Israel And The West's Dilemma - The Storm Before The Dawn

There are times when the anvil of liberty tests the steel we're made of. When those times arrive, there can be no squirming or equivocation.

When the storm rages, when it is no longer easy or convenient to take a stand, false friends and hangers on melt away.That's a given. The ones that remain will have shown what they are made of and will be all the stronger for having triumphed, and their triumph will be all the greater for the struggle having been more difficult and dangerous.

Yesterday, an event occurred that will act as a catalyst to sort out those who will stand and those who will melt away because it is easy and convenient.

This division has been coming for some time.

The events in the Mediterranean off Gaza were a response by Israel to aggression, albeit aggression cleverly disguised. It's a textbook example of how the rules applied to Israel are applied to no other nation and how they are intentionally made so as to be impossible for Israel to meet them.

If Israel defends itself against the most outrageous assaults aimed at its citizens, their actions are always deemed 'disproportionate' simply because Israel's military is better at killing their enemies than their genocidal enemies are at killing them. If Israel fails to respond as they have sometimes in the past, their enemies simply up the ante and the result is simply more dead Israelis. That suits the so-called international community quite well, because at this point a substantial portion of it would just as soon Israel didn't exist anyway.

Yesterday's act of war sponsored by the Turkish government - and yes that's exactly what blockade running is - was not designed as any kind of 'humanitarian' mission.It was an intentional act designed to provoke a response to succor Hamas, improve Turkey's relationship with Iran, and position Turkey and its leader Tayyip Erdogan as a mover and shaker in the Sunni Arab world. Ironically, Israel's foes cite international law to condemn Israel's response when under international law, Israel was fully justified in stopping the ships before they breached Israeli territorial waters.

Let's examine The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994, an accord both Turkey and Israel are signatories to:

SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT

Neutral merchant vessels

67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture.

Under international law ( UN Resolution 1701) Hezbollah was not supposed to have been rearmed by Iran and Syria or allowed back into its bases in south Lebanon either, but it was, with no consequences to Iran or Syria for that particular transgression while the UN peacekeeping force stationed there turned a blind eye and allowed it to happen. The logic of this, however bigoted is clear; international law is simply a standard applied to Israel when it is convenient to her enemies, and ignored when it is not. And none of it makes a bit of difference. Because the ultimate goal is Israel's destruction, by whatever means.

It's time that reality was discussed openly and the question put bluntly, so that people can reveal where they stand on the matter.

In a bizarre twist, many Jews appear to be leading the charge to destroy Israel, although very few of them admit it in those terms even to themselves. Peter Beinart, for instance, recently used the vehicle of a book review to launch into a rambling and uneven discourse confessing his 'discomfort' with Israel and his lack of sympathy for the country as not being liberal enough for him - the one country in the Middle East that can truly be said to be free. He is hardly alone, and his essay unleashed a great many angst-ridden similar pieces from Jews on the Left confessing how distanced they were from Israel and in how little regard they hold the country.

The fact that Israel defends herself and her citizens actually embarrasses them in front of their non-Jewish Leftist friends.

The ironic joke of this is that such people applaud themselves as being courageous, when they are anything but.

It took very little courage to be pro-Israel in the past, before the Saudi-funded narrative took hold in the media, academia and elsewhere, before George Soros became the Left's paymaster,before elements of the Left made the Palestinians a cause célèbre . It takes just as little courage now to join the anti-Israel camp, when it's in fashion and the rewards are obvious.In fact, there are few positions today more comfortable and advantageous today than that of an anti-Israel Jew. Careers are made from such positions, and people like Beinart have simply reverted to type. I could do it myself easily and quite lucratively, if I wanted to whore out my soul.

The main price of admission to this club is to eagerly support segregation and apartheid applied to Jews and Jews only by calling for the removal of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria(AKA the West Bank), championing the re-division of Jerusalem so as to make Jewish Holy sites off limits to Jews and viscerally attacking any effort by Israel to defend itself.

It is a point of honor to for the anti-Israel Left to demonize people they refer to as 'settlers' simply because these 'settlers' insist that Jews should be allowed to live in peace and freedom everywhere. Meanwhile, the Left ignores the Arab support for judenrein and genocide, as well as the more unpleasant aspects of the sharia law their societies are based on.

Without even grasping a hint of the absurdity involved, such people describe themselves as liberals and intellectuals with a straight face!

If this were just about Israel, it would be enough. But ultimately, this is not only about Israel, but about the survival of the West and victory or defeat in its conflict with its enemies. The stakes are that high.

For all the rightness and justice of its cause, Israel does not stand alone as an isolated target - to its enemies it is a battle front, a surrogate for America, for freedom, and for Western civilization. Those in the West who relish the idea of destroying Israel, no matter what sophistries they beguile themselves with, are busily engaged in tearing down their own house whether they know it or not.

These people, who embrace the idea of abandoning of Israel in hopes of appeasing the Muslim world and being left in peace resemble nothing so much as a swimmer being chased by a shark cutting off an arm and throwing it to the predator chasing him, hoping that he will be satisfied.

They simply resist seeing the full extent of the evil which threatens not just Israel,but the entire West out of fear or for more ignominious reasons . Do they really think that the jihadis, having disposed of the Jews of Israel are going to stop there? Do they expect mercy and tolerance for themselves? Do those Jews who reject Israel think that they are going to be immune from what occurs afterward?

The arguments are pretty much over at this point. The division in the West on Israel reflects the division in Western society, and one side is going to win and another will lose. Such sorting outs occur from time to time, but it is almost always a healthy occurance. And truthfully, given the innate and servile cowardice and exaggerated self-interest of many of these people and the courage of most of those on the other side of the fence, I am not worried about the outcome.

However dark things look, there is dawn coming, although things may undoubtedly get darker before the sun rises. And I have no doubt in my mind that freedom and liberty in Israel will ultimately prevail, just as it will in America.

I simply do not see G-d allowing Israel or America to be destroyed, because both nations have been, in the balance of things, such beacons of freedom and forces for good.

But it will take a wholehearted and courageous effort. Liberty is never cheap and frequently inconvenient, but in the end, it's always worth shedding blood for. Israel, like America has proven itself willing to pay that price many times. We owe our posterity no less. And when my children and grandchildren in happier times ask me which side I was on, I want to be able to tell them unflinchingly where I stood.

