Obama's come-to-Allah speech

In another effort to reach out to the Muslim world, President Obama landed in Cairo, Egypt to give a speech at Cairo University. I applaud this effort as nobody can deny the tension between Islam and the West, especially after the 9/11 attacks and the Madrid and London terrorist bombings. However, I think he's preaching to the choir and although the speech is well delivered and well received, I'm sure the Islamist terrorists remain bent on destroying the West and Israel.

Seriously, the Muslims in the audience have absolutely no influence on the terrorists. How do you get a terrorist to listen to you? Certainly not through a well written speech. You get a terrorist's attention by hunting one down, lock him up, and maybe with the help of an "enhanced interrogation technique."

The New York Post makes an interesting point:

But if world peace is attained by complimenting those on the other side into submission, he made some serious progress.

Obama really buttered them up in Cairo.

He thanked them for everything from algebra to the pen, though he curiously failed to mention that they often throw people in prison for using it.

Exactly. Even though President Obama offers such praise of the Muslim world:

...share common principles -- principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

How come the news coming from the Muslim world are often those of gender discrimination, honor killings, and suppression of free speech? If the religion of Islam indeed share those common principles, then clearly many Muslim governments are not putting those into practice. And it is profoundly unfortunate that the West sees this dark side of Islam, but then where are the Muslim critics of his or her own unjust leaders and governments? Rarely do we hear a Muslim criticize those who pervert his or her religion.

And about Israel:

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed -- more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, it is ignorant, and it is hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

I did notice that there's no "(Applause)" after this part of the speech, whereas when he talked about the plight of the Palestinians, the audience clapped. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? However, I'm glad he did talk about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism as a warning to Iranian President Ahmadinejad. Yet it's clear that some Israelis see their relation with America souring -- there's currently an anti-Obama campaign that is gathering steam.

President Obama needs to be clear to the world: Israel will always be a close friend. That region is so hostile and unstable that when Israel's enemies sniff a weakened U.S.-Israeli tie, they will definitely take advantage. We must remain at Israel's side. Always.

Overall the President gave a great speech being the talented orator that he is. But parts of the speech did sound like he was talking to the American people on domestic issues rather than to an audience in Egypt. His effort is appreciated and an improved relationship with Muslims benefits everyone.

Obama affirms Iran's nuke ambition

"What I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations."

Those are President Obama's words in a BBC interview about Tehran's nuclear developments.

But according to official government data from 2006, Iran's energy consumption consists mainly of natural gas and oil. The country also ranks top three in terms of natural gas and oil reserves.

So what is the President referring to? Why is President Obama so soft on Iran?

There are many reasons to keep Tehran in check:

• President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel, a longtime and important American ally in the Middle East.
• The nation has close ties with other anti-American nations such as Cuba and Venezuela, two countries right in our backyard.
• Blatant disregard for human rights -- religious persecution, abuse of women and children, and lack of freedom of expression.

Is this really a country we want to see to become a nuclear power?

Israel knows it's on its own

The Obama administration is bent on the success of Palestinian statehood that it's alienating long-time ally Israel. The country faces the greatest threat from a nuclear Iran and the new Israeli government knows that America may not offer support to pre-emptively strike Iran. Rather than ask for permission from Washington, Israel will just keep us posted on the military operation should there be one.

And who can blame them? Israel has to do what's best for its people, even if that means ignoring what's going on in Washington. They need our support, and a strong Israel only helps America in its footing for a peaceful Middle East.

White House policy endangers ally Israel

The Obama administration is using peace talks with Palestinians as a bargaining chip to support Israel's efforts in preventing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

I can already hear what an Israeli may think: With a friend like Obama, who needs enemies?

Is this really the way to treat one of America's staunchest allies? The Jewish state is encircled by hostile neighbors, having the military capability to dominate the region but only uses force in self-defense and retaliation, and has shown kindness to Palestinians that's seldom reported. The leader of Iran has repeatedly issued threats to Israel, and now turned Iran into a nuclear power right in Israel's backyard. Yet the message from Washington is disturbingly clear: Sit at the table with Palestinian leadership or we'll cover our eyes and ears when it comes to Iran's nukes.

The White House is playing with Israeli lives. We need a strong friend in the Middle East, and Israel is the only candidate. Honestly, we need Israel more than it needs America. Just look at Israel's history. It has survived several wars and armed conflicts, yet it still stands. Seriously, it can do just fine without America.

But does President Obama realize it? Losing the faith and support of Israel will prove to be detrimental to America in the long term.

Chinese national plotted to help Iran with nukes

Chinese financier Le Wang Fei is indicted on 118 counts for using U.S. banks to help Tehran get materials for nuclear weapons. He set up shell entities and false identifies to open accounts in all the major N.Y. banks like Mellon, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, Wachovia, Bank of America, and Standard Charter Bank.

Chance of extradition? I don't know, but Beijing has always been close to Tehran. Maybe the Chinese government is involved in this as well. Beijing will do anything to throw Washington off balance in the global grab for power.

Iran to Obama: Go pound sand

In a nice friendly gesture, President Obama on Friday delivered a Nowruz greetings video to Iranians ("Islamic Republic of Iran"), hoping to positively redefine Washington-Tehran relations. So what do the leaders of the "Islamic Republic" think?

Maybe just a bit short of a New Yorker's "Go f*** yourself!"

Medvedev's pre-emptive strike againt Obama

There are whispers in Washington about the President planning to negotiate with Russian President Medvedev on Iran where the U.S. will abandon missile shield installation in Eastern Europe if Moscow cooperates on pressuring Tehran.

But now it looks like Medvedev ain't playing.

Well, what couldn't be a more clearer indication of the need for the missile shield? Russia is aggressively looking for partners to dethrone America as the leading superpower, and that includes warming up to China, Venezuela, and Cuba. Why is Obama even considering such a huge concession in return for Russia's alliance against Iran?

Dear Mr. Holocaust-Never-Happened...

President Obama's administration is drafting a letter to the madman of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in response to the Iranian president's congratulatory letter upon Obama's inauguration.

Hmmm, I wonder how the letter would start?

Dear Mr. I-Want-Nuclear-Bombs? Dear Mr. Wipe-Israel-Off-the-Map? Dear Mr. Holocaust-Never-Happened?...