"Get Out"

The decline of America's influence under Obama is accelerating. Fox News reports that "Russian diplomats sent an official demarche [a diplomatic demand] ordering U.S. planes out of Syria."

That demand was issued as Russia launched its first airstrikes in Syria following a unanimous vote by Russian lawmakers to approve President Vladimir Putin's request for the use of force.

Putin is going to war, and he's telling America to get out of his way. How flexible will Obama be this time?

Some Americans, including Ron Paul-type conservatives, may be okay with Russia taking the lead. They are wrong. Putin is not our friend. He is a former KGB officer who said that the fall of the Soviet Union was the worst geopolitical event of the 20th century.

The Middle East is increasingly falling under the influence of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. The implications for our security, as well as that of Israel's and other allies, are tremendous -- and all bad.

A Russia/Iran-controlled Middle East will spread the impact of the refugee tidal wave, increase the price of energy and likely contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Putin's Plan

NATO commander, General Philip Breedlove, said Monday that Putin is moving aggressively to deny U.S. access to the eastern Mediterranean. This is obvious by the kind of military units Putin is deploying in Syria.

"These very sophisticated air defense capabilities are not about [the Islamic State]," General Breedlove said. ISIS doesn't have an air force.

Who are the major air powers in the Middle East? Israel and the United States, which gets us back to the Iran deal.

That terrible deal signaled the total weakness of the administration and its allies in Congress. Surely Moscow noticed how many politicians in Washington were willing to embrace that terrible deal even if it meant undermining Israel.

What gave Russian generals the notion that they could order our planes out of Syrian airspace? No doubt they saw how the administration caved to repeated Iranian demands for more concessions during the nuclear talks.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said today that the Obama Administration was working to "deconflict" the situation in Syria. Right. I'm sure that tough talk will have ISIS rushing to lay down its weapons.

Meanwhile, more and more administration officials just can't take it anymore. The Pentagon's top Russia expert announced her resignation yesterday. The White House "ISIS Czar" announced last week that he was resigning too. And it is worth mentioning that we have had four secretaries of defense in seven years.

Netanyahu's Warning

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. The trip was highly unusual because Netanyahu was accompanied by his top military commanders, including the Israeli Defense Forces chief of staff and the chief of military intelligence.

Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon described part of the conversation that took place in Moscow:

"Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear to President Putin that we are not involved in who will control Syria. Assad or not Assad, we are not entering that discussion at all.

"But we have interests, and when they are threatened we act, and we will continue to act. . . . those who try to violate our sovereignty -- we will strike them, and those who try to transfer advanced weapons to terror elements, with an emphasis on Hezbollah, we will strike them, and those who try to transfer chemical weapons to terror elements, we will strike them.

"We have no intention of giving up our ability to defend our interests. And I suggest that no one tests us."

Israel is 1/40th our size and yet it just delivered a message to Moscow that our president and secretary of defense are unwilling to deliver.

The Pope & The Clerk

Pope Francis has a unique ability to generate headlines. Even his flight back to Rome made news. He spoke to reporters on the plane and was asked about government officials who refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Pope Francis said:

"Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right. I can't have in mind all cases that can exist about conscientious objection but, yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right."

But with the pope out of the country, his comments in defense of religious liberty did not get nearly the press coverage they deserved. Today we are learning that Pope Francis, at his request, met with Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis while he was in the U.S.

Why are we only hearing about this now?

I am glad Pope Francis met with Davis and I appreciate his defense of conscience rights. But the White House and the open borders crowd did not hesitate to exploit the pope to advance their radical agenda. I only wish Pope Francis had displayed as much determination in publicly defending religious freedom.

Frank Talk On Life

Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona is a long-time friend. He is a good man and one of the most passionate defenders of life in Congress today. He demonstrated that commitment yesterday by going on MSNBC to defend the hearings into Planned Parenthood's use of taxpayer funds. And the left isn't happy with him.

Rep. Franks boldly pointed out what we have noted many times: That the legal justification for abortion is similar to the reasoning that justified slavery. He said:

"The last issue that tore us apart like this was slavery, and it's the same argument. Those that were for slavery said, 'Well there's not really a person here. . . . The Supreme Court said the same thing, just like they did in Roe vs. Wade.

"But there were those who understood that the foundational core principal that made this country what it was is that we believe that all of us are created, and that makes us equal. And that means we should protect the most innocent among us."