UPDATE: Several readers have brought UNSC Resolution 1860 to my attention, which was passed in January 2009 during the Gaza war and called for ending the blockade and opening unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance to Gaza,which several sources are claiming supersedes the San Remo Agreement.

Resolution 1860 was a worthless piece of paper that called on Israel to to cease fire immediately, but did not mention Hamas, or kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. And yes, it does in fact call for unimpeded access.

It also calls for an end to violence against civilians and for member states to end 'illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition.'

One could make the argument that since Hamas and Iran never abided by this,nor even received any consequences for blatantly violating it that Israel isn't bound to it either...especially since the Israeli/Egyptian blockade is a direct result of Iran illegally shipping arms to Hamas and Hamas subsequently using them against Israel's civilians.

One could, but why bother? Like I said, international law is simply a standard applied to Israel when it is convenient to her enemies, and ignored when it is not.

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Turkey Threatens To Send Second Flotilla Escorted By The Turkish Navy

Of course, if Turkey does this,it means war:

Turkey has threatened Israel with unprecedented action after Israeli forces attacked an aid vessel, killing 10 peace activists headed to Gaza.{...}

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals.

Two Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences.

Israel has sounded an alert throughout the country fearing rocket attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Arab League has called an urgent meeting on Tuesday to decide on a common response. Egypt is under pressure to end the blockade of Gaza while Greece has cancelled a military exercise with Israel.

I doubt that Turkey is going to fight with Israel over Gaza unless Tayyip Erdogan is stupid as well as an Islamist tool. The Israelis have both air and technological superiority even without using nukes, and Turkey’s army would have to take the long route and go through Syria in order to get at the Israelis, which would mean they would be attacking through the fortified Golan Heights.

The Turkish Army’s chances of breaking through there are nil, and Syria is not about to let Turkey involve Syria in a shooting war with Israel…they have good memories about what happened the last few times they tried it.

Turkey still entertains hopes of getting into the EU(at least, while it’s still around) and taking on Israel would pretty much end that..nor would NATO come in on Turkey’s side. Plus, the Turks have their own internal political and economic problems.

Anything can happen, but I doubt Erdogan is going to send the Turkish navy to attack Israel unless he really does want a shooting war. I don’t think he does.

However, there is an easy way to keep the blockade up while avoiding any direct confrontations...simply mine the harbors and anchorages leading into Gaza and post them with buoys.If Turkey or any more 'peace activists' send ships to Gaza and they happen to hit mines and sink,well, inshallah,baby!

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Female Anchorwomen Quitting Al-Jazeera In Droves

"And now, today's halal news"


According to Al-Hayat, five uppity female anchorwomen have refused to follow orders form their male bosses and have resigned over dress code and 'other issues':

"This collective resignation is not motivated just by the growing pressure on the presenters concerning their dress code, which was evoked by the media," said the journalist, who asked not to be identified.

"The conflicts run much deeper," the journalist added.

The news presenters who have reportedly quit are Jumana Namur, Lina Zahreddin, Lona al-Shibel, Julnar Mussa and Nofar Afli.

The Al-Hayat daily reported on Sunday that they had resigned in the past few days after petitioning management in January over repeated criticism from a top company official for allegedly not being conservative enough in their dress.

Did you really think Jihad TV was female friendly? Think of whom their audience consists of.

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Netanyahu Cancels US Trip

Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu has canceled his upcoming Washington visit with President Obama:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a planned trip to Washington Tuesday and will return home to Israel from Canada today to deal with the diplomatic fallout in the wake of Israeli commandos killing ten people on ships bringing aid to Gaza.

"Netanyahu decided to cut short his visit to Canada and return to Israel early," a statement from the Israeli government said, reported by Reuters.

The White House said President Barack Obama had a fifteen minute phone call with Netanyahu this morning in which he expressed understanding for Netanyahu's decision to return to Israel immediately.

“This morning between 10:00 and 10:15 AM CDT, the President spoke by phone with Prime Minister Netanyahum" the White House said in a statement Monday. "He said he understood the Prime Minister's decision to return immediately to Israel to deal with today's events."

"They agreed to reschedule their meeting at the first opportunity," the White House said. "The President expressed deep regret at the loss of life in today's incident, and concern for the wounded, many of whom are being treated in Israeli hospitals. The President also expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances around this morning's tragic events as soon as possible.”

Abbas, of course, will use this as an excuse to continue to avoid direct talks with Israel. Don't be surprised if he shows up inGaza for a photo-op with Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh...and a gala dinner at the Roots Club

From Netanyahu's point of view, this likely worked out well in an unintentional way. After the US throwing Israel under the bus by supporting a new UN resolution for a nuclear-free Middle East that singles out Israel and doesn't even mention Iran, the only thing on the agenda was likely Obama trying to muscle more unilateral concessions for the Palestinians out of Bibi and warning him Israel had better get used to a Nuclear Iran. It was not going to be a happy meeting between allies, but a photo-op designed to use Netanyahu as a prop to to try and shore up some of Obama's political support among American Jews.

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Videos:10 Dead As IDF Ambushed By Gaza Flotilla 'Peace' Activists

(hat tip, Ron M.





When IDF soldiers attempted to peacefully stop a Turkish-backed flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade, they were subjected to a vicious assault, as the above videos show. The "peace activists" were warned that they were in a closed military zone, and there's no reason they could not have followed the Israeli ships to Ashdod where the supplies they intended to deliver would have been searched for weapons and then trucked to Gaza.

That of course was not their intention. What they wanted was a confrontation.

The IDF had previously been ordered by the commander of this operation to conduct themselves professionally in the face of what was expected to be provocation in the form of spitting, cursing, and perhaps a small amount of physical resistance.

What happened instead is that they ran into a brutal, planned ambush:

Officials estimated that passengers will show slight resistance, and possibly minor violence; for that reason, the operation’s commander decided to bring the helicopter directly above the top deck. The first rope that soldiers used in order to descend down to the ship was wrested away by activists, most of them Turks, and tied to an antenna with the hopes of bringing the chopper down. However, Flotilla 13 fighters decided to carry on.

Navy commandos slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.

