Another Foreign Policy Fiasco 

The fundamental transformation of America, economically and culturally, is obvious to most of you, and we are doing all that we can to fight back. But the damage to our foreign policy is not so obvious, and the mess that is being made will be very hard for the next president to clean up. 

For example, while this administration is trying to prevent law-abiding American citizens from owning certain firearms, it is sending tanks and jets to the radical Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt -- weapons that could well be used against our ally Israel. While reducing America's dependence on oil from hostile regimes has been a key priority for years, this administration has so far refused to embrace the Keystone pipeline from our ally Canada. 

Now there are reports that President Obama sent secret missions to North Korea. For years the Left railed against George W. Bush's "cowboy" policies. "If only we would talk to our enemies," they said, as if our disagreements were just simple misunderstandings.

So what did Obama do? He reached out to North Korea, and it got us nothing but another nuclear test. The latest North Korean propaganda film says the nuclear test was prompted by our "hostility" and shows President Obama and U.S. soldiers engulfed in flames. By the way, North Korea is working hand-in-hand with Iran too. 

But the really breathtaking part is that we conducted these missions without letting Japan, a key ally, know. Not only did we not tell Japan, but when Japanese officials discovered evidence of our secret flights to North Korea and approached us, the administration's response was dismissive and arrogant, even threatening. According to the report, "The U.S. State Department even warned the [Japanese] Foreign Ministry against making further inquiries, saying they would harm bilateral relations." 

I understand that the U.S. can't conduct every foreign policy mission in broad daylight. But to the Japanese, this must surely seem very unusual. Japan is facing an increasingly aggressive China, and it is well within range of North Korean missiles. Why wouldn't we want Japan to know unless we were getting ready to make concessions they would object to? 

This administration's approach to the world can be summed up as a unique foreign policy that reaches out to our enemies while insulting our friends. That is not a recipe for success. 

More Questions About Hagel 

In recent days new information about controversial speeches by former Senator Chuck Hagel has come to light. Yesterday the Washington Free Beacon reported that during a 2010 appearance at Rutgers University, Hagel allegedly accused Israel of routinely violating U.N. resolutions, called for negotiations with Hamas, labeled Benjamin Netanyahu a "radical" and suggested that Israel was becoming an "apartheid state." 

This new revelation comes on the heels of a report last week about another Rutgers speech Hagel gave in 2007. During those remarks, Hagel said, "The State Department has become adjunct to the Israeli Foreign Minister's office." Monday the Daily Caller reported that Hagel's 2007 speech was organized by a foundation directly controlled by the Iranian regime. In fact, Hooshang Amirahmadi, who ran the foundation at the time of Hagel's speech, is a candidate for the Iranian presidency this year. 

In recent days, I have received a number of emails expressing frustration that some conservative senators appear willing to end the filibuster of Hagel's nomination. These senators fundamentally believe that the president should get his choices. 

As frustrating as that is (and we think Hagel could still be beaten), the really depressing thing is that the overwhelming majority of Senate liberals also campaigned as friends of Israel. Yet not one of them has been willing to stand up and oppose Chuck Hagel. 

Criminalizing Judeo-Christian Values 

For those of you who appreciate biblical references, we've been telling you that the handwriting is on the wall when it comes to the radical agenda of the militant homosexual rights movement. It is trying to criminalize the teaching of the Bible and punish those who dare defend God's ordained institution of marriage. Well, here we go. 

Last month a homosexual rights group dragged Pastor Scott Lively into a Massachusetts federal court and essentially charged him with "crimes against humanity." The suit alleges that Lively's preaching and support for legislation in Uganda criminalizing homosexual behavior directly contributed to violence against homosexuals in the country. 

And who is behind the lawsuit? The left's biggest benefactor -- George Soros. The plaintiffs in the case are being represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is funded by Soros. 

Fortunately the judge seemed highly critical of the Center's claim that Lively could be held responsible. But this lawsuit is a dangerous precedent that exposes the Left's intolerance for our First Amendment rights of free speech and religious liberty.