of Adam Gadahn represents a major victory in the U.S.-led battle against al-Qaida and will be taken as a sign that Pakistan, criticized in the past for being an untrustworthy ally, is cooperating more fully with Washington. It follows the recent detentions of several Afghan Taliban commanders in Karachi, including the movement’s No. 2 commander.

U.S. officials did not immediately confirm Gadahn’s capture.

Gadahn has appeared in more than half a dozen al-Qaida videos, taunting and threatening the West and calling for its destruction. A U.S. court charged Gadahn with treason in 2006, making him the first American to face such a charge in more than 50 years.

He was arrested in the sprawling southern metropolis of Karachi in recent days, two officers who took part in the operation said. A senior government official also confirmed the arrest, but said it happened Sunday. The discrepancy could not immediately be resolved.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The first report released from the AP was at approximately 4:30 EST. CBS released the following about an hour after, citing confusion over the militants identity and stating that the arrest was in fact not Adam Gadahn.

An “important Taliban militant” was arrested today in Pakistan. But that is where the confusion started.

Earlier it was reported by Pakistani media that intelligence agents had arrested Adam Gadahn, the American-born spokesman for al Qaeda, in an operation in the southern city of Karachi.

It was further reported by the Associated Press and Reuters that Gadahn had been arrested, sourcing security officials.

CBS News was told by sources in the Pakistan government that it was Gadahn, even after U.S. officials refused to confirm it was the California native for whom a $1 million reward has been posted.

Now, CBS News’ Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad writes that earlier reports the detained individual was Gadahn proved false. According to a Pakistan security official who spoke with CBS News on condition of anonymity, the arrested individual is in fact “a Taliban militant leader who is known as Abu Yahya.”

The official said evidence compiled from an interrogation of the suspect and information exchanged with U.S. officials verified the man’s identify.

The reassessment only added to the confusion surrounding the arrest of a man earlier described by other unnamed Pakistani security officials as Gadahn.

“In the light of our latest information, I can say, this is not looking like Gadahn. But it is still the arrest of an important Taliban militant,” said the Pakistani security official who spoke to CBS News late Sunday.

Looks like confusion is reigning the day on this story. Adam Gadahn for those who are not aware is the American-born spokesperson for Al-Qaeda, who has been prominently featured in numerous propaganda videos railing against the United States and calling for its destruction. Most recently, Gadahn released a video praising the Fort Hood massacre by Major Nidal Hassan. Hassan of course went on a shooting rampage at the largest US military facility and murdered 14 people on November 5, 2009.

JammieWearingFool has continuous updates on the story and other rumors surrounding it.

Updates Here (Samaa News), Here (Dawn.com). Many others are reporting the capture. We will have to wait for the US Military to confirm it is Adam Gadahn. From the GateWayPundit, here is a video of Gadahn from a few years back. HotAir says bummer, wasn’t him.

This man is a traitor and should be executed as such. Let’s just hope it does end up being Adam Gadahn who was captured today in Karachi.

Has it really been one year?

Sure, we all remember President Obama’s inauguration. Two million people crowded the National Mall, he placed his hand on the Bible, Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the oath of office, Dick Cheney looked like Mr. Potter from It’s A Wonderful Life, Obama gave a speech, and pundits across the radio and television dial hailed the coming of the Golden Age of liberalism.

Let me check my calendar… Yep, that was January 20th, 2009.  One year ago.

So what happened?  Well, let’s recap:

