For those who think the U.S. gets nothing from Israel in return for the military aid we give it, look what’s protecting US Army tank crews

Barenakedislam

What’s more, every dollar of U.S. aid to Israel is spent with American defense manufacturers, something that no other country receiving U.S. aid is requested/required to do.

Trump trumps democrat foreign policy

Our media ignore, but Mullahs don’t: US assembling a devastating strike force in the Middle East
"The American media are paying no attention to it, but you can be sure that the mullahs in Tehran have noticed: The United States is openly deploying the weapons necessary to launch a devastating attack on Iran, should the need arise. The Australian media are not so shy, as news.com.au shows: . . ."

It’s a classic example of modern grey warfare, where even implausible deniability shields rogue nations from international consequences.  . . .

 Twenty Years Too Early, Ten Years Too Late and the Relic From Rome
" 'I still say Kayla should be here, and if Obama had been as decisive as President Trump, maybe she would have been," Marsha Mueller said, referring to the death of her daughter at the hands of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. "After Kayla's death, the Muellers became outspoken critics of the American government's handling of its foreign hostages. They had been encouraged to keep her captivity secret, and discouraged from attempting to free her or pay a ransom."
"Leaving aside the question of whether Obama ever had a good tactical option at rescuing Kayla Mueller, "decisive" is probably the wrong word to characterize the former president's style. Obama knew what he wanted and valued signaling and appearances in a sincere way. He was always signaling. If the Muellers were instructed not to speak it was so as not to jam his carefully crafted messages. By treating Bin Laden's corpse reverently; by an excruciating choice of words and many other ways he was signaling. Always signaling, which he saw as an important part of his job." . .  .

Speaker Pelosi Wasn’t Informed. So What?  . . . "The Gang of Eight, a collection of top Congressional leaders, are typically briefed ahead of such significant missions. But we are not living in normal, typical times. We are living in a time when certain Congressional leaders would seemingly like the president to be open with them, all the while trying to destroy his presidency." . . .

Compare the treatment meted out by Democrats to Trump's choices for Supreme Court to the commentary on al-Baghdadi. 
Obama Successfully Hunted Trump Campaign Aides Instead of Terrorists

For more than a year, the leaders entrusted to protect the country and administer justice on behalf of Americans victimized by terrorists instead used their awesome reach against a domestic political rival.

. . . "Trump alluded to that malfeasance in his press conference on Sunday. “When we use our intelligence correctly, what we can do is incredible,” Trump said while commending intelligence operatives who helped locate the ISIS madman. “When we waste our time with intelligence that hurts our country because we had poor leadership at the top, that’s not good.' ” . . .

Kayla Mueller was a U.S. hostage killed in ISIS custody. The raid against Baghdadi was named for her.  . . . "In a letter to her family that she wrote while in captivity, she urged her loved ones not to let her situation burden them. “I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty,” she wrote, adding: “I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing.
“ 'I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator,” she wrote, invoking her religious beliefs throughout the letter.
"In February 2015, the Islamic State claimed that Mueller was killed when a Jordanian fighter plane bombed the building in which she was being held. U.S. officials expressed skepticism about the claim, while the Jordanian government denied its airstrikes had killed the American hostage.
"The details surrounding Mueller’s death and the whereabouts of her body are still unclear." . . .

WalkAway Founder Brandon Straka Confronts CNN's April Ryan: 'You're The Biggest Liar in This Room'

 PJ Media

"In what can only be described as an epic moment at Politicon, a political convention with panelists from the left and the right, Brandon Straka of the WalkAway campaign confronted CNN's April Ryan, who was speaking on a panel called "Being Black Under Trump," and called her out for misleading people about the president with fake news. Watch the April Ryan run away from criticism:

"

"Straka is the founder of the WalkAway movement for former Democrats who are walking away from the party that has done nothing for them. Straka has been sponsoring town halls across the country featuring LGBT, Hispanic, and black minorities who feel abandoned by Democrats and embraced by Trump. Former Democrat voters have uploaded their WalkAway videos to Straka's YouTube page by the thousands. 

