Expanding Torture

The United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez, is trying to take human rights to a level that will interest far left progressives and stun those who are more reasonable. He is attempting to define certain medical actions and omissions along with some national policies as “torture”.

Specifically, Mendez zeroes in on abortion, wanting us to believe “…restrictions on access to abortion and about absolute abortion bans as violating the prohibition on torture and ill treatment.”  Mendez even suggests that denying prenatal testing could be considered torture because it “is imperative to a woman’s ability to exercise reproductive autonomy”.

Mendez takes his idea to an even more absurd level by considering prostitutes (“sex workers”) or anyone else to be tortured when required to undergo mandatory HIV testing. Furthermore, he considers drug addicts being tortured when deprived of parental rights because of drug use. One can easily imagine where he stands on Mumia Abu-Jamal.

This removes water boarding as the prominent torture controversy and, intended or not, labels the pro-life movement a crime against humanity. Equating the abortion issue with slavery no longer seems as ridiculous in comparison, but one can expect that the so-called “pro-choice” crowd will embrace it.

The UN will take this seriously but, thankfully, fewer and fewer people take the UN seriously. The international community, however, may embrace such an idea in its quest for a universal government that can legislate all nations down, or up, to an equal level. That, certainly, is desirable with progressives in the US, so don’t be surprised if this idea begins to grow legs. It is dumb enough to become popular.

David J. Hentosh

1st Amendment Clashes With 7th Century

Egypt’s Islamic and Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi, said the US needs to “fundamentally change its approach to the Arab world, showing greater respect for its values”. Furthermore, he said it was “up to Washington to repair relations with the Arab world and to revitalize the alliance with Egypt”. By “revitalize”, he means keeping the money flowing.

Respect for “values” that include beheadings, honor killings, terrorism, a real war on women (as opposed to US liberals’ twisted version), imposed religion, hating Jews, Christian-bashing, and other such behaviors is not going to happen. Until Morsi, along with the Arab world, stops trying to resurrect 7^th century values from the ash heap of history, there will be no respect.

The Arab world harmed its relations by attempting to force its values and religious beliefs into universal acceptance. Unfortunately, Obama, sympathetic to Arab demands and intent on diminishing US influence, began a policy of appeasement, bolstering confidence in those trying to force changes that mirror 7^th century values. This policy has succeeded only in fanning the flames of fanaticism and unrest in the Middle East.

Thus, Muslim leaders, once again, petitioned the UN to institute universal laws against “blasphemy” in an attempt to force all to bow to their beliefs. Religious fanatics, using a YouTube video as a tool, deliberately fomented riots and violence to assist their agenda. Those blinded by the idealistic notion of moral equivalence believe the ruse and continue to blame the video for this round of violence, thereby, assisting the fanatics in their cause. It is insane.

Religious fanatics are fueled by hate, intent on destruction, and unwilling to compromise. Our 1^st Amendment must never bend to 7^th century values or be affected by the hypersensitivity of these fanatics. The “change” Morsi seeks needs to start with him, his country, and his “Brotherhood”. Blaming the US for the consequences of Arab behavior has become a transparent ploy.

David J. Hentosh

From Iran, Another Insult to Decency

It is beyond reason why the UN allows the little man from Iran to speak his twisted and disgusting thoughts for the world to hear. After being warned about incendiary rhetoric, Ahmadinejad ignored the warning and blustered away in front of the UN assembly, making sure to denigrate Israel and offer another promise of its elimination.

Professing his might to withstand any attack, much like Saddam did before finally being hunted down like the rabid dog he was, he pretended that Israel was no threat. He proclaimed, once again, that his nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and then alluded, proudly, to Iran’s death threat against British novelist Rushdie, displaying for all one of his peaceful policies.

Lecturing the UN assembly about Jewish history, insulting Israel as much as possible, he then demands that insults should be considered a crime. It is a sad commentary on the state of the world that he is treated seriously as a president of a country.

It is no wonder that the Middle East is about to explode. You can easily guess who will have to clean up the mess.

David J. Hentosh

Obama’s Foreign Policy Farce Exposed

Reminiscent of a Baghdad Bob performance, White House press secretary Jay Carney told the press on Friday that the violence occurring around the world at US embassies is “…in response not to United States policy, and not to, obviously, the administration or the American people, but it is in response to a video”.

This, of course, has to be the White House position because Obama told us he was “uniquely qualified” to bring stability to America’s relationships in the Muslim world. Many voters were fooled into believing that his charisma, alone, was enough to calm down Muslim fanatics and that his foreign policy of “throw away the stick and speak softly” was the answer. Worse than that, Obama fooled himself into believing it.

After one term of Obama’s foreign policy, the US has not only lost respect around the world, it has lost influence, credibility, and allies. In the Middle East, fear of US reprisal is no longer a concern for violence-prone fanatics who respect nothing but strength. Obama’s willingness to throw Israel, once a strong ally, under the bus is welcomed by most Middle East Arabs, but it is also a sign of weakness. That weakness is blood in the water for terrorist sharks, as is appeasement.