• ECONOMICS – In the middle of the Great Recession, Obama unleashed the $787 Billion stimulus plan.  Obama’s people said without the plan, unemployment would go up to nine percent.  We should consider ourselves to be so lucky.  Conservatives said that the bill would increase unemployment, and sure enough, they were right.  But hey, we did save / create a few jobs in some Congressional districts.  It’s a shame those districts don’t exist.
• FOREIGN POLICY – I suppose Obama’s big Foreign Policy moment came during his speech in Cairo, where he tried to seek common ground with Muslims.  The speech was well-received by both sides of the aisle.  A short time later, Obama showed his support for freedom-seeking Muslims by delivering a rousing speech where he proclaimed that America stood together with the young men and women of Iran who were protesting the sham elections and… oh wait, that last part didn’t happen.  Instead, while Iran was burning, Obama was silent, but at least he did get the chance  to get ice cream.  It wasn’t the first time that ice cream played a part in Obama’s foreign policy, four Gitmo detainees were sent to Bermuda.  And yes, they were allowed to get ice cream.  But no sprinkles!  By the way, the “ice cream diplomacy” should not be confused with the “hot dog diplomacy”, or the infamous beer summit.  Other highlights from Obama’s first year: saying that we would not abandon our missile shield in Poland if Iran continues to pose a threat.  That worked for awhile, until the Russians asked us to change our plans.  We caved to the Russians.  Right after we found out that Iran could build a nuke.
• WAR – I haven’t heard much about it, but I’m pretty sure we’re still in Iraq.  After spending the campaign telling America how George Bush screwed up that war, Obama carried over Bush’s policy.  He also spent the campaign talking about how Afghanistan was the “good” war, then once elected President, he proceeded to dither.  Months after Gen. McChrystal asked for more troops, Obama complied.  Somewhat.  He pledged 30,000 more soldiers, but added a withdrawal date.  In a related note, if the leader of the Taliban said that he was going to train / send more terrorists to reek havoc on the world, but only for 18 months (and then they’d have to stop), wouldn’t it sound like that, I dunno, like he was dealing from a position of weakness?
• TERRORISM – Unfortunately, the terrorists (as a whole), aren’t dealing from a position of weakness.  One-third of the terrorist attacks against Americans occurred in 2009. We saw two attacks on our soil, at Fort Hood and in on a plane above Detroit.  Thankfully, the Detroit bomber was incompetent (much like another would-be terrorist bomber from 40 years ago.  Yes, I went there).  Both incidents happened because America missed the warning signs.  Let us pray Obama can rectify these mistakes in 2010.  As for the “victory over terrorists front”, kudos to Obama for giving the thumbs-up to an operation that rescued kidnapped sea captains from the hands of the Somali pirates.  We sent the right message, and that was the last we had to deal with them.  Oh wait. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t joke about this.  Piracy is no laughing matter.
• HEALTH CARE – And yes, we’ve reached the elephant-in-the-room.  While Americans lacking health insurance is a serious problem, Americans rejected Obama’s solution (e.g., usurping the entire health care system, creating massive new entitlement programs, and basically saddling our great-great-great grandchildren with a debt they could never hope to repay.  And for a more on this disaster of a bill, I refer you to my older brother’s column on the subject.).  Where would Obama be if he didn’t try to usurp one-seventh of our national economy?  Well, for starters, he probably wouldn’t be sitting under 50% in the approval polls.  Second, he probably wouldn’t have lost his filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.  Third, Democrats wouldn’t be quaking in their boots.

So, I suppose that takes us back to today.  January 20th, 2010.  One year ago, Barack Obama entered the presidency with dreams and visions of a New America.  And one day ago, voters from the bluest of blue states got their chance to say they don’t want to be a part of that vision.  Meanwhile, the rest of the country salivates.  On November 2nd, 2010, they’ll get their chance, too.

A Saudi preacher is offended by the “enhanced screening measures” in the U.S. that target people from 14 countries.  His idea?  Have Arabs stop flying to / in the U.S.

A noted Saudi preacher has called on Arabs to stop flying to the United States, in protest of “enhanced screening” procedures aimed at catching terrorists, the Dubai business website Zawya.com reported.

Muslim preacher Sheikh Sulaiman al Dowaish has urged Saudi authorities to consider the travel ban following an announcement by the United States that “enhanced screening” measures will be put into place for passengers from 14 countries, including Saudi Arabia.

The extra steps were taken after last month’s attempt by a Nigerian Muslim to detonate a bomb on board a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has asked the Obama administration for clarifications regarding the new security measures. Officials said the oil-rich kingdom would not tolerate security procedures that tarnish the honor and dignity of Saudis.

The website noted that 22,000 students from Saudi Arabia are learning at American universities

Saudi security researcher Sultan Al Anqari blasted the new U.S. regulation, telling GulfNews.com that the Obama government is resorting to a form of political blackmail against Saudi Arabia because of the country’s anti-Israeli policies.

