President Obama Has Been Demoted

No longer the Messiah?

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday to you and welcome to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog. Glad you could stop by. That's right folks, President Obama has be demoted by the MMD. He is no longer the Messiah. No. Now he is Gandhi

I'm not making this up. The headline says so. Mahatma Obama in Palestine. Now in this piece, they use this from the Speech. Do not worry, I'm about to give my analysis of the Speech in just a few minutes, but they used this.

"Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding."

So think about this. Israel is the Evil White Slave owners and the Muslims that want them dead are the moral equivalent to Black American Slaves? Talk about sheer ignorance. Talk about throwing Israel under a bus. {Sigh} More on all this in a second.

Coming right up today?

Analysis of Obama Cairo Speech
Iran in major nuclear expansion
This Women Has No Right To Choose?
Court Says Christmas and The Bible Not Related

As for the IWA, All this guys deserves is an after thought if that. So let's do this now. Our Idiot just wrote this over at the Daily Kooks.

"Well it has been nearly a week since I have had an opportunity to blog, and during that time I guess the Republican Party has declared war on the Hispanic population of the United States."

What complete and utter ignorance. But this is who these people are. Mindless Drones that lack the ability to actually THINK for themselves.

"I find it refreshing that they aren’t even disguising their racist attitudes anymore. It has always been apparent that if you were not a white male or the spouse of one that you really aren’t what the Republicans are looking for, and I don’t want to hear, but what about Michael Steele or some other exception to the rule, because history is full of fools who go against there own and their own interests."

Now I know some of you may not get it. But this MORON is what is wrong with this country. The ones that have PROVEN time after time that they are the ones that see everything through the Prism of Race and those that are the TRUE Racist, are the Liberal Left. He just called "Michael Steel, or some other exception to the rule" Most likely Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, "Uncle Toms" Sell outs. Yes folks, this Idiot is nothing more than a sheep. Mindlessly repeating sad and ignorant rhetoric.

"Newt and Rush calling Judge Sotomayor a racist is like butcher calling out a vegan for being cruel to animals." She is.

"Does Rush "I am a fat worthless lying Pig" Limbaugh remember when he got fired from ESPN for his racist statements about Donavan McNabb?"

He was critiquing the MEDIA'S view of McNabb, but that has been proven LONG ago. Sorry you did not get the updated memo.

"Probably not, he’s taken far too many prescription drugs since then, but Newt, wow, he will sling any kind of feces he can get his grubby little mouth to choke out just so he can stay on the airways and keep his name being talked about like he was still relevant."

More than you will ever be. More than Most Lib.s will ever be. Newt is relevant. Leaning a little to far Left for me from time to time, but still relevant.

"I realize that these two windbags are just a couple of examples of all the rightwing hate being thrown at Judge Sotomayor, for I could mention Tom Delay or any of the rest, but they are individually not important, what is important is that Americans are paying attention to this party and hopefully they will see the truth about who the Republicans are and until they want to rejoin the rest of us in America and realize that Old White Guy rule has come to an end, then they need not be elected to office."

It is MORE important that Americans are paying attention to Obama, hopefully they will see the truth about who he really is, and who the LWL {Left Wing Loons} like you, are and until they want to rejoin the rest of us in America and realize that Socialistic rule has come to an end.

I hesitated to give this guy any attention whatsoever today, but I wanted to illustrate to you, what I have been telling you for YEARS. When they have nothing, and they cannot defend their views, YOU are the Racist, Chauvinistic, Homophobe. They are pure, intelligent, and wholesome. To bad that is not even close to reality.

So there you go, Matthews Peters, AKA, Obama and ME, you ARE the Idiot of the week. Now that this is out of the way, let's get to what actually matters. Be right back.
Peter

Sources:
McClatchy Newspapers - Mahatma Obama in Palestine

Analysis of Obama Cairo Speech

"Tear Down This Wall" it ain't.

Hey folks,

Now I know, I know, that the MMD {Mainstream Media Drones} LOVED this speech. The Obamaid drinkers LOVED this speech. Some even want ME to point out at least one good thing that I heard in it. OK. I'll try.

But some have gone off the deep end. They are comparing this to the Ronald Reagan "Tear Down This Wall" speech. Your kidding right? I have even heard some compare this to the MLK Jr. "I Have A Dream" speech. But then again, I thought that was his speech on Race a while back. Anyway. None of these are even close to what this was.

Most of the "Facts" that Obama pointed out is completely made up. Seriously. I'll get to some of them in a second. I told you I was waiting to hear what he said about Israel. He did say this.

"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, ignorant, and 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."

OK. Sounds good. There is the one good thing for you. He is sticking up for Israel. Right? But then he said this.

"On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslims and Christians — have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations — large and small — that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own."

There are a few problems with this. One, he said "They endure the daily humiliations — large and small — that come with occupation." Occupation? So he right there said he feels that Israel is occupying Palestinian land. The Jews took their land and they are occupying it. So right there, seems as if he chose sides.

