Texas senator to lay out foreign policy views in Heritage speech

"Cruz: Obama is Ignoring Jihadist Threat"

Stephen F. Hayes  "Senator Ted Cruz will visit the Heritage Foundation Thursday to deliver a blistering attack on the Obama administration's handling of jihadist terror and the region that produces it.

"The Obama administration ignores "the reality that our nation is under attack," Cruz will say, according to an early draft of the speech obtained by THE WEEKLY STANDARD. "Americans no longer feel safe in their schools, workplaces, and cities. This should not be new standard."

"The speech comes as the threat from radical Islam has dominated headlines and the presidential campaign for weeks, following attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Recent polling shows terrorism and national security among the top concerns of Republican primary voters and several candidates have used the moment to offer proposals to change course from the Obama administration's passive approach." . . .

Arms and the President*

*With apologies to Sir Winston Churchill

This Is Not the Time to Demilitarize Police Departments, President Told

. . . "Police said Farook and Malik fired at least 65 shots in their attack, and they exchanged gunfire with police in the wild battle on a suburban street that eventually ended with their deaths.

“ 'Countless lives could be saved by equipping patrol officers with the appropriate weapons and giving them the training needed to engage terrorists immediately instead of waiting for specialized units to respond,” Lynch told the New York Post.

"He wants every NYPD patrol car to be set up as a “mini counter-terrorism unit.' ” 

"Of course, setting local police departments up with the weapons Lynch said are needed to battle highly trained and equipped terrorists is nearly impossible thanks to President Obama’s order to demilitarize police departments across the United States." . . .

"Hackel said if Obama really wanted to make police officers safer, “first thing tomorrow morning (he should) rescind that order.”' 

Top Cops Warm to Idea of Armed Citizenry to Confront Terrorists   . . . “A lot of Detroiters have CPLs (concealed pistol licenses), and the same rules apply to terrorists as they do to some gun-toting thug,” [Detroit Police Chief James] Craig told the Detroit News. “If you’re a terrorist, or a carjacker, you want unarmed citizens.' ” . . .

Simpsonville, SC Gun Shop Gives Props To Top Salesman… Barack Obama…

On Guns, Californians Practice ‘Irish Democracy’ and Ignore Bone-Headed Laws
. . . "the city of Sunnyvale demanded that residents hand over all firearms capable of accepting magazines holding more than ten rounds — effectively, everything except revolvers and some single-shot rifles — and the good men and women of Silicon Valley responded by turning in a grand total of zero firearms." . . .

Expect lawsuits if there was no banned firearms sign on the entrance of the San Bernardino shooting site.

The Galen Institute "[Ezekiel Emanuel] sings in what he calls “a growing chorus” that wants to require insurance companies and government programs to “pay for value.”  Value-based purchasing is not a cutting-edge idea.  It’s what you do every time you go to the supermarket and decide whether to pay $13 for an organic roasted chicken or $5 for the non-organic alternative.  “In the rest of the economy,” he writes, “we let individuals determine value.  They decide whether a new gadget is worth the expense.”

"But that won’t do in health care, Emanuel informs us.  Letting doctors and patients make medical decisions is a dangerous thing.  “It is not just patients’ perspectives we need to take into account.  Patients get the benefit, but all of us are paying the bill.”

"Decisions about clinical value should not be made in the clinic, Emanuel argues.  “Because we all pay, all Americans have to have a voice in determining value.”

"By “all Americans” he means government, guided by people of his academic pedigree.

"Dr. Emanuel offers a formula, borrowed from the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS), for “determining value” and thus for deciding whether your medicine, surgery or treatment is worth the price.  The NHS calculates “Quality-Adjusted Life Years” [QALY], a metric that takes into account both the quantity and quality of life generated by medicines and other treatments." . . .

Trump puts off Israel trip ‘until after I become president’ after Netanyahu rebukes him over Muslim ban call

UK Daily Mail

"The Israeli government confirmed the meeting yesterday and said it was scheduled before the billionaire announced his plan to bar Muslims from entering the U.S.

"The prime minister 'will meet with any candidate from any party who will be arriving in Israel and request[s] a meeting,' an Israeli official told The Washington Post.

"Netanyahu later issued a statement that said: 'The state of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens.'

' 'At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world.'

"According to the Post, he said late last night on Twitter that he would keep the meeting, but he 'rejects Donald Trump’s latest comments about Muslims.' . . .

The UK does not want Trump at this time either.

Legal Insurrection obtains restraining order preserving records of anti-Israel 3rd Grade event

Legal Insurrection

"Ithaca Teachers union tells members not to turn over records on personal electronic devices and email."

. . . "In brief, and incredibly, the teachers union in the Ithaca school district appears to have instructed its members not to produce records responsive to my FOIL Request contained on personal electronic devices and email accounts.

"So I went to court and obtained a Temporary Restraining Order preserving records pending a court determination on the merits.