“It is part of a collective punishment against the Saudis, who are also victims of the wrong doing of some deviant people,” he said.

Oh no!!! It happened again…the unthinkable! Every liberals favorite target has spoken up again, and once again Sarah Palin speaks the truth from her facebook page.

Its always enlightening to see the reaction she gets when she types what are quickly becoming the most powerful facebook “notes” in the country. She again has managed to use a common sense approach, littered with truthful nuggets and speaking from outside of the dangerously insulated Washington establishment to speak for the American people. Normal folks.

But enough of what I have to say…lets see what the woman had to say!!

Her piece was entitled “It’s a War, not a Crime spree”. That alone would be enough in my book. She is right on the money calling out the Obama approach to terrorism.

President Obama’s meeting with his top national security advisers does nothing to change the fact that his fundamental approach to terrorism is fatally flawed. We are at war with radical Islamic extremists and treating this threat as a law enforcement issue is dangerous for our nation’s security. That’s what happened in the 1990s and we saw the result on September 11, 2001. This is a war on terror not an “overseas contingency operation.” Acts of terrorism are just that, not “man caused disasters.” The system did not work. Abdulmutallab was a child of privilege radicalized and trained by organized jihadists, not an “isolated extremist” who traveled to a land of “crushing poverty.” He is an enemy of the United States, not just another criminal defendant.

It simply makes no sense to treat an al Qaeda-trained operative willing to die in the course of massacring hundreds of people as a common criminal. Reports indicate that Abdulmutallab stated there were many more like him in Yemen but that he stopped talking once he was read his Miranda rights. President Obama’s advisers lamely claim Abdulmutallab might be willing to agree to a plea bargain – pretty doubtful you can cut a deal with a suicide bomber. John Brennan, the President’s top counterterrorism adviser, bizarrely claimed “there are no downsides or upsides” to treating terrorists as enemy combatants. That is absurd. There is a very serious downside to treating them as criminals: terrorists invoke their “right” to remain silent and stop talking. Terrorists don’t tell us where they were trained, what they were trained in, who they were trained by, and who they were trained with. Giving foreign-born, foreign-trained terrorists the right to remain silent does nothing to keep Americans safe from terrorist threats. It only gives our enemies access to courtrooms where they can publicly grandstand, and to defense attorneys who can manipulate the legal process to gain access to classified information.

President Obama was right to change his policy and decide to send no more detainees to Yemen where they can be free to rejoin their war on America. Now he must back off his reckless plan to close Guantanamo, begin treating terrorists as wartime enemies not suspects alleged to have committed crimes, and recognize that the real nature of the terrorist threat requires a commander-in-chief, not a constitutional law professor.

- Sarah Palin

Giving credit where credit is due — Props to President Obama for accurately calling the Detroit Briefs Bomber Incident exactly what it was: an unmitigated “screw-up“.  America got lucky on December 25th, and that’s all there is to it.

Here’s the issue:  We will not be so lucky next time around.  We’ve just concluded the most active year for jihadists since 2001.  As a matter of fact, a whopping one-third of the terrorist plots against Americans since 2001, occurred in 2009.  The terrorists, evidently, have not been swayed by the new American climate under our new American President.

One of those terrorist plots, the Fort Hood Massacre, succeeded.  The Briefs Bomber (yes, I just thought of that), almost did.  The reason?  Our government missed the warning signs.  We had files on these jihadists, yet, we did not act.  Maybe that’s because our government was waiting for the “smoking gun“.  But therein lies the problem: the Feds can wait for the “smoking gun” when you’re dealing with the criminals like Bernie Madoff, of some drug runner.  With terrorists, all-too-often, the “smoking gun” comes in the form of a smoldering city.

But by then, it’d be too late.

Let us pray it doesn’t come to that.

Always good to switch on over to Americas very first Communist news network to see what sort of audacious stupidity would flow out of the mouths of their exceptional trio of primetime pundits.

Their always insightful *sarc* brand of analysis came in handy tonight following President Obamas speech to the West Point cadets about his Afghan strategy and the impending troop surge.