Iran has certainly taken advantage of Obama’s weakness and is fast approaching a viable nuclear weapon. Having arrogantly announced his intent of wiping Israel off the map, Armajinedad openly sneers at Obama and the UN, knowing there is nothing to fear from continuing his efforts. Without the “stick” of the US, the UN is even more useless than it has been. Israel, abandoned by Obama’s foreign policy, fully understands the danger and is on the verge of a military attack which will explode the Middle East.

Obama’s foreign policy farce is now being exposed, as were his other failed policies. He has nothing but to campaign on contraceptives, taxing rich people, abortion rights, gay marriage, and issues that prey on emotions. It would be very dangerous for voters to be fooled again.

David J. Hentosh

Obama Turns His Back on Israel – Again

In spite of Obama’s insistence that Israel is a friend and an ally, when rubber meets the road, Israel consistently gets run over. There has been much rhetoric about concern for Israel, but talk is cheap and this administration’s actions prove it. Obama continues to bow to the Israel-bashing UN as if it has any neutrality or legitimacy, especially on human rights issues. It is a huge part of Obama’s new international diplomacy policy and it has been a failure.

From Anne Bayefsky at NRO

Today, at the United Nations, the Obama administration is turning its back on Israel…the U.N. Security Council has invited the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to “brief” the Council specifically on the subject of Israel and the commissioner’s list of trumped-up sins…Though the U.S. is a veto-holding power…the global soapbox will be handed to Navi Pillay, a notorious anti-Israel partisan.

The betrayal of Israel is especially outrageous in light of what the administration knows about Navi Pillay. She’s the U.N. official who questioned the legality of the killing of Osama bin Laden…the lead champion of the Durban “anti-racism” declaration and conferences…the human-rights aficionado who sat glued to her conference chair…when speaker Iranian president Ahmadinejad questioned the veracity of the Holocaust…Obama officials are welcoming her into the U.N.’s inner sanctum as a supposed expert on Israel’s inequities and legitimizing her message.

Read it here: Obama Turns His Back on Israel

DJH

Panetta Displays Administration’s Poor Policies

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta can’t seem to stop himself from revealing military strategies to the enemy. His distorted method of defending our country is to let our enemy know our next move in order to…what? It is not clear what he expects from this, but it dovetails well with this administration’s failed approach to foreign policy.

Panetta’s recent revelation of a strong possibility that Israel will attack Iran in April, May or June guarantees that Israel will keep the US out of the loop. Perhaps “plausible deniability” is behind Panetta’s puzzling revelation, thereby, allowing this administration to renege on its commitment to Israel afterwards. Perhaps it was meant to alert the world and Iran so that Israel would be forced to cancel or delay such an attack, thereby, giving Iran another chance to see the error if its ways.

Considering that Panetta has also alerted our enemy by revealing US strategy to end combat missions in Afghanistan by the middle of next year, the revelation of Israel’s possible attack is more likely to be just another bungled move from one ill-suited for the position of Secretary of Defense. Whatever the reason, Panetta and the entire Obama administration seem intent on pursuing an idealistic notion of diplomacy where talking nicely thwarts blood-thirsty aggression and a world court decides US policy.

To that end, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to request more sanctions against Iran from the UN as if Iran’s nuclear weapons program will evaporate under pronouncements from such an impotent and toothless organization. The only result UN sanctions have produced so far is an increase in Iran’s aggressiveness and more time for Iran’s nuclear weapons program to come to fruition before Obama is voted out of office.

Obama’s focus in now on getting re-elected, so making waves with Iran is the furthest thing from his mind. Unfortunately, this comes at a time when Iran is desperately trying to utilize the window of opportunity it has been given. Panetta’s revelations also reveal this administration’s intent to continue failed policies. Israel and the entire world may suffer the dangerous consequences from this administration’s refusal to “change” its strategy.

David J. Hentosh

Unrealistic Climate Summit

The World Climate Summit (better titled “Occupy the World”) being held in Durban, South Africa has not been getting much media coverage even though it is full of progressive ideology. Perhaps that is because many of the ideas being floated there are so ridiculous they embarrass serious progressives.

The science chairman of the UN’s climate panel admitted that no one has been talking about climate science at this climate conference. Attempts at understanding the science would just be a detriment to the UN’s real goal of establishing a world government run by….you guessed it….the UN.

There is no chance of any agreement between nations at this conference, especially since Third World countries are immune from proposed regulations that would devastate Western economies. Therefore, the behind-the-scenes draft of further goals is little more than a wish list, but it reveals how far from reality these climate jockeys are – and how dangerous they can be.

