Hamas Prepares For War 

A couple of stories from the Middle East today caught my attention. Radical Islam is on the march and, as usual, Western leaders seem oblivious.

Today's Washington Post front page story on Hamas should be required reading in Congress. A Post reporter recently got access to terrorist training camps run by Hamas in Gaza. More than 17,000 teenagers and young men were trained to fire Kalashnikov rifles, throw grenades and build improvised explosive devices. 

One 16-year-old, who was trained with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, told the Post, "I want to fight Israel. I want to kick them out of our land. I am ready now." A 15-year-old said, "I joined the camp because I want to know how to confront the Jews. . ." Another said, "Every day we have someone from Hamas giving us a lesson on jihad and the importance of it."

One Hamas trainer said they had to turn away hundreds of 12 and 13-year-old boys. "They were standing on their tiptoes trying to get in." Referring to last year's war in which more 2,000 Palestinians died, he added, "We have plenty who want to join. They want to retaliate. They want revenge." Of course, what he failed to mention is that Hamas started that war. 

During the graduation ceremony, a senior Hamas commander told the young jihadis that Hamas was "busy getting ready for the next battle," and that they were preparing the "next generation . . . for Jerusalem, the West Bank and Palestine." 

My friends, no one wants peace more than the Israelis do. But where are the peace partners with whom the Israelis are supposed to negotiate? 

Let me remind you that Israel gave up Gaza ten years ago, hoping for peace. Look what has happened! The Post writes that Hamas has waged three wars against Israel in the past six years and it is clearly preparing for another one. Thousands of Palestinian families are sending their children to terrorist training camps to become jihadis, to learn how to kill Jews. 

Muslim Brotherhood Visits The State Department 

The State Department hosted a delegation of Muslim Brotherhood leaders this week. The Brotherhood are radical Islamists who ascended to power in Egypt in 2011 with the support of the Obama Administration. 

The Egyptian people rose up against the Brotherhood after it failed to curtail corruption and when its leader, Mohamed Morsi, unsurprisingly attempted to seize dictatorial powers. The Egyptian military arrested Morsi and ousted the Brotherhood in 2013. 

A State Department official justified the meeting saying, "We meet with representatives from across the political spectrum in Egypt." That's an odd way to put it. Egypt banned the Brotherhood in December 2013 as a terrorist organization. Four other countries also consider it to be a terrorist group. 

And with good reason. It's slogan is: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope. Allahu Akbar!"

So it really shouldn't surprise anyone that, just two days after its members were walking the halls of our State Department, the Muslim Brotherhood is now issuing a call for jihad against the Egyptian government. A statement posted on the Brotherhood's website reads: 
 

". . .we are in the process of a new phase . . . where we recall the meanings of jihad and prepare ourselves, our wives, our sons, our daughters, and whoever marched on our path to a long, uncompromising jihad, and during this stage we ask for martyrdom."

Amazing, isn't it? The administration is trying to stop Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of America's friend and ally, from coming to the United States to warn Congress and the American people about the threat of a nuclear Iran. But it puts out the welcome mat for our enemies. 

Taliban Not Terrorists? 

Earlier this week, a White House spokesman argued that the Taliban wasn't a terrorist group. Today, the Taliban is claiming responsibility for an attack that killed three Americans in Kabul. And CNN is reporting that one of the Taliban leaders freed from Gitmo last year in exchange for Bowe Bergdahl has been communicating with the Taliban about "trying to engage again in militant activity." 

No Romney Re-Run 

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney took himself out of the 2016 presidential contest today. In a call with donors and supporters, Romney said, "I've decided it is best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee." 

In what is widely viewed as a jab at Jeb Bush, Romney added, "I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well-known as I am today . . . may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee. In fact, I expect and hope that to be the case."  Coincidentally or not, Romney is reportedly having dinner this evening with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

While Romney bows out, Hillary may be hitting the brakes. Politico reported yesterday that Mrs. Clinton may delay her announcement until well into the summer. One top operative said, "She doesn't feel under any pressure, and they see no primary challenge on the horizon." 

It's no secret that some progressives despise the idea of a "Clinton coronation," but no one of any stature appears willing to take her on. That has some Democrats worried. There's little doubt Hillary would be a formidable nominee, but what if she doesn't run? (There are plenty of reasons for her not to run.) 

Perhaps Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) would jump in, but some pundits are noting that absent Hillary, "the Democratic bench is shockingly weak."