However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons. {...}

The forces hurled stun grenades, yet the rioters on the top deck, whose number swelled up to 30 by that time, kept on beating up about 30 commandos who kept gliding their way one by one from the helicopter. At one point, the attackers nabbed one commando, wrested away his handgun, and threw him down from the top deck to the lower deck, 30 feet below. The soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost his consciousness.

Only after this injury did Flotilla 13 troops ask for permission to use live fire. The commander approved it: You can go ahead and fire. The soldiers pulled out their handguns and started shooting at the rioters’ legs, a move that ultimately neutralized them. Meanwhile, the rioters started to fire back at the commandoes.

“I saw the tip of a rifle sticking out of the stairwell,” one commando said. “He fired at us and we fired back. We didn’t see if we hit him. We looked for him later but couldn’t find him.” Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds to their knee and stomach after rioters apparently fired at them using guns wrested away from troops.

As the above videos show, the so-called peace activists attacked the IDF soldiers with guns, knives, firebombs and other improvised weapons.From what was discovered on board in terms of weaponry, it's obvious this was planned in advance.

Two Israeli soldiers sustained gunshot wounds, one was stabbed and a number of them sustained serious injuries at the hands of the 'activists'. Ten of them were killed, and after what happened, I'm surprised it wasn't more.

Turkey's PM minister Tayyip Erdogan recalled Turkey's Ambassador to Israel, as expected and warned of 'irreparable consequences.' Turkey's Islamist Prime Minister has been looking for an excuse to end relations with Israel for some time, and this may very well be it.

The EU, as expected, was fairly harsh in its condemnation, and the UN's Ban Ki Moon was quoted as saying that Israel 'must provide an explanation.' An emergency Security Council meeting has been scheduled. And don't be surprised if th eUS doesn't back Israel.

White House spokesman Bill Burton, traveling with the president in Chicago, told reporters:

"The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."

This will likely be used as a stick to get Israel to end the blockade of Gaza...which of course, if the Israelis cave will mean that Iran will be able to resupply Hamas with weaponry.

And as an aside, no one in the international community is criticizing these 'activists' for their inhumane refusal of the plea of Hamas captive Gilad Shalit's parents to carry letters and packages to Gaza for Shalit. He's been held incommunicado by Hamas for almost four years now.

Obviously, their so-called compassion doesn't extend to Jews.

The big talking point with the blame Israel brigade is that the ships were taken in international waters.

Except there's no "safe" spot for blockade runners, in international waters or otherwise. Israel had no duty to wait until the ships crossed into Israeli waters.. not when these blockade runners clearly announced their intentions to violate them and set sail.

Israel gave these ships every opportunity to end this peacefully and deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza, if that was their intention, both before they assembled and after they attempted to breach the blockade.

That of course is not what they had in mind at all, and they can hardly complain if they got what they came for. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Chazak Ve'ematz (Strength) to the Tzahal and refuah shleima (quick recovery) to the soldiers who were wounded.

UPDATE: Bookworm Room And Soccer Dad have valuable takes on this, and more videos.

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Israeli Commandos Storm Gaza Flotilla - 2 Reported Dead

Stories remain confused about what happened, but apparently when the Israeli Navy interdicted the ships and instructed them to follow them to the Israeli port of Ashdod, they refused...and when Israeli Navy Commandos stormed the ships, the 'peace activists' attacked them.

There are reports that there were attempts to wrest weapons away from the IDF troops and other reports that the commandos were attacked with knives and axes. At least two people are reported dead and scores injured:

Passengers tried to grab weapons away from soldiers boarding the Gaza protest flotilla, starting the violence, Army Radio reported Tuesday morning, responding to accusations that Israeli commandos assaulted the ships guns blazing.

Activists aboard the ships repeatedly said they would not respond with violence to the navy's interception of their flotilla.

At least two activists were killed and dozens more were wounded in clashes as hundreds of Israeli commandos boarded the ships, firing guns and employing gas, Turkish media and Al-Jazeera reported earlier Tuesday morning.{...}

The flotilla's change of course earlier in the night to force the confrontation with the navy to occur in daylight seemed to have succeeded. The attack began still under cover of dark, but continued in daylight.

Earlier tonight, the IDF contacted the boats by radio, clarified that the Gaza Strip is a closed military zone and offered the sailors two options: to follow the navy to Ashdod Port or be commandeered by commandos, according to flotilla organizers.

The initial contact took place about 200 km. off the Gaza Coast. Flotilla organizers said they detected three Israel Navy ships on the radar.

Just to re-emphasize...if what these 'activists' really cared about was delivering humanitarian aid, all they needed to do was to follow the Israeli ships to Ashdod. after which th eIsraelis would have unloaded the cargo, checked through it and then sent it to Gaza. That obviously wasn't their agenda.

Initial reports were originally all over the place with reports of as many as 16 `activists' killed.As usual, those reports tended to be exaggerated and based on sensational claims by al-Jazeera and Turkish media, with two deaths looking like the right total.

One IDF soldier was reportedly injured during the raid after being stabbed in the stomach. According to an IDF source, "The sail's participants were not innocent and used violence against the soldiers. They were waiting for the forces' arrival."

Given the careful briefing the soldiers got from their commander before the operation, the fact that the 'activists' provoked the violence seems credible.

We'll see what develops.

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New Nuclear 'Action Plan' Agreed To By Obama Singles Out Israel - And Doesn't Even Mention Iran!

If anybody thought that Netanyahu being invited by Obama to the White House actually signified some kind of change, guess again:

Washington's unprecedented backing for a UN resolution for a nuclear-free Middle East that singles out Israel has both angered and deeply worried the Jewish state although officials are cagey about openly criticising their biggest ally.

The resolution adopted by the United Nations on Friday calls on Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and urges it to open its facilities to inspection.

It also calls for a regional conference in 2012 to advance the goal of a nuclear-free Middle East.

Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, with around 200 warheads, but has maintained a policy of deliberate ambiguity about its capabilities since the mid-1960s.

The document, which singles out Israel but makes no mention of Iran's controversial nuclear programme, drew a furious reaction from the Jewish state who decried it as "deeply flawed and hypocritical."

But it was US backing for the resolution which has caused the most consternation among Israeli officials and commentators, who interpreted the move as "a resounding slap around the face" which has dealt a very public blow to Israel's long-accepted policy of nuclear ambiguity.

