Israel, Hamas - No Equivalence - Moral or Otherwise

“One does not deal with terrorists; one does not bargain with terrorists; one kills terrorists.” – Rabbi Meir Kahane (1932-90)

Israel, Hamas – No Equivalence – Moral or Otherwise

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

July 29, 2014

I am a Zionist – an unabashed, unequivocal Zionist. That means I support the right of the State of Israel to not only exist, but to zealously defend her borders, her citizens, its way of life and to take any measures necessary to do so.

History, both recent – since the Balfour Declaration November 2, 1917, and Biblical, also supports the right of Israel to exist and fervently defend itself.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ardently stated often that “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more war. If Israel put down their weapons, there would be no more Israel.”

These are some of the myriad incontrovertible truths that the overwhelming majority of humanity has forgotten – especially Barrack Hussein Obama – never a friend of Israel, as he has said, “Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people.” Obama’s declaration is demonstrative of how obtuse he truly is. After all, how much of a supporter of Israel could Obama be, having called for the return of the Jewish state to its pre-1967 War borders, shrinking its most narrow portion to under eight miles wide? Would Obama accept returning the United States to its pre-Mexican War borders?

To date, nearly 3,000 rockets have been launched from Gaza by the terrorist menace Hamas into Israel and Israel continues to be told by the likes of Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to exercise patience, discretion, and restraint. Eighty percent of Israel is within reach by these rockets, giving 80 percent of the Israeli population under two minutes to reach a bomb shelter. Such calls demonstrate the ignorance of Obama and Kerry, who doubtful would show restraint were a concomitant number of rockets fired into the United States. (Although judging by how Obama is handling the illegal alien crisis on the southern border, I could be wrong.) Does anyone think if 80 percent of the United States was under a constant rocket barrage in New York City, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Tulsa, San Antonio, among other jurisdictions that it would be taken lightly or with restraint? No way, Jose, nor should it be.

Diplomacy has failed, because the singular goal of Hamas is the destruction of the State of Israel and those who support its existence – not because Israel fires back, as the so-called mainstream media would have the gullible believe.

The cowardly Hamas hides behind its children, preferring to ensure their martyrdom by allowing their deaths – even at their own hands, as hundreds of Hamas’ own rockets are murdering Arab children. Israel has, and this has been their practice for years, given its enemies warnings via leaflets and other media of impending bombings to attempt to spare women and children. Israel does more to protect Arab children then the Arabs themselves.

Ironically, it was in 1967 when Golda Meir, Israeli prime minister 1969-74, said “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

In Israel, minorities, Arabs, women, and homosexuals have more rights, freedoms, and protections than in any Arab nation. When the State of Israel was founded in May 1948 the hundreds of thousands of Arabs who fled, did so by choice. They were not expelled, threatened with death if they didn’t convert, such which is sadly happening to millions of Christians in Isis-dominated regions of the Middle East, they left under their own volition.

Now, generations later, these so-called refugees, still called that to this day, are in economically depressed circumstances by their own choosing. There are many educated, financially successful Arabs living in Israel. Arabs can even be elected to the Knesset in Israel. Yet, Israel is blamed for the so-called refugees enduring their chosen status. Did Jordan offer refuge? No. Syria? No. Qatar? No. Yemen? No. Iran? No. Kuwait? No. Saudi Arabia? No. Oman? No. Lebanon? No. Iraq? No. Egypt? No. Nor any other Arab/Muslim country, yet Israel is still vilified.

While Israel flourishes and prospers using its resources for good instead of evil, the residents of Gaza flounder as the overwhelming majority of their resources are used for evil rather than good, thanks in large part to Iran and Qatar who gleefully fund Hamas and Gazans.

Five cease fires have been accepted by Israel when they have no obligation to do so, as they are permanently playing defense, only this is no game, but the life and death struggle of a nation the size of New Jersey surrounded on all sides by enemies wishing and fighting for Israel’s destruction. In fact, Hamas violated its own cease fire in an effort to paint a negative picture of Israel by firing on its own children.

Netanyahu smartly stated he would no longer worry about the public relations aspect of the current war started against Israel. The public relations wars can never be won by Israel as they face regular condemnation from the United Nations, the global media, and also the Obama administration and its Democratic apologists like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

There can never be a cease fire as long as Hamas exists. Their mission is the destruction of Israel – even at the expense of its own children. Defeating Hamas is not good enough. In fact, the Hamas mission statement says “Israel will exist, and continue to exist, until Islam obliterates it.” Clearly there is no negotiating with such a terrorist entity calling for global jihad and further promises to kill every Jew in the world.