Leave that aside for a second, he also seems to be equivocating 60 years of the Palestinians without a homeland to the Holocaust. REALLY? He wants us to draw a moral equivalence between the slaughter of six million Jews and a political circumstance in Palestine that's largely brought on by themselves? What about all the times we helped Muslims all around the world? He didn't mention that of course. No, he said that Israel had to give up their land, you know, Palestinian land, and then there will be peace. OH, yeah, of course the Muslims have to stop killing Israelis. {Sigh}

But this entire Pro-Muslim speech was nothing but BS.

"As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's renaissance and enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it could be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy, and places of peaceful contemplation -- and throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality."

He must have been sleeping in class folks.

Algebra? Babylonians. Not Muslims.

Magnetic Compass, "tools of navigation?" Some say Central Americans. Some say the Chinese. Either one you chose to accept, one thing is sure. The compass was discovered centuries before the advent of Islam.

"Our mastery of pens and printing?" Gutenberg. Not Muslim

"Our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed?" Can anyone tell me where THIS came from? Any proof of this?

Arches and Spires? Really? Try ROME. Not Muslim.

"Cherished music?" One problem with that, most are forbidden in most Islamic traditions.

Now we seem to be up to 7 million Muslims in this country? {Laughing} No still about 2.5 to 3 million.

OH, and what about this Women's right thing? I'm being serious here. He complained about Women being discriminated against in this country for covering their hair. You know, that scarf that they wear around their hair and face. Remember that big hoo ha at the Motor Vehicle a few years back? But Obama? WHAT ABOUT WOMEN'S Rights NOT to wear it in Muslim countries? He of course did not address this. Nor the Stonings, beheadings, Rapes, so on. Nope, he said this.

"In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life."

So Women have made GREAT STRIDES in the countries where they are Raped, Oppressed, and killed. Yet in this country? BAD AMERICA! BAD AMERICA! {Sigh} And just exactly what does this mean?

"That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams."

"Micro-financing" Did he just say we are going to start giving Muslim Countries OUR Money to help them better educate THEIR Women? He is going to be in charge of this? YOUR Tax money will pay for this? What about OUR Schools? I haven't heard much about that from Obama. I know he wanted to shut down a program in DC that HELPED Minority Children. He still is going to. He just delayed it. But NOW we will be micro-financing Girls in Muslim Countries?

As you can clearly see, although I know that the Obamaid drinkers will NEVER see, this whole speech was more of the same. America bad. Israel Bad. Muslims good. America will not impose our will, accept you Israel, on any Country. Nukes bad. We are all one. We should be one. No need for Sovereignty. We are all Citizens of the world.

Peter

Sources:
OPNTalk - Transcript of Barack Obama's speech at Cairo University

Iran in major nuclear expansion

Guess Obama Speech worked huh?

Hey folks,

We just got done discussing Obama's "Historic" Speech. How he is all about Muslims. He wants them to rest assured, that they have a friend in the US. That Israel will have to be divided to make way for peace, and they, the Islamofacists must stop attacking Israel.

But then again, he also just said that Iran has every right to go nuclear. He said "I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations."

So what are you so upset about? Why is the U.N. upset? Ahmadinejad is just doing what Obama said is legitimate. He is just doing it faster than the "experts" though possible. He has been telling you what he is doing the whole time, but the "experts" said differently. Turns out, Little Hitler was telling the truth.

According to Reuters - Iran in major nuclear expansion, U.N. oversight harder by Mark Heinrich

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has significantly expanded uranium enrichment with almost 5,000 centrifuges now operating and this has made it harder for U.N. inspectors to keep track of the disputed nuclear activity, an IAEA report said on Friday.

According to Ahmadinejad, that would be over 7000.

Obtained by Reuters, the restricted International Atomic Energy Agency report said Iran had increased its rate of production of low-enriched uranium (LEU), boosting its stockpile by 500 kg to 1,339 kg in the past six months.

Iran's improved efficiency in turning out potential nuclear fuel is sure to fan Western fears of the Islamic Republic nearing the ability to make atomic bombs, if it chose to do so.

IF? Yeah, they were just testing Missiles for fun.

Oil giant Iran says it wants a uranium enrichment industry solely to provide an alternative source of electricity.

OK. {Sigh}

But it has stonewalled an IAEA investigation into suspected past research into bomb-making, calling U.S. intelligence about it forged, and continues to limit the scope of IAEA inspections.

You mean they are not cooperating? Really?

David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security, a think tank that tracks proliferation issues, said Iran now had accumulated enough LEU to convert into high-enriched uranium (HEU) sufficient for one atom bomb.

This would require reconfiguring Iran's centrifuge network and miniaturizing HEU to fit into a warhead -- technical hurdles that could take 1-2 years or more -- and would not escape the notice of U.N. inspectors unless done at an undeclared location.

There are no indications of any such secret site.

{Laughing} WHY?? Because he did not tell you where his secrete locations are?

"Still, Iran is ramping up enrichment to reach the point of potential nuclear weapons capability. They haven't made a political decision to do that. But their lack of constraint is disappointing given (U.S. President Barack) Obama's effort to start negotiations," Albright told Reuters from Washington.

