For those who havent seen or remember this little take from Obama early in the campaign, now is a really good time to remember Obama’s call for disarmament.

Why is the question so important? Recent actions by Russia demand it.

Under Putin and now Medvedev Russian is expanding their military influence by using their petro dollars to rearm and institute cold war era patrols and aggression.

So that leaves us with this spot produced by Senator Obama announcing his intentions to disarm our nation in the face of a hostile world with terrorism and rising tension with Russia.

Will Obama reverse is position and expect the media to cover his tracks? Or will he just tell them that its another way Republicans are calling him the antichrist?

If someone wants an example of why Bin Laden and his group must be laughing all the way after the United States Supreme Court decision last week creating a defacto “terrorist bill of rights,” one must only look as far as what happened recently in the United Kingdom.

Due to legal techincalities, the court system ruled that the United Kingdom could not deport the terrorist or hold him in jail. Whats worse is that Abu Qatada will be recieving £1,000 per month in state benefits. Nothing like paying Al Qeada directly.

I have news for anyone who believes that giving terrorist access to our civilian court systems and fighting the war on terror as a law enforcement issue - you are dooming our society. These people do not play by the rules and will in fact use them to their advantage.

Do I believe in violating our own laws while persuing these types of individuals? Of course not.

I do not believe in giving terrorist special rights from which to take advantage and destroy our society with. Unfortunately with Democrats in Congress holding up FISA reform and giving people shooting at our troops habeas corpus rights, there apparently are many who do.

I would point to this case as a perfect example of how and why they are wrong.

For those of you who believe the ends justify the means and absolutely love the use of human embryos in the name of research, this story is for you.

As a way to expand research for Parkinson’s diseases, cystic fibrosis and musclar distrophy, the United Kingdom government is considering a law which would allow them to place some sort of a human cell inside of a cow embryo; producing a “frankenstien” type hybrid.

Why? The same scientist who believe that destroying a human embryo is not a problem also believe this hybrid is capable of providing lines which could conquer those diseases while human egg donorship is at a low.

Thankfully, the measure is not going through unopposed. There seems to be some resistance to the legislation - but to what extent I am unsure.

What I am sure of, though, is the immorality of such policy.

Any time we as a society degrade the basic respect for life in leu of a quality quota we should question our selves. To not do so means we are no better than our barbaric ancestors who too believed they were simply achieving the greater good in the end.

Both views are wrong and should be viewed with skepticism and doubt, not embraced with popularity and emotion.

Folks, this is what strikes fear in the heart of many of us in middle America.

We are told that it wont happen here and there is nothig to fret - but it is a reality in the United Kingdom.

A couple who are Christians and who want to adopt children cannot do so because of a new “diversity” law which went into effect last April.

The law “makes it illegal for any business or organization providing a public service to discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality.”

In this particular case, because the couple refused to tell Children that homosexuality is an acceptable life style, they now cannot adopt children.

If you believe that the parents (or Christians) in general “hate” homosexuals, you would be wrong couldnt be any further from the truth. The truth is as Christians we are to love the sinner, hate the sin. This couple seems to exemplify the definition.

Mr Johns, 63, a metal polisher, said: “I would love any child, black or white, gay or straight.

Instead, the government apparently thinks its cool to try and legislate beliefs and dictate morals - even in the case of what parents teach their children or their personal beliefs - even when it crosses main stream religion.

Before you think it may not happen here - consider the following news and legislation items which I personally ran across over the past year.

I am sure there are millions of people who waited for this day - the day that Fidel Castro would step down.

As with many events, it did not happen with a bang or any type of accompanying revolution, but a whimper.

Cuba’s state ran media published a letter announcing Castro’s refusal to accept nomination for president and commander in chief in Granma, during the middle of the night.

So now what?

While it would be awesome to believe that Cuba would begin some sort of democratic transition as the Bush administration is seeking, I my self doubt that kind of event happening. It appears instead that Castro will be turning the government over to his brother, Rual.

How long this lasts is like Castro’s health, uncertain.

I dont know about everyone else, but it seems Christmas is approaching too rapidly.

When I was a kid I thought it would never come and loved wrapping my self into the holiday spirit. The music, the candy, the television specials - and of course - the meaning.

For what ever reason it just feels all too distant to me lately. This weekend was emblematic of that for me.

Anyways.

Lets start off with the good news - Hugo Chavez lost an election yesterday which would have installed him as a life long dictator of Venezuela.  Calling for “calm” Chavez blamed the loss on a lower turn out number. Still, Chavez can pretty much do what ever he wants with the support he carries in the legislature. It is my guess that he will still get done what he wishes - but it will be done through those means instead of a popular vote.

Gillian Gibbons was pardoned and is scheduled to be set free. This is the woman who was sentenced to 15 days in a Sudanese jail (and threatened with death) for naming a teddy bear Mohammed. She will be released to the British Embassy and will make plans to head home from there. From my perspective, she cannot be home too fast given the death threats.

Then there is the not so good news.

Putin sweeps Russian elections (hmm.. you think maybe he wants to rule the Soviet Union with an Iron fist as well?). Charges of corruption are wide spread leaving quite a bit of unease.

Because Democrats are doodling around with the tax code, 32 million people may be late getting their tax refunds. Yeah, that isnt a joke either. Kinda funny how they are criticizing the Iraqi Congress for doing nothing substanative when they are in the same boat, eh?

Not the same exact category, but close enough - the Kansas City Chiefs lose - again. Oy.

Then there is just “other” news..

