AL GORE WEIGHS IN

Al Gore says the war in Iraq is the biggest mistake in the history of the United States. As usual, Al Gore is wrong. Aside from the Clinton/Gore Administration, there have been many, many much worse mistakes in the history of this country. Let's take a look at a few, shall we?

But first, here is what Gore said: the war in Iraq is "the worst strategic mistake in the entire history of the United States." The entire history? Entire? I thought man's creation of global warming was a huge mistake? What about that, Al? At any rate..here's a few mistakes that rate just a bit higher than the war in Iraq:

1. The Vietnam War. Spanning decades and several administrations, the war in Vietnam was a much worse disaster than the war in Iraq could ever be. Almost 60,000 American dead in vain....after which we wound up pulling the plug, handing the whole thing over to the enemy and walking away.
   
2. The Yalta Conference. The United States, led by Franklin Roosevelt, gave much of Eastern Europe to the butcher Joseph Stalin in the name of "stability." That was a strategic mistake.
   
3. The Clinton/Gore Administration. The most corrupt administration in our history, featuring the impeached Bill Clinton. Al Gore had his own share of scandals...such as fundraising at a Buddhist temple. The whole thing was an 8-year mistake.

There are other mistakes we've made that have been very damaging to our country, though I don't know that they come under the definition of "strategic" mistakes. Just a sampling.

1. The 17th Amendment. This is the amendment that provided for the popular election of U.S. Senators. The growth of the federal government and the weakening of state governments can be traced back to this event. Since the ratification of the 17th Amendment state governments have had no official representation in Washington. Nigeria has an official representative in DC. Nebraska does not.
   
2. The 16th Amendment. That's the one that brought us the income tax. Odd, isn't it, that the very income tax we suffer under in this country was called for in the Communist Manifesto? Soon after Marx and Engles wrote their manifesto the push was on in the US for an income tax.
   
3. The formation of our system of government schools. Did you know that some of the people who were deeply involved in the design of our government school system stated that the goal was to make sure we produce generations of graduates who will make good little government subjects?
   
4. Social Security. This is nothing but an income redistribution system designed to enable politicians to purchase votes with someone else's money. Social Security ushered in the era of government dependence. Tens of millions of Americans pay absolutely no attention to their retirement planning ... after all, the government is going to do it for you.

I could go on and on....but you get the idea. The war in Iraq may wind up being an expensive lesson, or perhaps an embarrassing mistake. But the worst strategic mistake in the entire history of the United States? Not even close.

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR

By Michelle Malkin

Sixty-five years ago today:

VDH:

[I]n those days, peace and reconstruction followed rather than preceded victory. In tough-minded fashion, we offered ample aid to, and imposed democracy on, war-torn nations only after the enemy was utterly defeated and humiliated. Today, to avoid such carnage, we try to help and reform countries before our enemies have been vanquished —putting the cart of aid before the horse of victory.

Our efforts today are further complicated by conflicting Internet fatwas, terrorist militias and shifting tribal alliances; in short, we are not always sure who the enemy cadre really is — or will be.

So paradoxes follow:

A stronger, far more affluent United States believes it can use less of its power against the terrorists than a much poorer America did against the formidable Japanese and Germans.

World War II, which saw more than 400,000 Americans killed, was not nearly as controversial or frustrating as one that has so far taken less than one-hundredth of that terrible toll.

And after Pearl Harbor, Americans believed they had no margin of error in an elemental war for survival. Today, we are apparently convinced that we can lose ground, whether in Afghanistan or Iraq, and still not lose either the war or our civilization.

Of course, by 1945, Americans no longer feared another Pearl Harbor. Yet, we, in a far stronger and larger United States, are still not sure we won’t see another Sept. 11.

Dan Riehl: We Have No Claim To Pearl Harbor Day

Pearl Harbor survivors gather for final reunion:

In the decades since the bombing of Pearl Harbor, countless survivors have made the long journey back to Hawaii every five years to remember comrades who were lost and to catch up with those who lived but later went their separate ways. They drink Scotch and tell war stories; they brag and weep. They often just sit together and say nothing at all.

But this year's reunion holds an urgency that hasn't been part of gatherings past: Most Pearl Harbor survivors, nearing their 90s or even older, say it will be their final trip back to this place that changed the course of their lives and their nation forever. Event organizers--many of them children of survivors who are ailing or already have died--pragmatically are calling this the "final reunion." And survivors' extended families, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are coming along to the reunion in unprecedented numbers to glimpse history firsthand through their loved one's eyes before the opportunity is gone.

"This is their last swan song," said Sue Marks, an event volunteer whose father, a Pearl Harbor survivor, died a decade ago. "They know that a lot of them either won't be around in five years or won't be able to make the long trip."

