Month: April 2012

During this 2012 campaign season, Republican presidential candidate, Willard Mitt Romney and other right-wing conservatives persist in portraying President Obama as being “weak” on national security issues.  Romney was both for and against the removal of Qaddafi, the former Libyan dictator, and he was both for and against setting a timetable to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.  Romney also attacked President Obama on his recent open-microphone slip during which he was overheard telling Russia’s President, Dimitri A. Medvedev that he would have more flexibility to deal with Russian concerns over the American missile defense system after the election in November.  An asinine comment by Romney knowing that not much foreign policy takes place during an election year.  Romney also likes to say that President Obama apologizes overseas for the United States a distortion that has been debunked.

May 1, 2012 represents the first anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden.  During an interview in 2007, Romney said that the country would be safer by only “a small percentage” and would see “a very insignificant increase in safety” if al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was caught because another terrorist would rise to power. “It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person.” But since President Obama’s strategy succeeded, Romney’s campaign has become outraged and now says that it’s wrong for the Obama campaign to point out that Romney initially opposed it:  “The killing of Osama bin Laden was a momentous day for all Americans and the world, and Governor Romney congratulated the military, our intelligence agencies, and the President.”  “It’s now sad to see the Obama campaign seek to use an event that unified our country to once again divide us, in order to try to distract voters’ attention from the failures of his administration.”  If it was okay for Willard Mitt Romney to say getting bin Laden wasn’t important and it was okay for him to attack President Obama’s strategy, why wouldn’t it be okay for the Obama campaign to show how Romney was wrong and Obama was right?  That does not divide America but rather solidifies the strength of President Obama’s National Security policies as well as his courage as President.  Here is the bin Laden story:

Shortly after taking office, President Obama directed former CIA Director, Leon Panetta, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of the war against al Qaeda.  In August, 2010, the President was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden and it took many months to validate this information.  President Obama ran many secret meetings with top advisers to go over a plan.  They discussed many options, including an assault from the air, but there was not unanimity about the plan that was executed.  National Security Advisor, John Brennan said, “The president had to look at all the different scenarios, all the different contingencies that are out there,” he said. “What would have been the downsides if, in fact, it wasn’t bin Laden? What would have happened if a helicopter went down?”

In late April 2011, the President determined that there was enough credible intelligence to act and he authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden.  On Friday morning, April 29, 2011, at 8:20 a.m., before he boarded a plane for Alabama to view tornado damage, President Obama gave the go-ahead for the Sunday, May 1st raid.  That night, the President attended the White House Correspondence Association annual dinner and gave no hint of what was happening behind the scenes.

After playing nine holes of golf on Sunday morning, May 1st, President Obama joined his senior aides in the White House Situation Room at 1PM to go over final preparations for the secret raid on the bin Laden complex.  The SEALS knew how the complex was laid out and even where bin Laden and his family likely could be found on the second and third floors of the largest building on site.  According to the National Journal, they had been practicing at a mock complex, a replica of bin Laden’s home, built at a secret base in nearby Afghanistan.

“You can imagine that for something as important as this, and something as risky as this, every effort would be made to do the practice runs, understand the complexities and the layout of the compound,” Brennan said. “There were multiple opportunities to do that in terms of going through the exercises to prepare for it.”  But the SEALs could not know for sure what would happen once they dropped in to the complex. They didn’t know whether they could get in and out before the Pakistani government — which had not been informed about the raid before it was launched — would be able to scramble fighter jets and get them to the scene to respond to this “Pakistan threat” from a mysterious source.  There were “a lot of people holding their breath,” Brennan said. It went like clockwork — almost.

Brennan said U.S. forces were prepared to take bin Laden alive but knew he would probably not go down easy.  It was unclear the following Monday whether he “got off any rounds,” Brennan said, but he reached for a weapon as a firefight broke out, and the SEALs shot him in the head.  Two Bin Laden couriers were killed along with one of Bin Laden’s sons and a woman reportedly used as a shield by one of the men.  Other women and children were in the compound, according to Pakistani officials, but were not harmed. U.S. officials said that Bin Laden fired his weapon during the fight and that he was asked to surrender but did not.

One of the U.S. helicopters, a CH47 Chinook, was damaged but not destroyed during the operation, and U.S. forces destroyed it with explosives. The operation took 40 minutes; much of it spent searching the residence for intelligence information. The Americans took Bin Laden’s body into custody after the firefight, taking it back to Afghanistan by helicopter, and confirmed his identity.  A U.S. official said he was buried at sea in accordance with Islamic practice.  Pakistani officials said that the operation was a joint U.S.-Pakistani operation, but U.S. officials said only U.S. personnel were involved in the raid.