Christopher Monckton, a renowned climate skeptic, summarized the goals “clearly” spelled out in the draft. Some of the main points he found were: An international climate court (with power only over Western nations); Establishment of rights of Mother Earth and “some parties” threatened by climate change; War and defense forces to cease because they contribute to climate change; Reduction of “more than 100%” in emissions by 2050 (Western countries only); A CO2 concentration target that ends up dangerous to plant life; Demands of $100 billion a year from Western countries – starting now (not a penny from third-world countries).

Highlighting the asininity of these demands, Christopher Monckton informs us that reducing emissions “more than 100%” (which, of course, is impossible) in the next 8 years would mean no more gas-run cars, trains, or airplanes and no more coal or gas-fired power stations. It would also mean no carbon-emitting fires in the caves we would all eventually end up living in.  Only windmills, solar power, and other “renewable” sources would be acceptable.

Of course, the UN’s world government would remain as the ultimate power source, deciding which third-world country would receive the benefits and spoils from each Western country forced to fail under the onerous regulations. That would turn the UN into the evil 1%.

David J. Hentosh

Obama’s Failure on Iran

Obama took office with the promise of using his special brand of diplomacy rather than force to deal with aggressive nations such as Iran. The increased sword rattling of Iran is a direct result of Obama’s soft diplomatic policy and has enabled Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons to continue.

Britain is now preparing for the possibility of military action being taken against Iran while Israel is making it clear that it will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapon capability. An upcoming report from the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear capabilities is expected to increase international concern and make military action more realistic.

A senior Whitehall official in Britain expressed concern that Iran has been resilient in the face of sanctions and said Iran appears to be “newly aggressive, and we are not quite sure why”. It is no coincidence that Iran’s aggressiveness has increased as Obama’s chances for re-election have decreased. Iran took full advantage of Obama’s toothless policy for three years and is now trying to make as much headway as it can before a new administration takes over and takes a harder stance.

Britain officials recognize that the US could handle this alone, but also know that Obama is highly unlikely to “accelerate towards military action” with elections on the near horizon, so they are preparing for a “strategy of pressure and engagement” to thwart Iran’s nuclear program. Israel is preparing to take action against Iran, but Obama does not appear to be interested in offering assistance or approval.

China, too, is taking advantage of weak US policy and has been providing missiles and other advanced arms to Iran in direct violation of UN sanctions. The UN has proven itself to be almost useless without US support, so there is very little incentive for China to stop. With complete troop withdrawal from Iraq imminent, Iran is anticipating use of those weapons in the near future. Obama’s policies have made it all possible.

David J. Hentosh

Useless UN Strikes Again

From The Weekly Standard

On Tuesday, the United Nations again made itself an international laughing stock…by appointing North Korea chair of the U.N. Conference on Disarmament. That would be the same North Korea that…has built facilities capable of producing highly enriched uranium for more nuclear weapons and has defied a U.N. arms embargo by exporting weapons and sensitive technologies to rogue regimes.

Iran’s Mohammad Hassan Daryaei told the Conference meeting: “I would like to congratulate the distinguished ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the assumption of the presidency and assuring him of my delegation’s full support and cooperation”… Just yesterday Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tested 14 long-range missiles that could carry a nuclear weapon, with the express purpose of hitting U.S. interests and Israel, according to the head of their aerospace division.

Congratulations also poured in from…China.

Read it and weep here: North Korea to Head UN Conference

DJH

Obama Re-defines “Days” – And Much More

Back in March, Obama told us and members of Congress that his initiated U.S. military action in Libya would take “days, not weeks” and then we would be out and taking only a supporting role. These have become the longest “days” in history, currently lasting over a month. NATO just announced it has extended the mission in Libya for another 90 days, so we’ll see how far “days” can be stretched.

This highly intelligent nuance of Obama is, of course, way over the heads of average Americans. Many also foolishly thought that “Kadafi must go” actually meant he must go. Obama obviously meant he must go in “days” which, of course, guarantees him to be correct – eventually.

Obama has his own definition of “supporting role”, too, so he will not be pinned down with something as simple as that on the Libya mission. Using his personal definition of “war”, Obama also says he will not ask Congress for approval as stipulated by the War Powers Resolution because he has deemed that his commitment in Lybia is too small to merit Congressional approval.

Obama’s actions in Pakistan and drone strikes in Yemen could be curtailed if he followed the War Powers Resolution on Lybia, so don’t expect administration concessions. It is highly likely that Obama will do all he can to make Congress forget that resolution, or maybe he will just re-define it. If a Republican administration takes over, it’s a sure thing the resolution will return in full.

The mainstream media certainly seems to be running on Obama time and has fully accepted “days” to mean “weeks” or even “months” if necessary. They are used to re-defining anything to help Obama’s agenda. This was evidenced with the infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner when the media redefined “mission” to mean the entire Iraq conflict. The fact that the carrier’s mission was, indeed, accomplished (hence, the carrier’s homecoming) was no obstacle. Facts are pliable under the magic of progressive ideology.

David J. Hentosh