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APRIL 18,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M. ET: 

AMERICANISM – Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said what many Americans are thinking.  From The Hill:  ""I don't know about you, I'm tired of the hyphenated Americans. No more African-Americans. No more Indian-Americans. No more Asian-Americans,' Jindal said to applause."  I think that's a great theme, and I sense that many Americans, after years of political correctness, are ready for it.  I hope Bobby starts a trend.

ERNIE – This is the 70th anniversary of the death of Ernie Pyle, the most celebrated of the World War II reporters.  He was killed by a Japanese sniper on the island of Ie Shima, off the coast of Okinawa.  He had covered Europe during most of the war, getting close to the G.I.'s and telling their stories to the American people.  When the war in Europe was approaching its end, Pyle really didn't want to go to the Pacific, but felt he owed it to the soldiers he'd never covered.  The decision cost him his life.  Like most of the reporters of that era, Pyle never fancied himself "above" his country or neutral about the war.  He was an American reporter covering an American war, and he knew we had to win it for our freedoms to survive.

GREAT SHOW – From the Washington Examiner:  "Unlike this week's gyrocopter incursion, when waves of World War II aircraft sweep over the Washington Monument at only 1,000 feet next month, they will have security clearance.  The historic flyover of vintage fighters and bombers on May 8 is a salute to the 70th anniversary of Victory-Europe, the day the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany.  The waves of 30-60 World War II heavy bombers and fighters will come in low so that several hundred of the last living veterans of the war will get to see again the air power that helped deliver the victory. Those waves will form an hour-long air parade of P-51 Mustangs, P-40 Warhawks, B-25 Mitchells, the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortresses and other trainer and fighter aircraft."  I'd love to go.

April 18,  2015     Permalink

MORE TROUBLE FOR HILLARY – AT 12:31 P.M. ET:  Hillary Clinton's campaign rollout was more of a rollover.  A real dud.  She came off as artificial and lackluster...because she's artificial and lackluster. 

And her problems keep building.  A lot of them involve money and its source.  From Newsweek:

Enemies of Hillary Clinton waiting to discredit her bid for the White House are likely to seize on news that one of the biggest benefactors to the Clinton Foundation has been trading with Iran and may be in breach of US sanctions imposed on the country.

Ukrainian oligarch Victor Pinchuk, 54, has courted the Clintons for at least nine years – in the United States, the Alps and Ukraine.

Earlier this year, he was confirmed as the largest individual contributor to the Clinton Foundation, whose aims include the creation of “economic opportunity and growth”. He also has links to the Tony Blair Foundation and represented its biggest single donor in 2013.

The fourth richest man in Ukraine, Pinchuk owns Interpipe Group, a Cyprus-incorporated manufacturer of seamless pipes used in oil and gas sectors.

Newsweek has seen declarations and documents from Ukraine that show a series of shipments from Interpipe to Iran in 2011 and 2012, including railway parts and products commonly used in the oil and gas sectors.

Among a number of high-value invoices for products related to rail or oil and gas, one shipment for $1.8m (1.7m) in May 2012 was for “seamless hot-worked steel pipes for pipelines” and destined for a city near the Caspian Sea.

Both the rail and oil and gas sectors are sanctioned by the US, which specifically prohibits any single invoice to the Iranian petrochemical industry worth more than $1m.

However, US sanctions laws are complex and, in certain areas, ill-defined. Interpipe may qualify for penalties due to the mere presence on American soil of North American Interpipe Inc, its United States subsidiary.

The US authorities can also penalise non-American companies with no base in the US at all which it judges to be working counter to its foreign policy, as happened to Zhuhai Zhenrong, a Chinese oil company, in 2012.

Being denied access to US markets and the US banking system could prove catastrophic to Interpipe, given that accountancy giant Ernst & Young has raised questions over its viability.

The person in charge of this list of non-US companies is the Secretary of State, who between 2009 to 2013 – the period during which Pinchuk’s company was trading with Iran – was Hillary Clinton.

COMMENT:  A bit of bother, I'd say.  Scandal just seems to stick to the Clintons.  The campaign is just beginning.  We have to wonder what will come out next. 

If given a choice between Clinton and any breathing Republican, the mainstream media will certainly back Clinton.  But there may be a point where the scandals are so overwhelming that even the power of the press won't save her.

The once-great Democratic Party should have many more candidates for president.  The fact that it doesn't is proof of what's happened to it over the years.  It has lost the Senate, the House, most governorships, and most state legislatures.  If it loses the presidency, that's the ball game. 