It is the tunnels that must be obliterated and all aid used for munitions and arms must be halted. For even when Hamas is no more, there will be Isis, the Muslim Brotherhood,  Hezbollah, the next group, and the group after that, all hell bent on the evisceration of Israel, the Jewish people, and Zionists the world over. If J Street in Washington, DC recognizes the need for Israel to zealously defend itself, this should be a no-brainer for the rest of humanity.

The Jewish people went like lambs to the slaughter during the Holocaust and were questioned as to why they didn’t defend themselves. The State of Israel learned from that vital lesson and understands well what former president Ronald Reagan meant by “peace through strength.”

The great rabbi Meir Kahane, of Blessed memory, (1932-90) also understood well the mentality of Israel’s foes. “Above all, it is not decency or goodness of gentleness that impresses the Middle East, but strength.” He further added, what is a fatal flaw of the United States, as the current influx of illegal alien children will prove out, “One of the great problems with Americans is that – being a decent people – they assume that everyone else is equally decent.”

“Israel will take whatever action is necessary to put a stop to these attacks by Hamas. This is not merely our right, it’s also our duty,” declared Netanyahu. Amen, Mr. Prime Minister, Amen.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Sanction Russia Where it Counts - the Wallet

Sanction Russia Where it Counts – the Wallet

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

July 29, 2014

We can rehash Election Day 2012 all day long, and the results, sadly, will remain the same depressing defeat of both Mitt Romney and the American way of life. Yet, Romney knew, as did many of us, then, what Barrack Obama is only first finding out now, no doubt by watching the news, that Russia and Vladimir Putin were and are a force with which to be reckoned.

Romney, in one of the 2012 presidential debates pronounced Russia as the nation about which to be most wary and concerned, even while recognizing the extreme dangers of Iran. Obama not only mocked Romney during the debate, but on a hot microphone gave assurances to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev months earlier that after his reelection he could be more “flexible” where Russia is concerned. It was Romney who declared he was not wearing rose-colored eyeglasses where Russia was concerned.

Fast forward to July 2014 and notice the flexibility of Obama regarding Russia has him looking like a pretzel with his head lodged squarely up his own tuchus.

Empirical evidence has determined Russia’s role in the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 murdering nearly 300 innocent people. The Ukraine is in an increasingly precarious situation with Russia and Putin attempting to rebuild the former Soviet Union and Obama still believes in leading from behind.

The Ukraine is begging for help from the United States – not Europe, even though France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy are calling for increased measures against Russia. But Obama, in his failure to lead, is feckless on Russia, which clearly has the upper hand in this stage of Cold War II. Obama is a joke, not just where Russia is concerned, but globally, as the enemies of the United States only understands fear, destruction, and death.

Instead of a slap on the wrist, and quite frankly, I don’t see where Russia has even received one of those, a punch in the fat mouth is required. Russia has also violated arms agreements with the United States which have gone unpunished. The Ukraine is suffering because most of Europe lives in fear of losing Russian oil, upon which they are so dependent. This should be a win-win for the United States and its still lagging economy.

Sanctions lacking impact are weak and meaningless. Russia needs to be hit, and hit hard – in its wallet. Shut them down. Cease all business operations with Russia. After all, what does Russia have that we need? More mobsters making The Godfather look like a child’s tea party? More mail order brides to con moronic men out of their money and/or lives for citizenship?

If the United States were not under the thumb of weak leader beholden to the environmental lobby, the Keystone Pipeline would be long underway. There would be drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, other off-shore locales, as well as in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). Even the unions, strong supporters of Obama, support the creation of the Keystone Pipeline as it will create thousands of much needed jobs.

With increased drilling for oil in the United States, more jobs are created, less dependence upon foreign oil becomes reality, and more income as well as closer alliances with the countries of Europe currently beholden to Russia for its oil. Once free from the grip of the Russian bear, those countries can also offer a helping hand where the Ukraine is concerned.

