Foreign Policy In The Twilight Zone 

Watching events unfold in Washington this week has been like living in the Twilight Zone. Who would have thought five years ago that Barack Obama, an anti-war liberal, would be asking Congress for the authority to bomb Syria? 

Who would have imagined that John Kerry, who made headlines decades ago for condemning his fellow countrymen serving in Vietnam, would now be making forceful arguments for the use of American military power overseas? And did you see that the Code Pink demonstrators, who used to call Bush and Rumsfeld "war criminals," are now aiming their venom at Kerry? 

In the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday, Secretary of State Kerry warned senators that the world was watching. Kerry added, "Iran is hoping you look the other way. Our inaction would surely give them a permission slip for them to at least misinterpret our intention if not to put it to the test." 

Yes, the mullahs in Tehran certainly are watching. 

They watched as Barack Obama sent letters to the ayatollah. 

They watched as he repeatedly dignified the regime by referring to it as the "Islamic Republic of Iran."

They watched as he spoke of having an "open hand" toward Iran. 

They watched his passivity when the regime brutally suppressed a pro-democracy movement.

They watched Obama go ballistic when Israel built homes for Jews in Jerusalem and warned them not to strike Iran's nuclear program. 

They watched as Obama opposed tougher sanctions against Iran. 

Yes, Iran's nuclear program is, ultimately, the most important national security issue at stake in the Middle East. And, yes, John Kerry is correct to suggest that the Iranians are watching us. 

But the idea that a few missiles fired at "limited" targets in Syria will erase five years of weakness doesn't pass the straight face test. America's response cannot be, as commentator Charles Krauthammer put it, a "demonstration of unseriousness." 

Obama's Blame Game 

The Washington Post reports today that Obama has put together a "brain trust" to embark on a "campaign" to convince the public why it is necessary to strike Syria. But it will no doubt surprise many Americans to learn that the "brain trust" is not made up of national security or foreign policy experts. Instead, it is a "who's who" of Obama's political machine, with David Axelrod and David Plouffe at the top of the list. 

Joining them are Robert Gibbs, Obama's former press secretary, and Anita Dunn, Obama's former communications director. There is also Stephanie Cutter, Obama's 2012 deputy campaign manager, and Jon Favreau, a former Obama speech writer. 

Obama is always in campaign mode. He desperately wants to hold the Senate and win the House back next year. If he can exploit the Syria vote to help him accomplish that goal, he will. In fact, he already started this morning in Sweden. At a press conference, Obama said that his credibility was not at stake because, "I didn't set a red line" about the use of chemical weapons. 

Obama went on to claim that it was Congress that set the "red line" and that Congress' credibility was at stake. 

Your Reaction 

The response to our questions yesterday about Syria was one of the largest we have ever received. 

To sum up the results, you and half the country just do not trust Barack Obama. Overwhelmingly, you approved of Obama's decision to go to Congress because you want Congress to "check" him.

You also overwhelmingly want Congress to oppose a resolution authorizing the use of force in Syria. Moreover, a significant plurality (more than 40%) indicated that a different president might change their opinion. 

As an aside, several readers responded with concerns that a strike on Syria might put Israel in jeopardy. I have to tell you that Israel already feels it is in jeopardy from Syria's massive stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, which could be unleashed at any moment or given to a terrorist organization like Hezbollah. 

Of course, Israel knows its greatest threat is Iran's nuclear program. Many Israelis feel that America's failure to respond to Syria's use of chemical weapons would signal weakness from Washington, further isolating Israel, and encouraging Tehran, leading to much worse down the road. 

That is why our friends at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee issued a very strong statement of support for military strikes on Syria, which you can read here. 

Pro-Abortion Prayers? 

While we debate possible hostilities in Syria, the culture war in America continues. Sadly, the pro-abortion left has reached new lows of what can only be described as a sickness. 

I am pro-life. Occasionally I have debated people who feel abortion is a necessary evil. Most liberals deny the "pro-abortion" label. But seldom does the pro-abortion side expose itself so openly as it recently did during a protest at the Iowa state capitol. 

With two Democrat candidates for governor in attendance, a liberal activist offered a prayer to God in which she described abortion as a "blessing." She added, "we give thanks and celebrate that abortion is still safe and legal." 

There was no mention in the prayer of God's actual view on life. He states clearly in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse, therefore choose life, that you and your children may live." 

L’Shanah Tovah 

To all of our Jewish friends and supporters, Carol and I wish you a happy Rosh Hashanah!