Chris “Tingles” Matthews had a particularly interesting gem tonight, where he referred to the United States Military Academy at West Point, as the “Enemy Camp”. Perhaps nothing more than a poor choice of words, or maybe his real belief, I am waiting for the day when GE, NBC and the heads of these companies will come crashing down on the head of this moron for his blatant stupidity. Check the video below.

From Newsbusters, here is the transcript.

However, Matthews also said he saw a lot of skepticism among some of the older audience members at West Point, which he called “the enemy camp” and “a strange venue.” (emphasis added)

“It seems like in this case, there isn’t a lot of excitement,” Matthews said. “I watched the cadets, they were young kids – men and women who were committed to serving their country professionally it must be said, as officers. And, I didn’t see much excitement. But among the older people there, I saw, if not resentment, skepticism. I didn’t see a lot of warmth in that crowd out there. The president chose to address tonight and I thought it was interesting. He went to maybe the enemy camp tonight to make his case. I mean, that’s where Paul Wolfowitz used to write speeches for, back in the old Bush days. That’s where he went to rabble rouse the “we’re going to democratize the world” campaign back in ‘02. So, I thought it was a strange venue.”

This guy is a class act.

In an open letter to the President, filmmaker Michael Moore recently wrote that the “worst possible thing” about the troop increase will be to “destroy the hopes and dreams so many millions have placed in [Obama]. With just one speech tomorrow [Obama] will turn a multitude of young people who were the backbone of [his] campaign into disillusioned cynics.” That’s the worst thing? Increased cynicism? A recognition of the reality that our most powerful politician is, well, a politician? What about all the troops who are going to die as a result of the continuation of this war? Isn’t that much worse than liberal disenchantment with their messiah? Do liberals really consider Obama-mania to be the highest morality?

Maybe it’s time liberals stop looking at Obama as something ethereal and finally see him for who he is: a unique hybrid of leftist academic and Chicago-style politician. In short, a human being, one who has come to believe in and revere his own myth, one who genuinely thinks that his words count more than his actions and results. Thus, he has become the master of misdirection. Consider:

He says he’s trying to fix the deficit, but he has increased spending exponentially.

He says he trying to save Medicare, but his health plan will cut half a trillion dollars from it.

He says he wants to reduce instances of AIDS in the United States, but he lifted the ban on travel for people with the disease, thus introducing more carriers into the country.

He says he’s trying to make inner cities safer, but he reduced the mandatory sentences for crack dealers, thus releasing more drug dealers back into black communities.

He says he wants to liberate minority kids from failing schools, but opposes school choice.

He said he had no interest in running the auto industry, but then he nationalized two auto companies and installed his own people at the top.

He said he would put an end to politics as usual, but has been more accessible to lobbyists than any of his predecessors.

He said he wants to make healthcare more affordable, but his health plan would increase demands and regulations on private insurers.

He said he wouldn’t increase taxes, but his health plan will penalize anyone who doesn’t purchase health coverage.

And now President Peace Prize says he wants to end the war in Afghanistan, but he is escalating it.

There is a word for this sort of thing, and it is not “hope” or “change.” It is “hypocrisy,” and this President has mastered it in an alarmingly short time.

Senator Lindsey Graham injected *gasp* common sense into the political debate today. I have been pretty rough on Senator Graham on this blog, but will defintetely throw him a bone today after his questioning of Attorney General Eric Holder today in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Check out this video, its classic stuff. AG Holder one might think would have been prepared with an answer for this sort of question, but as you can see this administration is not operating under any sort of logic. Strictly ideology.

Enjoy.

Partial transcript via Newsbusters.

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R-S.C): Can you give me a case in United States history where a enemy combatant caught on a battlefield was tried in civilian court?

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I don’t know. I’d have to look at that. I think that, you know, the determination I’ve made –

GRAHAM: We’re making history here, Mr. Attorney General. I’ll answer it for you. The answer is no.

HOLDER: Well, I think –

GRAHAM: The Ghailani case — he was indicted for the Cole bombing before 9/11. And I didn’t object to it going into federal court. But I’m telling you right now. We’re making history and we’re making bad history. And let me tell you why.

