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.

Versus America; the myth of the moderate Democrat

Hot Air "The sense of alienation between the United States and its Democrat Party grows steadily deeper. If you ask someone on the right side of our political spectrum whether they believe America is the greatest country on earth, you would most likely receive instant agreement. Ask the same question of someone from the Left, and the answer will probably be negative, or at least heavily qualified. If they agree at all, they’ll probably need at least five or ten minutes to get all the disclaimers and caveats out of the way… followed by the angry insistence they love their country."

President Obama Skips Arlington for Chicago BBQ -- Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam Thugs Skirmish with Secret Service and Press pool

Atlas Shrugs "How did the President of the United States spend his Memorial day weekend? Honoring the glorious dead by laying a wreath at Arlington cemetery?? Not a chance. It is unclear, but he may have pow-wowed with race baiter, Jew-hater Louis Farrakhan, a frequent visitor to the White House. Back in March, Farrakhan blamed the Jews for O's woes."....
"We're outnumbered now by roughly a dozen Fruit of Islam agents for the Nation of Islam. As each casually dressed man arrives, he exchanges elaborate handshake/hug/double air-kisses with others. Two walked by your pooler chanting "Islam.""....
"Some observers will make light of the whole thing — just a little misunderstanding with those weird Nation of Islam guys — but the fact that Farrakhan’s security force is close to the president’s home is likely a matter of continuing concern to the Secret Service. And on Saturday night, the two forces ran into each other."
Farrakhan, press have minor ’stand-off’ in Obama’s neighborhood  "Indeed, notice how one of Farrakhan’s buds vouched for the New York Times and the rest of the press. What more do we need to know about them?"

The addiction of the Jews to the Democrats

Sick Addiction "Enough now, Jews! Speak up and defend the Jewish State and the right of its citizens to build in their eternal and undivided capital, Jerusalem, against a president who’s proving as inimical to you ..."
PAMELA GORMAN COMES OUT STRONG IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL "Congressional candidate Pamela Gorman today signed the “Israel Pledge” sponsored by Christians United for Israel today. Gorman said, “Too many politicians are afraid to offend someone by speaking the truth about what is going on in this country with our Israel relations under this administration. I am unapologetically pro-Israel and am not afraid to publicly say it.” "  God bless Israel and the state of Arizona as you are both surrounded by implacable foes. You can both only be spared if Arizona surrenders to political correctness and Israel converts to Islam.
How about this:  "...issue a pledge that would truly separate the pro-Israel candidates and those who proclaim their devotion to Israel but seek to hobble the Jewish state."
ANOTHER REVEALING ANTI-JUDEO/CHRISTIAN PRO-JIHAD DECISION BY OBAMA "The Obama regime reversed a Bush administration ruling and allowed Muslim Brotherhood supporter Tariq Ramadan to enter the country, now they’ve denied asylum and are trying to deport the unbelievably courageous Mosab Yousef, who millions of Islamists would love to kill for both spying for Israel and converting to Christianity…." From the Astute Blogger.