Biden Betrays Israel; Can't Be Trusted on Global Stage

Biden Betrays Israel; Can’t be Trusted on Global Stage
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
May 9, 2024

“My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad, even when we disagree,” said Joe Biden on Tuesday, May 7, at the Capitol building on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). Biden spoke platitudes about the rock solid bond between the two nations, knowing full well he already decided to withhold weapons from Israel had it opted to enter Rafah.

Adding insult to injury, Biden had posted to his X (Twitter) page on May 9, “On my watch, when we make promises, we keep them. And we leave no one behind.” (President Biden @POTUS and the little check mark signaling the real account) No one? How about the failed, deadly exit from Afghanistan that left 13 American servicemembers murdered - the blood still on Biden’s hands as he looked at his watch as their flag-draped coffins returned to American soil in August 2021.

And yet, by attempting to back Israel into a corner, Biden’s opposition to Israel’s necessary Rafah operation, his unilateral decision to handcuff Israel in its fiat to simply survive is beyond shameful. With the billions of dollars given to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which in turn funds Hamas, Biden has surrendered in the war on terror.

One needn’t look far nor dig deep for Biden’s hypocrisy to be put on full display. In a November 1, 2019 interview with a PBS reporter Biden said “The idea that we would cut off military aid to an ally, our only true, true ally in the entire region is absolutely preposterous - beyond my comprehension that anyone would do that.” It’s beyond the comprehension of most clear thinking Americans, Mr. Biden, yet here we are.

May 7 also marked exactly seven months since the invasion of Israel and the massacre of more than 1,200 innocent Israeli children, women, and men by the terrorist group Hamas. Hamas, along with the terror organization Hezbollah, has written in their charters, the eternal goal of eradicating the sovereign nation of Israel as well as the slaughter of the Jewish people. As so many have said, when someone tells you they want to kill you, take them at their word. Also among the slaughtered to be remembered, Americans, and nationals from Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. And never forget the more than 250 hostages taken by Hamas, at least five of whom are Americans still unaccounted for, be they living or dead.

The Jewish people do not have a friend in the White House. Quite frankly, the civilized world does not have a trustworthy ally in the White House. Biden simply cannot be trusted. How can any allies of the United States feel secure in their relationship with this country? The reputation of the United States continues to be sullied under Biden with his overt lack of support for Israel. It is akin to giving Hamas a green light to continue perpetrating terrorist activities against Israel, Israelis, the Jewish people, and even their own so-called Palestinian people in Gaza.

Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for more deaths of so-called Palestinians. Hamas has no regard for life - theirs or anyone else’s - this is obvious by the storage of their weaponry in elementary schools, residential neighborhoods, hospitals, even mosques. Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for the vast number of starving and suffering Gazans. Hamas has hijacked upwards of 90 percent of the humanitarian aid trucked in by Israel and the United States.

With constant shouts and cheers of death to Israel and death to America by Hamas and its supporters, both in the Middle East and on myriad college campuses in the United States, by Biden withholding military aid to Israel, he is, in effect, giving aid and comfort to an enemy of the United States, an impeachable offense.

Aid to Israel; aid to any country, does not start and end at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it goes through Congress. This is precisely why there is a system of Checks and Balances within the Constitutional framework of the government of the United States. Perhaps Biden slept through the semester on Con Law while attending Syracuse University College of Law in the late 1960s.

Biden has oft repeated, although as has become evidenced, nothing but lip service, the right of Israel to defend itself as it will. Not just a right, but a mandate to protect and defend its borders and the citizenry that reside within. This is a Biden failure at home since taking office on January 20, 2021 - witness the nearly, if not more than, 10 million illegal aliens who have invaded the United States on his watch.

Israel does not want war, just the opposite, and thus the importance of the Rafah operation. Were Israel to acquiesce to the numerous calls for a ceasefire, it further puts itself in harm’s way. A ceasefire allows Hamas and its partner, the Islamic Republic of Iran, to rearm, retool and regenerate itself, possibly making themselves stronger, certainly more determined. Hamas has promised, multiple times, that they will bring about not just another October 7, but 10,000 October sevenths. For these reasons and the sheer preservation of the nation of Israel, a ceasefire is as untenable as the two-state solution bandied about for decades. When your enemy wants to kill you, don’t give them the keys to the house next door.

Rafah, still a Hamas stronghold, is merely a symptom to a greater problem, and that is the frightening existence of any member of Hamas. All of Hamas must be purged - they are a terrorist organization and not the Boy Scouts. (Heck, even the Boy Scouts aren’t the Boy Scouts any longer.) Eviscerating, permanently, all evidence of Hamas will save countless lives of innocent Israelis and innocent Gazans, who simply want to live their lives in peace, and there are those who have proven it can be done. 