I'm not blaming Reuters here. Nor am I blaming the writer of this piece Mark Heinrich, this is ACTUALLY how Obama and the UN think. Little Hitler has not told them that he intends to make a Nuclear Bomb. He has not told them where to find "SECRETE LOCATIONS." So this must not be his intent. He HAS told the world that he wants Nuclear Energy. So that MUST be true. Folks, this really is how they think.

JUMP IN CAPACITY

The U.N. nuclear watchdog report said Iran had 4,920 centrifuges, cylinders that spin at supersonic speed, being fed with uranium hexafluoride gas (UF6) for enrichment nonstop as of May 31, a jump of about 25 percent since February.

Another 2,132 machines were installed and undergoing vacuum tests while a further 169 were being set up -- bringing Iran's total number of deployed centrifuges at its underground Natanz enrichment hall to 7,231 -- with 55,000 eventually planned.

The IAEA had told Iran that given the burgeoning numbers of centrifuges and increased pace of enrichment, "improvements to the containment and surveillance measures are required in order for the agency to continue to fully meet its safeguards objectives," the report said, referring to basic inspections.

So I guess he should just say "Yeah OK." Right?

Senior inspectors were discussing solutions with Iran.

"There is now a forest of 7,000 machines, that's quite a lot, it's a very impressive place, and they will be installing more which could mean 9,000 (soon)," said a senior U.N. official who asked for anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

"That makes it increasingly difficult to do the surveillance (to ensure no diversions for bombmaking purposes elsewhere). We are reviewing (the angles) of our cameras, walking rules (for workers handling equipment), where things are being kept."

At a separate pilot plant in Natanz, Iran continues to test small numbers of a more sophisticated centrifuge than the 1970s vintage it is now using. These models could refine uranium 2-3 times as fast as the P-1, analysts say.

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei has urged Iran to engage with the United States, "grasp the hand that Obama is extending to you," and negotiate over its nuclear program to ensure it remains civilian under effective monitoring.

Yeah SO? Ahmadinejad has said that discussions of their Nuclear programs are off limits, and he has said Sanctions will never work. He has said that they will not stop, regardless of what the UN or the World thinks. Now he just heard Obama say that they have a RIGHT to go Nuclear.

But little progress in coaxing Iran to open up to IAEA investigators and grant more wide-ranging inspections is likely without a major thaw in Tehran's relations with Western powers.

"The Iran file has been on the table for six years. It's high time to sort it out. We hope Iran and international community get to the table and start to come up with solutions so we can do our (non-proliferation) job," said the senior U.N. official.

Obama has set a rough timetable for negotiating results with Iran, saying he wanted serious progress by the end of the year. He has underlined that any U.S. overtures will be accompanied by harsher sanctions if there is no cooperation.

LITTLE HITLER DOES NOT CARE! Apparently he was also not impressed with Obama's little speech. Ahmadinejad does not care who Obama's Father was. He does not care about Obama. He is on a quest. One he said he will not divert from. What then?

Peter
Reuters - Iran in major nuclear expansion, U.N. oversight harder

This Women Has No Right To Choose?

Woman's Right To Chose?

Hey folks,

I'm actually being serious. If it is a Woman's body, giving her the Right to Murder an innocent life, then why would it not apply to oneself? One could also argue that by allowing what is natural to occur, can in no way be called Suicide.

What I'm talking about is Alison Silva who has chosen NOT to have an operation that could save her life. She chooses not to. Some people are not that happy about that. In our Health and Science Segment this week, we are going to look at this.

According to AOL NEWS Health - Brain Lesion Sparks Painter's Creativity

(June 1) -- An artist with a potentially deadly tangle of blood vessels in her brain is drawing on the hallucinations she suffers to inspire her work, ABC News reported.

Alison Silva, 33, was diagnosed with the brain lesion after an episode in 2006 that "pretty much felt like a carnival ride -- flashing lights, wavy lines, everything was blurry and I felt very clumsy," she recalled.

Doctors told Silva her condition could lead to fatal bleeding or seizures. The diagnosis threw her into depression at first. But then she decided to put her hallucinations into her art. She has declined surgery, saying that she doesn't want to cut the creative pipeline.

"I was scared the operation would change my art," Silva told ABC. "I wanted to paint every day after that. One detail, one emotion almost became like a diary. It put me on the edge and forced me to be even more creative."

Silva is featured in a new documentary on outsider art, work that doesn't fit in the mainstream. 'The Artists' Sanctuary' is to be submitted to film festivals this year.

Some researchers have said that brain injuries can unleash a person's creative juices by inhibiting the "thinking side" of the brain. For anecdotes of people who have experienced that phenomenon, read the full ABC News story. You can see more of Silva's artwork on her Web site.

Now we have seen this type of thing before. Someone diagnosed with a possible fatal disease and they chose, for whatever reason, not to have it treated. There always seems to be others that want treatment to be forced onto them. My question is WHY?

If we have an argument in this country, which we do, that a Woman has a "Right" to murder an innocent and unborn Child, that has no choice in the matter, then WHY would anyone be able to argue that the Woman, or anyone else, does NOT have the "right" to reject Medical treatment, even to the point of death?

Alison is not on the phone calling Doctor Kevorkian to come and give her that last comfortable ride into the ever after. She is simply saying that she does NOT want an operation. So why is this so controversial?