Publicly, the Israel government has not criticised the US position but privately, officials expressed deep disappointment over the resolution, which Washington backed despite intensive Israeli efforts to block it.

According to the top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "furious with the Obama administration for having failed to prevent the resolution from passing... and for choosing to support it."

"The American support for the resolution, after decades in which it supported Israel on this issue, came as a complete surprise," the paper said.

"In the secret talks that Netanyahu held with Obama's men... Israel was promised that the resolution would not focus on Israel and that if it did, the Americans would vote against."

The Bush Administration, faced with a similar situation back in 2005 simply refused to go further and legitimize this bigotry. Obama, of course is a very different animal.

Obama's NSA Adviser James L. Jones was on the record just last Friday after the einitial draft surfaced saying how the US "deplores" the singling out of Israel and would "not permit a conference or actions that could jeopardize Israel's national security."

Ri-ight.You betcha.

As far as Obama and Netanyahu's meeting goes, look for the president behind closed doors to spend most of his time trying to muscle more unilateral concessions for the Palestinians out of Bibi and warning him Israel had better get used to a Nuclear Iran. It will not be a cordial meeting.

Obama's last minute invite to Netanyahu simply a political dog and pony show using Netanyahu as a prop to try and shore up some of Prez Zero's plummeting support among American Jews.

Mark my words, things are eventually going to get to the point where the Israelis remember that they survived the first twenty years of their national existence without any help from the US whatsoever, and they were less able to do so then than they are now. They're going to Just Say No and sever all but the most basic ties if this nonsense continues.

Ultimately, I think the US will be poorer for the absence of that alliance. I think that many people in our military/intel/diplomatic establishment realize it, and I expect the US to take steps to renew the relationship once Prez Zero and his regime are out of office.

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Memorial Day - Love And Devotion

Today is Memorial Day.

For most of us, the long weekend with the family, the unofficial start to summer, maybe a church picnic or a parade, the backyard barbecue and the roadtrip are what Memorial Day is all about.

I think there's a kind of instinctive wisdom in that, believe or not.

When you read or hear about what America's warriors have endured you have to stop and think about what makes a free young man or woman in the prime of youth go in harm's way and lay down his life for his country. I don't think the reason is a lot of high sounding slogans or platitudes.

The Americans we celebrate today gave their lives - what President Lincoln aptly referred to at Gettysburg as `the last full measure of devotion'- to keep the country free, to protect and preserve the people and the nation they left behind.

They made that ultimate sacrifice so that the ones they left behind could be free to enjoy a backyard barbecue, a day with the family..or, to put it another way, ordinary day to day life in a free country. They voted with their lives, not for some utopia but to preserve the decent, everyday American life,liberty and pursuit of happiness they left behind. For others,perhaps if not for themselves. All of them wanted to live that way, but they were willing to die if necessary so that the rest of us could do so.

That was their gift to us.

Cherish it, and be appropriately grateful.

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Muslim Hate Imam Let Into Britain

The dhimmitude in the UK continues...

The home secretary, Theresa May, is facing a stiff test of the Conservative party’s claims to oppose radical Islam after her officials chose to allow a misogynist Muslim preacher into Britain.

Zakir Naik, an Indian televangelist described as a “hate-monger” by moderate Muslims and one Tory MP, says western women make themselves “more susceptible to rape” by wearing revealing clothing.

Naik, who proselytises on Peace TV, a satellite television channel, is reported to have called for the execution of Muslims who change their faith, described Americans as “pigs” and said that “every Muslim should be a terrorist”.

In a recent lecture, he said he was “with” Osama Bin Laden over the attacks on “terrorist America”, adding that the 9/11 hijackings were an inside job by President George W Bush.{...}

Although Naik makes it clear he does not support specific acts of terrorism, his inflammatory speeches have included one, currently on YouTube, in which he states: “Beware of Muslims saying Osama Bin Laden is right or wrong. I reject them ... we don’t know.

“But if you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him.

“I don’t know what he’s doing. I’m not in touch with him. I don’t know him personally. If he is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist ... I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist.”

Naik is going to be doing a tour of the UK rock star style, with appearances at venues like Wembley Arena in London.

Tzipi Livni, Geert Wilder, Israeli academics and delegations of IDF officers? Not welcome in the UK.

But this jihadi? Do come in, and make yourself at home....

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Amazing Vid: Kung Fu Bear!

Seeing is believing...

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Israeli Navy Vice Admiral Marom Briefs Forces Set to Intercept Gaza Flotilla

Today or perhaps tomorrow, the Israeli navy is set to intercept a flotilla of boats bound for Gaza sponsored by Turkey's Islamist, Israel-hating Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan.

They claim to be carrying 'humanitarian aid' for Hamas and the convoy includes several Leftist members of the European Parliament whom the Turks view as an "insurance policy" against the Israeli Navy.

As the above video makes clear, the Israelis aren't being intimidated. Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom makes that clear, even as he's warning his men not to respond to what are sure to be outrageous provocations.

The true nature of these 'humanitarians' can be seen by the fact that they refused the plea of Hamas captive Gilad Shalit's parents to carry letters and packages to Gaza for Shalit. He's been held incommunicado by Hamas for almost four years now.

Obviously, their so-called compassion doesn't extend to Jews.

What Erdogan gets out of this is obvious. If the Israeli naval blockade can be breached, another channel to ship weaponry to Hamas from Iran can be opened.Even better, if the 'humanitarians in this convoy can provoke an incident, there will be headlines throughout much of the Muslim world and Europe.

There's also the side benefit of Erdogan endearing himself and Turkey not only to Iran but to the anti-Israel European Left.Turkey still wants into the EU, at least for as long as it's still around. And Erdogan's counting on creating good will towards that goal among the anti-Israel elements of the EU, in spite of his dubious record on human rights.

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Parenting 101 At The Bronx Zoo

A little sequence showing a typical family happening:


"Helen! Will You deal with your son please!


"I warned you about this. You just earned yourself a time out, junior."


"Stay here and think about what you did until you learn your lesson not to to annoy your Dad.."



"Awww, OK sweetie. Come on back out, lunch is ready."

