MS-13 vs. The Thin Blue Line
 
Last year, President Trump triggered the left when he referred to MS-13 gang members as "animals."  He said, "You wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people. These are animals." 
 
The media and open borders advocates went nuts.  They falsely accused Trump of denigrating Hispanics and immigrants generally.
 
But the left's smears were a grossly dishonest attack meant to distract the American people from the real issue:  The vicious Latin American gang is a serious threat to communities all around the country.  It is known for its brutality and for preying on children. 
 
The reason I am revisiting this is because the New York Police Department issued a warning this week that MS-13 gang members were plotting to assassinate off-duty police officers.  These thugs are even "conducting reconnaissance of [officers'] private residences." 
 
Sadly, our lax immigration policies are largely responsible for the fact that Latin American gangs are now menacing communities from Long Beach to Long Island. 
 
The Trump Administration is serious about controlling our borders and shutting this gang down.  But too many politicians in both parties are refusing to support him.
 
I hope and pray that the NYPD and ICE can work together to prevent any police officers and their families from being harmed in the days ahead.  But if an officer is killed, their blood will be on the hands of the feckless politicians who are thwarting President Trump's efforts to secure our borders.
 
 
 
The Useless U.N.
 
A commission of the U.N. Human Rights Council issued a blatantly biased report this week accusing Israel of committing war crimes when it defended its Gaza border against massive Palestinian riots.  According to the Washington Post:
 
"The commission determined that the protests . . . arose out of a desire by Gaza residents to draw attention, in a nonviolent manner, to the dire humanitarian situation in the strip amid a strict land, sea and air blockade by Israel and Egypt that has been in place for more than a decade."
 
The report is instructive because it proves yet again how utterly useless the United Nations is when it comes to promoting the truth about Israel.  As columnist Tom Rogan notes, "the report includes only one mention of Hamas in a negative sense," and, of course, it was Hamas that organized the assault on Israel's border.
 
Here are the facts you need to know:
 

• The reason Gaza is under a blockade is because it is ruled by the terrorists of Hamas.  Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and Hamas quickly seized power.  It did not build schools and hospitals or do anything to benefit the Palestinian people.  Instead, it turned Gaza into a launching pad for non-stop terror campaigns.

• This latest eruption of violence at the border has nothing to do with the conditions in Gaza.  The Palestinians call this campaign "the Great March of Return."  Return to what?  The land of Israel.  In other words, it's an invasion, which is generally what assaults on borders are called.

• The notion that these were "nonviolent" demonstrations or protests is betrayed by the fact that Hamas proudly claimed many of the "martyrs" as their own members.  Moreover, the Palestinian Authority's representative in France told the French government last year that "Iran is fully financing and pushing the Hamas demonstrations."

 
The Israeli government categorically rejected the U.N.'s findings.  In a blistering statement, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry blasted the Human Rights Council, saying:
 
"Israel utterly rejects the report published by the Commission of Inquiry of the UN Human Rights Council.  This report was born in sin, in a politically biased, one-sided resolution that determined the outcome before the investigation even started. . .
 
"Hamas has declared war on Israel and calls to kill Jews. Hamas is orchestrating the attacks and using civilians in Gaza as human weapons to assault Israel and Israeli civilians. . .
 
"Israel will continue to defend its citizens from these attacks, despite the Council's sentiment that Israel has no right to defend its borders."
 
 
 
The Left's Embrace Of Socialism
 
With an avowed socialist leading the pack of Democrat 2020 contenders and new socialists in Congress making waves with policies like the Green New Deal and "Medicare for All," Harvard University decided to find out what voters think about socialism. 

• Asked whether the U.S. economy should be "mostly capitalist" or "mostly socialist," 65% of registered voters chose capitalism, while 35% chose socialism.

• However, 64% of voters say the Democrat Party promotes socialism, while only 36% say Democrats oppose it.

• Democrats themselves were divided -- 51% of Democrats favor a capitalist economy, while 49% support socialism.

 
 
 
Pence At CPAC
 
Vice President Mike Pence delivered a stirring address today at the Conservative Political Action Conference.  Watch it here.  Below are some excerpts of his remarks:
 
"As I stand before you today, the American economy is booming.  In just over two years, businesses large and small have created 5.3 million new jobs, including over 480,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs. . .  Unemployment has hit a 50-year low. . .
 
"And in this administration, we're also standing every day with the brave men and women of law enforcement, and we've been giving all those who stand on the Thin Blue Line the resources and the respect they deserve every single day.
 
"And that includes the courageous men and women of Customs and Border Protection who put their lives on the line every single day.  Under this President and this administration, we will never abolish ICE. . .  And we've already started to build that wall.  And I'll make you a promise: Before we're done, we're going to build it all. . .
 
"You know, when President Obama, in 2014, said we had a humanitarian crisis at southern border, 120,000 minors and families crossed our border illegally.  Last year, there were 145,000. . .
 
"So today we call on every member of Congress: Stand up for border security, stop playing politics with the security of the American people, and stand with President Trump for a stronger and safer America. . . 
 
"You know, the freedom of religion is not just enshrined in our Constitution; it's enshrined in the hearts of the American people.  But make no mistake about it: Freedom of religion is under attack in our country. . .  Under this President and this administration, we will always stand with people of faith. . .
 
"And as we reflect on our God-given liberties, I got to tell you, I couldn't be more proud to serve as Vice President to the most pro-life President in American history.  
 
"Since the first days of this administration, President Donald Trump has stood without apology for the sanctity of human life.  In one of his very first acts, the President reinstated the Mexico City Policy, preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion or abortion providers around the world. 
 
"And here at home, President Trump signed a law to allow all 50 states to defund Planned Parenthood.  Life is winning in America once again."