"The thing that Democrats have always been better at than Republicans is public protest and organizing. It's good to have someone like Straka fighting the good fight because he's effective at getting media attention and attracting young people to his movement. If Republican lawmakers can't go anywhere without being confronted by protesters, then Democrat lawmakers and their enablers in the media should have a similar experience. Maybe then everyone could go back to being civil again." . . .

Trump did what Obama wouldn't do

Obama Administration Freed Al-Baghdadi From U.S. Prison Camp Back In 2009 (Details)  "Due to a successful raid in Syria over the weekend, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead. After being cornered by dozens of members of America’s special forces, he blew himself up along with a couple of wives and some of his own children – like a complete coward.
"Abu was not rehabilitated after he was freed from a U.S. prison camp back in 2009. He probably didn’t have any plans to magically transform into a non-radical Muslim, either.
"The Obama administration had to have known this, yet still decided to let him go. Don’t forget, this was the same administration that swapped five terrorists for traitor Bowe Bergdahl, too." . . .

“Abu Duaa was connected to the intimidation, torture and murder of local civilians in Qaim”, says a Pentagon document. “He would kidnap individuals or entire families, accuse them, pronounce sentence and then publicly execute them.”

Why such a ferocious individual was deemed fit for release in 2009 is not known. One possible explanation is that he was one of thousands of suspected insurgents granted amnesty as the US began its draw down in Iraq.

. . .
Susan Rice Is Upset That Trump Didn’t Call Obama About Raid On ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi   "Remember Susan Rice? She was the Obama administration lackey tasked with initially lying to the nation about Benghazi. Sure, she’s had numerous other gaffes over the years. That’s just one that sticks out like a sore thumb."

Three ‘Republican’ Senators Show Their Intent To Remove Trump From Office By NOT Signing Resolution to Condemn “Illegitimate Impeachment Inquiry”

The three Republican senators that have yet to back the impeachment resolution are Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Illicit Info  "There were three RINO’s who seemingly just fine with the House Democrats holding secret meetings in the basement of the Capitol, interviewing witnesses and “selectively leaking,’ as Rep Gaetz put it.

"The Democrats are effectively looking to undo the 2016 election results, in secret, in the basement of the Capitol Building.
"It sure feels like a coup to me.  This is not how the previous impeachment processes occurred, as far as I know.  If there is nothing to hide, why not have complete transparency in a process which is so important that I could lead to the REMOVAL of the Chief Executive of The United States of America?
"There is only one answer, they do, in fact, have something to hide.
"Breitbart News is the source for the report which explains that these three RINO senators have failed to show support for a resolution that would condemn House Democrats’ closed-door impeachment inquiries into President Donald Trump." . . .

RINO Senators Romney, Collins and Murkowski Have NOT Signed Resolution Condemning ‘Illegitimate Impeachment Inquiry’

On the Baghdadi raid...so far

Al Goodwyn

'Special breed of courageous': Delta Force operator hails valor of military dog wounded in Baghdadi raid  "Though no U.S. forces were killed in the Saturday evening raid that led to the death of an ISIS leader, one military working dog suffered severe injuries in the line of duty.

"The dog, whose name and breed remain unknown, chased Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi into a tunnel and cornered him. With no place to go, the terrorist leader blew himself up along with three of his children, who he was using as human shields. The dog’s injuries highlighted the importance of military working dogs in special operations. Often, they will enter the danger zone with a camera on their backs before the humans do so.

" 'The dog is a war veteran and a valued member of the team," a currently serving soldier assigned to Delta Force told the Washington Examiner. The soldier did not provide details, pending permission from the dog's handler and chain of command. Everyone involved in the mission is being debriefed and is out of communication for the time being, the soldier said. Within the community, he says, "The injury to the dog is an injury to one of us. These dogs are a special breed of courageous.' " . . .