The New Republican retracts its “Shock Troops” antiwar story.

John Murtha admits that there is progress in Iraq. Yet Democrats still  are still refusing to provide the money necessary for our troops to fight the war - at least not without attaching a complete pull out deadline of December 2008. (for those of you who dont get it - they are assuming a win next November and do not want to deal with it)

Barbara Boxer refuses to allow a GOP judicial nominee to recieve a hearing simply because he was one of the 13 House of Representatives managers during Clinton’s impeachment. The interesting twist is that the guy has the support of Clinton legal aide Lanny Davis. Remember, this is the same Senator who challenged Ohio’s electorial votes in 2005 after the re-election of Bush. Can anyone say petty?

Oh yeah, my first piece of t-4 gear dropped on friday!

This little event over in Pakistan is something we should all be watching and paying very close attention to. Pakistan President Musharraf declared a state of Emergency this weekend just before the Supreme Court was to decide whether he was eligible to even run in last month’s elections.

The problem comes in that Musharraf is in charge of both the military and acting as President - something which their Constitution apparently does not allow.

Plans were in the works to allow Musharraf to retain elements of power with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. However that may now be thrust aside.

Musharraf commented that he could not “allow the country to committ suicide” and that it was “for the good of Pakistan.” He noted the threat from terrorism and internal tension.

CNN reports that Bhutton agrees with the problems, but not with the  solution which Musharraf is taking.

So why do we need to pay attention to this? Well, contrary to what some politicians may say, the reason why Al Qeada is reconstituting its self is not our focus on Iraq. Musharraf made a deal with tribal elders in the bad lands of Pakistan where his army was taking huge losses.

The deal was supposed to be the elders taking care of the area and not providing a safe haven for the Taliban. In exchange Musharraf would back off.

The various media outlets report the deal did not work and the Taliban are building of camps similar to those in Afghanistan pre-911. How much of that is true and myth I am not sure.

What I am sure of is that the situation is not stable while being incredibly complex - thus allowing terrorist a foot hold which they need to thrive.

While Musharraf is dedicated to fighting islamic extremism on one hand, he must walk a tight rope with his populace which seems to be trending in the wrong direction. The place, simply put, is a powder keg waiting to go off. A nuclear armed powder keg at that.

The Washington Post makes mention of strong, positive gains in Iraq. The White House is obviously being very cautious about the matter and trying not to be overly optimistic.

There is widespread agreement that AQI has suffered major blows over the past three months. Among the indicators cited is a sharp drop in suicide bombings, the group’s signature attack, from more than 60 in January to around 30 a month since July. Captures and interrogations of AQI leaders over the summer had what a senior military intelligence official called a “cascade effect,” leading to other killings and captures. The flow of foreign fighters through Syria into Iraq has also diminished, although officials are unsure of the reason and are concerned that the broader al-Qaeda network may be diverting new recruits to Afghanistan and elsewhere.

This is excellent news and I am shocked to read about it in the Washington Post of all places. Of course dont expect to see a mention like this for a very long time, if ever again.

The point would be, I hope, to continue to defeat AQI and Iranian backed Shiite death squads to the point where Iraq is stable again and we can bring our troops home in victory.

So what is Congress doing to help our men and women in combat? Can you try cutting their supplies and slow bleed them via making a long time ally mad as the devil?

Gee, its nice to see how the likes of Pelosi and Reid have the backs of our bravest, isnt it?

Why? Why are Democrats pulling this now?

Most people do not know what is going on or probably have never heard of the resolution passed by Democrats out of committee a couple of days ago which essentially accuses Turkey of committing genocide. Never mind the facts of the situation or the damage which might come from such an event if passed by the full House tomorrow.

To understand the situation we need to travel back to 1915-1923 when what is now Turkey was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. During that time period tends of thousands of people were dislocated and murdered, including Armenians.

Since then, of course, the Ottoman Empire is no more and Turkey is a member of NATO and a close American ally. From what I understand, many of our supplies and fuel to our troops go through Turkish ports and air space. 

Enter the resolution passed out of the House Conference Committee. France passed a similar resolution last year. As a result, no French planes have flown through Turkey air space since.

While the State Department issued a statement of “regret” regarding the resolution, which apparently has 226 co-sponsors (more than enough to pass the House of Representatives), Turkey is signaling that the penalty for passage will be severe.

He said the response to the U.S. might not be the same, but warned if the full House passes it, “We will do something and I can promise you it won’t be pleasant.”

In fact, the resolution, if it comes to the House floor and is passed could damage our relations with Turkey very serverly.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said, in a statement on his Web site, that the resolution was “unacceptable” and “doesn’t fit a major power like the United States.”

In a letter to Bush, Gul warned that “in the case that Armenian allegations are accepted, there will be serious problems in the relations between the two countries.”

With all this in mind, I must wonder if the stunt is focused on cutting off supplies to our military through other means - thereby forcing the military to scale back operations.

If not for that, then why the passage of this resolution? Why the urgency when there are so many other issues which are vastly more important.

Update: 2:43 CST: Here is a read on the bill and a full list of CongressCritters signing on to the bill. There is a signficant number of Republicans signing on to it as co-sponsors including a few which are in leadership (Cantor R-Va) and which I respect (Royce R-Ca). I am still unclear about the why now and content factor.

This is the way you withdraw from Iraq - in victory.

Petraeus is keeping good to his word as 2200 Marines head for home without American replacements. Instead, trained Iraqi forces are taking their place in the fight.

So for all you doubters and those who said the “surge” would work, there is an exit plan. Its called winning.