Russia must learn they are on the wrong side of the crisis in the Ukraine, and that they stand alone. This can only happen if Obama learns how to lead by actually leading and doing what is best for the United States, its citizenry, and the economy.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Obama's "Show Me the Money" Moment

Obama’s “Show Me the Money” Moment

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
July 11, 2014

Republican presidential candidate Dwight David Eisenhower made the bold pronouncement in his October 25, 1952 speech, that, “I shall go to Korea!” This, of course, was two-plus years into the Korean Conflict that history seems to have lost between WWII and the Cold War.

Eisenhower, one of America’s greatest generals, went on to defeat Adlai Stevenson just 10 days later, on November 4^th, in an Electoral College landslide, 442-89, losing only nine southern states. Less than a month later, on December 2, 1952, Eisenhower, maintaining the courage of his convictions, kept his campaign pledge and visited the war-ravaged Korean Peninsula.

On his desk, President Harry Truman, a Democrat, kept a sign reading, “The buck stops here.” Another man who lead by the core of his convictions and followed his principles despite their lack of popularity. Two examples – Truman desegregated the United States armed forces and was the first to recognize the creation of the new nation of Israel. Truman acted in accordance with his beliefs, did the right thing in spite of the high level advice he received to do just the opposite.

On the flip side of these two men behaving both presidentially and responsibly – one a Republican, one a Democrat, is Barack Hussein Obama. This has been his “Show me the money” moment. When asked by Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, to visit the border and assess first-hand the catastrophe created by Obama, in essence, he said “no way, Jose.” When begged by Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, to do likewise, Obama could not be bothered to travel the couple hours from the fundraisers he attended. Filling the coffers of so-called party faithful is more important to Obama, claiming he does not do photo ops, than addressing a crisis he created head on. This from the man who never met a camera he didn’t like.

Cuellar, again, a Democrat, was told by the White House to back off and not make any more public pronouncements about the crisis on the southern border of the United States. In an interview with Fox News, Cuellar said he received a phone call from the White House, but added, “I’m more concerned not about who gets angry at me at the White House; I’m more concerned about my constituents.” When queried as to the effect of the White House demands, Cuellar responded, “I’m still talking about it,” adding that if Obama could visit Texas for fundraising purposes, he should do his job and see what his unilateral border policy has wrought.

Adding insult to injury, Obama has time to go drinking and shoot billiards in Colorado, while, once again, fundraising for at least three candidates who deem Obama so toxic, they won’t be seen publicly with him. But he still can’t drag his tuchus to the border.

And while flitting around the country raising money for candidates who don’t deserve to be elected/reelected, Obama is demanding $3.7 billion for his “save the illegals” fund. The breakdown is as follows:
           

            $1.8 billion – Department of Health and Human Services

            $1.1 billion – Department of Homeland Security

            $433 million – Border Protection

            $300 million – State Department

             $64 million – Justice Department

Obama can demand this money all day long, yet it is the Congress, the House of Representatives that must approve this finding request. From where are the offsets coming to turn this into a zero sum gain? Throwing money at this crisis does not solve the problem of securing the southern border – it only further exacerbates the situation.

Most Americans are advocates for LEGAL immigration – provided it is done properly, and there too, changes are necessary. Returning to the immigration policies from the turn of the last century would be ideal. You may apply for entry if you have promise of sponsorship and employment. You may apply for entry if you will take no government funding – such programs didn’t even exist during the great influx of the 1880s to WWI period. You may apply for entry if you are medically cleared by a qualified physician. You may apply for entry if you clear a criminal background check. All who are denied entry are to be photographed and fingerprinted for a national data base. (When the time comes for them to apply for US citizenship, passing a test about US History, the Constitution, and English language literacy should be a must. Three strikes and out –three failing attempts is a ticket back to their country of origin.)

As for the swarm of children teeming our southern border by the thousands, while many may empathize with their plight, they were not required to come here; no one asked them to come to the United States, and the legal taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill to absorb those who arrive here illegally.

This problem, growing on a daily basis, should have been dealt with head on at the border, not after the illegal entry into this country by thousands and thousands of people. The National Guard should have been mobilized to cover the border from San Diego to Brownsville and deny entry to any and all who have no legal authority to be in the United States. Seems Mexico has an air tight southern border of their own, but their northern border with the US is a veritable sieve.

As for those already here, they need to be returned to their country of origin, and the cost absorbed by those countries. All costs incurred by the United States should be deducted from aid this country already provides that nation. In fact, as long as illegals are continuing to arrive, all business with those countries of origin should be suspended indefinitely. A price tag of $252 per day, per child, is the estimate cost to the United States.