Morning Greatness: Trump Kept Democrat ‘Leaking Machine’ in the Dark on Raid  . . . "Our military doesn’t deserve exploitation in the Democrats’ war against Trump. “We’ve notified some, others are being notified now as I speak,” Trump said. “We were going to notify them last night but we decided not to do that because Washington leaks like I’ve never seen before.' ” . . .  “I told my people we will not notify them until our great people are out, not just in, but out,” Trump said.

Tony Branco

Ilhan Omar is distraught that ISIS leader is dead thanks to Trump and the U.S. military

The man who killed bin Laden, praises US special forces who conducted al-Baghdadi raid  " . . . the U.S. Special Operations forces raid on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was done in an intelligent, strategically sound way.

“ ''They were so smart about it," O'Neill said. "They knew the front door was probably booby-trapped so they went through a wall. They used their breachers, which is a method of entry. The guy or guys went in that way, and then just did what Delta [Force] does; they just got it on.”

"President Trump, announcing the death of al-Baghdadi, described him as dying "in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying.” His demise came when U.S. Special Operations Forces stormed his compound in the Idrib Province late Saturday night and cornered him in the back a dead-end tunnel. He detonated an explosive vest, taking his own life and killing three of his children." . . .

How the al-Baghdadi raid unfolded

An aerial view taken on October 27, 2019 shows the site that was hit by helicopter gunfire which reportedly killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha in the Idlib province along the border with Turkey, where “groups linked to the Islamic State (IS) group” were present, according to a Britain-based war monitor with sources inside Syria. – The helicopters targeted a home and a car on the outskirts of Barisha, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after US media said IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was believed to be dead following a US military raid in the same province. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the helicopters likely belonged to the US-led military coalition that has been fighting the extremist group in Syria. 

. . . "While in transit, the helicopters were met with local gunfire. US aircraft returned fire and eliminated the threat, Trump said.
"After arriving at the compound, US troops breached a wall to avoid a booby trapped entrance and that’s when “all hell broke loose,” the President added.
"While clearing the compound, US forces killed a “large number” of ISIS fighters during a gun battle without suffering casualties, according to Trump.
"At least two ISIS fighters were captured and 11 children were taken into custody. Two of Baghdadi’s wives were killed during the operation and their suicide vests remained unexploded.
"Ultimately Baghdadi, who was also wearing a suicide vest, took refuge in a “dead end” tunnel with three children.
"He reached the end of the tunnel, as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast. The tunnel had caved in on it in addition,” Trump said.
"DNA tests that positively confirmed Baghdadi’s identity began “about 15 minutes after he was killed” and US teams on the ground “brought body parts back,” sources told CNN.
" 'The President also said US forces obtained “highly sensitive material and information from the raid, much having to do with ISIS — origins, future plans, things that we very much want.”

Baghdadi Raid, Durham Probe Will Frustrate Impeachment

I & I  "Though not yet manifest, the unexpected, astounding killing of ISIS “commander of the faithful” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi over the weekend by Delta Force, with Rangers and other Army support, supersedes the 2011 takeout of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in its long-term magnitude.
"In essence, ISIS is a sensationalist, media-savvy metastasis of Bin Laden’s al-Qaida, which conducted the 2001 attacks, but ISIS’ anti-American terrorism is of a different brand. Brookings Institution Mideast analyst Daniel Byman testified to Congress that “the primary target of the Islamic State has [unlike al-Qaida] not been the United States, but rather ‘apostate’ regimes in the Arab world” – but try telling the families of beheaded Americans James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Peter Kassig that America, and its values and position in the world, are not squarely in ISIS’ sights.
"As Radio France Internationale journalist David Thomson described it in 2017, “For ISIS supporters, Baghdadi is doing something concrete, controls territory, defies the entire world, unlike the old scholars of al-Qaida who appear behind the times.” As the trove of materials accompanying Baghdadi, retrieved by U.S. forces, are perused in the weeks ahead, the public will know in detail the importance of his leadership of the dislodged terrorist caliphate, and will learn of planned ISIS plots.
"The carrying out of President Donald Trump’s order to eliminate Baghdadi will be paired with another big net minus for Democrats: U.S. attorney for Connecticut John Durham’s Russian election influence probe shifting into a criminal investigation. While some speculate that the criminal dimension may be in regard to peripheral matters, the speed with which Durham has come to this point, having only begun his work less than six months ago, strongly suggests otherwise. As does Democrats immediately – and groundlessly – accusing Attorney General William Barr of meddling in Durham’s probe. Highly unlikely since Durham has a Boy Scout-like reputation of integrity and thoroughness." . . .

