Obama's Modern Military 

Pastor Brad Whitt of Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, is in shock. For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. Army is refusing to provide an honor guard from nearby Fort Gordon for the church's annual Independence Day celebration. 

Why? Because of a 2011 regulation imposed by the Obama Administration declaring that the Army cannot participate in any event "involving the promotion, endorsement or sponsorship of a religious movement."

This is beyond absurd, and yet another sign of the Obama Administration's hostility toward faith.

As Fox News columnist Todd Starnes notes, Abilene Baptist Church was founded in 1774. Its founding pastor "was a chaplain in the Revolutionary Army." 

How on earth can it be a violation of Army regulations to provide an honor guard to a church celebrating Independence Day when the Army employs Christian chaplains? By the way, the Pentagon had no problem providing an honor guard to last year's "Gay Pride" parade in Washington, D.C. 

"It was an absolute shock," said Pastor Whitt. "What a sad commentary on the state of affairs in America." 

Out-Of-Touch On Trade 

As you know, I have expressed deep concern that in the name of free trade and free markets we are continuing to gut our manufacturing base. 

Over the years, communities like Baltimore have been decimated by the loss of blue-collar jobs that could lift families, including minority families, into the middle class. 

On a related issue, I think it is beyond infuriating that a corporate giant like Disney, which owns ABC, would abuse the H1B visa program to bring in cheaper labor to replace American citizens working in those jobs.

But let's put those issues aside for the moment. I am more than perplexed as to why leaders in Congress are falling all over themselves to grant Barack Obama additional powers to negotiate yet another secret trade deal. 

According to a new NBC News poll, "Two-thirds of Americans say protecting American industries and jobs by limiting imports is more important" than cheaper prices on imported products. Yet House leaders announced today that they will vote Friday on legislation granting Obama fast-track trade negotiating authority, flying directly into the teeth of public opinion. 

I'm sure some in the leadership would argue that they are doing this because it they believe is the best thing for the country. But, just like so-called "comprehensive immigration reform," this is yet another disturbing example of how corporate and political elites are out-of-touch with the American people. 

Obama's Floundering Foreign Policy 

A number of headlines from around the world caught my attention today. Taken as a whole, they paint a dire picture of Obama's floundering foreign policy.
 

• General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to Israeli reporters yesterday and commented on the concerns many have about President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Here's what the general said:

  "My assessment is that I share their concern. If the deal is reached and results in sanctions relief, which results in more economic power and more purchasing power for the Iranian regime, it's my expectation that it's not all going to flow into [Iran's] economy. I think that they will invest in their surrogates [Hamas and Hezbollah]. I think they will invest in additional military capability."

  Just to be clear, General Dempsey is agreeing with the critics of Obama's Iranian outreach and disagreeing with the president he serves.
   

• While Obama has been attempting to cut a new deal with Iran, the regime has been caught repeatedly cheating on existing agreements. A new report from -- of all places -- the United Nations calls out the Obama Administration and its European negotiating partners for ignoring Iran's blatant violations. Consider this excerpt: 

  "The current situation with reporting could reflect a general reduction of procurement activities by the Iranian side or a political decision by some member states to refrain from reporting to avoid a possible negative impact on ongoing negotiations."

• Lastly, the president's failure to come up with a strategy to defeat ISIS could result in a catastrophic terrorist attack. A year ago, the Iraqi government warned that ISIS had seized nuclear material from a research facility at Mosul University. 

  Now western intelligence agencies fear that ISIS may have enough radioactive material for a "dirty nuclear bomb." 

  This chilling warning comes on the heels of a separate analysis suggesting that "ISIS is likely to begin and end Ramadan [June 17 - July 17] with attempted spectacular military offensive actions in Iraq and Syria."