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BP Buses In 400 Fake Workers as Backdrop For Obama's Photo Op

President Barack Obama finally deigned to go to the Gulf today and spent all of three hours there - less time than he typically spends playing golf.

One interesting thing about today's photo op - BP bussed in a small army of temp workers to spruce things up pretty for the president and the national news crews and then pose looking like oil cleanup workers:

Perhaps you saw news footage of President Obama in Grand Isle, La., on Friday and thought things didn't look all that bad. Well, there may have been a reason for that: The town was evidently swarmed by an army of temp workers to spruce it up for the president and the national news crews following him.

Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts, whose district encompasses Grand Isle, told Yahoo! News that BP bused in "hundreds" of temporary workers to clean up local beaches. And as soon as the president was en route back to Washington, the workers were clearing out of Grand Isle too, Roberts said.

"The level of cleanup and cooperation we've gotten from BP in the past is in no way consistent to the effort shown on the island today," Roberts said by telephone. "As soon as the president left, they were immediately put back on the buses and sent home."

Just another phony PR show to make Zero look presidential.

He's on the way to yet another vacay. Perhaps he'll be able to get in a nice round of golf.


(Hat tip Jammie Wearing Fool via Ace)

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Sarah Palin: Passing The Buck Doesn’t “Plug the D#*! Hole”

To repeat a point I made earlier, whatever you might think of Governor Sarah Palin she's proven that knows oil and she knows how to slap oil companies around and get action. Does anyone doubt that if she were in the White House, even as a sitting Vice President that this would have been handled a lot quicker and a lot better?

Here she shows you exactly what I mean:

Nearly 40 days in, our President finally addressed the American people’s growing concerns about the Gulf Coast oil spill. Listening to today’s press conference, you’d think the administration has been working with single-minded focus on the Gulf gusher since the start of the disaster. In reality, their focus has been anything but singular to help solve this monumental problem.

If the President really was fully focused on this issue from day one, why did it take nine whole days before the administration asked the Department of Defense for help in deploying equipment needed for the extreme depth spill site?

Why was the expert group assembled by Energy Commissioner Steven Chu only set up three weeks after the start of this disaster?

Why was Governor Jindal forced more than a month after the start of the disaster to go on national television to beg for materials needed to tackle the oil spill and for federal approval to build offshore sand barriers that are imperative to protect his state’s coastline?

Why was no mention of the spill made by our President for days on end while Americans waited to hear if he grasped the import of his leadership on this energy issue?

Why have several countries and competent organizations who offered help or expertise in dealing with the spill not even received a response back from the Unified Area Command to this day?

The President claimed that “this notion that somehow the federal government is somehow sitting on the sidelines and for the last three or four or five weeks we’ve just been letting BP make a whole bunch of decisions is simply not true.” But, in fact, that is how U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen described the Obama administration’s approach to this crisis: “We keep a close watch.”

Listening to the President, you get the impression he is continually surprised by the inability of various centralized government agencies to get more involved and help solve problems. His lack of executive experience might explain this because he is apparently unaware that it’s his job as a chief executive to make sure they do their jobs and help solve problems.

The fundamental problem at the core of this crisis is a lack of responsibility. (I risk the President taking my comments personally, but they’re not intended to be personal; my comments reflect what many others feel, and we just want to help him tackle this enormous spill problem.) There’s a culture of buck-passing at the heart of this administration that has caused the tragedy of a sunken oil rig to turn into a potential disaster.

The 1990 Oil Pollution Act was drafted in response to the Exxon-Valdez spill in my home state. It created new procedures for offshore cleanups, specifically putting the federal government in charge of such operations. The President should have used the authority granted by the OPA – immediately – to take control of the situation. That is a big part of what the OPA is for – to designate who is in charge so finger-pointing won’t disrupt efforts to just “plug the d#*! hole.” But instead of immediately engaging with this crisis, our President chose to spend precious time on political pet causes like haranguing the state of Arizona for doing what he himself was supposed to do – secure the nation’s border. He also spent much time fundraising and politicking for liberal candidates and causes while we waited for him to grasp the enormity of the Gulf spill.

Now that the American people are calling him out on his lack of engagement with this disaster, the buck-passing is in full swing – and, unbelievably, his administration is still looking to blame his predecessor. Amazingly, even those of us who support energy independence for America are the brunt of some buck-passing.

He suggested today that a “culture of corruption” at the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) was solely the previous administration’s responsibility and that the failure of the inspection system was a failure of that administration. That is false. The MMS has been his responsibility since January 20, 2009.

The MMS director who resigned today, Elizabeth Birnbaum, was appointed by his administration. And the most recent inspection of the oil rig took place a mere 10 days before the explosion – also very much on his watch, not President Bush’s.

The President is also now attempting to somehow distance himself from his administration’s recent decision to open a few areas of the continental shelf to oil and gas exploration. That’s unfortunate because America desperately needs our domestic oil and natural gas. We rely on it for our prosperity, security, and freedom. The President’s decision to open a few areas to offshore exploration was the right decision then; and unlike his quickly evolving position on energy development now, I continue to believe it’s the right decision today – because energy independence is in the long-term economic and security interests of the United States.

As I explained in an article in National Review last year, conventional sources like natural gas “can act as a clean ‘bridge fuel’ to a future when more renewable sources are available.” I do not, as the President mistakenly believes, think we can “drill, baby, drill” our way out of all of our troubles. As I have consistently stated, we need an “all of the above” approach to energy independence that combines conventional drilling with energy conservation and renewable-energy development. My record in Alaska clearly shows my commitment to this “all of the above” approach. Over 20 percent of Alaska’s electricity currently comes from renewable sources. As governor, I put forward a long-term plan to increase that figure to 50 percent by 2025, which is the most ambitious renewable energy target in the nation. I take great pride in helping to make Alaska, in the words of the New York Times, “a Frontier for Green Power,” even as we continue to embrace the need to “drill, baby, drill” at the same time.

Alaska can be that frontier for renewable energy only because our conventional oil and gas reserves provide us with “a bridge” to a greener energy future. In fact, Alaska has enough reserves of both oil and gas to help the United States cross that bridge – if only we are allowed to drill!

