The Berlin Wall was an emblem of oppression. Driven through the heart of a city‚ it spoke of immense and brutal power set against human liberty‚ by people so in love with their utopian vision that they would break up the lives and legacies of whatever they thought stood in their way.  A divided city‚ a divided country‚ speaks of divided lives. It is something good people may have to suffer. It is something that bad people create. (READ MORE from Shmuel Klatzkin: Is Chuck Schumer Motivated by Honor or Power?) The biblical tradition sees unity underlying all the wondrous individualization of the world. How many are your works‚ it exclaims‚ You have made them all in wisdom. From the perspective of wisdom and the perspective of love‚ the differences from one creature to the next‚ from one person to the next‚ add wonder and amazement to the whole. In the Middle East‚ they seek to reward the orgiastic terror of Hamas by making them the ones who finally achieved Palestinian statehood. To the ideologue‚ though‚ difference is anathema. They drive walls through cities‚ through countries‚ through minds. They break the wholeness of things into parts which they set against each other. There was another divided city all through my childhood. When the Holy Land was promised by Balfour as a home for the Jewish people‚ there was a condition: the political and human rights of all had to be respected. And indeed‚ when Israel declared independence‚ it made that commitment: “It will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion‚ race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion‚ conscience‚ language‚ education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.”  That it has done‚ despite living in a state of war. And while in most countries in even a short war‚ such commitments erode‚ in Israel it did not. Its Christian community thrives. Muslims vote‚ sit in the parliament and in the judiciary‚ fight in the military and hold rank. Holy places are protected‚ schools are funded‚ Arabic is an official language. But when Israel’s war of independence ended‚ Jerusalem was divided. Barbed wire ran through its middle. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City had been conquered and every Jew was either killed or expelled. The synagogues were razed. Behind the barbed wire lay the Hadassah Hospital‚ the Hebrew University‚ and graves of centuries on the Mount of Olives — and the holiest place‚ the Temple Mount.  What does the Temple Mount mean? The twelfth century rabbi‚ physician‚ and philosopher‚ Moses Maimonides wrote of it in his code of law‚ drawing on centuries of literature and tradition: It is a universally accepted tradition that the place on which David and Solomon built the altar‚ the threshing floor of Ornan‚ is the location where Abraham built the altar on which he prepared Isaac for sacrifice. Noah built [an altar] there when he left the ark. It was also the place of the altar on which Cain and Abel brought sacrifices. Adam‚ the first man‚ offered a sacrifice there and was created at that very spot‚ as our Sages said: “Man was created from the place where he [would find] atonement.” It was the place described by Exodus as “the place of Your dwelling that You made‚ that sanctuary‚ L-rd‚ that Your hands established.” It is the place that King David sang of. It is the place that King Solomon declared would serve as the portal of prayer for all peoples of the world. It is the place about which Isaiah declared:  “Many peoples shall go forth and say‚ ‘Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord‚ the house of the God of Jacob‚ and He will teach us His ways and we will walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall come forth the teaching‚ and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” What few know and fewer yet talk about is that access to the holy places‚ the hospital‚ the university‚ and the Mount of Olives were guaranteed in the agreement. Here is the relevant part of the Jordanian-Israeli General Armistice Agreement of April 3‚ 1949‚ which testified to agreement to be carried out to see to “resumption of the normal functioning of the cultural and humanitarian institutions on Mount Scopus and free access thereto; free access to the Holy Places and cultural institutions and use of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives.” (READ MORE: A West Point Scholar and Soldier Stands up for Truth) In fact‚ the holiest place to Jews remained off-limits to them; their homes in the Jewish Quarter denied; and all access cut to the Western Wall and all the other holy sites behind the armistice line. You don’t hear in today’s discussion that formerly‚ Jews had only the most limited access. The Western Wall was along a small alleyway‚ and Jews were not allowed to hold any prayer services there. This was true of other places of special holiness‚ The graves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel‚ the Cave of Machpelah‚ had been off-limits as well‚ long before there was Zionism. Jews could not enter to pray‚ only climb an outside stair and look in.  When Israel declared its independence in 1948 it proposed another way‚ more consonant with the Bible’s love and wisdom: [Israel] will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion‚ race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion‚ conscience‚ language‚ education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions. Even though attacked by five states‚ Israel declared: WE APPEAL in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months — to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions. WE EXTEND our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness‚ and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East. Israel has held to its commitments. Muslims and Christians have political equality‚ and vote‚ hold public office‚ sit in the judiciary‚ fight in its defense‚ pay its taxes‚ under uniform law. Contrast that to the plummeting Christian populations everywhere else in the Middle East‚ and the fear to which those who remain are subjected.  Compare as well to the absence of a single Jew in many of the places where Jews had lived for millennia: Libya‚ Algeria‚ Syria‚ Iraq‚ Lebanon‚ Jerusalem‚ Gaza‚ and all but a handful gone from Egypt and Tunisia. All told‚ close to a million Jews left under severe pressure during the years that Israel came into being‚ about the same number as Arabs who were displaced by war or were urged to flee by Arab leaders to Israel during the war for independence. There are no Jewish refugee camps in Israel‚ despite it being a very Third World nation during its first years‚ with pressing military needs‚ as there was no peace‚ only an armistice. As it protected itself from deadly threats‚ it also assimilated refugees by the hundreds of thousands. No UNRWA. No help from oil-rich and cash rich brothers in Saudi Arabis‚ Syria‚ or Iraq. It was the principle of oneness at work‚ seeking the wisdom and seeking the love to bind together many very different people as one‚ to the benefit of all. (READ MORE: Antony Blinken Declares Israeli Settlements Illegal) The theme of oneness in this biblical sense is at the core of American consciousness from the get-go. It’s expressed famously in Latin as E pluribus unum‚ out of many‚ one‚ for we committed in principle to respect the rights of all and have devoted immense and sustained effort to realize that respect. We recognize Israel’s commitment to that ideal of oneness‚ we see its incredible success in the face of lopsided odds‚ in quickly developing into a First World powerhouse and a vibrant democracy embracing science and technology‚ artistic creativity‚ and fidelity to ancient traditions all together in a heady mix. Strange how some American leaders let guarantees to Israel lapse when it is inconvenient. What is good faith to a Machiavellian? For all our commitment to this great principle‚ we are still humans. We must remember our civic responsibility when our government and our culture forget the wisdom and love‚ cultivated by our biblical heritage‚ that has nourished our greatness.  