April 18, 2015       Permalink

CHICAGO HORROR – AT 11:46 A.M. ET:  Maybe the president of the United States should spend some time helping to save his native city, which is spiraling downward.  Don't hold your breath.  From the Chicago Tribune: 

At least 18 people have been shot, two fatally, in shootings across the city's Northwest, West and South sides since Friday morning.

One man was killed and another wounded in a shooting in Humboldt Park late Friday, one of three separate shootings in the neighborhood in less than 24 hours, police said.

The shooting happened about 10:50 p.m. in the 1100 block of North Springfield Avenue, said Officer Amina Greer, a Chicago Police Department spokeswoman.

The two men, ages 35 and 36, were inside a car on the block when a gunman approached on foot and fired shots, Greer said.

The two men drove themselves to Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center and were both later transported to John H. Stroger Hospital. The 36-year-old man was shot in the chest and later died from his wounds. Officials had not identified the man as of early Saturday.

The 35-year-old man was shot in the neck. His condition stabilized, police said.

In the most recent nonfatal shooting, a 25-year-old man was shot early Saturday in the 3200 block of West LeMoyne Street in Humboldt Park. The man walked into Norwegian American Hospital about 6:35 a.m., police said. He had been shot in his left calf and was expected to be treated and released, police said. The man is a documented gang member, police said.

COMMENT:  Hey, where's the "hands up, don't shoot" crowd?  Where's the "black lives matter" crowd?  I guess black lives don't matter unless they're useful to Al Sharpton's career. 

You may be sure that many of the victims reported above are innocent, minority people.  But who cares?  If a white cop looked at one of them the wrong way, that would be the story.

April 18, 2015        Permalink

THE BETRAYAL – AT 11:31 A.M. ET:  I don't normally quote former Secretary of State James Baker here.  I never liked him.  But he wrote wisely in yesterday's Wall Street Journal about the need to keep sanctions on Iran until the Iranians proved they are sticking to the nuclear agreement that presumably will be finalized by June 30th.  Trouble is, by the end of yesterday, Obama had already signaled that he was willing to cave in on sanctions to get the deal.  From the Journal: 

Former secretary of state James Baker called on the Obama administration to hold firm on sanctions against Iran until verifiable mechanisms are in place to ensure the Islamic Republic’s compliance of any nuclear deal.

Writing an opinion piece for the Friday edition of The Wall Street Journal, the former top diplomat in the George H.W. Bush administration said that while he commended the current president’s efforts to solve a thorny issue without resorting to military force, he cautioned that Washington must rally its P5+1 allies to demonstrate steadfastness, particularly in light of Iran’s poor track record in adhering to international commitments.

“Iranian leaders quickly disputed key points about the White House’s description of the terms of the [framework] agreement,” Baker wrote. “Among them was Iran’s demand that all sanctions be removed once a final deal is signed.”

“That is a far cry from the US understanding that sanctions will only be removed over time, as Iran meets its obligations. This different Iranian position may have been aimed at Iran’s domestic audience. But if Iran holds to it, there should be no final agreement.”

Baker added that any threat to keep the sanctions in place can only be effective if it is Iran that is perceived as the obstructionist party that refused the deal, not the US, particularly given the fact that European countries as well as others are eager to resume doing business with the Islamic Republic.

COMMENT:  As a result of Obama's statement yesterday that he's willing to consider lifting sanctions immediately to make it easier for Iran's leaders to sell the deal to hardliners, Baker's advice is obsolete.  We've already given in.  In fact, it's hard to keep up with the pace of Obama's appeasement. 

The sanctions will probably be lifted immediately.  Obama will lie to us once more by saying they can be reimposed if Iran cheats, but they never will be reimposed.  First, Obama, with European help, will never certify that Iran was cheating.  And business interests will demand that they continue to do business in Iran, something that will be very popular in amoral Europe.

April 18,  2015     Permalink

APRIL 17,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

SICKENING – We'll have more on this, but many observers are utterly stunned by the reckless, dishonest, and disgraceful comments President Obama made at his Friday press conference.  He announced that he would be open to lifting all sanctions on Iran immediately, rather than after verification that Iran was complying with the nuclear agreement.  This contradicts his previous position and the position of virtually the entire West.  It knifes Israel in the back, something Obama loves doing, and hangs our Arab allies out to dry.  Field Marshal Obama explained that we might have to do something "creative" to make it easier for the Iranian government to sell the agreement at home.  That means we cave in one of the most critical demands we have made.  Obama said the real issue is how quickly sanctions could be put back if Iran cheated.  That is garbage.  He'd never verify that Iran cheated, and sanctions will never be put back because important Western interests will be making money in Iran.  I don't know how Obama lives with himself, but the film, "The Manchurian Candidate," might provide the answer. 

