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FEBRUARY 5,  2011

REPLY TO A STORY – AT 8:04 P.M. ET:  We reported yesterday the explosive charge that the U.S. was giving away British military secrets in order to obtain a treaty with Russia.  Now the U.S. and British governments are replying to that charge, and we are obligated to publish their replies.  From ABC News:

Both the U.S. and British governments disputed on Saturday a London Telegraph report asserting that the "U.S. secretly agreed to give the Russians sensitive information on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to persuade them to sign a key treaty."

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley called the report "nonsense," saying the information sharing about U.S. transfers of nuclear weapons to the U.K. dates back to the original START treaty, an assertion backed up by the White House and British government officials.

The report, based on a Wikileaked cable from February 2010 during negotiations over the U.S.-Russian New START nuclear disarmament treaty, discussed an agreed statement on the transfer of Tridents II SLBMs to the United Kingdom.

The parties agreed that "in order to increase transparency in relation to the use of "Trident-II" SLBMs, transferred by the United States of America to equip the Navy of Great Britain, the United States of America shall provide notification to the Russian Federation about the time of such transfer, as well as the unique identifier and the location of each of the transferred missiles. The Parties agree that, upon conclusion of the life cycle of 'Trident-II' SLBMs transferred by the United States of America to equip the Navy of Great Britain, the United States of America will send notification to the Russian Federation about the time and method of elimination, as well as the unique identifier for each of the transferred missiles."

Crowley emailed ABC News that "Under the 1991 START Treaty, the U.S. agreed to notify Russia of specific nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom, such as the transfer of SLBM's to the U.K., or their maintenance or modernization. This is under an existing pattern of cooperation throughout that treaty and is expected to continue under New START. We simply carried forward and updated this notification procedure to the new treaty. There was no secret agreement and no compromise of the U.K.'s independent nuclear deterrent."

COMMENT:  Whether that puts the matter at rest will be determined by further reporting.  The issue may well rest on whether the U.S., to entice Russia into a treaty, transferred more information to the Russians than what was agreed to in our discussions with Britain.  The British, however, are not showing any distress, so it's possible the Telegraph story was exaggerated.  We hope so.

February 5, 2011      Permalink

SNIPPET OF THE DAY – AT 7:25 P.M. ET:

From AP:  Car clubs from across Southern California will pay tribute to the owner of "Gypsy Rose," a 1964 Chevy Impala adorned with roses and upholstered in plush pink, with a funeral procession across East Los Angeles.

I hope the hubcaps are insured against theft.

February 5, 2011       Permalink

SHOW SOME CLASS, GRANT THE WAIVER – AT 11:25 A.M. ET:  I was angered by this story.  Tell me if you were, too:

Washington (CNN) -- The family of a man who fought alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam have been told their relative will not be allowed to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Major General Vang Pao led thousands of Hmong soldiers as they fought alongside the United States against the North Vietnamese Army during the war in Southeast Asia, according to a news release from Congressman Jim Costa of California.

Costa, on behalf of Pao's family, asked the Army to grant an exception to Arlington's rules to allow Pao to be buried in the nation's most hallowed burial ground.

Pao died recently of complications from pneumonia, according to Costa.

"The Vang Pao family's request for an exception to the burial policy was thoroughly reviewed by a board comprised of senior military and civilian officials. ... After a comprehensive analysis, the board unanimously recommended denial of the request for exception to policy. Upon receipt of the board's input, the Secretary carefully reviewed and deliberated on this matter and accepted the board's recommendation," according to a statement from the Army released Friday evening.

According to the cemetery's policy, Pao would have had to have served in the U.S. armed forces to be eligible for the honor.

The family can still ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Obama to make an exception. A Pentagon spokesman said he did not know if any request regarding Pao's burial had reached Gates as of Friday afternoon.

COMMENT:  In 1975, in what President Ford correctly called an act of dishonor, Congress cut off assistance to the South Vietnamese, leaving them to their fate at the hands of the North.  The result was a complete dictatorship in South Vietnam, and an American humiliation.

We have not treated our former allies well.  Unless there's something negative we don't know, granting a waiver in this case would be appropriate, symbolizing our gratitude toward people who fight beside us.  Of course, there are no doubt elements in the Obama administration who are ashamed of our role in Vietnam, so don't hold your breath.