Our Administration has lost sight of oneness. Ever since its culture began to deride half its population as bitter clingers‚ as deplorables‚ as hopelessly tainted by their race‚ America has acted as an agent for division. Instead of looking to the divine at the core of the human soul and betting on it‚ Obama embraced Machiavellianism and made it the core of our policy‚ pushing Israel away as fast as was politically feasible and appeasing and encouraging Iran at every turn — Iran‚ whose murderous exterminationist intent is proclaimed more often and more publicly than Hitler’s. And now the Biden/Blinken/Obama policy has taken off the gloves. It has the tell-tale fingerprint of division all over‚ even to the point of self-contradictory policies — division of the self of this country into parts at war with each other. In the Middle East‚ they seek to reward the orgiastic terror of Hamas by making them the ones who finally achieved Palestinian statehood. Far from bringing peace‚ that gives every terrorist the green light — all they need to do is make their terror mind-boggling enough‚ and they will get whatever they demand.  And that new state’s citizens say in repeated polls that they really like what Hamas did. Yet the Administration thinks of the people everywhere as superfluous‚ automatons who will think as they are told to do. The people don’t matter. At least they are consistent‚ drawing a dividing line between the master class and everyone else. Of course‚ the Administration has allowed another nine billion dollars to come to Iran‚ to fund fully its agents of peace: Hamas‚ the Houthis‚ Hezbollah‚ and others less infamous at this time. Here the divide is between the active aid to our sworn enemy and the cut-off of aid to our ally for seeking to destroy the power of Hamas to do what they will do again if not defeated. At home‚ the Administration has completed Obama’s project of  bringing bipartisan division to the support of Israel; to impose a split of the Holy Land carving a separate enclave‚ utterly free of even a single Jew in its population — tell me that Israel is an apartheid state! — dedicated culturally and politically to the extinction of the state on the other side of the border. And of course — dedicated to splitting Jerusalem in half again. Strange how some American leaders let guarantees to Israel lapse when it is inconvenient. What is good faith to a Machiavellian? Despite the clear words of the armistice‚ Jews were sealed off from their holy sites until a war they didn’t ask for united the land. The undertakings of the so-called partners in peace from the Clinton era are routinely ignored. Generations of Arab children have grown up educated in hatred of Jews under UN auspices. When it comes to Israel‚ the laws of war are interpreted in ways that no army in history has ever complied with; but when it comes to the blatantly criminal acts of hiding an army behind a civilian population‚ and trying to constrain that population by force‚ America has been not only silent‚ but is now joining the game. In collusion with Egypt‚ America holds Gazans around where the last battalions of Hamas wait for Blinken to hand them their victory. Blinken’s State Department issues grave warnings that Israel must not attack as long as those civilians whom they are helping to hold in place are still there. This way lies hell. Most Americans see that‚ But we are being bombarded by all the furious might of those who think themselves our betters‚ who think they can successfully divide us‚ and who think that they at last can humble Israel to their purposes‚ in which it is entirely disposable.  Their manipulators of the media will make it seem as if we are isolated — for they are good at isolated and they bet their souls on division. But the Oneness that is the heart of both America and Israel is stronger and will survive‚ ride on‚ and prosper. No matter how dark the regime makes it‚ fear not. Our mettle will be tested. We can make sure we will not be found wanting.   The post Biden Policy Divides at Home and in Israel appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Former President Donald Trump is leading incumbent Joe Biden among American Catholics‚ according to the latest polls from battleground states. A new survey from the League of American Workers shows Trump leading Biden by double digits among Catholic voters in Michigan. In a head-to-head matchup between the 45th president and his geriatric successor‚ Trump would win among Michigan Catholics 54 percent to 31 percent‚ with 15 percent undecided. When independent and third-party candidates are thrown into the mix‚ Trump still maintains a 21-point lead over Biden‚ with Robert F. Kennedy‚ Jr. coming in third place. Trump has certified his pro-life bona fides in appointing and enabling a majority-Catholic Supreme Court to overturn Roe. Of note‚ the survey also shows that Catholic voters find Biden and the Democratic Party to be “too extreme” when it comes to abortion. More than half of Michigan Catholics told pollsters that Democrats take abortion policy too far‚ with only about a third backing the Party’s extremist abortion agenda. For comparison‚ mainline protestants‚ atheists‚ and the religiously unaffiliated all say that Democrats are “inside the mainstream” when it comes to the slaughter of unborn children. (READ MORE from S.A. McCarthy: Ireland’s Left-Wing Government Leader Resigns) In fact‚ abortion has been a key factor in driving Catholics away from the Democratic Party for decades. Long before progressives began championing “trans rights‚” abortion was the issue that pushed Catholics to vote red‚ not blue. In 1972‚ a year before the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its diabolical decision in Roe v. Wade‚ nearly 70 percent of American Catholics were allied with the Democratic Party‚ while barely 20 percent were part of the GOP. Even in the wake of the Roe decision‚ Catholic influence in the Democratic Party led to blue states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island implementing stringent restrictions on abortion and even fighting in federal court to ban the barbaric practice. According to the American National Election Study‚ which began charting voting statistics as early as 1960‚ white Catholics began drifting away from the Democratic Party even before Roe was handed down. Catholic bishops‚ encouraged and informed by Pope St. Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae and prescient enough to anticipate the Supreme Court’s eventual decision‚ began forming the nation’s first organized pro-life efforts‚ often under the auspices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. By 1968‚ less than two thirds (60 percent) of white American Catholics voted Democrat‚ and on the eve of the Roe decision‚ nearly two thirds (63 percent) voted for Republican Richard Nixon. The Democratic Party has never recovered or even come close to recovering the support of American Catholics. By 2021‚ nearly half of white American Catholics were registered as Republicans‚ 20 percent were registered as independents‚ and only about a third were registered as Democrats. Additionally‚ the more often Catholics attend Mass‚ the more likely they are to vote red. Among lapsed Catholics who no longer attend Mass‚ 56 percent voted Republican in 2016 and 55 percent in 2020. Among self-described Catholics who attend Mass “seldom” or “yearly‚” the number stay much the same. But among Catholics who attend Mass more regularly‚ the numbers increase. Self-described Catholics who attend Mass “monthly” voted Republican by 55 percent in 2016 and by 62 percent in 2020. Among Catholics who attend Mass “weekly‚” 64 percent voted Republican in both 2016 and 2020. And among those who attend Mass once a week or more‚ 73 percent voted Republican in both 2016 and 2020. The impact of the Mass is even clearer when examining Catholics’ views on abortion. Among self-described Catholics who attend Mass less than once a week‚ only 34 percent favor abortion restrictions‚ while 49 percent favor abortion being “legal in most cases” and 16 percent favor abortion being “legal in all cases‚ no exceptions‚” according to a 2022 Pew Research Center study. But among Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week‚ only 4 percent say abortion should be “legal in all cases‚ no exceptions‚” while 26 percent say abortion should be “legal in most cases” and 68 percent say abortion should be illegal‚ including 24 percent who say it should be “illegal in all cases‚ no exceptions.” Among those who attend the old Tridentine Mass‚ only 1 percent say abortion is acceptable. (READ MORE: Polish Bishops’ Fight Leftist Government Onslaught) Immigration‚ inflation‚ crime‚ housing‚ and election integrity are all‚ of course‚ major issues heading into November’s elections. But for Catholics‚ abortion is and must remain the “preeminent priority” at the ballot box. Trump has certified his pro-life bona fides in appointing and enabling a majority-Catholic Supreme Court to overturn Roe. Provided he continues fighting for the unborn‚ the most vulnerable demographic of all‚ then he can count on the continued support of America’s Catholics. The post American Catholics Back Trump Over Biden appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

WASHINGTON — “This is the best guy they can get?” Rep. Stephen Lynch‚ D-Mass.‚ asked rhetorically at a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday to look into President Joe Biden’s role in his family’s alleged influence peddling. So this exercise was simply performance art‚ without the art. The “guy” was Jason Galanis‚ a witness‚ invited by Republicans‚ who testified remotely from a Alabama prison where he was serving 14 years for fraud. He talked about his business dealings with Hunter Biden some 10 years ago. (READ MORE from Debra J. Saunders: USA IOU. Brother‚ Can You Spare a Trillion?) The problem with Lynch’s put-down was the person invited by committee Democrats to speak as their key witness: Lev Parnas. In 2021‚ Parnas was sentenced to 20 months in prison after he was found guilty of conspiring to make illegal political contributions by a foreign national‚ participating in wire fraud‚ and making false statements and falsifying records. Galanis looked gaunt and repentant as he talked about his conviction on multiple security fraud charges that have nothing to do with the Biden family. “I’ve pleaded guilty‚” he said‚ and deserved the long sentence. He also made it clear that he thought Hunter Biden’s contribution to their deals was the Biden name. Galanis called it “the Biden lift.” The lift works so well that Hunter Biden did not testify publicly before the committee. He kept changing the terms under which he would talk to the committee‚ something the rest of us chickens couldn’t get away with. He said he’d only testify publicly. Then he wouldn’t. On Feb. 28‚ the president’s son was deposed behind closed doors. Cable news devoted days to former President Donald Trump’s conjecture that there would be a “bloodbath” in the auto industry if he is not elected in November. But the president’s son’s refusal to testify in public wasn’t even a one-day story. Not much to see here — except a glaring double standard. On Tuesday‚ Peter Navarro‚ former Trump trade adviser‚ reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami to begin a four-month sentence for two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress. His crime: The Harvard-educated economist wouldn’t testify or hand over documents to Congress. “I’m pissed‚” he told reporters before the prison doors slammed behind him. And so‚ Democrats see a win here. They gleefully slammed Republicans for failing to come up with articles of impeachment — as impeachment is the pretext for these hearings. Fact is‚ there are House Republicans who won’t vote to impeach. They shouldn’t. There are no stipulated high crimes or misdemeanors. And one party without some support across the aisle should not use its power to overturn in election‚ especially when the election is months away. Besides‚ the Democrat-controlled Senate won’t convict. So this exercise was simply performance art‚ without the art. At the end of the day‚ Americans understand that at a time when Hunter Biden was torching his career and reputation‚ he nonetheless was raking in millions by waving the family name. And according to special counsel David Weiss‚ who has filed tax evasion and gun charges against Hunter Biden‚ the president’s son plowed that money into “drugs‚ escorts and girlfriends‚ luxury hotels and rental properties‚ exotic cars‚ clothing‚ and other items of a personal nature — in short‚ everything but his taxes.” (READ MORE: Smirnov: From Trusted Informant in 2010 to Accused Liar in 2024) Former business partner Tony Bobulinski summed it up well when‚ according to The Wall Street Journal‚ he said‚ “Just read the latest motion by the Department of Justice related to Hunter Biden’s criminal indictments in California. The DOJ states that he made large sums of money for very little work.” It’s called the “Biden lift.” Contact Review-Journal Washington columnist Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com. Follow @debrajsaunders on X. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The post The ‘Biden Lift’ or Influence Peddling? appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Last week I read the alarming headlines. West Point cadets will no longer be inculcated with and committed to the values of “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country‚” the motto of the United States Military Academy since the end of the 19th Century. I’m conservative enough to find myself immediately alarmed. After all‚ every day it seems the service academies have gotten up to some fresh silliness‚ something to raise fears that leftist‚ woke‚ progressivism (take your pick‚ or all three) has taken hold as it has in the similarly prestigious civilian institutions. Scary stuff‚ when we’re talking about those who will be called‚ if the need arises‚ to lead our soldiers‚ sailors‚ and airmen into battle. Given the assault on our institutions in evidence every day‚ we’re certainly right to be on guard against woke capture of the service academies. But I was also puzzled. Although I spent my government career mainly in a civilian agency‚ our nuclear mission was such that we worked extremely closely with the military‚ and found our ranks filled with former Army‚ Navy‚ Marine‚ and Air Force personnel‚ including a goodly number of service academy graduates. I stay in touch with a few of them‚ and I’m included on a couple of e-mail and Facebook groups where their interests are aired almost daily. No one in these circles —and they include graduates going back to the Vietnam era and through all the wars since — had even raised this as an issue. Granted‚ the preponderance consisted of Naval and Air Force Academy graduates‚ who tend to be dismissive of whatever the West Pointers are getting up to‚ but still‚ it seemed strange.  (READ MORE from James H. McGee: Biden’s Gaza Pier Is ‘Black Hawk Down’ All Over Again) So‚ I decided it might be worth peeling things back just a little further. So‚ first‚ I took a moment to read the Superintendent’s actual letter announcing the change to the academy’s mission statement. LTG Steve Gilland’s letter opens with the statement that “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country is foundational to the United States Military Academy’s culture and will always remain our motto.” He reaffirms this throughout the subsequent paragraph and returns to it in the final paragraph and the tagline for the letter.  I also went to the trouble of looking up the “Army values” that now stand in place of “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country” in the revised mission statement. Interestingly‚ the “Seven Core Values” of the United States Army explicitly include “Duty” as well as “Honor‚” as well as‚ under “Loyalty” the value of “true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.” Not‚ perhaps‚ as pithy as “Country‚” but perhaps not so far removed. Looking further‚ at the related “Soldier’s Creed‚” I find “Country” stated in the form of “I serve the people of the United States.” Still‚ I’m not a card-carrying member of the “long‚ gray‚ line.” One of my closest friends‚ however‚ is a 1990 graduate of West Point‚ now retired after a long and honorable service career. Moreover‚ she’s part of a West Point family‚ with a brother‚ sister-in-law‚ and niece all graduates of the Academy‚ and also very much a conservative. I gave her a call and asked her what she made of the letter. “The motto remains the motto‚” she opined‚ and “that is what counts.” Further‚ “the motto is everywhere in cadet life‚ and that hasn’t changed.” Reading the new mission statement‚ she thought it resembled the one she’d been forced to memorize as a Plebe‚ which‚ she clearly recalled‚ didn’t contain the motto. So‚ well before “woke” became a thing‚ the “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country” motto had been absent from the mission statement‚ an omission that scarcely prevented her generation of cadets from serving honorably and sometimes giving their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover‚ being asked to memorize the Academy mission statement as part of what cadets refer to as “Plebe Knowledge” scarcely elevates its importance. After all‚ “Plebe Knowledge” also traditionally included memorizing the answers to such important questions as “How many lights in Cullum Hall?” or‚ “How is the cow?” (“340‚”and “She walks‚ she talks‚ she’s full of chalk …) I’m reminded that‚ while institutions set great store in changing such documents as “strategic visions” and “mission statements‚” these tend to change with the wind‚ and are taken about as seriously as tumbleweeds at high noon. One of the abiding sins of business schools was the sin of believing that such high-flown statements had significant meaning‚ even when issued over the signature of the CEO‚ the Corporate President‚ or‚ in this case‚ the Academy Superintendent. (READ MORE: Hold Him Accountable: ‘Abbey Gate’ Arrest at State of the Union Exposes Biden’s Disastrous Foreign Policy) In the latter stages of my government career‚ I found myself called upon to participate in the process of revising agency mission statements. What I learned is that such exercises meant much to the boss‚ but very little even to the next layer of management‚ much less to those who actually saw to the real mission of the agency. Compared to some of these undertakings‚ the Army values‚ that is “Loyalty‚ Duty‚ Respect‚ Selfless Service‚ Honor‚ Integrity‚ and Personal Courage” comprehend a mission statement we can actually admire. If only our other institutions today had similar values. Looking over the credentials of West Point professors in History … their advance degrees come from the Ivy League and Ivy-adjacent institutions. As business guru Peter Drucker famously (and perhaps apocryphally) observed: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” This was certainly true of the government agency where I worked for three decades‚ and I know‚ from frequent interaction‚ that it’s also true of the armed services. When a cadet becomes a freshly minted second lieutenant‚ he or she enters the world of hard-bitten NCOs‚ and that is where the cultural education really begins. Anyone who has known both second lieutenants and veteran sergeants understands that the transmission of cultural values has more to do with sergeants than  with “corporate speak” mission statements. In this context‚ it’s no accident that the Army “values” listed above pass muster with the senior NCOs that‚ since time immemorial‚ have served as the backbone of Army culture. Having said all this‚ I still tend to agree with The American Spectator’s own Francis P. Sempa when‚ in effect‚ he raised the question: “why now?” It’s no defense to say with LTG Gilland that the “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country‚” motto wasn’t added to the Academy’s mission statement until 1998. It would‚ of course‚ have been useful to revisit the history of that addition in justifying the present change. I suspect that it had more to do with celebrating the 100th anniversary of the “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country” motto‚ first formalized in 1898‚ than with a perceived need to affirm it in a mission statement. Even more important than “why then?” would have been clearly articulating a “why now?” explanation for deleting the motto from the mission statement. One can only suspect that the change may have attached to the word “Country‚” and that‚ in itself‚ is extremely troubling. Certainly‚ the Army values and the Soldier’s Creed and dozens of other related documents make explicit reference to upholding the Constitution and defending the Nation‚ but there’s a breadth and simplicity about “Country” that stands squarely athwart much of what our globalist elites have come to value.  