Now, the real focus of this NPR piece was Graham’s subsequent question concerning whether or not U.S. officials would have to Mirandize Osama bin Laden if he was captured:

GRAHAM: If bin Laden were caught tomorrow, would it be the position of this administration that he would be brought to justice?

HOLDER: He would certainly be brought to justice, absolutely.

GRAHAM: Where would you try him?

HOLDER: Well, we’d go through our protocol. And we’d make the determination about where he should appropriately be tried. [...]

GRAHAM: If we captured bin Laden tomorrow, would he be entitled to Miranda warnings at the moment of capture?

HOLDER: Again I’m not — that all depends. I mean, the notion that we –

GRAHAM: Well, it does not depend. If you’re going to prosecute anybody in civilian court, our law is clear that the moment custodial interrogation occurs the defendant, the criminal defendant, is entitled to a lawyer and to be informed of their right to remain silent.

The big problem I have is that you’re criminalizing the war, that if we caught bin Laden tomorrow, we’d have mixed theories and we couldn’t turn him over — to the CIA, the FBI or military intelligence — for an interrogation on the battlefield, because now we’re saying that he is subject to criminal court in the United States. And you’re confusing the people fighting this war.

 

I guess according to Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) this would make Mr. Obama Un-American.

This video is from 2006, long before President Obama was able to play politics with our national security from the big chair in the Oval office. I guess now that he is in charge, we can go ahead and put politics and political theatre ahead of the security of our nation.

Anyone ever consider KSM walking free on a technicality? Washington Times editorialized this scenario here…but if you prefer my own words, here is my rant on my facebook page earlier today.

Obama has chosen the Southern District of NY to put the Bush admin, the CIA, the use of waterboarding, and the entire idea of terrorism on trial. At the same time, he will bestow upon terrorists the rights of American citizens, and just for good measure, a forum for Muslim terrorists to explain to the world why America must be destroyed. After they are convicted, the Obama trial should begin in the same courtroom.

Our national security will be compromised, as undoubtedly the methods of capture and intelligence will also be put on trial. Lower Manhatten will be given a huge flashing neon target for any and every terrorist around the world to take aim at. This is quite possibly one of the worst decisions I have ever seen made by a President, who by showing a lack of judgement, discernment and wisdom should be promptly removed from office. He has shown himself unfit for leadership, and cannot seem to grasp the idea that we are a nation at war.

Case in point…Afghanistan. Nuff said.

 

This at least according to Congressional dirtbag Jim Moran, the esteemed Representative from Virginia.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) has strong words for the Republicans opposing Attorney General Eric Holder’s plan to bring five 9/11 suspects to New York City to face trial.

“They see this as an opportunity to demagogue,” he said. “They will seize on any opportunity to do that, and that means they’ll even take a stand that’s un-American.”

Shortly after the Department of Justice decided to bestow Constitutional rights of American citizens on terrorists, CNN took a poll that asked the question of whether everyday Americans agreed with the decision to hold the trial of Khalid Sheik Muhammed in NYC. Not surprisingly, 64% of Americans believed that this trial should never take place in civilian court, in fact it belonged in a military court.

Two-thirds of Americans disagree with the Obama administration’s decision to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed in a civilian court rather than a military court, according to a new national poll. …

The poll indicates that 64 percent believe Mohammed should be tried in military court, with 34 percent suggesting that he face trial in civilian court. Six in 10 people questioned say Mohammed should be tried stateside, with 37 percent calling for the trial to take place at a U.S. facility in another country.

“The decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in front of a civilian court is universally unpopular – even a majority of Democrats and liberals say that he should be tried by military authorities,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Despite that, most Americans say that he will get a fair trial in the U.S.”

Congratulations Jim Moran. Apparently 2/3 of your country are un-American by your borderline retarded logic.

And true to form, he nails it.

For those that missed the interview on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, here they are…enjoy.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Right on point as usual. When will the leftists wake up, the only reason he is hated by this administration is his common sense and truth telling nature.