February 5, 2011      Permalink

CHEERS, CHEERS, AND MORE CHEERS – AT 10:51 A.M. ET:  At least a few Western leaders do get it, unlike our clueless president.  First it was Angela Merkel of Germany speaking out.  Now British Prime Minister David Cameron is taking on the corrupt forces of blind multiculturalism.  This report, ironically, is from the Independent, one of the U.K's most left-leaning papers:

David Cameron launched a devastating attack today on 30 years of multiculturalism in Britain, warning it is fostering extremist ideology and directly contributing to home-grown Islamic terrorism.

Signalling a radical departure from the strategies of previous governments, Mr Cameron said that Britain must adopt a policy of "muscular liberalism" to enforce the values of equality, law and freedom of speech across all parts of society.

He warned Muslim groups that if they fail to endorse women's rights or promote integration, they will lose all government funding. All immigrants to Britain must speak English and schools will be expected to teach the country's common culture.

The new policy was outlined today in a speech to an international security conference in Munich and will form the basis of the Government's new anti-terrorism strategy to be published later this year.

Isn't it incredible that the Brits and Germans are ahead of us on this?  We're still crying "racism" toward people who objected to a mosque at Ground Zero.  And our own Defense Department whitewashed the radical Islamic beliefs of the Fort Hood killer, who murdered American soldiers on our own soil.

I have no doubt that Cameron's speech was prompted, at least in part, from recent warnings by British intelligence services of the threats posed by radical Muslims inside Britain.

Of course, it's only a speech.  Already, Muslim groups are crying "victim," and you may be sure that the multiculturalist left will swing into action to prevent Britain from being British.  Cameron has got to show a Churchillian backbone.  Like Churchill, his enemies are both within and without.

February 5, 2011      Permalink 

EGYPT THIS MORNING – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:  Egypt is calm this morning, with demonstrators not resorting to any violence.  At the same time, there is no clear direction to political events.

Mubarak remains in power, seemingly indifferent to international calls for him to step down before his stated intention to leave in September.  Secretary Clinton is quoted as saying the U.S. thinks Mubarak's newly minted vice president, Omar Suleiman, a friend of the West, should handle the transition. 

Observing closely, we wonder whether Clinton and her boss are on the same page.  While the secretary is calling for a moderate to lead the transition, Obama's White House is issuing statements that appear to invite the Muslim Brotherhood to be part of any new Egyptian regime.  And CBS Radio's Mark Knoller reports that Obama has asked for advice and help from Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which is somewhat like President Roosevelt asking for help from Emperor Hirohito of Japan.  Erdogan has taken Turkey from being a firm, secular ally of the United States to an Islamic nation hostile to our interests and friendly to Iran.  Any "help" he gives us would probably be a helpful knife in the back.

Former International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei still appears to have the best chance to lead a transitional government before elections are held, but his grip on leadership is tenuous at best.  He has announced that he will address the demonstrators today.  We hope he knows where to go, or has a good tour guide, as he hasn't lived in Egypt for years.  Another great revolutionary. 

Events are fluid.  Nothing is decided. 

February 5, 2011     Permalink

FEBRUARY 4,  2011

IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – AT 8:14 P.M. ET:  Calling Mr. Rogers.  Come in, Mr. Rogers.  We need him to add to the glowing reports of how our glorious president is calling the shots in Egypt, after a peaceful day of protests.  Riots and hell-on-Earth violence failed to materialize:

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Friday that talks between the Egyptian government and its political opponents were in the initial stages, but warned that the mere "pretense of reform" would not be enough to resolve that country's deepening crisis.

Please recall Obama's deep concern for reform in Egypt about, oh, two weeks ago.  Never mind.

The transition of power "must begin now" and lead to "free and fair elections," he declared. Negotiations must "include a broad representation of the Egyptian opposition," he told reporters.

That is world-class inept.  Why should there be a "broad representation"?  This will be interpreted as Obama inviting in the Muslim Brotherhood, a fascist, ultra-fundamentalist organization.  Why?  Why?

Asked if embattled President Hosni Mubarak needs to step down now -- as opposed to waiting for a successor to be chosen in Egypt's September elections -- Obama said Mubarak needs to consult with advisers and listen to what's "being voiced by the Egyptian people."