What place is it of Biden, or any leader, to dictate how Israel, or any other sovereign nation prosecutes a war? Did the United States stop short of Berlin and call it quits in the European Theatre during World War II? No. Leave no Nazi behind to rebuild a new Reich. Israel is fighting for its very survival. On Sunday, May 5, in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said emphatically, “If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel WILL stand alone. And I say to you, we will defeat our genocidal enemies. Never again is NOW.”

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

Summing Up the Summit: Three Days Wasted

Summing Up the Summit: Three Days Wasted

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 20, 2015

Barack Obama hosted a three day summit on countering violent extremism which seemed more like a student government meeting at a local high school. The cost was in the millions of dollars, was three days the attendees will never get back and an exercise in fecklessness.

Representatives from more than 60 nations participated in this summit which, from all prior description, was to be a study of both domestic and global terrorism. Sixty nations, yet James Comey, Director of the FBI was not invited. However, Comey’s Russian counterpart was in attendance. How a discussion pertaining to fighting domestic terrorism did not include the director of the FBI is nonsensical and shortsighted.

Who the summit also included was Salam Al-Malayati from the Muslim Public Affairs Council. It was Al-Malayati who said “Israel should be a suspect in the 9-11 attacks.” This is another example of with whom Obama associates. After all, one is the compendium of those with whom one associates.

This was yet another failed waste of time by Obama that achieved nothing – after all, he still has yet to address the enemy in the war on terror by its proper titles – Islamic extremism, Muslim extremism, radical Islam, and radical Muslims. It’s hard to fight an enemy when one cannot even identify the enemy. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld described the administration’s lack of a positive accomplishment as a “leadership vacuum.”

It was not a random attack in Paris when Jews in a kosher delicatessen were murdered. Forgive the stereotype, but who did Obama think would be shopping in a kosher deli mere hours prior to Shabbat? Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen, Yoav Hattab, and Francois-Michel Saada were Jewish, may their memories always be for a Blessing.

For nearly a week Obama did not recognize that the 21 Egyptians beheaded by ISIS were Coptic Christians, simply calling them Egyptian citizens. They were slaughtered not because they were Egyptian, but because they were Christian. May their memories always be for a Blessing. The leader who spoke in the video called their prey “The people of the cross… the followers of the hostile Egyptian Church…,” and “we will conquer Rome,” he continued in perfect English. The Muslim terrorist added that the slayings are “A message signed in blood to the nation of the cross.”

And while Obama remains intentionally obtuse about who the enemy is – actually Obama knows who the enemy is, he simply refuses to acknowledge what they are – this when the enemy calls themselves holy warriors and declaring itself THE Islamic State.

Obama did acknowledge that “We have to address the grievances these people express.” What grievances? The Muslim extremists who are carrying out the slaughter of innocent Christians, Jews, and other Muslims only seem to be hell bent on the destruction of Western Civilization and the creation of a global caliphate of loyal drones and minions. Do their grievances include not having enough money to carry out their barbaric deeds? Do their grievances include not being able to kill more people at a faster rate?

Or are we to believe words of Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson at the State Department who unfathomably said “We cannot win this war by killing them. We cannot kill our way out of this war.” Harf called for, and Obama agreed, getting to the root causes of the terror; that these animals simply are from poor families with disjointed upbringings, lacking education that simply need job opportunities. In reality, most of this terror class is educated and from middle class families who simply have bombastic and extreme views of their Muslim religion – a religion for which they commit their heinous acts of barbarism – according to their own claims.

Western Civilization is at war with Muslim extremists who are not seeking a sit-down, a conference call, or a negotiation. There is no kum-by-ya moment to be had here. This is an enemy that simply needs to be eradicated – eviscerated – destroyed – killed. If the United States does not take the lead on this all important operation, the dearth of leadership that will be felt globally will be vacuous.

While Jordan has gotten involved in a small way since the unfortunate incineration of one of its pilots at the hands of ISIS, that small country can’t do the heavy lifting. All countries where Islamo-terrorism has been a factor, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, not to mention virtually the entirety of the Middle East, should be participating in this war against a global caliphate.

But it is also time for the so-called moderate Muslims to step up to the plate. Recalling an emotional scene in the 1989 film Glory, featuring Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, Freeman’s character Rawlins says to Washington's Trip, “Gonna come a time when we all gonna hafta ante up. Ante up and kick in like men. LIKE MEN!”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi understands this and delivered a brilliant speech before Al-Azhar University in Cairo on December 28, 2014.