The very notion of “Country” adheres to something more basic than high-flown principles‚ the progressive’s much beloved projects in promoting “global democracy‚” or opening our doors to “the peoples of the world‚” or‚ more crassly‚ “flying the rainbow flag at our African embassies to promote LGBTQ values internationally.” Instead‚ “Country” speaks to an almost Norman Rockwell like allegiance to our families‚ our friends‚ our neighbors‚ our way of life‚ writ small‚ not large. It speaks to our essential Americanness as something worthy of defending‚ indeed‚ as worthy of the ultimate sacrifice we sometimes ask of our soldiers. But one couldn’t change the motto by simply deleting “Country.” That would have been much too obvious‚ much too pointed. I doubt if anyone‚ not LTG Gilland‚ not the Army Chief of Staff‚ not the Secretary of the Army‚ thought explicitly in the foregoing terms. I suspect instead‚ that discomfort with “Country” may simply reflect the disturbing internationalism that has become common coin in Washington in all precincts‚ including‚ sadly‚ the Pentagon. (READ MORE: Dishonest Language‚ Truth‚ and Failed Policies) I could be wrong about the motivation. Regardless‚ in the current climate‚ the very notion of making such a change cried out for a genuine effort in justification. If‚ however‚ it’s authors thought the change would be noticed‚ much less challenged‚ then probably they wouldn’t have done it in the first place. It’s the kind of insider message sending meant to be ignored by the outside world. Given the assault on our institutions in evidence every day‚ we’re certainly right to be on guard against woke capture of the service academies. Certainly‚ there have been many worrisome headlines in recent years. Does the Naval Academy need an Assistant Professor of English specializing in “Gender and Sexuality Studies‚” for example? For that matter‚ did we need a Chairman of the JCS worrying so loudly about “white rage?”  Looking over the credentials of West Point professors in History‚ my one-time professional academic discipline‚ I worry that while they are typically themselves Academy graduates‚ their advance degrees come from the Ivy League and Ivy-adjacent institutions. History‚ along with English‚ has become one of the academic disciplines most corrupted by left-wing and progressive ideology. If we’re going to be concerned about the service academies‚ we should start with concern about what is currently taught in these disciplines. In the midst of all this‚ I’m glad that “Duty‚ Honor‚ Country” remains the motto of West Point‚ an unchanging part of the academy‚ something every cadet sees every day. I hope that it remains that way‚ and I would be delighted if these words would be restored to the mission statement. Above all‚ however‚ I hope that this recent tempest focuses renewed attention of how our future officers are being taught and‚ particularly‚ the values that suffuse every element of the curriculum. James H. McGee retired in 2018 after nearly four decades as a national security and counter-terrorism professional‚ working primarily in the nuclear security field. Since retiring‚ he’s begun a second career as a thriller writer. His 2022 novel‚ Letter of Reprisal‚ tells the tale of a desperate mission to destroy a Chinese bioweapon facility hidden in the heart of the central African conflict region‚ and a forthcoming sequel carries the Reprisal team from the hills of West Virginia to the forests of Belarus. You can find it on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback editions‚ and on Kindle Unlimited. The post West Point: Still Duty and Honor‚ but Maybe Not Country appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Sen. Joni Ernst is calling out the Biden administration for continued funding of “pathogens of pandemic potential” research in Guinea. Grants for the project have gone to the EcoHealth Alliance‚ which Ernst says “can’t be trusted — with dollars or dangerous diseases — after they funneled taxpayer dollars to fund Chinese-run risky research in Wuhan.” NIAID could easily come up with a new Guinea virus … and once again advocate for lockdowns‚ masks‚ and vaccines. Congress approved Ernst’s proposal to audit “defense dollars flowing to and through EcoHealth to pay for batty experiments in China or anywhere else.” Despite that provision‚ Ernst contends‚ “more funds have already found their way to EcoHealth Alliance. We must stop this before they are used to make the world a less safe place.” (READ MORE from Lloyd Billingsley: Crime and Punishment‚ California Style) A prime figure in that quest is Dr. Anthony Fauci‚ longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The NIAID boss‚ a government bureaucrat since 1968‚ used the EcoHealth Alliance to channel taxpayer dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) for dangerous gain-of-function research. Dr. Fauci also has connections to the continuing grants now under fire from Sen. Ernst. In September of 2021‚ the Department of Defense (DOD) gave Georgetown University a three-year grant of $2.8 million for reducing the threat of “high-risk pathogens” in Guinea. As it happens‚ Georgetown is the alma mater of Christine Grady‚ chief of  bioethics for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Grady is also the wife of Dr. Anthony Fauci‚ and despite her fancy title‚ not exactly a star in the ethics department. A former NIH nurse‚ Grady is the author of  The Search for an AIDS Vaccine: Ethical Issues in the Development and Testing of a Preventative HIV Vaccine‚ from Indiana University Press in 1995. Dr. Fauci shows up on page 55‚ but Grady failed to reveal that she had been married to the NIAID boss for ten years. Her final-page disclaimer that the book was written in her private capacity does not excuse this deception. In similar style‚ when the NIH made Grady bioethics boss in 2012‚ they failed to mention that she was married to Fauci. Grady’s book authorized Fauci’s dangerous drug trials with AZT (azidothymidine)‚ and the author has no ethical problem with risky drug trials on pregnant women and children. Grady recommends research “in which the client and principal beneficiary is the community‚” and so does her husband.  “There comes a time when you do have to give up what you consider your individual right of making your own decision‚ for the greater good of society‚” said Dr. Fauci in October 2021. During the pandemic Fauci replicated the AIDS disaster‚ basically conducting vaccine experiments on the entire population‚ including children‚ the least vulnerable group. By all indications‚ this took place with full approval of NIA bioethicist Christine Grady‚ and without regard to consequences. “We will be dealing with the harm done for decades‚” explains Dr. Martin Kulldorff‚ co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration. “Our children‚ the elderly‚ the middle class‚ the working class‚ and the poor around the world — all will suffer.” The damage continues‚ and so does funding for dangerous research with pathogens‚ channeled through Georgetown and the EcoHealth Alliance. Dr. Fauci‚ who has connections to both‚ allegedly retired at the end of 2023. He said his replacement‚ Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo‚ is a “a really good person. I think she’s going to do a really good job‚” which makes sense on one level. During the pandemic‚ Marrazzo was a strong advocate of masks‚ social distancing‚ and vaccines‚ the whole Fauci-CDC package. (READ MORE: Travis Kelce‚ COVID ‘Variants‚’ and the CDC Vaccine Machine) Dr. Marrazzo commands a budget of more than $6 billion‚ with 21 laboratories and NIAID funding activities in 133 countries. That includes Guinea‚ where NIAID operates a “partnership of clinical research‚” and the DOD continues funding research for “pathogens of pandemic potential” through Georgetown University and the EcoHealth Alliance. NIAID could easily come up with a new Guinea virus‚ proclaim that it is already in the United States‚ and once again advocate for lockdowns‚ masks‚ and vaccines.  