There are 85 million Egyptians.  Who knows what they're actually thinking?  As a professional community organizer, Obama is very huge about street demonstrations.  You know, the old socialists liked to write in their diaries, "They are in the streets," when they saw four members of the peasantry carrying placards.

The Egyptian leader is "proud" but also a "patriot," Obama said. Mubarak needs to make a judgment about his legacy and the best "pathway forward." Violence and repression have no role in the "orderly transition process," he added. "The whole world is watching."

Yup, there it is.  The leftist slogan from 1968:  "The whole world is watching."  You can take the lad out of Chicago, but you can't take the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention out of the lad.

I think we know what Obama really believes. 

We'd all like to see democracy and freedom in Egypt, assuming it's a rational democracy.  But Obama's posturing is too much, really too much.

Mr. Rogers, a really decent guy, could have done much better.

February 4, 2011      Permalink

IF THIS IS TRUE, IT'S STUNNING – AT 8:02 P.M. ET:  This is guaranteed to create an uproar, both in the UK and here.  There'd better be a fast explanation, and it had better be good.  From London's Telegraph:

The US secretly agreed to give the Russians sensitive information on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to persuade them to sign a key treaty, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Information about every Trident missile the US supplies to Britain will be given to Russia as part of an arms control deal signed by President Barack Obama next week.

Defence analysts claim the agreement risks undermining Britain’s policy of refusing to confirm the exact size of its nuclear arsenal.

The fact that the Americans used British nuclear secrets as a bargaining chip also sheds new light on the so-called “special relationship”, which is shown often to be a one-sided affair by US diplomatic communications obtained by the WikiLeaks website.

Details of the behind-the-scenes talks are contained in more than 1,400 US embassy cables published to date by the Telegraph, including almost 800 sent from the London Embassy, which are published online today.

COMMENT:  There is nothing more to say about this.  We await further information.  It is perfectly obvious that Barack Obama has a deep hostility to Britain, and, frankly, to many of his own countrymen.  But if he's giving away British military secrets for his own treaty needs – and his own greater glory – that is grave business indeed.

February 4, 2011     Permalink

IS THIS SERIOUS? – AT 10:12 A.M. ET:  Well, we have this tradition.  Before World War II we sold scrap iron to Japan, and it came back in the form of warships.  And some American companies had major interests in Nazi Germany, with which they shared technology.  But, you know, our weapons were made here.  We didn't farm out B-17 production to potential enemies.  Apparently, times have changed.  From Fox News:

BEIJING—The maker of China's new stealth fighter jet has teamed up with a tiny, unprofitable California company to try to launch bids for U.S. defense contracts, possibly including one to supply Chinese helicopters to replace the aging Marine One fleet used by the president, according to people involved in the partnership.

Any Chinese bids for this or another contract under discussion would be certain to meet intense political resistance and would appear to have very little chance of success given mounting U.S. concern about China's military power and long-term strategic goals, and the often-prohibitive opposition in the past to Chinese attempts to enter other strategic U.S. sectors, such as energy and telecommunications.

However, the fact that state-run China Aviation Industry Corp., known as AVIC, is even considering bids for these contracts, which industry insiders expect to be awarded in the next two to three years, reflects the rapid development and lofty ambitions of China's aerospace industry.

COMMENT:  If this president starts flying around in a Marine One made in China, I think he should be denied landing rights.  Or maybe he could come down in a bed of chow mein, and walk through it.

Geez.

February 4, 2011       Permalink

WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 9:34 A.M. ET:  He stands as one of the most polarizing presidents on record, according to a new poll reported in The Politico:

President Barack Obama’s approval ratings during his second year in office were the most partisan and polarized they’ve ever been at two years into a presidency, with a nearly 70 percentage point gap between how Republicans and Democrats evaluated his performance.

Obama’s approval among Republicans averaged just 13 percent, while Democrats’ approval of Obama’s second year averaged 81 percent.

The 68-point differential is the fourth-largest on record, behind years four, five and six of George W. Bush’s presidency, when the partisan gap was between 70 and 76 points. Gallup’s data reaches back to 1954-1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s second year in office.

Before Obama, only Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton saw gaps of more than 50 percentage points between Republicans’ and Democrats’ approval during their second years in office. Between January 1982 and January 1983, Reagan’s approval averaged 79 percent among Republicans and 23 percent among Democrats – a 56 percentage point difference. Clinton’s approval averaged 19 percent among Republicans and 73 percent among Democrats between January 1994 and January 1995, a 54-point margin.