“I am addressing the religious scholars and clerics… We must take a long, hard look at the situation we are in… I am referring not to ‘religion,’ but to ‘ideology’… It has reached the point that this [ideology] is hostile to the entire world… You cannot see things clearly when you are locked [in this ideology]. You must emerge from it and look from outside, in order to get closer to a truly enlightened ideology. You must oppose it with resolve. Let me say it again: We need to revolutionize our religion…       Honorable Imam, you bear responsibility before Allah. The world in its entirety awaits your words, because the Islamic nation is being torn apart, destroyed, and is heading to perdition. We ourselves are bringing it to perdition.”

Bold, brave, necessary words spoken by President Al Sisi. Words from which Obama can, should, and must learn and act upon.

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

Jordanian Justice is Just

Jordanian Justice is Just

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

February 4, 2015

While the world burns, or at least select parts of it, Barack Obama fiddles a la Nero, in his continued refusal to classify the easily identifiable enemy in the global war on terror.

Following the absolutely horrific and barbaric murder of Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseabeh, 26, burned alive in a cage by ISIS/ISIL sub-humans, Jordan’s King Abdullah struck back immediately. He ordered the execution of two ISIS/ISIL prisoners – Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman whose vest failed to detonate in a suicide bombing attempt in 2005, as well as Ziad al-Karbouli, a one-time aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a high ranking Jordanian al-Qaeda member.

These tet-a-tets are Muslim versus Muslim, but King Abdullah knew he needed to do what Obama does not have the intestinal fortitude to do – first, identifying the enemy as radical Muslim terrorist animals hell bent on creating a global caliphate and slaughtering anyone who attempts to thwart their efforts. Then Obama needs to work with Congress, his Joint Chiefs, and the Pentagon to aggressively end ISIS/ISIL, al-Qaeda, and any other terrorist operation calling for the destruction of Israel, the United States, and Western Civilization as a whole.

“I couldn’t be more impressed with the way the king of Jordan has handled this… We crave that in the United States,” said Kimberly Guilfoyle, co-host of The Five on the Fox News Channel.

For while Abdullah makes decisions and sends a strong message, Obama continues to play fast and loose with semantics that more than just frustrate the American people. Obama sits around handwringing and attempting to parse words that support his trading terrorists for traitors – recall the Beau Bergdahl for five terrorists in GITMO maneuver as worse than when the New York Mets traded future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan to the then California Angels in 1971 for Jim Fregosi.

But the Bergdahl swap was explained away by White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz who looked a deer in the headlights when he said the Taliban, from whence the aforementioned terrorists came, is an “armed insurgency,” but ISIL is a terrorist group. “We don’t make concessions to terror groups,” said Schultz, who sounded more like Sgt. Schultz of the 1960s sitcom Hogan’s Heroes. Yet both Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry called the Taliban a terrorist group as recently as two weeks ago. Of course they wouldn’t be caught dead calling them a Muslim extremist terrorist group. Heaven forbid.

Prior to Jordan’s Abdullah taking action on the overnight of Tuesday-Wednesday, February 3-4, just hours after visiting Obama at the White House, Obama said of ISIS/ISIL, “Whatever ideology they are operating off of is bankrupt,” and they must be “degraded and ultimately defeated.”

“Defeated?” Detritus such as ISIS/ISIL, al-Qaeda, and the rest of the terror Nazis cannot be marked for defeat. They can only be marked for slaughter. “Whatever ideology?” The whole world knows these are radical Muslim extremists. Only Obama and his minions have yet to face reality. These are savages who are killing women and children in ways so barbarous most news stations the world over refuse to show footage. And beyond shooting, throwing off of buildings, beheadings, crucifixions, and burying alive, immolation is a new low, and is not a part of the tenets of Islam. Of course neither is subjecting Iraqi children to abduction and selling into sex slavery, but that hasn’t stopped these filthy animals.

At least Obama didn’t hit the golf course after the fiery death of al-Kaseabeh. Apparently he only does that when an American is beheaded – six minutes from talk to tee.

The butchers hiding behind their masks calling themselves an Islamic state only understand one thing and it is not talk, or negotiation, or deal making, or holding hands singing kum-by-a; because if they are offered a hand, they will summarily cut it off. The only thing these blood-thirsty zealous animals understand is violent death. That is precisely what they should receive, and as quickly as possible before they cross the porous southern border of the United States and march up Main Street in all 50 states littering the countryside with the blood and bodies of innocent American citizens. What is required is will and leadership; sadly there is currently a dearth of both.