ARAB COMMENTATORS GO WHERE OURS FEAR TO TREAD – From CNS:  "Commentators on two different Arabic television programs claimed that President Barack Obama is pushing a nuclear deal with Iran because his father, Barack Obama Sr., was a Shiite Muslim, and President Obama apparently wants the Shia-run government of Iran to be victorious in the region.   The commentators made their remarks on the UK channel Al-Hiwar TV on March 25 and on 4Shbab TV in Saudi Arabia on April 10; the segments were recorded and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute TV Monitor Project (MEMRI).  'There is one thing we must not forget,' said Syrian writer Muhydin Lazikani on Hiwar TV. 'I am not peddling some theory, and I am not being racist. But Barack Hussein Obama is the son of a Shiite Kenyan father.'"  Hmm.  Only two forces in the world have grown stronger on Obama's watch – Communism, though Russia, and militant Islam.  As they say, check it out.

OUR GREAT NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER – From Fox:  "A California college has apologized for its 'insensitivity' after serving Mexican food at an official school night party whose theme, 'Intergalactic,' included decorations featuring aliens from outer space.  In a letter addressed to its student body, Stevenson College - which is part of the University of California, Santa Cruz - said it received complaints from students and others within the university who were offended by the decision to serve Mexican food at the Sci-Fi party because of its perceived connection to the immigration debate.  The term 'illegal aliens' is sometimes used to describe people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border without documentation, but many Latinos and immigration advocates consider it pejorative."  Boy, is that a stretch.  Don't these students have anything better to do with their time?  There was nothing offensive about serving Mexican food, unless you wanted to imagine the offense.  Our college students are being brought up to be babies.

April 17, 2015       Permalink

THE STRANGE HANDLING OF AN ACCUSED DESERTER – AT 10:52 A.M. ET:  There is now some evidence that the truth about Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was known at the highest levels.  From Fox: 

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl walked away from his base in Afghanistan June 30, 2009, and by December of that same year, the president's principal military adviser, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, knew those details, according to three of Bergdahl's platoon mates who spoke to Fox News.

"I asked him (Mullen) if he knew about Bergdahl and that he deserted and he (Mullen) told me that he knew of the circumstances surrounding his walking off," former Sgt. Matt Vierkant told Fox,"(and) that they were developing leads and following leads, trying to do everything they could to get him back."

After pulling security duty for the chairman, who was doing a swing through Afghanistan in December 2009, Vierkant, along with Evan Buetow and Cody Full, said they met informally with Mullen and about eight other soldiers. After a pep talk about the mission, the three said Mullen asked the squad leaders and platoon leadership to take a break.

"He sat down with all the lower enlisted guys and the team leaders and basically he said, 'Hey, what do you want to know...You got any questions? He's like, I'm an open book. Let's just have a little question and answer session," Buetow explained.

"So Matt asked him, you know Bergdahl deserted, what's going on with that? And Admiral Mullen said, 'Yes, we know all the circumstances surrounding Bergdahl walking away from the OP (outpost,)and we're still working on getting him back, figuring out where he is and kind of figuring out that whole situation.’"

COMMENT:  Of course, that wasn't the later Obama line about Bergdahl.  He was a guy who served with honor, we were told. 

But if Mullen knew the truth, didn't Obama know?  And how much did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton know? 

And why all the lying?  While Congress is investigating Benghazi, it might also take a look at this case.  It must be doing wonders for military morale.

April 17, 2015       Permalink

THE PARTY OF THE PAST – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 10:25 A.M. ET:  Have you noticed the average age of Democratic leaders?  Wasn't this once the party of youth and vigor?  Byron York, in the Washington Examiner, explains what happened:

The average age of the Republican field is far below the Democrats, with every candidate younger than Clinton. The most senior is Jeb Bush, who will be 64 on Inauguration Day. Scott Walker will be 49; Marco Rubio will be 45; Ted Cruz, 46; Rand Paul, 54; Chris Christie, 54; Mike Huckabee, 61; Bobby Jindal, 45. Although Bush is in the older range, they're all in the career sweet spot to win the White House.