Bin Laden was killed not by a drone strike, but up close during a firefight with U.S. troops.  He was living in a million-dollar mansion with twelve-foot walls less than 100 miles from the Pakistani capital.  The U.S. had been monitoring the compound for months after receiving a tip that Bin Laden might lodging there.  The house had no phone or television and the residents burned their trash.  The house had high windows and few points of access, and U.S. officials concluded it had been built to hide someone.

Taking out Osama bin Laden was an extremely difficult, sensitive and dangerous mission that could have failed costing the lives of the Navy SEALS.  Even though his credibility as President and Commander-in-Chief was at stake and how Republicans would exploit any failure possibly damaging any reelection hopes, President Obama made the call.  In 2009, President Obama issued an order to use force against pirates holding American Captain Richard Phillips hostage and as a result, Navy snipers shot and killed three of the pirates simultaneously when a pirate was spotted pointing an AK-47 rifle at Captain Phillips.  President Obama has been nothing less than a confident Commander-in-Chief.  While Willard Mitt Romney and right-wing Republican conservatives attempt to portray him as weak on National Security issues, President Obama continues to prove them wrong.  Given his often wrong and inconsistent national security positions over the years, a President Willard Mitt Romney would be a disaster for this country, but that’s just my take.

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Over the years, theologians continue to disagree on whether there is immediate life after death.  Some believe in the concept of “soul sleep,” that once you die, both your body and soul lie in the grave until the resurrection.  Others believe that at death, the soul or spirit separates from the body and ascends to heaven or descends into hell.  Although I believe in the latter, the only source where there is an answer for us is in God’s Word, the Bible.  Job raises the question in Chapter 14, verse 14, “If a man dies, shall he live again?”  Exactly, what happens to us after we die?

In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul tells us that there is not only life after death, but eternal life is so glorious that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” . As God in the flesh, Jesus came to the earth to give us eternal life.  He sacrificed His life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.  According to Matthew 27:50, while He was on the cross, Jesus “yielded up the ghost,” thus His spirit was separated from his body.  But on the third day of being in the grave, Jesus’ body was resurrected and re-joined His spirit.  Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:14 that, “God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”  According to the Bible, we will all be raised at the resurrection, but what happens immediately after death?

The gospel of Luke, Chapter 9, verses 29-31, tells us that, “And as he (Jesus) prayed, the fashion of his (Jesus) countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.”  Deuteronomy 34:5-6 tell us, “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.  And he (God) buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.”  Moses body was buried but his spirit ascended into heaven confirming his appearance in glory (brilliance) to meet with Elijah and Moses, sufficient evidence that the spirit is separated from the body at death.

The Bible describes two occasions where God’s servants ascended to heaven without dying – Enoch and Elijah (Elias).  Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:5, that “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”  “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal (2 Kings 2:2 NIV).  Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Paul is saying that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  In other words when we pass from this life in an instant we will be present with God in heaven.  “And they stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Here, Stephen acknowledges the fact that after he is stoned to death, his spirit will be with Christ.

In addition to the above biblical references, there are at least two examples in the Bible where Jesus gives us a glimpse of what happens after death.  In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and Lazarus.  While some theologians believe that these verses represent a parable (story), I am among those who do not because in all of Jesus’ previous parables, He never identifies the name of a person – in this case “Lazarus.”  Verses 22 and 23 say, “The time came when the beggar (Lazarus) died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades (Hell), where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”  According to these scriptures, there is immediate recognition after death, the rich man was in pain, he could see as well as talk.  The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers about “this place of torment” (v. 28), but Abraham says in v. 31, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” 

While Jesus was on the cross just before He gave up His spirit, one thief hanging beside Him asked, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).  Jesus answered him saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Jesus didn’t tell the thief that he would be with him at the resurrection but “today” meaning immediately.  Finally, John tells us in Revelation 6:9, “And when he (Jesus) had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.”  John did not see bodies but their spirit.

I believe there is sufficient biblical evidence to suggest that immediately after death, our soul departs the body and goes either to heaven or hell.  People who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will go to heaven (Romans 10:9), those that do not unfortunately will end up in hell.  Have you made a decision to receive Jesus Christ as Savior?  The choice is yours, but that’s just my take.