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

9/11: Looking Back; Looking Ahead

9/11: Looking Back; Looking Ahead

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

September 11, 2014

On the anniversary of 9-11 we the American people find ourselves in a more precarious state than at any time since Barack Obama took office in 2009. Six years into his administration, there are more threats against American citizens and America as a whole from an increasing number of terrorist groups, more conflagrations around the globe; yet fewer solutions, and less demonstrable strength putting Americans and America in harm’s way.

There is a sad irony that Obama, after months, even more than a year, of dithering, hand wringing, and feigning concern seems to be heading back to Iraq after spending the entire 2012 campaign bragging to anyone who would listen that he ended the war in Iraq.

The irony is that his predecessor in the White House, George W. Bush was prophetic with his words on July 12, 2007. Bush said that leaving Iraq at that juncture would lead to losing Iraq to al-Qaeda and eventually they would confront an enemy more dangerous – enter ISIS/ISIL. (See http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2014/09/this-is-war-mr-obama.html “This is War, Mr. Obama”)

Bush led by actually leading, springing into action from day one while the horrific events of September 11, 2001 unfolded as 2,983 innocent people were murdered. Airplanes, hijacked by Muslim terrorists, were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and a field in Shanksville, PA presumably headed for either the White House or the Capitol Building.

Yet, the fecklessness by which Obama operates has created an environment of many Americans – 45 percent – feeling less safe than before September 11, 2001. Coupled with an approval rating hovering around 30 percent, 60 percent of Americans support military action – air strikes at the very least – against ISIS as a matter of national security. Only 13 percent oppose any military action. Presumably they are spending more time at marijuana dispensaries in Colorado than anywhere else as destroying and eliminating ISIS/ISIL is a no-brainer after the beheadings of two American journalists, as well as the slaughter of countless Christians, children, and even Muslims.

While Americans and the United States as a whole rose like a phoenix under Bush, life under Obama has been a series of mixed messages, vainglorious behavior, and empty rhetoric. Such words were spoken on September 10, as Obama said “If you threaten America you will find no safe haven.” This from the same man who a week prior had no strategy for eviscerating ISIS/ISIL, saying they needed to be degraded and destroyed in one sentence, then said they needed to become a “manageable problem,” mere sentences later in the same speech. ISIS/ISIL is a terror network growing due to their ability to control and sell oil, bringing in millions of dollars. They are a cancer needing to be eradicated, not simply managed like unruly children in a classroom.

Obama appears more concerned about the Iraq-Syria border than the United States-Mexico border. Yet it his laissez-faire, open borders attitude making the latter more porous and of immediate issue to the American people – a people for whom Obama seems to have little regard as the floodgates remain open to any and all who are able to enter – including terrorists of the ISIS/ISIL, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood variety. The borders should have been shut down like a maximum security prison, but both Bush and Obama failed miserably on that count for various reasons. (See http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-southern-border.html “What Southern Border?”)

Regardless, Obama seems hell-bent on defending Islam, as if the lessons of September 11 were not vivid enough to remain indelibly fixed into his memory. ISIS/ISIL is not Islamic, said Obama, adding that “no religion condones the killing of innocents; ISIL is not a state.” However, it is ISIL itself that takes pride in claiming it is Islamic and on a mission to create a worldwide caliphate. Obama still refuses to call the ongoing strife a war, as if not acknowledging it will somehow make it all go away. The only way for it to disappear is to destroy it wherever it exists – town by town, city by city, and nation by nation.

“Radical Islam is the enemy,” said Lt. Col. Oliver North.

So too is the political correctness that goes out of its way to not profile when profiling is one of the answers needed to limit the odds of the next 9-11. The enemy need only be accurate once, while the powers that be in the United States must be right 100 percent of the time. See also the failures involved in the catastrophe in Benghazi on this the second anniversary of the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Air Force veteran Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. (See http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2012/09/obama-finally-calls-terror-attacks.html “Obama Finally Calls Terror Attacks Terror”)

Looking ahead, Obama insists there will be a large coalition of nations to fight ISIS/ISIL, yet to date there are nine countries willing to join the United States. Compare to the 37 nations during the Bush administration aligned to fight the ongoing war on terror. Bush did not mince words and our allies knew where they stood – with the United States because Bush regarded them appropriately. Obama, conversely, has treated allies with disdain and open hostility while literally bowing to our enemies, thus proving he cannot be counted upon during this or a future crisis.

Never forget the real lessons of September 11, 2001. Remain ever vigilant. Teach the children the truth.

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