Note to Readers: Issues & Insights is a new site launched by the seasoned journalists behind the legendary IBD Editorials page. Our mission is to use our decades of experience to provide timely, fact-based reporting and deeply informed analysis on the news of the day.

'You lost': Democratic Left hits back at Hillary Clinton and donors fretting about quality of 2020 field

"A progressive candidate like Elizabeth Warren is our best chance to beat Donald Trump, full stop. It's the progressive lane candidates who are bringing in massive crowds, record small-dollar donations, and volunteer people power," said Joe Dinkin, the Working Families Party national campaigns director. "Those who care about defeating Trump should welcome that energy, not try to suppress it."

Donkey Hotey

Washington Examiner  "The nervousness among Democratic establishment figures about the quality of the 2020 primary field has prompted mockery from liberal activists who say that the wealthy are worried about losing their power.

There have been a slew of reports that Democrats like Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Michael Bloomberg are thinking of jumping into the race at the last minute because they believe the current crop of top candidates — Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders — won't be able to defeat President Trump.

" 'It would be like it was 2019 and the top three contenders were Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, or Kamala Harris and we were sitting around saying, 'We gotta draft Dennis Kucinich, it’s the only way we can win,'" said Michael Brooks, Democratic analyst and host of a left-wing radio show.

" 'It’s not like Barack Obama is waiting in the wings where you have a different policy set but he’s a once-in-a-generation political talent," he said. "You got like Hillary Clinton getting spicy on Twitter, saying, 'Don’t tempt me to run again.' What are you talking about? You lost."

"Democratic activists who spoke with the Washington Examiner compared concern from party elders to the 2016 GOP primary, where the insurgent Trump beat a crowded field while facing concerted efforts from conservative media, donors, and other Republican politicians to derail his candidacy.

"In that race, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush started the election season with a seasoned staff and tens of millions of dollars but failed to garner enthusiasm from GOP voters who eventually swung toward the populist insurgent. Many on the Left view Biden as 2020's Bush." . . .

Legal Insurrection: Democratic Senators Practically Beg Hillary Clinton Not to Run for President "Clinton herself could shut down the talk of a possible third presidential candidacy with just a few simple words. Why won’t she?"

"For the last several weeks, the chatter about a possible 3rd presidential campaign for Hillary Clinton has increased to a near fever pitch. The noise is so loud that is has "Democratic Senators actually going on record to all but beg the failed 2016 Democratic nominee not to run.

"The talk began to heat up after a Rasmussen survey released the first week in October showed a potential Clinton/Trump rematch would be “neck and neck” in the polls if she was currently in the presidential race.

"That same week, Clinton said to PBS, “Maybe there does need to be a rematch. I mean, obviously I can beat him again.”

"A couple of days after the Rasmussen poll was published, Trump needled Clinton by way of Twitter by suggesting she jump into the race at this late stage in order to “try and steal it away” from Sen. Elizabeth Warren: . . ."