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One of the most colorful and controversial characters in the House of Representatives is Tea Party Republican Allen Bernard West.  West was elected to Congress in January, 2011, and is the first black Republican Congressman from Florida since reconstruction.  West served in the United States Army for over 20 years including several combat deployments, achieving the rank Lieutenant Colonel.  West spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 20, 2010, and was endorsed by former Governor Sarah Palin.  As one of 32 African-American Republican candidates for Congress in 2010, West said he supported the Tea Party movement and dismissed the notion that the movement was motivated by racism.

Since joining Congress, Allen West has made some appalling and bizarre statements and comments that, in my opinion, are not appropriate for a political leader.  For example, at a Republican Party dinner this past January, 2012, West said of Democrats, “Take your message of equality of achievement…You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America.” Though he called out Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi by name at the dinner, vowing to stop Obama from destroying the country, West defended his comments by saying they were directed not at congressional Democrats but at their “message.”

In January 2011, Congressman West condemned the official flying of a Palestine Liberation Organization flag in Washington, DC, saying that the raising of the flag is “an attempt to legitimize an organization with a known history of terrorist actions”.  During an interview, West stated that Keith Ellison, a Democratic Minnesota Congressman and practicing Muslim, represents the “antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established.”  West later said that his initial comment was misinterpreted and “not about his (Ellison’s) Islamic faith, but about his continued support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).”  CAIR is not a terrorist organization but works to raise awareness about Islam and Muslims and has continuously and courageously condemned all forms of terrorism and extremism.  Even former President Bush was a CAIR supporter.

On July 19, 2011, in response to comments directed at him in a speech Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic Representative and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman made on the House floor after Congressman West had departed the chamber, West sent an email to Congresswoman Schultz, which he copied to members of House Democratic and Republican leadership, characterizing Wasserman as “the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives“, that she was “not a Lady” and asked that she focus, instead, on her own congressional district. This is Congresswomen Schultz’s comment: “The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this (Ryan) plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from South Florida.”  I guess West has a big problem with the truth especially coming from a woman.

At a town hall meeting on April 11, 2012, Congressman West responded to a question about what percentage of the American legislature are card carrying Marxists or neo-Castro Socialists, by stating. “I believe there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party who are members of the Communist Party. It’s called the Congressional Progressive Caucus.”  Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said West is trying to turn back the clock to the days of Republican Senator Joe McCarthy and the so-called “Red Scare.”  West is now trying to capitalize on his comments by asking his donors to send money for, “the fight for the heart and soul of our nation. It’s a fight we can win, but we must all be involved.”  

Conservative Republican Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, was incensed over West’s comments making the following statement during his show on April 12^th, “As the future leader of the Republican party, I am shocked and stunned and deeply saddened by this behavior.  It is incorrigible and any Republican party — local, state or national — that contributes to Allen West’s reelection campaign before he apologizes for this statement will meet my wrath in the future.”

Last December during a House vote, Congressman West compared the Democratic Party to the Nazi party by saying, “If Joseph Goebbels was around, he’d be very proud of the Democrat Party, because they have an incredible propaganda machine.”  “But let’s be very honest,” he added. “You have the president, who has an incredible megaphone and a platform, and he has people all across this country believing that the only people on Capitol Hill are House Republicans. He’s not talking anything about his controlled Senate.  So it’s a great propaganda machine.  And I have to give him kudos for being able to leverage that.”  Goebbels was Adolph Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945 and was known for openly exploiting “the lowest instincts of the German people” like racism, xenophobia, and economic insecurity to engender a zealous antisemitism.

West, of course, consistently blames reporters for, “taking my words and twisting it around.”  “What I’m talking about is a person that was the minister of propaganda. And I’m talking about propaganda,” he said. “Once again, you guys will take whatever I say and you will spin it to try to demonize me or demagogue me.”  West apparently believes that he is really the victim.

While I commend Congressman West for his outstanding military service having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, serving in the Gulf War and in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star and three Meritorious Service Medals.  However, in my opinion, Congressman West is a poor excuse for a political leader.  In addition to his frequent over-the-top comments and statements, he is a supporter of the Ryan 2012 budget that gives thousands of dollars to the rich while eliminating Medicare as we know it, he is critical of the “Americans with Disabilities Act,” and he wants to abolish Planned Parenthood.  Not only will Congressman Allen West never become a vice presidential candidate in spite of Sarah Palin’s endorsement, I don’t believe that a sane Florida electorate will re-elect him to a second term, but that’s just my take.

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