As in 2020‚ this could happen without any corroboration by independent medical scientists‚ with government suppressing contrary facts and opinion. As the CDC concedes‚ the Covid “variants” are pretty much the same as the original. The vaccines didn’t prevent infection or transmission but now everybody is supposed to get more jabs with their flu shot. That is the pitch from football players such as Travis Kelce and  Dr. William Schaffner‚ professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University‚ who thinks Dr. Fauci is “a genius.” Dr. Fauci’s bio shows no advanced degrees in biochemistry or molecular biology‚ but the NIAID boss claimed to represent science. That is ludicrous‚ but the reality should be evident to all but the willfully blind. The time has come to hold Dr. Fauci and his cronies accountable for damages from the Covid pandemic‚ before the government announces the next one. Lloyd Billingsley is a policy fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland‚ California. The post Fauci and His Minions Are Still in Control appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

It has seemed likely for several weeks that Israel would attack Rafah‚ reportedly the last holdout of Hamas’ forces‚ on Purim‚ which began a few hours ago. Nothing would make more sense. Purim is a time to remember that when under threat‚ the Jewish people unite. With pressure building up — most especially‚ of course‚ due to losses on the battlefield … the IDF has to strike and strike as hard as possible. Ts’al‚ Israel Defense Force‚ has been under intense pressure to get the first phase of the war over and done with‚ namely knock out Hamas’ battalion-level formations.  When this job’s  done‚ they still will have the job of mopping up small units and policing the area‚ but isn’t that what they’ve done since 1948‚ on all fronts and even at times within the country? (READ MORE from Roger Kaplan: Where Are the Israeli Players at the Australian Open?) They will have to decide how to do this‚ with what help they can obtain from their neighbors and the U.S. Without help‚ they must do it alone. They also must pursue the leaders who escape — or who have safely stayed out of the combat areas since they launched the attack of Oct. 7 —  to the ends of the earth‚ and that may take years. The pressure comes from many sources‚ the main one being‚ of course‚ the imperative of defending themselves. You cannot waste a moment against an enemy who has explicitly stated he means to kill you. Then there is the pressure from the so-called international community‚ which the Biden administration has all but joined.  I say all but joined only because they haven’t yet embargoed arms deliveries to Israel‚ as far as I know. Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country would prefer if the U.S. — and others‚ if there are any — helped it finish the job against the terror army of Hamas‚ but if necessary‚ Israel would do it alone.  Coming from a Revisionist family (supporters of the Likud political party‚ which voices the intellectual heritage of Zeev Jabotinsky) Netanyahu of all Israeli leaders knows that if Israel does not count on its own resources‚ it certainly cannot count on help from others. Actually‚ this is not an exclusively Revisionist viewpoint‚ though the left and the liberals in Israel always hoped‚ and expected‚ that they would not be alone against wicked enemies.  And they had strong reasons to hold to this hope and this expectation. First the French (until the Six-Day War)‚ then the Americans‚ helped‚ quite a lot in fact‚ in sustaining the state’s defense capabilities.  Obviously‚ this help would not have been forthcoming if Israel had not demonstrated again and again its own determination to survive and to prosper‚ in every sense. Now the situation is dire‚ as the U.S.A.‚ traversing a period of spiritual and political confusion‚ shows signs of losing its grip. We may get ourselves together sooner than some pessimists think‚ but Israel can scarcely wait.  It is up against an enemy that has sworn to kill every last Israeli.  It must expend resources to defend its northern front against another enemy with the same intentions and who is if anything better equipped than the one with whom Israel has been fighting in the south‚ Hamas. And in the background is a major state sponsor of terrorism‚ Iran‚ which the U.S. and Europe both have been appeasing in ways that make the term “Munich” almost too gentle. Time is therefore of the essence‚ and Purim‚ which every Jew in Israel and indeed the world knows is a time of near-destruction when only the heroism of Esther‚ the firmness and wisdom of Mordecai‚ and the benevolence of the Almighty stopped disaster.  Thus the calendar‚ at times‚ serves a morale-boosting purpose. With pressure building up — most especially‚ of course‚ due to losses on the battlefield‚ every one of which is felt personally by everyone in Israel — the IDF has to strike and strike as hard as possible to get the brunt of Hamas’ fighting force off the board. There will then be a job for the experts from Washington‚ to wit convincing Arabs to finally do the job they have avoided since 1948: the diplomatic job of being good neighbors with Israel‚ the Islamic job of caring for their fellow-Muslims‚ instead of leaving them to rot in refugee camps that produce killers instead of doctors and musicians. The Arabs‚ in their vast majority — I sincerely believe — know perfectly well that the terrorists who want to destroy Israel want to destroy or at least enslave them as well. The goal of Islamic radicals is to rule over terrorist-regimes like they one in Gaza.  They bear the guilt for the sufferings of the people living there. The goal of Islamic moderates should be to show there are other ways to build‚ or rebuild‚ creative and healthy societies‚ and along the way find practical ways out of the cycles of anti-Israel violence. [I]t is impossible to see how the State department’s critique of Israel’s war strategy is anything but willful stupidity. Whether “radicals” and “moderates‚” with their connotations in the liberal political traditions of Western societies‚ are accurate designations for the politics of societies where Islam is the major social factor‚ is another question; but as a practical matter‚ the question is whether it is in the interest of the regimes — and the general populations — of Egypt‚ or Saudi Arabia‚ or Algeria (to take three examples of “typical” Arabo-Islamic states) to have “radicals” like those actively operating against Israel (Hezbollah‚ Hamas‚ Iran) score a win‚ any kind of win? These radicals have repeatedly threatened and made war on precisely such different types of states as Egypt‚ Saudi Arabia‚ and Algeria.  (READ MORE: The French March Against Anti-Semitism) A victory against Israel‚ even a tactical victory like the repulsed but devastating October 7 invasion‚ emboldens the radicals to take on the “moderates.” These moderates‚ instead of being terrified‚ should be fighting the radicals no less tenaciously as Israel does.  They should  encourage their populations to do what they really want to do — again‚ I sincerely believe — namely‚ take care of their families and their businesses and invest in medical schools and musical conservatories‚ and develop some athletic prowess of their own instead of buying Western football clubs and golf leagues. The U.S. State department should know this. Calls for a cease-fire in Gaza indicate the depths to which the Western liberal democracies have sunk morally and intellectually. There is only one condition under which Israel can reasonably consider a cease fire: one in which Hamas unconditionally surrenders‚ gives up its commanders for trial in Israeli courts‚ turns in its weapons‚ and testifies to its dependence on the Iranian regime. Nothing short of this can break through the collective mental and moral blinkers that the West’s “elites” wear. ‘Nor can anything short of this do anything for the West’s security.  If the Arab-Islamic radicals have the “moderate” Islamic regimes in their sights‚ they are not about to forget the scores they have to settle with the  infidels in the dar al Harb‚ which they view as lands to be conquered.  The attack on Moscow’s theater a few days ago‚ appalling as it is to say so‚ is in this regard a bracing reminder: even an anti-West part of the West is not safe from attack.  Maybe the terror attack was staged by Putin’s thugs — they’ve done this sort of thing before.  But in practical terms‚ all this would mean is that the ISIS commando responsible for the attack‚ in traditional Islamist fashion‚ lent itself to “manipulation” by an enemy regime‚ willingly or unwittingly calculating that a temporary tactical alliance with a kafir is okay if it kills kuffaar. (Such diabolical calculations are not unique to Islamic radicals‚ obviously; the communists used to say‚ “the worse it gets the better it gets.”) Obviously‚ we do not know.  But in the short term perspective‚ it is impossible to see how the State department’s critique of Israel’s war strategy is anything but willful stupidity.  You should not attack Rafah‚ the argument goes‚ because it will make the world dislike you for harming civilians.  Rather‚ you should accept a cease fire‚ which will allow Hamas and the UNRWA and assorted grifters succor these same civilians. However‚ the self-designated spokesmen of “the world” have amply shown their dislike for Israel.  Their dislike is so visceral and irrational that there is zero chance a charitable act will soften their feelings for the Jewish state‚ or Jews in general. Hamas‚ on its side‚ has shown exactly how much it cares for the welfare of Gaza’s population.  It has stolen their food‚ their medical supplies‚ and their lives‚ and still it uses their broken bodies as shields against Israel’s fire. Which‚ though reminding “the world” of this detail really is futile‚ Israel does its best to direct only at armed enemy targets‚ at considerable cost to its own fighting men and women. (READ MORE: ‘Right or Wrong‚ My Country’: Americans Need to Imitate Israel) The State department’s arguments‚ in short‚ are stupid and even wicked‚ because their purpose‚ the securing of a cease fire‚ will allow Hamas and related gangs to regroup and resupply and begin all over again — causing more suffering among Gazans and more anti-Israel hatred in “the world.” If this is American diplomacy at its finest‚ give me a random pick of the Juneau‚ Alaska phone book to fill the embassies and the offices at Foggy Bottom‚ the Republic will be served better.   The post The Power of Purim appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

A recent news report from ABC News caught my eye and should raise the eyebrows of all 85‚815‚827 Americans enrolled in Medicaid‚ 26 percent of the U.S. population. After the patient dies‚ his or her inheritors can lose their homes and/or their retirement savings to pay back Medicaid’s “free” medical care. Massachusetts Medicaid enrollee Salvatore LoGrande recently lost his battle with cancer after extensive medical treatment. Before he died‚ he remarked how proud he was that he had paid off the family home and could leave it free-and-clear to his daughter‚ Sandy.  (READ MORE from Deane Waldman: Insuring Illegals Takes Care from ‘Legals’) After his death‚ Sandy was shocked to receive a bill from Massachusetts Medicaid for $177‚000‚ payable within 30 days. The MERP man had come to collect. Eight years ago‚ I warned the public about MERP. Few people paid attention. MERP (Medicaid Estate Recovery Program) remains in effect and is well hidden. MERP is‚ as Paul Craig Roberts‚ Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy‚ said‚ “a pernicious death tax on those who have the least and are the most vulnerable.” Medicaid rules allow each state to recover the cost of care from the estates of deceased Medicaid recipients‚ plus an admin fee. The children and heirs of people enrolled in Medicaid who eventually die must pay the state government back. This fact is very poorly publicized and not well known. Some states include estate recovery in very fine print in the eleven-page Medicaid contract. Other states hide it entirely. It has been said that medical expenses during the last six months of life can exceed all prior medical costs over the person’s lifetime. Mr. LoGrande’s bill is not unusual‚ except that it may be atypically low! My neighbor’s bill for six months’ chemotherapy for lymphoma was $494‚000.  (She survived.) In addition to the cost of care‚ MERP assigns an administrative fee of up to $73‚320. Thus‚ typical MERP bills are several hundred thousand dollars. These bills are handed to those least able to pay the government back. They qualified for Medicaid and thus are on the lower end of the income scale. When a Medicaid family cannot pay these huge sums‚ state government is entitled to attach a lien on property or even pension funds. That is how the LoGrandes are losing their house. Each state chooses to implement as much or as little of the MERP claw-back provisions as it wishes. In 2015‚ New Mexico (NM) essentially chose not to invoke MERP. Despite the large number of Medicaid enrollees‚ 815‚000 individuals (forty percent of state population) and despite a $417 million budget shortfall‚ NM Medicaid chose to claw back a total of $9‚000. Other cash-strapped states‚ such as California‚ Illinois‚ Connecticut‚ and obviously Massachusetts‚ take the opposite approach and grab whatever they can. If you are waiting for data such as how much was collected and how many people were ensnared‚ you will wait forever. The states rarely release data to the public on their MERP programs. I was only able to acquire information on New Mexico because‚ at that time‚ I was inside the government as Director on the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Board. I cannot proffer data on other states as that information is not available. The public only gets to know what’s going on when some family like the LoGrandes make their stories known. (READ MORE: There’s a Tiny ‘Bubble’ That Could Save Healthcare) MERP‚ by its nature‚ is a clandestine program and comes as a great and most unwelcome surprise bill to the families. Even as Washington passes legislation to stop care providers from handing patients “surprise bills‚” state Medicaid programs are presenting patients’ families with a terrible surprise bill right after they lose their loved one. Though former President Obama said he would make his administration “the most transparent in history‚” the correct adjective for MERP is opaque. At a time when Washington is passing mandates for price transparency for medical providers‚ they still abide by the cynical but accurate aphorism‚ “rules [transparency] for thee but not for me.” Americans have been led to believe that Medicaid is a no-charge medical insurance program funded by both the federal and state governments. True‚ there is no-charge to the person receiving the care. After the patient dies‚ his or her inheritors can lose their homes and/or their retirement savings to pay back Medicaid’s “free” medical care. Deane Waldman‚ M.D.