Shortly after former Vice President Dick Cheney blasted the administration for “dithering” in Afghanistan, Senator John Cornyn (R-AZ) fired off a letter to President Obama encouraging him to make a decision on our course in Afghanistan, and to quit blaming his predecessor. He noted that such actions tend to embolden our enemies, and put Americans at a much higher risk around the world. Bravo to Senator Cornyn for this letter, he is as usual, right on the money. Here is the full text.

–The full text of the letter is below–

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

I am dismayed by your seeming indecision regarding the way ahead in Afghanistan. I fully appreciate the importance of thorough deliberation on a matter of such importance but, at some point, open-ended deliberation evolves into hesitation and procrastination. Stalled decision-making creates a dilemma for our allies, who are trying to gauge our long-term intentions in the region prior to committing their own forces and other resources.

The assessment by General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, makes plainly clear that a commitment of additional forces to the Afghanistan theater of operations is necessary. He states that, “success will require a discrete ‘jump’ to gain the initiative . . . .” I understand that he has formally made this request, but that you have yet to decide whether to grant it. I urge you in the strongest terms to move ahead with the “jump” in forces and other resources, as requested by General McChrystal. You handpicked him to carry out this complex task and lead our troops in Afghanistan, and I applaud you for that – he is the right person for the job. The counterinsurgency strategy you announced in March is the right one and, when put to use thus far in Afghanistan, it has proven effective. I ask you to now heed General McChrystal’s advice to stick with that strategy and give him what he needs to win. Every moment that goes by without deploying the needed reinforcements to Afghanistan puts those men and women in uniform already on the ground there at greater risk, and that fact requires no additional analysis.

While I recognize the importance of Afghanistan’s coming run-off elections and the need to ensure the legitimacy of its government, our national security decisions should never be contingent on such events, which are beyond our control. These elections should not delay your decision on General McChrystal’s troop request.

In the bigger picture, I am concerned that indecision may be seen by our enemies – and not just those in Afghanistan – as a lack of U.S. national resolve. This could potentially put Americans in unnecessary danger. History instructs that, when our enemies perceive a lack of U.S. national resolve, they sometimes act on it.

I worry that your administration considers the Afghanistan mission merely an unwanted distraction from your sweeping domestic “change” agenda. To the contrary, Afghanistan is now the central front in the Global War on Terror, and our national security depends on winning there. It is past time for your administration to dispense with talk of “inheriting” problems – both foreign and domestic – from your predecessor. Instead, I urge you to commit your administration to success in Afghanistan and act decisively to that end. The United States is in the lead in Afghanistan; as our commander-in-chief, I urge you to take ownership of this mission.

Sincerely,

 
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer got a tad bit testy today with Republicans who are shouting from the roof tops about President Obama’s dithering on the Afghanistan situation (It has been I believe 76 days now since General McChrystals recommendation for additional troops). Hoyer sounded off today on the GOP complaints about the administrations stall tactics on the matter. From the Hill.com

Hoyer tore into Republicans — including House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) — for criticizing Obama’s approach to a war Hoyer said Republicans “abandoned.”

“My Republican colleagues, of course, abandoned their focus on Afghanistan for seven years — seven years — and let it drift, and did not resource it properly, and did not succeed,” a terse Hoyer said at his weekly news conference.

 

“For the Republicans who essentially diverted the attention of defeating terrorism in [Afghanistan] on the incorrect assertion that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, frankly, [Republicans' charges] don’t move me mightily as you can tell,” Hoyer said in response to a question about how quickly he would like to see Obama decide whether or not to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

“Gen. McChrystal’s assessment says that without timely reinforcements our efforts to deny al Qaeda and the Taliban a safe haven in Afghanistan may end in failure,” Boehner said in a statement released on Monday. It followed up on similar statements he made last week.

“It’s time for the Obama administration to give our commander on the ground the resources he needs to better protect our troops and achieve the goals the president outlined in March.”

Hoyer, who acknowledged he was irritated over the comments, said that such criticism amounted to hypocrisy.

So let me get this straight. I’m going to work this out in my head right here…so follow me. President outlines a strategy in March. Gives the General an order to give an assessment. General gives assessment. Assessment strategy alienates the Presidents hard-core anti-war, anti-American military base. President votes present on the subject. Democrats leap to the defense of the “present” vote by blaming Bush.