The ABC piece calls her "Childlike." I have seen others saying that the brain lesion may actually be impairing her ability to make a rational decision for her own well being. I say leave her alone. Leave everyone alone. Let them chose if they want to suffer the treatment, with in some cases can be worse than the disease, or not.

We all Captain our own Ships through this magnificent journey called Life. Captain your own Ship and let others Captain theirs.
Peter

Sources:
AOL NEWS Health - Brain Lesion Sparks Painter's Creativity

Court Says Christmas and The Bible Not Related

You Can't Make This Stuff Up 060709

Hey folks,

Remember when you went to school? In most kindergartens, even some Elementary schools, there is a time called show and tell. This is where kids bring in something that is important to them, and they show it to the class. They explain what it is, how it works, where it comes from, that sort of thing.

Well, there are limitations. The kids can't bring a gun, knife, noose, etc. They can't light stuff on fire to show why they love matches, and apparently in Philadelphia, you can't bring the Bible.

Now we could argue all day about the fictitious "Wall of Separation" in the Constitution, there is none, but that is not why this story caught my attention. It was actually the REASON that the Court gave to prevent it.

The appeals court says there is a "significant difference" between identifying those holidays and reading from Scripture.

Really? Those Holidays, as they called them, would NOT BE HOLIDAYS if it were not FOR Scripture. Idiots.

No Christ, NO CHRISTMAS. Now I know that Christmas has been hijacked by those who wish to commercialize it. Billions of dollars a year are thrown around during the Holiday Season. However Jesus is not a Fat White guy with a long white beard and a red suit. But the very word Christmas, MEANS Christ's Mass. The day, correct or not, that we have set aside to celebrate Jesus the Christ being Born.

What about Passover? You could not have Passover WITHOUT SCRIPTURE. So how is there a "significant difference" between reading Scripture and identifying the day set aside to HONOR Scripture? They are not related?

Christopher Columbus came to America. Yeah. Here is a book to tell you why, when and how. WAIT!!!!! Can't read that!!!! What? So we can tell our kids Christmas is a Holiday {Holy Day} but cannot tell them WHY? How ignorant is that. Typical, but ignorant to say the least.

Peter

Sources:
AOL News - No Bible at Show and Tell, Court Rules

Transcript of Barack Obama's speech at Cairo University

A New Beginning, as released by the White House. The speech was delivered on June 4, 2009.

President Obama: "I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world — tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.

Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.

So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.

I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do — to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam — at places like Al-Azhar University — that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers — Thomas Jefferson — kept in his personal library.

So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words — within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."

Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores — that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.

Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.

So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.

Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.

For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.

That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.

The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.

In Ankara, I made clear that America is not — and never will be — at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.

The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al-Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.

Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.

That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths — more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism — it is an important part of promoting peace.

We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.

Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."

Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future — and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

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, ignorant, and 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.

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslims and Christians — have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations — large and small — that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers — for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.

That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them — and all of us — to live up to our responsibilities.

Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.

Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.

At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.

Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.

Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.

America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.

Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.

The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.

This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.

It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.

I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation — including Iran — should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.

The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.

I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.

There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments — provided they govern with respect for all their people.

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.

Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld — whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.

Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit — for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action — whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.

The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.

I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.

Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity — men and women — to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.

Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.

I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations — including my own — this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities — those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.

But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.

On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.

On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.

All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.

The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek — a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.

I know there are many — Muslim and non-Muslim — who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort — that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country — you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion — that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples — a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."

The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you."

What Is With Obama and Islam?

I'm seriously starting to wonder.

Hey folks,

What is it? Yesterday I told you how Obama seems to be getting more friendly with Muslims than he is with a long time Ally, and 60 year plus Ally, Israel. I even said this.

"Folks, if I were Israel, I would be fueling the Jets. I would be getting the Bombs in place. I would be mapping out my attack. If I were Israel, listening to what Obama is saying, watching what Obama is doing, I would be getting the feeling that Obama is more friendly toward Ahmadinejad, and Islamic Terrorists, than he is with a long standing Ally, Israel.

I would not be feeling all that comfortable that the new American President has my back and I would be preparing to do whatever it takes to keep my Country, and my people safe. With or without America. "

But NOW? Now I am SERIOUSLY starting to wonder WHAT is it? What is with Obama and Islam? Now I know that just about an hour from now, he will be delivering a "historic" speech from Egypt, to Muslims everywhere. I really am interested to see what he actually says about Israel. I have a good idea. I'm not telling you until he actually says it. I can't believe even he is stupid enough to go through with it, so I'll wait to see if this is true.

But we do not need this speech to actually see where he stands. This is the second trip he will NOT be stopping by to visit Israel. Nope. But he will be bow,, huh, visiting a bunch of Muslims.

Now is this is one sign? The fact he has been attempting to dictate to Israel what they can and can't do on there own land, while making statements like this?

"Without going into specifics, what I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations."

Then just yesterday, he said this.

"One of the points I want to make is if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world."

What? Really? There are Between 2.3 to about 3 million Muslims in America. 80 million in Egypt, Pakistan 150 million Muslims. Something like 156 million Muslims India, 200 million Muslims in Indonesia, So the numbers just do not add up. But then again, he also recently said that "we are NOT a Christian Nation." But yet, we are "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world?"