. . .  

"You will recall that my report on the event exposed the anti-Israel nature of the presentation, as the ICSD "Superintendent later acknowledged after his investigation.

The details are laid out in my post, Superintendent: Third Grade event “politically skewed, inflammatory” against Israel.

"Tamimi is the Palestinian activist best known for using children, including his own. to confront Israeli soldiers in the hope the soldiers will react and create a viral video and photographic moment."

On November 3, 2015, ICSD finally produce records pursuant to my FOIL Request, some of the documents were heavily redacted, and others withheld. I addressed this production in my post, New docs reveal Third Grade Anti-Israel event much worse than thought.

Hillary Clinton’s most repugnant lie

NY Post via Drudge

"Liar, liar, pantsuit on fire: Hillary Clinton still insists she didn’t tell the grieving families of the Benghazi victims that an anti-Islam video was to blame.

"Yet family members say she said just that, three days after the attack, at the Sept. 14, 2012, ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base.

"George Stephanopoulos asked her Sunday if she’d told the victims it was about the film. Clinton gave a flat “no.”

"She added: “I said very clearly there had been a terrorist group, uh, that had taken responsibility on Facebook, um . . .”

"At least four family members disagree.

"Tyrone Woods’ father said he hugged Clinton and shook her hand. Then “she said we are going to have the filmmaker arrested who was responsible for the death of my son . . . She said ‘the filmmaker who was responsible for the death of your son.’ ”

"Sean Smith’s mother said Hillary is “absolutely lying . . . She said it was because of the video.” Smith’s uncle backs her up."

Sister of Fallen Benghazi Hero: I Have ‘Very Little Respect’ For Hillary   . . . "Clinton’s latest defense has reignited the anger felt by the victims’ families. Glen Doherty’s sister Kate Quigley is appalled by Clinton’s continuing dishonesty and lack of accountability. " . . .

Who is Hillary going to listen to: you...or Babs Streisand?

http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2015/04/media-sets-the-bar/

PUTTING MILITARY WOMEN'S LIVES ON THE LINE

"The key data Obama's move to force women into combat roles ignores."

Frontpage

"In a move that reeks of political correctness, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Thursday that all combat positions in the U.S. military will now be open to women, with no exceptions. "They’ll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat,” Carter declared. "They’ll be able to serve as Army rangers and green berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men.” 

 

"As the Center for Military Readiness (CMR) explains, Carter could only make the change by overruling the best professional advice of the U.S. Marine Corps “in matters involving life, death, and national security,” and “by breaking his own promise” to base his decision on the quality of scientific research behind the military services’ recommendations. The Marine Corps had requested some exceptions to the policy, but Carter declined to honor them. “The important factor in making my decision was to have access to every American who could add strength to the joint force,” he insisted, further stating the decision to do so was based on empirical analysis of the data following a three-year review by all armed services branches." . . .

Muslims United for San Bernardino Raise Over $100k for Victims’ Families

Muslims reject being “lumped in” with Islamist terrorists

Legal Insurrection

. . . "In addition to this group’s efforts, the LA Times reports that leading Islamic scholars also urged their followers to help with the campaign’s fund-raising efforts:

Several leading Islamic scholars also pitched the campaign in their Friday sermons last week.

“Since 9/11, we’ve felt we need to come out of our cocoons,” said Shaykh Mohammed Faqih of the Islamic Institute of Orange County. “We’re as American as anyone else … but if society is not feeling it, it means I’m not doing enough.”

Donors include Marya Ayloush, a 20-year-old student at Santa Monica Community College who gave $50 after seeing the campaign posted on Facebook. “This is an actual, tangible action we can do to show non-Muslims that we have your back,” she said. “In every situation where the terrorist happens to be a Muslim, every person, whether they admit it or not, is afraid they’ll be lumped in with these guys.”

"Ayloush’s concern is a very real one that, as I noted previously, is not helped by the Obama administration’s (including Hillary’s) refusal to make a distinction between radical Islamic terrorists bent on violent jihad and the Muslims who not only reject this evil but are eager to demonstrate that they don’t appreciate being “lumped in” with radical Islamist terrorists."

Enraged woman attacks Muslims praying in California park: ‘Allah is Satan and you are all murderers’

. . . "Albeshari said he moved four years to California from North Carolina, in part, because he thought he would face less discrimination.

"But Muslims across the U.S. have been targeted by violence and discrimination since terrorist attacks last month in Paris and a mass shooting last week in San Bernardino.

“ 'I never thought this would ever happen to me here,” Albeshari said. “It’s a very uncomfortable feeling.' ” . . .

Terrorists want us to turn on Muslims

Sky News reports:

. . . "We have to be careful we don't do the work of the people who are seeking to divide us, he said, adding that progressive and positive discussion are already occurring within Islam in Australia. " . . .
. . . 