Trump Curse? Nasty Nats Lose Three in a Row at Home in World Series After Dissing POTUS

Catch this all on CNN; they should have this playing on a loop as we speak. What would Charles Krauthammer have said? Notice the signs were professionally printed and paid for by others, plus the arrangement was made to get them into the park.TD

The Gateway Pundit  Video After winning the first two games on the road, the Washington Nationals lost three games in a row in their World Series home stand against the Houston Astros this weekend following several snubs of President Trump by the team and protests by fans. After scoring a combined 17 runs in their two opening victories the Nationals have only scored one run per game while getting blown out at home by the Astros who have scored a combined 19 runs in their three road victories.
"When Trump announced he would be attending a possible Game 5 on Sunday, the Nationals announced Trump antagonist chef Jose Andres would throw out the ceremonial first pitch for that game. (Trump had already said he was not interested in throwing the first pitch.)" 
"At the game Sunday night, Trump was loudly booed by the wealthy D.C. swamp rats in attendance who also chanted, “lock him up”, even though just the day before a raid in Syria ordered by Trump had led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi." . . .


UK Daily Mail: Trump and Melania are BOOED by crowd chanting 'lock him up' and waving 'veterans for impeachment' banner as President makes surprise appearance at World Series game in DC after celebrating death of ISIS leader in daring US raid

. . . "Trump then appeared to shake off the hostile reception, reclaiming his smile and waving enthusiastically to the crowd. 

"But the taunts continued throughout the game, with two fans behind the home plate unfurling signs that read 'VETERANS FOR IMPEACHMENT' at one stage.

"It isn't initially clear if Trump, who left the game around 10pm, saw the banner on the stadium's display board before making his exit." . . .

Washington Post Mourns Passing of “Austere Religious Scholar” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi…

WaPo  "Reactions vary to the U.S. killing of ISIS terrorist chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  However, perhaps the most alarming headline was the sympathetic obituary from The Washington Post: . . ."

. . . "Unfortunately, this position by U.S. Media is not as shocking as it should be.

"As a contextual reminder for the teachings of the “austere religious scholar” represented by al-Baghdadi, his ISIS terrorists: beheaded international journalists (Right), buried journalists in the ground and ran them over with tanks, brutally raped captives, drowned and burned Syrian civilians in cages, burned a Jordanian pilot alive in a cage and murdered dozens of Coptic Christians on the beaches of Libya….

"The Washington Post was not alone in their sympathy over the killing of the brutal terrorist.  Bloomberg News also followed quickly with deep sympathies for the death of a leader who “transformed himself” into a “teacher of Koranic recitation”: . . .

Kayla Mueller: The American ISIS Chief Baghdadi Kept as His Personal Slave

Here they teach Christians to bow to Islam:

The smallness of Democrats; Listen who liberals credit for killing al-Baghdadi

Ian Macfarlane

Flashback: Trump Congratulated President Obama Personally on Osama bin Laden Raid  . . . I want to personally congratulate President Obama and the men [and] women of the Armed Forces for a job very well done. I am so proud to see Americans standing shoulder to shoulder, waving the American flag in celebration of this great victory.

We should spend the next several days not debating party politics, but in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those fighting for our freedom. God Bless America.

"Moreover, Trump congratulated Obama even though the president had infamously mocked him mercilessly just hours before the raid, at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner . . . 

Liberals speak out from their comfortable homes.
. . . "Both Biden and Castro used their statements to criticize President Trump’s recent decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the Turkey-Syria border, and from Syria more generally. Castro’s language was even more passive.

"Other candidates were slow to acknowledge the successful raid, in which no American soldiers were killed or injured, aside from a K-9 dog involved in the operation.

"Trump told reporters that he had excluded certain congressional leaders from being briefed in advance of the raid for fear that leaks in Washington might tip off the terrorists, endanger U.S. forces, and undermine the success of the operation."

Julian Castro Leaves Trump out of Congratulations for Raid on ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi  . . . "Other candidates were slow to acknowledge the successful raid, in which no American soldiers were killed or injured, aside from a K-9 dog involved in the operation.
"Trump told reporters that he had excluded certain congressional leaders from being briefed in advance of the raid for fear that leaks in Washington might tip off the terrorists, endanger U.S. forces, and undermine the success of the operation." . . .
"Both Biden and Castro used their statements to criticize President Trump’s recent decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the Turkey-Syria border, and from Syria more generally. Castro’s language was even more passive." , , ,

One of Hollywood's great thinkers speaks something or other to power here:
Jamie Lee Curtis Rips Trump, Pities al-Baghdadi, Praises Dogs in Bizarre Rant  . . . "While most of the nation was celebrating, Lee-Curtis appeared less than impressed, pointing out the suffering endured by those in warfare that Trump has never experienced.