Please, Mr. President, hear me on this, if nothing else: if it’s your administration’s decision to suspend the leases of new oil field developments off the coast of Alaska in response to the Gulf’s deepwater spill, and you still remain committed to locking up ANWR and other oil-rich lands, please know you are making a mistake. Unless we continue to drill here and drill now, we risk digging ourselves deeper into the hole created by our continued dependence on foreign energy – which often comes from regimes that care nothing for our prosperity or security, and even less for global environmental safety.

We need affordable, reliable, secure, environmentally-sound, and domestically-produced energy, but this administration continues to lock up federal land filled with huge energy reserves. If there is to be a moratorium on offshore development, then it’s time we stop ignoring our safest options for domestic development – places like ANWR and NPR-A in my home state of Alaska.

And it’s time for the administration to stop passing the buck and get control of the disaster in the Gulf. There’s a reason why Harry Truman had that famous sign on his desk. The “buck stops” with the occupant of the Oval Office. When the American people elected President Obama they gave him responsibility to handle this disaster. He promised to “heal the earth, and watch the waters recede...” or something far-fetched like that. It was unbelievable then, it’s impossible now, but what I believe he meant was that he promised to be held accountable. With all due respect, Mr. President, you have a huge job in front of you. We hope you’re learning. Please learn that we must have domestic energy development, you must stop looking backward and blaming Bush, and we must all work together to “plug the d#*! hole.”

- Sarah Palin

The steps Governor Palin outlines here are an example of how a real leader deals with crisis. Perhaps Barack Hussein Obama might want to take notes and study up.

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Sestak And The White House Release Their Statements - Pure Horse Manure

Joe Sestak got the word from the White House, they went over their stories and just released coordinated statements. Here's Sestak's and I hope you're wearing your boots because this is pretty deep:

Last summer, I received a phone call from President Clinton. During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a Presidential Board while remaining in the House of Representatives. I said no. I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer. The former President said he knew I'd say that, and the conversation moved on to other subjects.

There are many important challenges facing Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. I intend to remain focused on those issues and continue my fight on behalf of working families.

Ummm...I seem to remember that Sestak originslly said back in February that "somebody in the White House" contacted him about the post. And when asked about the job ( not a term customarily used to describe a post on an 'advisory council) in response reiterated that yes, it was a high position.

Bill Clinton is not "somebody in the White House" the last time I looked, and a place on an advidsory board is not a 'high position'. So was Sestak lying then...or is he lying now?

If Sestak was exaggerating all this time, why didn’t the White House expose him months ago when it would have embarrassed him and perhaps helped drag Specter to a primary win?

And why get Clinton involved just to offer an advisory board position? And how is that still not a bribe, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 211? What was Sestak going to be, a freaking intern?

And if this was all it was, why couldn't it have been detailed by Sestak weeks ago? Why wait? Why did the White House call Sestak's brother? Why time it all together? Why wouldn't Obama or Gibbs answer questions about this simply and directly?

The answer,of course, is that it took weeks to tie everybody's story together and figure out who was going to get what in exchange for engaging in this coverup.

The White House is trying to bury this over Memorial Day weekend and I'm sure their shills in the dinosaur media will play along, Mr. Bill's involvement only raises the stakes to get to the bottom of this. It simply doesn't add up.

And this isn't over by any means.

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Noonan On Obama 'He Was Supposed To Be Competent'

Peggy Noonan exhibits some buyer's remorse:

I don't see how the president's position and popularity can survive the oil spill. This is his third political disaster in his first 18 months in office. And they were all, as they say, unforced errors, meaning they were shaped by the president's political judgment and instincts.

There was the tearing and unnecessary war over his health-care proposal and its cost. There was his day-to-day indifference to the views and hopes of the majority of voters regarding illegal immigration. And now the past almost 40 days of dodging and dithering in the face of an environmental calamity. I don't see how you politically survive this.

The president, in my view, continues to govern in a way that suggests he is chronically detached from the central and immediate concerns of his countrymen. This is a terrible thing to see in a political figure, and a startling thing in one who won so handily and shrewdly in 2008. But he has not, almost from the day he was inaugurated, been in sync with the center. The heart of the country is thinking each day about A, B and C, and he is thinking about X, Y and Z. They're in one reality, he's in another. {...}

In his news conference Thursday, President Obama made his position no better. He attempted to act out passionate engagement through the use of heightened language—"catastrophe," etc.—but repeatedly took refuge in factual minutiae. His staff probably thought this demonstrated his command of even the most obscure facts. Instead it made him seem like someone who won't see the big picture. The unspoken mantra in his head must have been, "I will not be defensive, I will not give them a resentful soundbite." But his strategic problem was that he'd already lost the battle. If the well was plugged tomorrow, the damage will already have been done.

The original sin in my view is that as soon as the oil rig accident happened the president tried to maintain distance between the gusher and his presidency. He wanted people to associate the disaster with BP and not him. When your most creative thoughts in the middle of a disaster revolve around protecting your position, you are summoning trouble. When you try to dodge ownership of a problem, when you try to hide from responsibility, life will give you ownership and responsibility the hard way. In any case, the strategy was always a little mad. Americans would never think an international petroleum company based in London would worry as much about American shores and wildlife as, say, Americans would. They were never going to blame only BP, or trust it.

I wonder if the president knows what a disaster this is not only for him but for his political assumptions. His philosophy is that it is appropriate for the federal government to occupy a more burly, significant and powerful place in America—confronting its problems of need, injustice, inequality. But in a way, and inevitably, this is always boiled down to a promise: "Trust us here in Washington, we will prove worthy of your trust." Then the oil spill came and government could not do the job, could not meet need, in fact seemed faraway and incapable: "We pay so much for the government and it can't cap an undersea oil well!"

Of course, Noonan leaves out the fact that she actively shilled and voted for the Big Government candidate during the '08 elections,primarily perhaps because of her almost pathological hatred for Sarah Palin - just like most of her other buddies in the Beltway and the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

All of a sudden, it seems that *gasp!* she's discovered that the man she had orgasms over during the campaign really is an incompetent serial liar with a deeply ingrained contempt for the American people.

Remember, this is someone who wrote speeches for Reagan and George HW Bush..until she quit the White House, moved to Manhattan and promptly adopted the social mores and opinions of the natives.

You bought the ticket, m'dear. Now take the ride and wallow in it...or at least have the guts to openly admit how wrong you were.

