Island paradises are the new Gitmo

An obscure Pacific island nation, Palau, and popular tourist destination, Bermuda, are now receiving former Gitmo detainees. Residents of Palau aren't too happy about it, and neither is Downing Street as Britain provides for Bermuda's defense and foreign affairs and wasn't consulted about the detainee transfer.

Why would Palau and Bermuda accept unwanted terror suspects from Gitmo? For Palau to welcome the Uighurs into their land, the U.S. has pledged $200 million in aid to the country. That's $200 million taxpayer dollars to send unwanted terror suspects to an island paradise in the Pacific.

One question remains: Does the tour package include cocktail beverages with tiny umbrellas in them?

U.K. government meltdown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is having a very rough term. First, President Obama didn't give him the well-deserved attention when he came to visit (and received DVDs as gifts which can't be played in Britain). Then an investigation by the Telegraph revealed how members of parliament and cabinet officials exploited allowances to fund their lifestyles. And the latest bad news for Brown comes as multiple resignations from his top cabinet ministers.

One of the resignations is from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, evidently in trouble for filing expenses for a couple of her husband's pornographic movies, among other things. She also blacklisted American talk show host Michael Savage from entering the country for his views. Savage is filing a libel suit.

U.K. Home Office Secretary expensed husband's X-rated movies?!

British P.M. Gordon Brown and his party is in the middle of an embarrassing storm prepared to shake up the government. Apparently many of them have been expensing all sorts of goods and services, most of them unrelated to their work.

What caught my eye is Home Office Secretary Jacqui Smith's expense: two X-rated movies her husband watched, although she did repay.

Yes, this is the same Jacqui Smith who's banning talk show host Michael Savage from entering the U.K. for his conservative ideas. After the revelation of her husband's curious taste in video, I'd think that she would understand what freedom of expression means!

I don't know much about British politics, but it's safe to say that this woman is a fool.

Britain doesn't appreciate freedom of speech

The U.K. Home Office has released names of individuals who are barred from entering the country because of their ideas and words. If you preach hate, are anti-gay, or host a conservative talk show, then you can cancel your vacation to Britain. Michael Savage is apparently on the list.

I wonder if the Pope will be allowed on British soil?

Al Gore afraid of a good global warming debate?

I mean "climate change" rather. After all, Colorado just saw a few feet of snow in April. What "warming"?

Is Al Gore afraid of some good debate about his most passionate subject matter? He sure put up a good fight in 2000 about the presidential election, but he's scared of arguing against Lord Christopher Monckton from U.K. about global warming?

Obama's sensitive diplomacy is idiotic

President Obama is afraid that accepting a sincere invitation from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to visit Normandy would offend the Germans and British. According to the Telegraph:

"During this trip, we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, German and France". A White House spokesman in London declined to comment. Last month, White House officials briefed that a Normandy visit had been considered but it had not been logistically possible.

Mr Obama will arrive in Strasbourg on Friday for the Nato summit. He will hold a meeting with Mr Sarkozy and a brief press appearance in Strasbourg and then fly to Baden-Baden to do exactly the same with Chancellor Merkel of Germany. He will then fly to Prague on Saturday.

This is so Obama, the celebrity. He thinks the presidency is a popularity contest. Since he gave the speech at the DNC as the junior Senator of Illinois, the mainstream media has been treating him like a king, and he really does think he's a global celebrity these days. He'll do anything to stay as the most likable world leader, even at the cost of showing his unprincipled diplomacy skills to the press.

When one of America's foremost European allies invites you to visit a historic site, it's a no-brainer. If for whatever reason the invitation is to be declined, you don't say it's for the sake of being sensitive to other nations. Come on, we're all adults, we've already learned from history and understand that life isn't fair.

What would he say if America suffers another Islamist terrorist attack? Would he refrain from issuing a statement for fear of offending the millions of Muslims in the world? His views on diplomacy is amateurish at best. I sure hope he has it in his heart knowing that America is great because it's not afraid to offend.

Her Majesty receives video iPod from Obama, loaded with his voice

Well, it's better than what P.M. Gordon Brown received (25 DVDs not playable in the U.K.).

Go Merkel, go!

British P.M. Gordon Brown plans to present a "Global New Deal" to G20 leaders, suggesting a $2 trillion stimulus to end the recession. He and President Obama can definitely be buddies, and maybe the Global New Deal ought to include efforts to remove the DVD region codes so that Brown can view those gifted movies from Obama. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel already showing some backbone to criticize Brown's plan, and there are other leaders who agree with her (e.g. Spanish finance minister Pedro Solbes).

All I can say is, "Well done, ma'am!" Maybe Merkel can talk some sense into our spending-happy President...

Latest Obama foreign policy gaffe

British P.M. Gordon Brown shouldn't feel so bad receiving DVDs from President Obama which, by the way, don't play in the U.K. thanks to anti-piracy measures. He should be glad he's not in French President Nicolas Sarkozy's shoes.

What describes President Obama better? Rookie president of the year? The political virgin? Barack "On no!" Obama?

I'm proud to be American, but right now our President's embarrassing me a little bit...

Obama gifts DVDs to British PM Brown

Okay, no matter how you spin this, it's totally embarrassing for Americans. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown gives the President a very, very thoughtful gift:

During his historic trip to Washington, Gordon Brown gave Barack Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet - once called HMS President.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that already takes place in the Oval Office in the White House, after being presented by Britain to the US in 1880.

And what does the Prime Minister get in return?

Twenty-five classic American movies on DVDs. Seriously?

Pray for India

Indian commandos finally ended the terrorist siege in Mumbai. The grim reality now is counting the dead and assessing the damages. According to the sole captured terrorist, the plan was to kill 5,000. So far the death toll is around 300. This is truly India's 9/11...

The terrorists targeted whites, especially those who were Americans or Britons, but the goal was to cause as much bloodshed as possible. Again, these Islamic extremists have shown the world what they are capable of and stained the religion of peace.

Mark Steyn of the O.C. Register reminds us: Mumbai could happy just about anywhere. And he's absolutely right. These terrorists focused on "soft targets" such as hotels and train stations. Although they wanted to kill Americans and Britons, they didn't really care who else got hurt. In an open, democratic society, it's nearly impossible to safeguard public places. Think 9/11. Think Spain and Britain. And now India.

Please pray for India and those who're affected by this tragedy.