COMMENT:  Obama is making a concerted effort to appear centrist these days.  That may work for a time, but two things will clearly be decisive in next year's presidential election.  (Yes, I said next year's.)  Those are the state of the economy and the choice of a Republican nominee.

This morning's job report was mediocre.  Canada, a country whose population is only 33.7 million, created 69,200 jobs last month.  The U.S. created 36,000.

The excuse brigade is out in force in D.C. this morning saying our poor performance was due to the cold weather.  Have any of these gents noticed where Canada is located?  So what did they have up there in January?  A heat wave?  Calling Al Gore.

February 4, 2011       Permalink

WE MUST NOT FORGET THIS – AT 8:44 A.M. ET:   A Senate committee has now given its report on the Fort Hood massacre, conveniently swept under the rug by the Pentagon, and it's devastating.  Our soldiers, killed on American soil, were failed by the Army and by the FBI, and at the core of the failure was the disgrace of political correctness.  From the Washington Post:

A Senate investigation of the Fort Hood shootings faults the Army and FBI with missing warning signs and not exchanging information that could have prevented the massacre.

The report, released Thursday, concludes that systemic and cultural problems caused military officials to miss signs that the suspect, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, was becoming increasingly radical before the 2009 attack.

It also concludes that the FBI did not share information with the Army - notably, e-mails that Hasan, an Army psychiatrist and practicing Muslim, exchanged with a "suspected terrorist," a likely reference to Anwar al-Aulaqi, an Islamic cleric known for his extremist views. The report says the agency may have dismissed such clues to avoid "a bureaucratic confrontation."

At a news conference Thursday, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) said the probe's "painful conclusion is that the Fort Hood massacre could have and should have been prevented."

In particular, Lieberman said the report, issued by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, indicates that the FBI had compelling evidence of extremism that should have led to Hasan's military discharge and made him the subject of a counterterrorism investigation.

And the bureaucrats answer:

The Army and FBI said in separate statements that they have implemented numerous preventative steps since the shootings. The military, for example, has begun requiring troops to report behavior by fellow service members that might indicate extremism.

Douglas MacArthur said that all military disasters begin with two words:  Too late. 

I'm sure the families of those murdered GI's and civilians at Fort Hood take comfort in knowing that the government is now taking "numerous" steps to prevent a recurrence.  We recall that agencies weren't exchanging much information before 9-11 either.

Read the whole story.  Well worth it. 

February 4, 2011      Permalink

EGYPT STILL BOILING – AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  There are mass demonstrations again in Egypt today.  There are fears that many Egyptians will go to Friday prayers at their mosques, hear fiery sermons, and then go out and get reckless, a polite way of putting it.

The real action is not in the streets, and some of it is intriguing.  First, the story circulated yesterday that President Obama has reprimanded his intelligence chiefs for not warning about what was about to happen in Egypt.  But then, an intelligence official testifying before a Senate committee revealed that Mr. Obama was warned of instability in Egypt late last year.  Leave it to Barack Obama to try, in the midst of a crisis, to put the blame on someone.  That big bus is still parked outside the White House.  Hosni Mubarak was thrown under it earlier this week, joining Reverend Wright of Chicago and other unworthies.  Now the intelligence bigs are apparently headed for the space under the rear axle.  Maybe the president, after he watches the Super Bowl on Sunday, will put in some serious thought on how to salvage our Mideast policy.

And we're getting a gentle slap in the face from some European leaders, as the Jerusalem Post reports.  Not everyone is as gung-ho for dumping an ally as quickly as Obama has been.

European Union leaders arriving for the summit Friday called for a "national dialogue" between the government and opposition in Egypt amid escalating violent protests.

But they shied away from supporting the Obama administration's effort to persuade President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was essential that the government and people "move forward together." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it would be "gratuitous and arrogant" to call for Mubarak's resignation.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that he hoped Egypt could move towards a democracy without having to part with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Boy, aren't you impressed with the clout Obama has.  Outside the teen market, and the faculty lounges of the Ivy League, the man can't convince anyone of anything.  When you dump allies quickly, and flash weakness toward enemies, there is a result.

Stand by for more.  This story continues to develop.

February 4, 2011     Permalink