Then you have this little tidbit. Remember all during the election, Obama's Father was an Agnostic? Now his Father was a Muslim?

Now do not get me wrong here. I could not care less if Obama was to follow the Muslim Faith. Unless that includes wanting to kill us. It really doesn't matter to me either way. I think that Obama uses whatever Religion that will be beneficial to him at the time. Like this comment April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament.

"Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them."

I do not believe that he is all that faithful in ANY Religion.

My problem with all this is that he is saying to Israel, "Screw off." He is saying to America, "Screw Off." He is attempting to rip this country apart from the inside. He is trying to rewrite history. He is trying to destroy the very foundation that we were founded on. Just to remind Obama, it is "In God We Trust." We are "One Nation Under God." Not One Nation "striving in the way of Allah."Is he BECOMING a full fledged Muslim? Has he always been? Does it matter?

What does matter is that he IS taking over this country. He IS Socializing this country. He IS dissing Israel. He is ENCOURAGING those that hate and want to destroy Israel, and those that hate and want to destroy what America is. He is doing it for them.

Yes folks, this speech should be quite interesting indeed.
Peter

Sources:
Fox News - Obama Renews Openness About His Muslim Roots Ahead of Egypt Speech
ABC News - The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots

Obama States Iran's Nuclear Quest is "legitimate aspirations”

So Naive it is dangerous.

Hey folks,

Yes Guy {Guy Harrison NRCC Executive Director} I saw this. I have been watching Little Hitler's {Mahmoud Ahmadinejad} rise to power, and his quest for Nuclear weapons for years. I understand the threat. Guy said this.

"I needed to make sure you saw this.

Iran as a nuclear power. Does that sound appealing to you? Because it does to President Obama, who, according to The Washington Post, believes that a country flush with oil, '…has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations.'"

Now, one of his points is this.

"Ironically, Obama and the Democrats have stood against nuclear power as a path to energy security and independence in the United States – which legitimately has energy concerns."

My fear is worse than that. It is starting to look as if Obama is more of a friend of Little Hitler, than he is of Israel. Or that he is so Naive about Iran that he is becoming DANGEROUS to Israel, and our own country.

You see, we have a President that goes on a World Wide Apology Tour. Apologizing for America, claiming that we are the source of all the problems in the world. He makes statements like we are not at war with Islam and we will work with Muslims "all over the world." Meanwhile he is attempting to tell Israel that they would lose if the attack Iran. The Mainstream Media is printing stories of such nonsense. He is telling Israel not to settle on their own land. Talking about Israel having to give up some of their Land "for peace." Yet, according to the The Washington Post - Obama says Iran's energy concerns legitimate

LONDON -- President Barack Obama reiterated that Iran may have some right to nuclear energy _ provided it takes steps to prove its aspirations are peaceful.

Can you say Clinton and Kim Jong Il?

In a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday, Obama also restated plans to pursue direct diplomacy with Tehran to encourage it to set aside any ambitions for nuclear weapons it might harbor.

It MIGHT? {Sigh}

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity. But the U.S. and other Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons.

"Without going into specifics, what I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations. On the other hand, the international community has a very real interest in preventing a nuclear arms race in the region," Obama said.

Notice he did NOT say, "We do not want, nor will we allow, Iran to obtain Nuclear Weapons." He said, "the international community has a very real interest in preventing a nuclear arms race in the region,"

Just like he is talking about US, leading by example and doing away with our nukes. Maybe what he would like is Israel to lead by example and lay down their weapons. Then, there would be no reason for Iran to obtain Nuclear Weapons. Right?

Folks, IF we were to do away with our Nuclear Weaponry, we would be the ONLY ones. Israel? They would cease to exist.

The comments echo remarks Obama made in Prague last month in which he said his administration would "support Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy with rigorous inspections" if Iran proves it is no longer a nuclear threat.

Little Hitler just threw out some inspectors not to long ago. He brags about his nuclear progress, launches missiles, and says he wants to wipe Israel off the map. He just said this.

"We have said this before and we are saying it right now, that we will not talk about the nuclear issue with those outside the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency],"

Iranian state television described the news as Obama recognizing the "rights of the Iranian nation," a phrase typically used to refer to Iran's nuclear program.

The president has indicated a willingness to seek deeper international sanctions against Tehran if it does not respond positively to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program. Obama has said Tehran has until the end of the year to show it wants to engage.

"Although I don't want to put artificial time tables on that process, we do want to make sure that, by the end of this year, we've actually seen a serious process move forward. And I think that we can measure whether or not the Iranians are serious," Obama said.

HOW? Seriously. HOW? What is the measuring stick? How will Iran "show" that they are no longer a Nuclear Threat? That they want peace? HOW? Over Tea? "I promise?" Again, Kim Jong Il.

Obama's interview offered a preview of a speech he is to deliver in Egypt this week, saying he hoped the address would warm relations between Americans and Muslims abroad.