What accounts for the Democrats' dramatic change from the party of youth to the party of age?

"It's the snuffing out of young talent by the strength and size and sheer velocity of the inevitable nominee," says a well-connected Democratic strategist. "The Clintons took all the air out of the collective Democratic room. There are a lot of people who would be running who are much younger, but they've got their future in front of them, and they don't want the Clintons to ruin it, in this campaign or after this campaign. So they're waiting for a moment when there is enough oxygen to run."

"If Hillary Clinton weren't running, we'd have a field that looks like the Republican field — young and vibrant and diverse."

If there were no Clinton campaign, would Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who will be 50 on Inauguration Day, be exploring a run? Would Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who will be 56, be thinking about it? Would New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who will be 59, be preparing to run? They'd all be considering it.

If any of them ran today, however, they could find themselves unable to gain any traction at all in a Clinton-dominated primary race. That could make it more difficult for them to mount a credible run in the future.

COMMENT:  Once the party of Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy.  Once the party of national-defense giants like Henry Jackson and Stuart Symington.  Look at it now. 

April 17, 2015       Permalink

NOTHING HAS CHANGED – AT 9:23 A.M. ET:  It is announced that nuclear negotiations with Iran will resume in Switzerland next week, with the aim of having a final, detailed agreement by June 30th.  In the meantime, Iran is showing its usual intentions, as Obama averts his eyes.  From Reuters:   

(Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog said it had a "constructive exchange" with Iran this week but there was no sign of a breakthrough on aspects of its nuclear program that the agency says Tehran has failed to fully address.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is investigating Iran's nuclear program in parallel to talks between Tehran and six world powers that aim to broker a deal by the end of June to scale down the program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In any final deal, the IAEA would play a major role in monitoring Iran's compliance.

The IAEA said in March it expected progress with Iran this month on outstanding issues related to the nature of neutron calculations and alleged experiments on explosives that could be used to develop an atomic device.

It said then it expected Iran to propose new measures to address other outstanding issues with the IAEA by mid-April.

The IAEA on Thursday issued a short statement saying it had technical talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Wednesday, making no mention of major developments.

"The two sides ... had a constructive exchange on the two practical measures under discussion," it said. "The Agency and Iran will continue this dialogue and agreed to meet again in the near future."

COMMENT:  This is a preview of things to come.  The nuclear agreement with Iran will never work, at least not as intended.  Iran will put up a facade of cooperation, its powerful lobby in Washington, in conjunction with the hard left, will applaud, and eventually Tehran will have a nuclear weapon.

By then Obama will be secretary-general of the UN and John Kerry will be a retired elder statesman, nursing his Nobel Prize.  Obama used to say that Iran would never get a nuclear bomb.  Now he's simply saying that it will never get a nuclear bomb on his watch.  Quite a comedown.

Our children will be forced to deal with this.  Quite a legacy for our generation.

April 17, 2015       Permalink

MUST BE A CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:  This is awful, but where is the outrage?  From AP:

ROME (AP) — Italy's migration crisis took on a deadly new twist Thursday as police in Sicily reported that Muslim migrants had thrown 12 Christians overboard during a recent crossing from Libya, and an aid group said another 41 were feared drowned in a separate incident.

Palermo police said they had detained 15 people suspected in the high seas assault, which they learned of while interviewing tearful survivors from Nigeria and Ghana who had arrived in Palermo Wednesday morning after being rescued at sea by the ship Ellensborg.

The 15 were accused of multiple homicide aggravated by religious hatred, police said in a statement.

The survivors said they had boarded a rubber boat April 14 on the Libyan coast with 105 passengers aboard, part of the wave of migrants taking advantage of calm seas and warm weather to make the risky crossing from Libya, where most smuggling operations originate.

During the crossing, the migrants from Nigeria and Ghana — believed to be Christians — were threatened with being abandoned at sea by some 15 other passengers from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Guinea Bissau.

Eventually the threat was carried out and 12 were pushed overboard. The statement said the motive was that the victims "professed the Christian faith while the aggressors were Muslim."

The surviving Christians, the statement said, only managed to stay on board by forming a "human chain" to resist the assault.

COMMENT:  We wait for a statement from the usual suspects – the White House, the left wing of the Democratic Party, the National Council of Churches, and assorted liberal "intellectuals."  We'll be waiting a long time.

It should be noted that the victims were African Christians, people of color.  I wonder where their champions are.   I wonder if they have any champions in the corrupt "social movements" of the left. 

April 17,  2015     Permalink