Oh, and you could address a sorry to Sarah Palin while you're at it.

Because whatever you might say about Governor Palin, she's proven that knows oil and she knows how to slap oil companies around and get action. Does anyone doubt that if she were in the White House, even as a sitting Vice President that this would have been handled a lot quicker and a lot better?

Noonan goes on to lament how bad it is to have a sitting president weakened and lacking broad public support less than halfway through his term. She alludes to how the Democrats treated George W. Bush and admonishes the GOP to go easy on Obama, believe it or not.

I disagree with her.

Tell me Peg...did the Democrats have any problems trying to destroy and weaken Reagan, Nixon, Gerald Ford or George W. Bush? Did you complain when people like Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid tried to openly impede our war effort while our troops were under fire? Not that I remember. The GOP has every right and considerably more justification to play hardball here...and you ought to agree, especially if you're now officially against Big Government like you say you are.

To quote Dick Cheney, speaking in a different context: "Freedom means freedom for everybody."

Second, Obama is no ordinary president, and the first rule in these matters is 'do no harm.' Barack Hussein Obama,thanks in part to people like Peggy Noonan who neglected to exhibit even a pretense of journalistic ethics managed to slither into the Oval Office as a cipher, as a man the American people simply knew nothing about.Now that he's finally a known quality, the more he is handcuffed and his agenda is blocked and thwarted, the better.

This represents a chance to finally defeat the last surge of the Gramscian warfare the Soviets unleashed on us 70 years ago designed to conquer America by corrupting its basic culture and institutions.Obama and his intellectual soul mates represent the poisoned fruit of that campaign that must be defeated if our Republic is to survive.

The Constitution in its wisdom provides a remedy for electoral errors in judgment like this, and there are a number of grounds - Obama's corrupt deal with Big Pharma, Sestak-Gate, any number of questionable appointments and maneuvers - to pursue this after the Midterms if the GOP takes the House and Senate.

We have some interesting times ahead.

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Update on Sestak-Gate

The latest spin on this is that Rahm Emmanuel used Bill Clinton as an intermediary to approach Setak about a White House job if he dropped out of the race. Of course, that's not exactly how the NYT is putting it:

President Obama’s chief of staff used former President Bill Clinton as an intermediary to see if Representative Joe Sestak would drop out of a Senate primary if given a prominent, but unpaid, advisory position, the White House said on Friday.

Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, asked Mr. Clinton last summer to explore “options of service” on a presidential or senior government advisory board with Mr. Sestak, the White House said in a statement. Mr. Sestak said no and went on to win last week’s Pennsylvania Democratic primary against Senator Arlen Specter.

The White House disputed Republican claims that the conversations might be illegal or improper. “There was no such impropriety,” Robert F. Bauer, the White House counsel, said in a memo released to reporters. “The Democratic Party leadership had a legitimate interest in averting a divisive primary fight and a similarly legitimate concern about the Congressman vacating his seat in the House.”

No, no, not a job in the Obama Administration...just 'options for service'!

I wonder what Obama had to promise Mr. Bill to get him to go along with this fairy tale? Well, at least now we know what the two of them discussed at lunch yesterday, don't we?

I say appoint a special prosecutor and put them all under oath.

After all, Obama's got nothing to worry about since, as Mr. Bill could tell him, the Democrats wouldn't even vote to impeach an indicted Democrat president.

Well, nothing to worry about until after midterms, anyway.

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Marine Has His Own Personal Sarah Palin Tribute!

This cheeky tattoo belongs to Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Lepping, an explosive ordnance disposal technician currently deployed in Marjah, Afghanistan:

Lepping, a technician with 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., said he got the tattoo last June while on a routine assignment in Alaska. He and a few colleagues were sent there to clear ordnance from Air Force bombing ranges, and apparently had quite a bit of fun enjoying the nightlife after work each night.

“On the way back, I decided I wanted to get a tattoo that reminded me of Alaska, because we really had a good time,” said Lepping, currently attached to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. “I decided, ‘What could be better than getting a tattoo of the hottest cougar in the Republican Party?’”

Originally from Louisville, Ky., Lepping goes by the nickname “Gus,” a shortened version of his middle name, Gustav. He estimates he has about 30 tattoos, including a full sleeve on his left arm that pays homage to his job in a colorful mural that includes a variety of bombs and EOD lettering.



He’s also known for his quirkiness: Most nights, for example, he takes his bedding outside and falls asleep on the front stoop of the quarters where his fellow Marines live. He also has a tattoo on right butt cheek of the Southern Cross, the constellation of stars on the Australian flag.

“I had a good time in Australia,” he offered with a shrug.

Lepping said he is a fan of Palin’s, and hopes to meet her someday.

“If it was going to be a funny tattoo, I figured it had to be in a funny place,” he said. “I’d say it’s pretty famous in the southern California area.”

I’m sure the Governor is honored to go into battle with our Marines, even if it’s only as a tattoo…and I’m sure she’d get a chuckle out of this!

Watch your six and come home safe, Gunny.

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Obama And Sestak Negotiating On Getting Their Stories Straight

This is unbelievable in its cynical disregard for the American people:

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) said Thursday his brother has spoken with White House officials about the congressman's allegation that he was offered an Obama administration job if he would stay out of a Democratic Senate primary.

Sestak ran in, and won, that primary, defeating the White House's preferred candidate, Sen. Arlen Specter.

He told reporters Thursday that he would not expand upon his prior statements until the White House releases its report on the matter. President Obama said in his news conference such a report would come "shortly."

Richard Sestak, who has served as his brother's top political adviser and campaign lawyer, spoke with administration officials Wednesday, Joe Sestak said.

"They got ahold of my brother on his cellphone, and he spoke to the White House . . . about what's going to occur," said Sestak, who said he expects the White House will release its information Friday. He declined to elaborate on his discussions with his brother.

Get that..they're negotiating.

I wonder how much DNC campaign cash an dother favors are involved?

In a 15-minute interview with the Capitol press corps Thursday, Sestak said the fixation with the story is an inside-the-Beltway phenomenon that does not translate into hurting his efforts to defeat Republican Pat Toomey in November. He said the ordeal has grown out of a single quip -- answering "yes" and saying he was offered a "high-up job" -- to a question posed by longtime Philadelphia TV newsman Larry Kane during a February interview.
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"Something happened last July, literally, hardly even remember it," Sestak said of the offer. "All of a sudden, in this interview, someone asked a question . . . and I answered it up front. But I immediately said the same thing I said to you and haven't deviated: Look, let's move on, the rest is politics."