 "'Inflammatory language undermines efforts to build social cohesion, mutual respect and has the potential to harm the efforts of national security agencies to keep Australians safe,' Mr Shorten said in a statement.

"The former prime minister also urged Australians not to apologise for holding Western values, calling for a 'restoration of self confidence' in the West.

" 'All cultures are not equal, a culture that believes in decency and tolerance is much preferred to one that says you can kill in the name of God,' he said." . . .

'Unknown' marine receives Arlington burial seven decades after death in battle

"Corporal James Otto died in the Pacific war but his remains were only recently discovered. He was finally laid to rest 72 years later in a solemn ceremony"

UK Guardian

US marines storm Tarawa in November 1943. Corporal James Otto was among about 1,000 marines killed in the assault on the tiny atoll. Photograph: WO Obie Newcomb Jr/Courtesy of US Marine Corps

. . . "Marine corporal James Otto, 20, of Los Angeles, was killed in action on the first day of intense fighting to capture the tiny Pacific island of Betio from the Japanese during the second world war. In all, about 1,000 marines were killed and more than 2,000 wounded during the battle in November 1943.

Corporal James Otto, of the US marine corps.
 Photograph: Department of Defense

"Otto’s family spent the past seven decades believing that he had been buried at sea. Then, in August this year, his closest living relative, cousin Charles Otto, 73, was informed that his remains had been found. “I thought at first someone was trying to pull my leg and get me,” he recalled. “It was hard to believe they found his remains after 72 years. They found complete skeletal remains except where he was hit in the legs.”

"The remains were identified via dental records preserved since Otto enlisted to fight. He is among at least 120 Americans found on Betio Island, part of Tarawa atoll, since 2005 by the charity History Flight using methods including subsurface remote sensing. Some have been returned to the US for interment in home cemeteries or in Arlington’s 620 acres; others are still being identified. About 74,000 service members from the second world war are still unaccounted for." . . .

“It’s been kind of mind-boggling, all of this, but it happened a long time ago. We didn’t really know him but we’re proud. The marine code is no man left behind, and we brought him home.”

Mass Murder and Identity Politics

Victor Davis Hanson
. . . "One can argue statistically that the number of Islamist attackers is small compared with the pool of Muslim immigrants. It is, of course, also true that mass shooters come in all races and religions, from the cases of Columbine and Sandy Hook to those at the Oregon community college, Virginia Tech, and Miami. 

"But no other common tie — no particular religion, no political identification, no singular subset of mental illness — binds so many mass shooters as do professions of Islamist radicalism, both among first-generation arrivals and among their offspring." . . .

"The new arrival from the Middle East need not turn on Al Jazeera to be spoon-fed grievances, when he can listen to President Obama’s apology tours or Cairo speech or breakfast sermons about high-horse Christians and their millennium-old Crusades."

. . . "Appeasement is a psychological disorder that affects both the appeaser and the appeased. The more exemptions are granted the offender, the more the grantor feels good about himself, and the more the offender loses respect for someone seen as weak rather than magnanimous."

Trump’s Muslim Immigration Ban Should Touch Off a Badly Needed Discussion

Andrew C. McCarthy "Donald Trump’s rhetorical excesses aside, he has a way of pushing us into important debates, particularly on immigration. He has done it again with his bracing proposal to force “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” 

"I have no idea what Mr. Trump knows about either immigration law or Islam. But it should be obvious to any objective person that Muslim immigration to the West is a vexing challenge.
. . . 
The assumption that is central to this dilemma — the one that Trump has stumbled on and that "Washington refuses to examine — is that Islam is merely a religion. If that’s true, then it is likely that religious liberty will trump constitutional and national-security concerns. How, after all, can a mere religion be a threat to a constitutional system dedicated to religious liberty? 

"But Islam is no mere religion."

Mark Steyn: If You See Something...

 "Because political correctness requires that we regard as just another part of the vibrant tapestry of diversity people who believe in everything ISIS believes in (sharia, female subservience, clitoridectomies, death for homosexuals) but stop short of chopping your head off. So we cannot stop them before they open fire."

hopenchangecartoons.allah-allah-in-free

Steyn Online  "...shut up, racist.

"That's Kate McMillan's headline summation of the Big Security State in an age of political correctness.

"On the one hand, the Department of Homeland Security enjoins us: "If you see something, say something." It's an expensive, focus-grouped official government slogan.

On the other hand, when it's happening in your street, it's all a bit more complicated:

A man who has been working in the area said he noticed a half-dozen Middle Eastern men in the area in recent weeks, but decided not to report anything since he did not wish to racially profile those people.

" 'Middle Eastern men" bringing strange contraptions in and out at all hours of the night? What are you, Islamophobic? Who's to say it's not the local distributor for Ahmed the Clock Boy's amusing new Allahrm Clock? If you see a man of Middle Eastern appearance bearing a ticking object, say something - and get sued for 15 million bucks." . . .