In Their Own Words: CBO Admits Obamacare Unsustainable

Heritage "Putting the federal budget on a sustainable path would almost certainly require a significant reduction in the growth of federal health spending relative to current law (including this year’s health legislation). In other words, our nation’s budget is on an unsustainable path and Obamacare did nothing to change that."

The National Security Strategy of 2010. Or 2006. Whatever.

Max Boot "...the Bush National Security Strategy of 2002 was a truly innovative and influential document that will be long remembered for declaring the need for preventative action against aggressors and terrorists. Eight years later, I can still recalls some of its lines: “The gravest danger our Nation faces lies at the crossroads of radicalism and technology” and “America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed.”
"There is no such intellectual groundbreaking in the Obama document, which is, as Peter Feaver notes, more than anything a continuation, with some slight adjustments, of the National Security Strategy produced by the Bush administration in its second term."

U.S. Churches Speak Out for Iraq's Struggling Christians

Weekly Standard "Struggling Christians in Iraq, as throughout the Middle East, must tread very carefully. Western Christians can be more explicit about the threat and its primary perpetrators. That even the National Council of Churches, with its mostly liberal dominated Protestant communions, is joining the U.S. Catholic bishops to advocate on behalf of persecuted Iraqi Christians is progress. But will they ever name the persecutors?"

Bloody clash off Gaza coast leaves 10 dead

Hot Air "The preferred media headline so far this morning has been “Israelis kill 10 peace activists in Gaza flotilla,” but that’s not quite what happened. The IDF attempted to head off a number of boats attempting to run the blockade on Gaza, a blockade necessitated by Hamas’ repeated attacks on Israel. They boarded the lead ship by helicopter, expecting to either convince the occupants to turn back or to commandeer the boat themselves. What they didn’t expect was to find armed “peace activists,” and a bloody melee ensued:"

Israeli commandos: Gaza flotilla crew tried to lynch us "A Reuters cameraman on the Israeli navy ship Kidon close to the six-vessel aid convoy said commanders monitoring the operation were surprised by the strong resistance put up by the pro-Palestinian activists. One of the commandos said some of the soldiers were stripped of their helmets and equipment and a number were tossed from the top deck to a lower deck and then leapt into the sea to save themselves. "
Eyewitness report: A brutal ambush at sea "One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows".

You Can Take the Pol Out of Chicago. . .

Commentary "[Obama] ducked a personal response and had his lawyer issue a memo on the Joe Sestak job-offer scandal on the Friday before Memorial Day. He thereby succeeded in revealing that Sestak is a fabulist, his own White House is little more than a Blago-like operation, an ex-president has been reduced to the the role of a “cut out,” and the whole lot of them practice the same sleazy-politics-as usual that Obama ran against (which, ironically, was symbolized in the primary by Hillary Clinton)."    Jennifer Rubin

My Flag Will Be Flying at Half-Staff, Will Yours?

Big Government  "The National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day with one minute of silence to salute those who have died in service to The United States of America. As the founder of Moment of Remembrance, Carmella LaSpada stated, “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.” "

Remembering Those Who Have Served – Memorial Day 2010

Gateway Pundit   "This video never gets old. Thank you to those who fought to keep this country free."
Free for everyone, including the self-righteous campus and Hollywood liberals who pay no price for their silliness.
 Of course, I mean that in a nice way.

California voters favor Arizona law

Charleston Daily Mail “50% of registered voters surveyed said they support the law, which compels police to check the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally, while 43% oppose it… Strong majorities of white voters and those over 50 support the Arizona law, while Latinos and those under 30 are heavily opposed.” The 7% gap is well outside the margin of error. The gap also shows that every city council in the state that is boycotting Arizona is out of step with the electorate."
Apparently California isn't necessarily populated by idiots; it's only governed by them. But then there's that Chicken law...

U.S. Chooses International Consensus over Israel

Michael J. Totten   "...the United Nations passed a resolution on Friday demanding a nuclear-free Middle East and singling out Israel as the intransigent party instead of Iran. The Obama administration supports the decision, which makes about as much sense as disarming the Iraqi police right now in the name of a violence-free Baghdad. College sophomores might think these are brilliant ideas, but mature adults shouldn’t, especially not mature adults who make policy for a living and must account for the consequences.'

Oil spill tars Dems' reputation for competence. Wait...what?

Michael Barone   "Looking back on all the presidential contests held since Obama as a Columbia undergraduate was parroting leftist criticisms of Ronald Reagan, it can be argued that Republicans have won the elections that turned on ideology, and that Democrats have won the elections that turned on competence.
Republican victories in 1984, 1988 and 2004 were clearly endorsements of Ronald Reagan's and George W. Bush's policies. Democratic victories in 1992 and 2008 were indictments of the two George Bushes for incompetence and in 1996 an endorsement of the competence of Bill Clinton."
 I personally believe the Republican majority in Congress made Clinton more competent. But hey, that's just me.

Memorial Day 2010 - What price freedom?

Blackfive "I keep this photo as probably the most powerful reminder for me of what the real price of freedom looks like. Those that give their all as well as those they leave behind. We should remember both as we celebrate the freedom they've blessed us with and assured for us on this Memorial Day." Click link to see the photo; I'm not savvy enough to figure how to show it otherwise.

Stories from the battlefield; posts by C.J. Chivers

"For those that follow good reporting (from any source) on the war, you've probably seen the name C. J. Chivers. He was a Captain in the Marines, and decided to take a new objective: reporting. Few do it as well, and you really need to go read the story to learn more. You will also learn of some memorials, and Marine humor." Blackfive You can trust a NY Times report by C.J. Chivers.

When Afghans Seek Medical Aid, Tough Choice for U.S. "The boy [Sadiq] had opened a sack of grain at his home early on Wednesday morning, and a pit viper coiled inside lashed up and bit him above the lip. His father, Kashmir, knew his son was sure to die. With no hospital anywhere nearby, he rushed the boy to an American outpost to plead for help."

Remembering a Marine, Step by Step  "COMBAT OUTPOST LILY, Helmand Province — For Marines who have experienced combat together, the many rituals and gestures of bidding farewell to the dead, beginning from the point of medevac and continuing beyond the fallen Marine’s journey to the grave, are observed with a devotion that is at once quiet, fiercely followed and unsummoned. "
A memorial to Lance Cpl. Christopher Rangel, who was killed in early May on a foot patrol in Marja.