“ 'He may have died a coward @realDonaldTrump but ALL living things suffer when they are blown up. Anyone who has experienced warfare, unlike yourself, would know that,” she wrote on Twitter. “War is brutal. Dogs are brave, bold, loyal, loving and healing.' ”

After Obama sent SEALs to kill bin Laden Hollywood was ecstatic Happy Osama died like a dog

Bernie Sanders Acknowledges ‘Kurds and Other U.S. Allies’ After al-Baghdadi Raid, Not U.S. Forces or Trump  . . . "Sanders remarked on the massive development but failed to mention the president’s role – or that of U.S. forces, specifically – in his initial statement, acknowledging the “Kurds and other U.S. allies” instead." . . .

Funny, Poignant, Earnest: Hollywood Responds on Twitter to Osama Bin Laden Killing  Here are a few selected excerpts:

• Late-night host Bill Maher (@billmaher): "Somali pirates, Gaddafi's son, now bin Laden - do NOT f**k with Obama, he's Gangsta!!"
• Actress Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47): "Wow. Just when you thought Obama couldn't top correspondents' dinner speech. The man's on fire."
• Filmmaker Spike Lee (@SpikeLee): "President Obama 'May God Bless you and May God Bless The United States of America'"
• Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice celebrity coach Adam Levine (@adamlevine): "I don't know how I feel about "celebrating" death. But im just glad this happened during a good man's presidency." . . .

Pelosi finally makes statement on al-Baghdadi raid and it’s as petty as it gets
. . . "Social media users were only too happy to throw a little shade Pelosi’s way… here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:" . . .

Leftists, Obama Officials Race To Downplay Al-Baghdadi Death  . . . "And then there’s Obama’s Joint Chiefs Vice Chair James Winnefeld, who pre-emptively blamed Trump for whatever spate of radical Islamic violence comes next: “If you look back at the bin Laden raid, we treated his body with respect that is due under Islam,” he told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
"Regardless, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains dead."

Well, we didn't behead al-Baghdadi and leave his body to rot. I'm sure Obama treated Osama's body with respect because he feared Muslims; feared them enough to dedicate the US space program to them, bow before them, send Iran a pallet-full of cash and heap praise on Islam for some made-up contributions to American history. TD

What Would Pierre Delecto Do?

American Thinker is a gold mine today

Clarice Feldman  "This week Mitt Romney confessed that he was posting on Twitter under the absurd moniker Pierre Delecto and set up himself for some serious online satirizing.

"It’s way overdue. The #NeverTrumpers in the Republican party have exposed themselves as Democrat Me Tooers. They do themselves, their party, and the nation no favors. As the Russian collusion nonsense fades into the ether absent any fact basis and the Schiff-Pelosi impeachment funhouse proceedings head in the same direction, some congressional Republicans, like the brave band that shut down the Miami-Dade vote harvesting charade in the Bush-Gore election, stood up at last for fair play. Mollie Hemingway is dead right." . . .

Andrew Thomas blogs at darkangelpolitics.com

. . . "The coming weeks, I predict, will reveal that our ruling elite “are a bunch of idiots and perverts” who have spent the past three years setting the nation on fire with false tales of “collusion” and “impeachable” offenses because the competent voters refused to continue endorsing their numerous follies. Follies ranging from open borders, cancelled college debt, sanctuary cities, free medical care for all -- including illegal aliens, absurd rules on “gender” and “environmental protection,” to preposterous foreign-policy initiatives and naked corruption in which foreign aid has been redirected to their pockets and those of their families, friends, and donors." . . .