"What we want to do is open a dialogue," Obama told the BBC. "You know, there are misapprehensions about the West, on the part of the Muslim world. And, obviously, there are some big misapprehensions about the Muslim world when it comes to those of us in the West."

Only to you Mr. President. Only to you.

Obama leaves Tuesday evening on a trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. He is due to make his speech in Cairo on Thursday.

Obama sounded an optimistic note about making progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although he offered no new ideas for how he might try to secure a freeze on new building of Israeli settlements. The United States has called for a freeze, but Israeli leaders have rejected that.

OF COURSE THEY HAVE. Why should we impose our will on them? Right Mr. President? It IS thier land. It will be interesting to see what Obama DOES actually say about Israel. His idea's for Israel. Should be very interesting indeed.

Asked what he would say during his visit about human rights abuses, including the detention of political prisoners in Egypt, Obama indicated no stern lecture would be forthcoming.

He said he hoped to deliver the message that democratic values are principles that "they can embrace and affirm."

Obama added that there is a danger "when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture."

Uh, except Israel. Right? Folks, if I were Israel, I would be fueling the Jets. I would be getting the Bombs in place. I would be mapping out my attack. If I were Israel, listening to what Obama is saying, watching what Obama is doing, I would be getting the feeling that Obama is more friendly toward Ahmadinejad, and Islamic Terrorists, than he is with a long standing Ally, Israel.

I would not be feeling all that comfortable that the new American President has my back and I would be preparing to do whatever it takes to keep my Country, and my people safe. With or without America.
Peter

Sources:
The Washington Post - Obama says Iran's energy concerns legitimate

Swine Flu Update 060309

UPDATE: Swine Flu Spreads to All 50 States

Hey folks,

It is NOT Flu Season. It is NOT subsiding. It is NOT going away. This is why I'm tracking it. H1N1, AKA Swine Flu has now shown itself to be present in all 50 States. According to AOL NEWS / Reuters - Swine Flu Spreads to All 50 States

WASHINGTON (June 2) -- Cases of the new H1N1 flu virus have been found in all 50 U.S. states and tests have confirmed the virus in more than 10,000 people across the country, U.S. officials said on Monday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the confirmed tests represent about one in 20 of the actual number of infections, which would bring the total number of U.S. cases to around 200,000.

California health officials reported the state's first two deaths from the swine flu virus, bringing the nationwide total to 19 fatalities.

Both involved middle-aged people, a man from San Bernardino County and a woman from Los Angeles County, who had pre-existing medical conditions.

"While, overall, we have seen predominantly mild flu cases in the state, these fatalities remind us that all flu viruses can be deadly, including the H1N1 flu," Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement.

California has identified 802 people with confirmed or probable cases of the disease, with 47 requiring hospitalization.

Most of those hospitalized had underlying medical conditions that included lung disease, weakened immune systems and heart disease, and a smaller number had diabetes or were obese or pregnant.

The virus, which spreads easily and causes mostly mild disease, has been diagnosed in 17,564 people in 64 countries, killing 115, according to the World Health Organization.

It was found this week in patients in Bulgaria, Vietnam and Jamaica.

Although H1N1 swine flu appears mild, it affects mostly older children and young adults, and experts worry it could change into a more dangerous form.

That is the concern. What happens when actual Flu Season returns? Will it mutate to become more deadly and drug resistant? They DO seem to be hard at work in finding a way to help ward it off, and lesson the blow. Here is the official CDC Case Count as of June 1.

CDC Update Case Count as of 060109 at 11AM

Alabama 84 cases 0 deaths
Alaska 1 case 0 deaths
Arkansas 7cases 0 deaths
Arizona 547 cases 4 deaths
California 804 cases 0 deaths
Colorado 61 cases 0 deaths
Connecticut 196 cases 0 deaths
Delaware 121 cases 0 deaths
Florida 166 cases 0 deaths
Georgia 29 cases 0 deaths
Hawaii 73 cases 0 deaths
Idaho 13 cases 0 deaths
Illinois 1103 cases 3 deaths
Indiana 146 cases 0 deaths
Iowa 71 cases 0 deaths
Kansas 79 cases 0 deaths
Kentucky 77 cases 0 deaths
Louisiana 122 cases 0 deaths
Maine 11 cases 0 deaths
Maryland 48 cases 0 deaths
Massachusetts 470 cases 0 deaths
Michigan 234 cases 0 deaths
Minnesota 60 0 deaths
Mississippi 16 cases 0 deaths
Missouri 36 cases 1 death
Montana 14 cases 0 deaths
Nebraska 43 cases 0 deaths
Nevada 102 cases 0 deaths
New Hampshire 40 cases 0 deaths
New Jersey 74 cases 0 deaths
New Mexico 108 cases 0 deaths
New York 605 cases 4 deaths
North Carolina 14 cases 0 deaths
North Dakota 6 cases 0 deaths
Ohio 23 cases 0 deaths
Oklahoma 82 cases 0 deaths
Oregon 148 cases 0 deaths
Pennsylvania 123 cases 0 deaths
Rhode Island 14 cases 0 deaths
South Carolina 46 cases 0 deaths
South Dakota 7 cases 0 deaths
Tennessee 104 cases 0 deaths
Texas 1403 cases 3 deaths
Utah 247 cases 1 death
Vermont 3 cases 0 deaths
Virginia 31 cases 0 deaths
Washington 575 cases 1 death
Washington, D.C. 20 cases 0 deaths
West Virginia 3 cases 0 deaths
Wisconsin 1641 cases 0 deaths
Wyoming 2 cases 0 deaths
TOTAL*(51) 10,053 cases 17 deaths

For those of you out there that want to continue to wave this off and say, "So what? No big deal." I say GOOD. We should be THANKFUL that it is as mild as it is. But we also need to answer those questions that STILL have not been answered. Is this a Man-Made Virus? By whom, where, when, how? Why? Would be a good one also. If not, then HOW did Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and Human Flu combined together to form this naturally?