Rick Moran revisits the familiar-sounding debate over Pearl Harbor intelligence and pays tribute to the dwindling number of survivors:

Every year, the ranks of veterans who lived through that horrific day when the water caught fire and the harbor was choked with the bodies of the living and the dead, grows thinner. They are old men now. Their memories are still tinged with the sadness that comes from the realization that soon, they will all be gone and, like other landmarks in American history such as Gettysburg and Antietam, it will be up to the rest of us to keep the remembrances alive and never, ever forget what happened on that impossibly beautiful Sunday morning when the world turned upside down and changed all of us forever.

THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT

By Michelle Malkin

Here's the ISG homepage.

Rick Moran writes in advance of the report's release today:

You will excuse me if I believe that talking to Syria while it is in the process of gobbling up its tiny Lebanese neighbor to be one of the most cynical, immoral, and ill-considered diplomatic ideas in a generation – which of course is right up Baker’s alley. He is a specialist at sacrificing others for the greater good; just ask the Iraqi Kurds.

And talking to the fanatical true believers in Iran (Ahmadinejad purged the foreign service last year, replacing experienced hands with ideological purists) about helping with security in Iraq is like inviting the wolf in for a drink and having Little Red Riding Hood give him a lap dance; the temptation to insinuate themselves even more into Iraqi affairs just might be too much to resist.

I don’t know if there is a way to “victory” in Iraq. Clearly the rest of the world has already made up its mind (not to mention the American media) that we have lost so that no matter what we do in Iraq, how we leave it, what we accomplish from here on out, the onus of defeat will accompany our withdrawal.

Is the ISG simply acknowledging this fact? Or are they encouraging it?

Both, probably. But in the end, it comes down to doing the best we can to bring some kind of definitive denouement to our Iraqi adventure.

To one prominent Democrat congressman--Nancy Pelosi's choice for intel chairman--that means more troops in Iraq. Yes, he said more.

Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel looks like he's already preparing to de-fund the war. Via USAToday's blog:

Not only are Democratic leaders predicting there will be more congressional oversight of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan now that they're going to control both the House and Senate, they're also hinting they may not automatically OK the Bush administration's next request for funds to pay for those operations, USA TODAY's Kathy Kiely reports from Capitol Hill.

"The days of a rubber stamp on a request by the administration for this effort are over," Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said today, Kiely tells us.

Andy McCarthy says "Fight the Real War:"

There is only one good reason for American troops to be in Iraq. It is the reason we sent them there in 2003: To fight and win the “war on terror” — i.e., the war against radical Islam — by deposing rogue regimes helping the terror network wage a long-term, existential jihad against the United States. You can argue that Iraq was the wrong rogue to start with; but destroying radical Islam’s will and its capacity to project power is what the war is about.

Iraq is but a single battlefield in that war. It is not “the war.” Stabilizing or even — mirabile dictu! — democratizing Iraq is not winning the war. It is the overseas equivalent of rebuilding the World Trade Center. The hard reality is that war exacts a terrible toll and its fallout must be addressed. This is why we hate war and resort to it only in the face of greater evils. But cleaning up war’s unavoidable messes is not the same as winning.

Winning the war means taking on the regimes and factions that are waging it. That is what the president promised to do after 9/11. “You’re with us or you’re with the terrorists.”

GREETINGS

For My Democratic Friends:

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes. By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."

For My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

THE HISPANIC INVASION: WHY AMNESTY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

Today we Will discuss news reports that politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington are saying that one of the first laws passed by the 110th Congress with it's Democrat majority will be amnesty for illegal aliens. Oh, they won't call it amnesty, but amnesty it will be. The 12 to 20 million illegal aliens now in this country will be granted amnesty and given a path to citizenship. And don't expect a veto of this legislation from President Bush. This has been his goal all along.

We all know what will happen then. The Mexican Invasion of the United States will only increase, with millions more crossing the border in the next few years. There will be nothing in this new legislation that will stem the invasion tide. In fact, the Democrats are probably going to oppose any funding to get that 700-mile wall on the Mexican/U.S. border built.

I have set forth a five-point plan for ending the Mexican invasion and convincing the illegals already in this country to head back home. This plan is certainly not original with me. It has been gleaned from a variety of sources. I can think of no better way to end the invasion, send the invasion force back home, while still satisfying our need for the labor that has been provided by the invaders ... all at a minimal cost to government.

1. Close the border.

If a broken pipe is flooding your basement your first task is to stop the water from coming in. It makes no sense at all to start trying to clean up while the water is still pouring in. There can be no question that it is the responsibility of our federal government to protect our borders. This is a responsibility that is being ignored. Take whatever resources you need, the military, the national guard .. whatever .. and shut the borders down. Concertina wire can be strung across the entire border in a matter of days or weeks.