The illegals are a genuine security risk. Because they are here illegally, it is difficult to determine their real identity, ages, level of education, and motivation for coming to the United States. It has been determined that roughly 80 percent of the 16-17 year old males entering the United States illegally of this current throng are of questionable background – lacking English skills, education, having gang tattoos, potentially connected to MS-13, one of the most mercenary and violent gangs in the world. Their presence here is deleterious to the safety of American citizens and legal residents of all ages. This is painfully reminiscent of the 1980 release of thousands of Cuban prisoners who flooded the shores of Florida during the Mariel boatlift, depicted in the opening scenes of 1983 film Scarface.

Also painfully reminiscent of another historical tragedy is the manner in which elected officials and news media are being treated regarding the visitation of these, for lack of a better term, refugee camps. Yes, right here in these United States, refugee camps. Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) was denied access to one such location where illegals are being warehoused in his own state. He was told to make an appointment for three weeks hence while other members of Congress were similarly denied the same access prompting Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to demand access as should be the right of governmental officials.

The aspect of these denials that is reminiscent of history pertains to the Obama administration cherry-picking the Fort Sill, OK location of illegals housed in a refugee-type circumstance. The media has been told this is the one location to which they would have access, but would not be permitted to interact with the illegals, the staff in charge of the facility, members of the border patrol who are serving as intake scribes, or any other personnel involved with this site. On a small scale it reminds one of the so-called model concentration camp Theresienstadt near Prague. This camp had been designed by the Nazis to allow visits by the Red Cross and other international requests for inspection to demonstrate to the world that the Jews were being treated humanely, which of course was a complete fabrication. The Red Cross and others saw what they wanted to see, blindly and blithely turning away from the reality that was the methodical extermination of Jews and their defenders simply for being Jewish.

Make no mistake, this is not to suggest that the illegals housed on American military bases or anywhere else are being treated like the Jewish victims of Nazi slaughter, but the limited access concept is chilling.

Also beyond damning in this entire illegals invading the southern border of the United States, is the call for nearly $2 billion of the $3.7 billion to come from HHS to, among other things, provide medical care for these children here illegally. Not only is it beyond damning, but an outright slap in the face of each and every single member of the United States military waiting for an appointment through the VA system. American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, and reservists are literally dying before getting the medical treatment they deserve. They should be at the front of the line while the illegals should not only not be in line, but they should not even be in this country. Those veterans are being treated so disrespectfully when they have sacrificed both mind and body. Allow them the medical treatment being given to illegals, and return the illegals to their countries of origin where they belong.

The Obama administration may not be guilty of creating the VA crisis; it is most definitely complicit in its perpetuation and worsening, instead of attempting to solve the problem. The same is true of the 2008 legislation signed into law during the George W. Bush administration pertaining to the deportation of unaccompanied minors. The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 was designed “to prevent victims of child trafficking from being automatically sent back to those who had effectively enslaved them, with the court appearance designed to allow the judge to evaluate their particular situation.” (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/18650-obama-admin-blames-bush-era-law-for-failure-to-deport-illegals)

Clearly the enormous influx of illegals across the southern border is an attempt to exploit the 2008 legislation, which was a bi-partisan measure, partially written by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and introduced by then Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). But the more important issue is allowing these illegals on to American soil, thus giving them the opportunity to lay claim to Wilberforce. If they are turned away at the border before entering the US, Wilberforce does not apply.

Once again, it comes down to Obama’s poor decision making skills or worse yet, his desire to flood the system with those to which he can one day grant amnesty, put on a path to citizenship, and fortify the Democrat’s voter rolls. For Obama to only now, weeks after the fact, consider commissioning the National Guard, is akin to locking the barn door after the horses escaped to Mexico.

This is also yet another sterling example of Obama’s tyranny against the American people, such as thrusting thousands and thousands of illegals onto communities, who were never asked if they could, or would, absorb them at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars. In his continuing attempt to be the executive branch as well as the legislative branch, employing his pen and phone overtime – he is not doing either job well at all and the American people are suffering because of his whims and desires to work unilaterally often times against the will of the people.