Peter

Sources:
AOL NEWS / Reuters - Swine Flu Spreads to All 50 States

Waxman-Markey Will Hurt the Economy, You Will Pay For It

From the Energy Front 060109

Hey folks,

Obama is pushing for the Waxman-Markey Global Warming Tax Bill. Pushing for it BIG TIME. Some folks out there are buying right into it. You know your Energy cost are going to go up, even more than they are going up now? "Yeah but that's the price we have to pay to save the environment." Really? I have an interesting Video coming right up that tells you, if you accept the premise that there actually is a problem, I don't, just how much all this will actually "save the Environment."

But first I want to address a question I got Friday. No Thursday. I don't know. Last week. Here it is.

"What about the Gas Prices lately? How do you defend that? We know you have friends that you like to defend all the time in Big Oil, so tell us, there is no demand, how do you defend the Gas Prices? We await your answer. Ought to be good."

They provided this link - TIME.com - Oil Is Plentiful, Demand Weak. Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?

Storage tankers across the globe may be brimming with oil that no one is buying because of the global economic downturn, but the traditional laws of supply and demand don't always apply to oil prices. Drivers have faced rising prices at the gas pump in recent months, as investors and oil-producing countries hoard supplies in anticipation of a global economic recovery later this year.

The 12 member countries of the OPEC cartel voted in Vienna on Thursday to maintain output at current levels rather than increase supplies in order to bring some relief to consumers, particularly in the gas-guzzling West. {That would be us} The OPEC oil ministers, whose countries account for about 40% of the world's entire crude-oil supply, also renewed their commitment to stick to their agreed quotas, rather than ship extra oil, as they began doing last April when several members ignored their agreed output limits. OPEC leaders, many of whose economies are heavily dependent on oil exports, have struggled to stabilize prices at a level that suits their own economic needs amid falling demand and rising supplies. Prices had rocketed to a record level of $147 a barrel last July before plummeting to $30 just five months later and beginning a new climb.

Oil analysts believe OPEC's decisions on Thursday could help push oil prices even higher; oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange have risen 36% in just two months, to about $63.46 a barrel on Thursday. And that appears to be on track to achieve targets set by OPEC leaders. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi - OPEC's key power player - said Wednesday that oil prices ought to rise to between $75 and $80 a barrel by the end of the year. "Demand is picking up, especially in Asia," he told reporters puffing alongside him as he jogged through the streets of Vienna. "The price rise is a function of optimism that better things are coming in the future."

Hey Obama just said we are back from the brink. The Media is talking up the Economy. The numbers do not say the same thing, but hey, Obama is the President and he can not be shown to be the Failure he is in dealing with this.

The economic recovery Naimi so optimistically predicts would certainly be vital to oil-producing countries, whose own economies would be imperiled by a drawn-out recession. Oil demand in rich countries has crashed since the onset of the economic crisis last year, and is now at its lowest level since about 1981, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency. U.S. oil inventories - the stored surplus - this month reached their highest level since the 1980s. And about 2.6 billion barrels are currently stored in commercial tankers around the world. "There is some risk we will run out of storage space in the next four to six weeks," says Simon Wardell, director of global oil at IHS Global Insight, an energy-forecasting company in London. To oil-rich countries that possibility evokes grim memories of 1998, when the Asian economic crisis sent demand plummeting, driving world oil prices down to $10 a barrel. "If we run out of storage it could prompt a collapse in the price," says Wardell. Oil producers might then choose to dramatically cut output in order to run down the surplus.

Despite such dangers, investors and oil producers are betting that global demand will roar back, apparently hoping that the recession has already hit bottom. Over the past two months, investors have plowed billions of dollars into oil futures. If the U.S. and other major industrial economies rebound, oil supplies could be depleted because the recession has prompted producer nations to freeze hundreds of projects to open new oil wells or upgrade existing ones. In the oil-rich Niger Delta, a major Nigerian government offensive against rebels has seriously disrupted production for several weeks. Venezuela's Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said in Vienna that his country could not afford to invest in major new oil exploration unless prices rise further. "We need a level of at least $70 [a barrel] to recuperate investment," he said on Thursday. Muhammad-Ali Zainy, senior energy analyst at the Center for Global Energy Studies in London, says oil demand could increase quickly once the recession ends, especially as China has begun to build up its strategic oil reserves. "We think the price is going to go up gradually," says Zainy.