2. Punish those who employ and house illegal aliens.

Pass a set of laws that establish harsh punishment for employers who hire illegal aliens and for commercial landlords who house them. The government would establish a minimum set of standards that an employer and a landlord must met when determining the legality of someone applying for employment. Private firms already exist who provide verification services to employers. These firms will spread as the demand for their services expand. Any business or landlord who hires or rents space to an illegal alien without doing due-diligence to assure that employees legal status will be subject to fines and punishment so harsh that the downside will be too great to risk.

3. Shut down all but emergency social services to illegal aliens.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you are in this country illegally the only government services you will be entitled to will be normal law enforcement services and services necessary to save your life in the event of a medical emergency. Any illegal alien presenting himself to a hospital for such services shall be treated, stabilized and deported.

4. Deny federal funds to all cities who have so-called "sanctuary laws."

These are law that prohibit police and law enforcement from investigation the legal status of those they may suspect of being in this country illegally. These laws are directly implicated in the deaths of law enforcement officers and private citizens.

5. Establish a guest worker program.

Establish a guest worker program designed to make sure that American businesses, especially agriculture, has access to the workers they need. Non-citizens can register to become guest workers, but registration can only take place in the countries where they legally reside. NO guest worker permits will be issued in the United States. Employment for Guest Workers will be arranged ONLY through privately owned guest worker agencies operating under a strict set of federally mandated rules. When a U.S. employer needs guest workers he will supply a list of requirements to one of these employment agencies. That agency will then arrange for the required workers through a counterpart in Mexico, India ... wherever. The employment agency will be responsible for transporting the guest worker to and from the place of employment, and for finding housing for that guest worker while here. The guest worker will be paid ONLY through the employment agency. The agency will, in turn, charge the employer for the guest worker's salary, transportation costs to and from this country, and housing costs. The employer may, if desired, provide housing for the guest worker. When the employer no longer needs the services of the guest worker, the employment agency will provide for transportation of that guest worker back to his own country.

The advantage of this plan is that there is no way for someone in this country illegally to live and work unless they are being harbored and their expenses covered by a legal resident or citizen. With the guest worker program in place no intelligent employer is going to take the chance of a large fine or imprisonment by hiring an illegal. All they have to do is contact the employment agency and the guest worker arrives soon thereafter!

This program has one big drawback. The guest workers aren't allowed to vote in U.S. elections. With the Democrats in control of the congress, there is little chance of seeing anything like this implemented.

OH GOODIE!

Hillary Clinton has made it clear .. she's going to run for president. One of Hillary's handlers is telling us that The Hildabeast is "reaching out to her colleagues in the New York delegation and asking for their advice and counsel."

Yeah, right.

I can assure you that Hillary is doing no such thing. She has already made up her mind, and she is not interested in the "advice and counsel" of the New York delegation. Support? Yes. Advice? No.

This is very good news for talk radio. If Hillary wins and the Democrats keep control of both houses of congress, the days of talk radio will be numbered. The rumblings are already out there for a resurrection of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine." Well, if we're going to go out, we might as well go out with a bang. I can't think of a better way than detailing the lies, dishonesty an treachery of this nasty woman.

Is there any chance that the average voter will come to know the true Hillary before election day arrives? Will middle America begin to understand that this woman considers them to be nothing but a support system that is expected to help her achieve her life-long goal of ultimate power? Hillary's carefully crafted image of caring and compassion is cover for a cold, calculating person who considers most Americans to be beneath her and unworthy of her attention. Every single step she takes, every word she utters every minute of every day of her life is carefully crafted to do one thing .. .to satisfy her relentless craving for power?

Do American see that her partnership with her so-called "husband" has been nothing less than a crass manipulation of the institution of marriage for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining political power?

The AP is running a story this morning, being carried by multiple outlets, wondering about The Hildabeast's "electability." There seems to be some question as to whether or not she can win a national election. Well, here's a little breaking news for the mainstream media...that doesn't matter. All Hillary Clinton needs is a lot of cash, more than anyone else running on her side, and she'll win the nomination. Besides, it's not like she hasn't thought this through.

And that's another thing. This notion that she is just now reaching the stage where she is considering running is a joke. She's had her campaign team in place for months, and she's been planning for this day for decades. When Hillary Clinton was standing by her man doing the first lady thing, it was only so she could bide her time, waiting for her big day. That's what running for the Senate was all about.

One question. Can any of you name one single time in the last six years when Hillary Clinton has appeared before an uncontrolled public forum to answer questions? Work on that one and get back to me, would you?

Well .. I could go on. But we have two years to go through this, and I'm looking forward to every single day.