Tyranny is to be met with swift opposition, and as noted in “Needing Independence Day More Than Ever,” (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2014/07/needing-independence-day-more-than-ever.html) a second American Revolution may be on the horizon. Be among the brave new leadership to right the wrongs of this soon to be sinking ship. We the people must save it from itself.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

Needing Independence Day More Than Ever

Needing Independence Day More Than Ever

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
July 4, 2014 – Independence Day

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s G-d entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Thomas Jefferson, who would eventually serve as the first Secretary of State (1789-94), second Vice President (1797-1801), and third president of the United States (1801-09), would pen the words of The Declaration of Independence at the age of 33 in 1776 in 17 days. (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html)

Jefferson, at the behest of his rival and friend John Adams – first vice president (1789-97) and second president (1797-1801), was selected to write the document that would separate the future United States of America from the tyranny that was Great Britain and King George III. This document would outline the “abuses and usurpations,” committed by the king, despotically ruling from across an ocean, unilaterally making decisions typically not in the best interest of the rank and file – the people, but in the best interest of King George III and his desires to shore up his place in history as a so-called leader. (Amazingly, Adams and Jefferson died on the same day and date – July 4, 1826 – 50 years to the day of the issuing of The Declaration of Independence.)

Knowing the result of such a declaration would lead to conflagration with England; Jefferson ended the Declaration of Independence thusly: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Jefferson understood the seriousness of this separation from Great Britain and the importance of rights divined from G-d, not from man. Jefferson continued to outline the grievances of the American people in The Declaration of Independence:

“He had made Judges dependent on his Will alone…

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance….
“For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world…
“For imposing Taxes upon us without our Consent…
“For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury…
“…abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Government…
“For suspending our own legislatures…

With every protestation by the American colonists to King George III came more malignant rebukes leading the Continental Congress to issue The Declaration of Independence. Ultimately the Revolutionary War (1775-83) would lead to independence, but not without the loss and sacrifice of 25,000 Americans, as freedom is not free.

Jefferson’s wisdom was prophetic as he knew and understood the pitfalls of a growing debt and expanding government. Much to the chagrin of the United States of America in 2014 that has not been as good a student of history as it should.

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."

“I, however, place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared.”

As a nation mired in a $17 trillion-plus debt, the United States is enslaved to those to whom we owe that massive liability. The interest alone is crippling in more ways than that of a physical war. Government grows larger, thus the need for more money from the people. Remember, there is no such thing as government money – only that which it steals from the people who willingly pay for more services handled worse and worse by government agencies. See also the current scandals under the IRS and Veterans Administration.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

This speaks volumes as Jefferson understood the value of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility which is being eroded more and more with each passing generation. Demands of a growing entitlement society only propagate the massive debt growing by leaps and bounds as a legislative branch fears their own defeat at the ballot boxes for reelection instead of saying no to the people and really representing their best interests by cutting off the spigot drowning the nation in the debt that enslaves us to our enemies.

More than 200 years later another great American leader, Ronald Reagan said, “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Reagan knew that the more government intervenes in the people’s lives, the more dependent upon government the people become and the more enslaved they become, losing their rights and freedoms.

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Jefferson knew that without a personal stake in the experiment called the democratic republic success would be fleeting and the entitlement crowd would prefer to have government take care of them cradle to grave. What they failed to remember was another Jefferson gem: “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.”

While Jefferson wrote about “altering fundamentally the forms of our government,” as one of the reasons for Americans’ discontent with King George III, 232 years later, on October 30, 2008, a candidate for president, Barack Hussein Obama announced his goal of “fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” This statement was the harbinger of some of the most deleterious actions taken by any president in the history of the republic.

Both Obama and the Congress that serves as his rubber stamp, save for the few willing to stand up to him, must recall and understand that the first American Revolution was fought against a distant tyrannical King willing to unilaterally change the rules in the middle of the game. After all America and England are separated by an ocean and pre-dated technology.

Today, the United States is on the precipice of a second American Revolution ready to reclaim and recapture the rights eroded and stolen by a government also separated by distance – that between the rank and file and those sitting in their lofty Houses of Congress who don’t even abide by the same laws they enact and expect the people to obey. We are prepared to strike back against a tyrannical so-called leader who threatens to unconstitutionally make Congress irrelevant via the use of his phone and his pen, his reputation hanging in the balance and the will of the people be damned.

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but the rule of law still reigns supreme in these United States and our rights are made manifest by G-d, not man. A happy and meaningful Independence Day to the citizenry of the United States of America.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.