For those feeling the pain at the gas pumps, however, there is one piece of good news. Oil is unlikely to hit $147 a barrel again - at least not during the coming decades. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that oil prices would likely rise to $110 a barrel by 2015 and $130 a barrel by 2030. By that time the world oil markets might once again follow the normal rules of economics.

I know you are ticked off at this. So am I. I'm not about to defend OPEC. Why in the Blue Hell do you think that I have been advocating TRUE Energy Independence for YEARS now? Why do you think that I have been giving you the FACTS? "Green Energy" is a nice dream, but there is none. We DO have our own Oil and Natural Gas, all we have to do is go get it. We have companies ready to do just that. Why are we in the situation we are in? Dependence on Foreign Governments for our Energy.

One way we will NOT see a reduction in Gas Prices, Home Heating Prices, Food Prices, {They have to be delivered to the stores somehow} is NOT Waxman-Markey.

Check out this Video from Fox News. Heritage's energy and climate change expert David Kreutzer discusses how the Waxman Markey global warming tax will hurt both jobs and the economy. If you have to, watch it twice to get the REAL numbers.

Now our friends over at API just finished a paper talking about how the folks here in Florida will be hurt directly. Here it is.

The People Of Florida will be hurt by the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill.

The legislation is unbalanced. The goals are laudable, but the bill will hit consumers and producers of petroleum fuels especially hard and create an uneven playing field for U.S. refiners while protecting other U.S. industries. People who use automobiles, trucks, planes, trains, heating oil and other non-transportation petroleum products will shoulder the lion’s share of the burden, but the inequitable nature of the legislation could worsen the pain for everyone.

Higher prices: The bill will touch every family and every business that uses oil products. According to one independent analysis, the bill will raise gasoline prices by 74 percent. Today, that would mean gasoline prices above $4.00 a gallon, an increase nearly equivalent to a ten-fold rise in the federal gasoline tax.

Less disposable income: An average family could pay an additional $1,500 a year for energy. That’s 4.3 percent of Florida’s per capita disposable income. Fewer jobs and lower wages: One independent study projects up to 2.7 million net jobs lost annually, even with new green jobs created, and expects the wages of workers who remain employed to fall and for the loss to become greater over time. Another analysis shows that the inequitable approach of the bill by itself will produce additional unemployment, driving annual job destruction totals related to the legislation to more than 2.2 million jobs nationwide by 2011. For Florida this could mean a loss of 132 thousand jobs just a few years from now. If those jobs were lost today it would increase Florida’s unemployment rate from 9.7 percent to 11.1 percent.

Less wealth: One analysis projects the bill would reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion over the next 30 years. For Florida this could mean a reduction of as much as $511 billion in the state’s gross state product (GSP).

Undermines energy security: U.S. refiners will have to buy allowances, increasing their costs and giving a competitive advantage to non-U.S. refiners. U.S. jobs will be lost and contrary to the bill’s intention, America will be less energy secure.

The requirements are not equitable and will hurt consumers and producers of motor fuels most. The bill would allocate only two percent of allowances to fuel producers, but make them responsible for 44 percent of emissions, including emissions from refineries and also consumer emissions from planes, trains, automobiles, heating oil, and other non-transportation petroleum use. In contrast, some other sectors receive free allowances that roughly match their obligation (utilities get more than 40 percent of all allowances, select “energy-intensive” industries get 15 percent of all allowances and local natural gas distributors receive nine percent). This inequitable system of allocations will have a disproportionate adverse impact on consumers and producers of gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, jet fuel, propane and crude oil.

The people of Florida who use automobiles, trucks, planes, trains, heating oil and other non-transportation petroleum products are treated unfairly by the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill.

The transition to new low-emission energy sources will take time. Unlike power generation, which has the ability of switching to a low-carbon fuel source, there is no commercial-scale low-carbon source to fuel the nation’s 250 million cars.

We need an equitable plan that will address global climate change and improve, not weaken, our nation’s energy and economic security. Decisions made today will have repercussions for decades to come. We need to take the time now to get this right.

Those states with the highest emissions per dollar of economic activity will face the greatest challenge to reduce them.

There are some great charts in this. Check them out. FLORIDA_WAXMAN_MARKEY.pdf

Folks, the bottom line is this. Like I pointed out before, the way the Energy industry sees this is this. It doesn't matter if "Man-made Climate Change" is real or not. It no longer matters that Global Warming is a Scam. We have a Congress and a President that "Believes" or wants you to believe that it is a real and pending crisis. The real question that the Energy Industry, and unfortunately all of us, have to deal with, is this. "What are they going to do about it?"

Like David Kreutzer said, it's easy to believe that Waxman-Markey is necessary to help fix Man-made Global Warming, when you are receiving BILLIONS of dollars for pet projects. The problem for you, the average American, is that those Billions of dollars are coming from YOU. Another problem is, even if this was true, just like the very REAL problems in the Financial institutions, Housing, Auto industries, all this money, will do NOTHING to fix it. But I guess as long as you are told that YOU are helping to Save the Planet, you will be fine with the $4.00 a gallon gas price.
Peter

Sources:
TIME.com - Oil Is Plentiful, Demand Weak. Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?
Fox News Video
API