‚ MBA is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics‚ Pathology‚ and Decision Science; former Director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; former Director‚ New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange; and author of the multi-award winning book Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare: StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine. The post Medicaid Enrollees: The State Can Take Your House appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Like the United States itself‚ the opaque world of espionage is now badly polarized. While no official confirmation has been issued‚ there are various reports that British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson‚ 33‚ will be the next James Bond‚ the successor in this magnificent franchise that started with Sean Connery in “Dr. No” in 1962 and concluded with Daniel Craig in “No Time to Die” in 2021. (READ MORE from Frank Schell: India’s Ontological Question: Regional or Global) Taylor-Johnson seems certainly the right age.  Some industry sources advise that Bond was born in 1920‚ which would make him 33 when Casino Royale‚ the first Bond novel‚ was published in 1953.  The forces of modernity and tradition are mobilizing themselves for what may be a cosmic conflict about the nature‚ behavior‚ and kit of a superspy. Supporters of the new Bond order may desire a clandestine agent as a habitué of Starbucks. Film critics will debate the pros and cons of this selection.  What is particularly alarming about Taylor-Johnson is that he reportedly grows his own kale‚ which a waggish chap might say tastes like a motel shower curtain. Kale is said to have been grown in the ancient world‚ although it is no secret that the Millennials‚ also known as Generation Y‚ think they discovered it. Media have characterized Taylor-Johnson as a “feminist‚” and this label could generate further controversy regarding a newly anointed Bond of MI6‚ the British Secret Intelligence Service. The PC and woke pundits will doubtless gush over the appropriateness of this selection — if it turns out to be true. They will argue that the world needs switched on‚ more sensitive secret agents who can operate in a free form‚ “open-source‚” egalitarian manner — coolly matrixed to constituencies without the “sneer of cold command‚” in the words of Shelley’s sonnet in iambic pentameter‚ “Ozymandias.” They may opine that the time has come to be more tolerant of Chinese‚ Russian‚ Iranian‚ and North Korean intentions‚ since the 21st century no longer belongs to the West. They may say that the next Bond must embody the aspirations and yearnings of the Global South‚ seeking not to suppress them by the robust Anglo-American alliance‚ but to enhance and nurture them. Those pundits could also say that archfiends such as Ernst Stavro Blofeld‚ said to be of Polish and Greek antecedents and the boss of SPECTRE‚ need to be brought inside the tent‚ and accorded the respect that they deserve. They might say that besides Blofeld (“You Only Live Twice”)‚ Dr. No and Auric Goldfinger (by movies of those names)‚ Hugo Drax (“Moonraker”)‚ and Rosa Klebb (“From Russia with Love”) are painfully misunderstood victims — persecuted by Great Britain and the United States‚ the heir and successor to the British Empire.  They may suggest that instead of bashing Blofeld‚ the new Bond should invite him to the ominous looking MI6 headquarters at London’s Vauxhall Cross — not to break bread‚ but to break crunchy kale chips. Supporters of the new Bond order may desire a clandestine agent as a habitué of Starbucks‚ queueing up gently for a latte with extra foam and nutmeg‚ briskly downloading special apps — and engaging a barista with charm.  They will want a Bond who is casually kitted out‚ perhaps in torn jeans‚ Birkenstocks‚ a backward baseball cap‚ and a T-shirt with a slogan helping Bond to feel good about himself. They may also be anti-foppery. There would be no place for the bespoke suits and designer silks of London’s Savile Row and Jermyn Street. The new Bond may tote a backpack‚ looking like he is about to assault the menacing Kangshung Face on a Tibetan side of Mount Everest. As for the weapons kit‚ the new Bond might not even carry. Festooned with moral authority and the desire to have meaningful dialogue‚ he could comport himself into the heart of darkness with goodwill as his backup weapon. (RELATED from Frank Schell: James Bond: Metamorphoses and The James Bond Franchise Needs Help) Arrayed against this image of the new Bond are the supporters of tradition — those with a Manichean view of good versus evil; those who have read Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent; those clandestine veterans of the Cold War who knew the gray half-light of Eastern Europe; those who can discourse on the subtleties among sevruga‚ ossetra‚ and beluga caviar; those who can wash down foie gras with the finest Sauternes; those who sport trilbies‚ carry an English tan briefcase‚ and a Whangee crook; those who eschew moral relativism; and those who are dismayed by the perceived politicization of intelligence. A successful British actor‚ Taylor-Johnson must be wished every opportunity for success. The Ian Fleming and Bond legacies should not be allowed to atrophy. It is highly doubtful that any actor can perform like Sean Connery‚ however Taylor-Johnson must be given the chance to make his mark — even though to some he might look more like an alienated poet of the counterculture than a grim‚ clandestine operative. Frank Schell is a business strategy consultant and former senior vice president of the First National Bank of Chicago. He was a Lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy‚ University of Chicago and is a contributor of opinion pieces to various journals. The post The Next James Bond Polarizes Espionage appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

by Geoffrey Grinder‚ Now The End Begins: A woman who was banned from a Planet Fitness gym after photographing a transgender customer shaving in the women’s locker room claims the gym has since assigned a staffer to accompany the person in the ladies-only area — and is telling other women to back off. TRUTH LIVES […]