War On Cops

The war against police in America continues. Yesterday morning, three Baton Rouge officers were gunned down by a former Marine, Gavin Long, who also went by the name "Cosmo Setepenra." Long carried out the assassinations on his 29th birthday. Three other officers were injured in the attack.

Responding to the shooting, Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, "With God's help, we will get through this. To me this is not so much about gun control as it is about what's in men's hearts." He is right, and there appears to have been a lot of hatred in Gavin Long's heart.

The killer had an active social media presence. A day after the attack on Dallas police, Long tweeted a picture of Micah Johnson that seemed to celebrate him with the caption, "The Shooter was NOT WHITE. He was one of us!"

Two days later, Long posted a video in which he encouraged more violence, saying, "One hundred percent of revolutions. . . have been successful through fighting back, through bloodshed. Zero have been successful just over protesting. . . we know what it's going to take. . . Revenue and blood, revenue and blood, revenue and blood, nothing else."

Long also claimed to have been a member of the Nation of Islam, led by the racist Jew-hater Louis Farrakhan. As you may recall, last summer Farrakhan called for "10,000 fearless men" to "rise up and kill those who kill us; stalk them and kill them and let them feel the pain of death that we are feeling!"

Sadly, it seems that extremists like Micah Johnson and Gavin Long may be answering Farrakhan's call. No word yet on whether the FBI and the Obama Justice Department are investigating the Nation of Islam.

Standing With Israel

Thousands of pro-Israel Christian activists have come to the nation's capital for the annual Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Washington Summit, which kicked off this morning. As you may know, I also serve as the director of Christians United for Israel Action Fund, CUFI's Washington, D.C.-based lobbying arm.

Delegates heard from CUFI founder Pastor John Hagee, IDF veteran Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, Jon Medved, one of Israel's leading high tech venture capitalists, and Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Greek Orthodox priest who urges Israeli Christians to serve in the IDF.

This afternoon, I am moderating a panel on the Middle East featuring distinguished experts such as Major Elliot Chodoff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Population for the Northern Region of Israel, Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Oliver North and Erick Stakelbeck, host of "The Watchman," CUFI's weekly show on TBN.

Tonight, there will be a "Night to Honor Israel," featuring remarks from Dr. David Jeremiah and Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Click here to watch tonight's event online.

Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the delegates via satellite and then they will head up to Capitol Hill to urge their members of Congress to stand with Israel.

Make America Safe Again

That's the theme for Day One of the Republican National Convention, just getting underway in Cleveland, Ohio. Just in the past month alone, we have witnessed horrendous terrorist attacks in Orlando, Istanbul and Nice. Add to that the attacks against police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

Today's speakers at the Republican National Convention will highlight the theme of making America safe again. Some of the speakers addressing the convention today are:
 

• Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
• Retired Lt. General Michael Flynn, who served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Obama Administration.
• Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a retired Lt. Colonel in the Iowa National Guard.
• Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a decorated combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who served 13 years in the Army Reserves.
• Former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell
• Pat Smith, whose son died during the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
• Marines Mark Geist and John Tiegen, who defended the consulate and the CIA annex in Benghazi.
• Kent Terry and Kelly Terry-Willis, relatives of slain Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
• Jamiel Shaw, whose teen-aged son was executed by an illegal immigrant gang member.
• Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke.
• Decorated Army Special Operations veteran Jason Beardsley.

  Delegates will also hear from Melania Trump, wife of GOP nominee Donald Trump.

  A brief battle broke out this afternoon on the convention floor when anti-Trump delegates attempted to force a vote on changing the convention's rules. But convention chairman Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas ruled against a record vote and delegates moved on to consideration of the platform.

  Speaking of making America safe again, click here to read my latest opinion piece on Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.

  Key Pro-Life Leader Joins AV Staff

  My friends, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Charmaine Yoest, former president and CEO of Americans United for Life, has joined the staff of American Values.

  Dr. Yoest began her career in the Reagan White House and later served as a vice president at the Family Research Council. She was also a senior advisor on the 2008 Mike Huckabee presidential campaign. She is the author of "Mother in the Middle" and is currently working on a second book.

  For more than 25 years, I have worked with Charmaine as she has fought for the sanctity of life, women, the family and religious liberty. She has a tremendous wealth of policy experience and media savvy, and I am honored to have her join our team at this most critical time in our nation's history.