Glad to see our Congress can have logical debate.  Instead its, you did nothing so we will do nothing…brilliance inside the beltway I tell ya…

Dear Mr. Hoyer,

The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated steadily under the watch of BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. In as much, he has refused to deal with the problem that is steadily growing and spiraling out of control. That actually has nothing to do with George W. Bush. George Bush for the record, successfully handled two wars simultaneously, employing a strategy in Iraq that stabilized the situation and led to the ability of American troops to be drawn down. During that time, while admittedly Afghanistan was on the back burner, it was controlled and when the situation deteriorated it was dealt with swiftly.

There is no good reasoning for sitting on this decision. But wait, as is always the case, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has a theory, and by the way I have noticed the President has yet to make any sort of statement to the American public about the Afghanistan, and what is going into his decision making process. On every other issue close to his heart the President has been on the campaign trail touting his plan, his vision for hopey changey…but silence on Afghanistan. But I digress, I’m sure you are all waiting for what Rahm has to say on the matter…

 

“It would be reckless to make a decision on U.S. troop levels if in fact you haven’t done a thorough analysis of whether in fact there’s an Afghan partner ready to fill that space that U.S. troops would create and become a true partner in governing,” said the president’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel gave no timetable for a presidential decision in Afghanistan. He said the White House plans to have additional strategy sessions this week and next, extending a review process that began after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, reported that more U.S. troops are required.

 

This falls right in line with what notorious anti-war, anti-military Senator John Kerry had to say on the matter as well.

So apparently it takes 76 days for a careful assessment of the strategy that was just announced just over 6 months ago.

Obama knows he is in a politically vulnerable situation. He is conflicted on what to do, I mean you can’t just escalate a war after winning the Nobel Peace Prize can you? The politics being played on the Afghanistan conflict is causing the loss of American life, and the time has come to quit playing games, quit blaming Bush and move along with a strategy.

Apparently, the Obama administration and Congress are at war with everyone, but can’t seem to make a decision on the people that are actually waging war on our nation. Remember Afghanistan? No decision yet (its been now a month and a half) on the Generals request for more troops and a winning strategy in Afghanistan. But hey, bigger fish to fry right? I mean, the evil health insurance industry should be the focus of our attention.

From Politico.

The long-simmering tension between insurers and congressional Democrats is erupting into open warfare, with lawmakers stepping up their push to revoke a key federal protection for the insurance industry.

 Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday called for an amendment to the health care reform bill that would remove the long-standing antitrust exemption for insurers, echoing a push by other Democrats to crack down on the industry.

 “The health insurance’s antitrust exemption is one of the worst accidents of American history,” Schumer said. “It deserves a lot of the blame for the huge rise in premiums that has made health insurance so unaffordable. It is time to end this special status and bring true competition to the health insurance industry.”

 Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill last month to remove the anti-trust exemption and convened a hearing Wednesday, where Schumer called for eliminating the exemption as part of the health bill working its way through Congress.

 Schumer’s push comes on the heels of a controversial industry-sponsored report released over the weekend that makes the case that insurance premiums will go up by as much as $4,000 per family by 2019 if the Senate Finance Committee legislation is signed into law. The release of that report by the industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans sparked angry blowback from Democrats in both chambers.

….

I guess the insurance industry is stirring the pot,” Schumer said, in response to suggestions from the industry that Leahy called the hearing in retaliation. “Maybe because the insurance industry blundered so badly on Monday, it gives us greater chance to pass it.”

 Health insurance officials dismissed the effort as a “political ploy.”

 “Health insurance is one of the most regulated industries in America at both the federal and state level,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans. “McCarran-Ferguson has nothing to do with competition in the health insurance market. The focus on this issue is a political ploy designed to distract attention away from the real issue of rising health care costs.”

 Still, the push is likely to gather momentum as Democrats try to find a way to lash back at the insurance industry — whose report was viewed as a last-minute attempt to scuttle health care reform just days before Tuesday’s critical Senate Finance Committee vote. The legislation there was approved 14-9, with Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine voting yes and giving reform efforts a boost.