All of a sudden, he 'hardly remembers it?' After talking to the White House the last few days? And with Sestak, a possible felony is 'politics as usual'?

Do the people of Pennsylvania really have such deep self=loathing that they would want this man as their senator?

There needs to be a special independent prosecutor named immediately to put Sestak under oath and find out exactly what he remembers. And that goes for his brother as well, so that there's transparency about whatever deal he and the White House worked out.

No wonder Zero wouldn't give anyone a straight answer in his press conference yesterday.

Imagine what kind of contempt he must have for the American people.

(hat tip, The Left of Satan

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Watcher's Council Results - Memorial Day Weekend Edition

The Council has spoken! Here are the results of our weekly Watcher's Council contest.

This week's Council winner was Bookworm Room for Everybody draw Mohamed Day — or, you’re not the boss of me, a very well written defense of the recent blogging endeavor to create images of Mohammed.

Our non-council winning post was If you’re going to criticize the new social studies curriculum adopted by the Texas Board of Education, you’d better quote it. by Ann Althouse, a great take down on Leftist hypocrisy and groupthink.


Here are the full results:

Council Submissions

• First place with 2 1/3 votes – Bookworm Room - Everybody draw Mohamed Day — or, you’re not the boss of me
• Second place *t* with 2 votes - Rhymes With Right – Why Rand Paul Is, In A Sense, Both Right And More Principled Than Those Disagreeing With Him
• Second place *t* with 2 votes – The Provocateur – Emery Joe Yost: In the Eye of the Storm
• Third place with 1 vote – The Colossus of Rhodey – Don’t know much ’bout history
• Fourth place with 2/3 vote - Mere Rhetoric – Arizona Democratic Rep: Yes To Boycotting Arizona, No To Boycotting Gaza

Non Council Submissions

• First place with 2 1/3 votes – Althouse – If you’re going to criticize the new social studies curriculum adopted by the Texas Board of Education, you’d better quote it. Submitted by Rhymes with Right and the Glittering Eye
• Second place with 2 votes – NRO/Andrew McCarthy – The House Divided Submitted by Bookworm Room
• Third place *t* with 1 1/3 votes – Cato@Liberty – A Legal Analysis of the New Arizona Immigration Law submitted by Colossus of Rhodey
• Third place *t* with 1 1/3 votes – Doug Ross@Journal – Now is the time on Sprockets vhen ve juxtapose headlines! Submitted by JoshuaPundit
• Fourth place with 2/3 vote - WCSX – The 24 Blog – 24: the Finale Submitted by the Provocateur
• Fifth place with 1/3 vote - Arms Control Wonk – Avner Cohen on Israel and South Africa Submitted by Mere Rhetoric
  

As always, congratulations not only to the winners but to the participants.

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Obama's Absurd And Pathetic Press Conference

By now, anyone who's been watching closely knows that's it's easy to tell if Obama's lying...just see if his lips are moving.

But at least he used to do it with a little bit of artistry.

I can't remember a more pathetic political performance than Obama's presser today, his first in ten months. Even Mr. Bill at the height of Monica-Gate retained at least a little dignity.

I mean, using your kids to score political points? 'Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?'

No sweetie...daddy's mouth is still gushing big time.

For instance, listen to Prez Zero when FOX's Major Garret asks him a direct question about Sestak-Gate:



"We're going to issue an official response shortly, but uh..I can assure the public that nothing improper took place."

If nothing improper took place, why have you and your spokeshole Robert Gibbs been tapdancing around this for weeks?

If you know nothing improper occurred, how about manning up for a change, giving a direct answer and leveling with the American people on it?

The answer of course is that Prez Zero knows very well that something improper occurred and is buying time to try and tie up the lose ends, shred any paper or electronic trails, come up with a credible fairy tale and find someone to take the fall for him and Emmanuel.

Eventually, Joe Sestak is going to have to come clean and when he does, Obama wants it to be Sestak's word against the administration's. I mean, who are you going to believe people? Me, the ObamaMessiah or your lying eyes?

Even worse was Obama's pathetic attempt to assure us that he had been right on top of the Gulf Oil spill from the get-go.

Perhaps he..or somebody..was. Perhaps that's why Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's May 11th request to the Feds for permission to dredge and erect sand berms and barrier islands to keep the oil off the Louisiana coast didn't get a response giving them a permit for 45 miles of sand berms until..yesterday. Of course by now,with the oil inundating the coast, that response is about as meaningful as giving your teenage daughter the skinny on birth control after her boyfriend's gotten her pregnant.

Or why BP's request to try to contain the leak by using the “top kill” technique that involved pumping heavy drilling liquids to counteract the pressure of the gushing oil that stopped the flow for most of today wasn't approved by the Feds for two weeks, while the oil continued to gush unchecked into the Gulf.

Of course, that also makes liars out of Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and DHS Chief Janet Napolitano, who kept telling us for weeks that this was BP's responsibility and that they were in charge, but not to worry, they had their foot on BP's neck. Remember that?

In actual fact, nobody was home while this was going on. Obama wasn't even in charge enough when quizzed by the press to remember whether his Director of the Minerals Management Service(the federal agency that oversees oil and gas operations) Elizabeth Birmbaum was fired or resigned!

One thing Obama did do, almost from memory was to sing another stanza of that tired old song, 'Bushie Done It'.

Prez Zero blamed practices of the Bush administration for poor regulation, yakking it up about a "cozy and sometimes corrupt relationship" between oil companies and federal regulators.

The truth?

It was Prez Zero's Administration that made the decision last year to allow this rig to drill with expedited approvals without a full environmental and safety review. They even gave this particular operation a safety award!

Like I said, if his mouth is moving, you know.

There's something indecent about seeing the president of the United States so weak and feckless that he operates in this fashion.

He's simply clueless and out of his depth, and obviously can't wait to get out of town for yet another vacation.

Although it appears that he's finally going to do a photo-op on the Gulf tomorrow...three weeks after the crisis.

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