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The Iranian President’s UN Speech of Lies

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Iran was mentioned prominently in President Trump’s first speech to the UN General Assembly.

The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country, with a rich history and culture, into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos.

The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States.

The following day, Iran’s President, Hassan Rowhani (also spelled Rouhani), gave his own speech – a rebuttal if you will – to the UN General Assembly.

Rowhani’s speech was eloquent, filled with noble overtones.

It was also comprised almost entirely of lies.Continue Reading

President Trump’s Courageous Speech – Hard Truths at the UN

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“There can be no substitute for strong, sovereign, and independent nations, nations that are rooted in the histories and invested in their destiny, nations that seek allies to befriend, not enemies to conquer, and most important of all, nations that are home to patriots.” – President Donald J. Trump

“Wherever true socialism or communism has been adopted, it has delivered anguish and devastation and failure.” – President Donald J. Trump

President Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time today.

President Trump was clear, direct and forthright.

Sovereignty was the underlying and continuing theme.

It was a speech the UN members needed to hear – containing truths that needed to be told.

It might have been President Trump’s best speech to date.Continue Reading

The Iranian Nuclear Deal Revisited – It’s Even Worse Than We Thought

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“The most important job of our foreign minister is first to stand behind the JCPOA, and not to allow the US and other enemies to succeed,”  – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhan 8-20-17

So spoke Iran’s President in regards to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – also known as the Iranian Nuclear Deal.

Why is it that Iran’s President would feel so strongly about keeping the nuclear deal intact?

On August 22, 2017, Iran’s atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi shocked the International Community by stating that Iran needs only five days to ramp up its uranium enrichment to 20 percent, a level at which the material could quickly be further enriched for use in a nuclear weapon:Continue Reading

Globally Leveraging our Energy Production

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Dr. Sebastian Gorka recently referred to the U.S. as a Hyperpower. He is correct.

But power is not purely military. Power is also economic might and influence.

The two are inexorably linked to the other.

President Trump campaigned on energy independence for the United States. He immediately followed through on those promises by signing the Energy Independence Policy Executive Order, which unleashed a wave of U.S. energy production.Continue Reading

Trump’s Supreme Court Victory

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The Supreme Court granted President Trump what amounts to a crucial, although partial, stay of lesser court rulings on the Administration’s Travel Ban. The ruling was unanimous at 9-0. I have previously written on the Travel Ban, and, like many, am unsurprised at the ruling. The court will take up the case in October when it reconvenes – maybe.

You can find the full ruling by the Supreme Court here.

But first, it’s worth recalling exactly what the Travel Ban was attempting to accomplish. The second Executive Order’s Travel Ban contains four significant pronouncements:

  1. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a global review to determine whether foreign governments provide adequate information about nationals applying for United States visas.
  2. Directs that entry of nationals from six countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of the order.
  3. Suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days following its effective date.
  4. Citing the President’s determination that “the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States,” the order suspends any entries in excess of that number for fiscal 2017.

Continue Reading

13 Demands for Qatar

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Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued what can only be described as an onerous list of thirteen demands to Qatar. I previously wrote about the GCC’s cutting of ties with Qatar – and the unprecedented level of GCC coordination and cooperation from such an action.

The Middle East has realigned dramatically, dividing itself between those regimes who support extremism and those who oppose it. The GCC, led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have chosen to stand against extremism. Iran – and Turkey – have chosen otherwise.

Qatar – a member of the GCC – has quietly, yet consistently, chosen to align itself with extremists – particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar supported the extremist factions in Syria throughout the civil war. And Qatar has subtly aligned itself with Iran – in direct opposition to the Saudi/Egypt led efforts to align Arab nations against the Iranian regime.

The allied GCC Arab nations want an end to Qatari interference in domestic politics, an end to support for extremism – and a strong unified GCC stance against Iran.Continue Reading

Trump’s Middle East Speech & the GCC’s Rebuke of Qatar

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Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives, Yemen and Libya have all announced they are cutting ties with Qatar. The countries have ordered their citizens out of Qatar and have given Qatari citizens residing in their countries fourteen days to return to Qatar. Qatari diplomats are being ejected immediately – within 48 hours. Air travel is restricted immediately and land routes are being blocked.

In a closely coordinated move, Bahrain was the first to break ties with Qatar, followed quickly by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and the Maldives.

At this point, Kuwait and Oman are the only members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that have retained ties with Qatar (also a GCC member). Don’t be surprised if these countries join as well.

At the risk of understatement, this is significant news – and represents an unprecedented level of coordination between the Arab nations.Continue Reading

Leakers, MSM Hysteria & Trump’s Middle East Mission

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President Trump is headed to the Middle East for a historic trip – in its scope one never undertaken by any other national leader. President Trump will head first to Saudi Arabia where he will meet with King Salman who has reportedly assembled a greeting committee of more than 20 heads of state. Following Saudi Arabia, President Trump will continue on to Israel to meet with officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and also a visit into Bethlehem where he will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. From there he will continue on to Rome for a meeting with Pope Francis. The trip wraps up with a visit to Brussels for a meeting with NATO leaders and finally to Sicily for the G7 Summit.

This will not be the first series of meetings President Trump will have with Middle East leaders. Rather, they are a continuation in a series of strategic meetings. In early April, I wrote about President Trump’s ongoing meetings with Middle East leaders in Trump’s Strategic Syrian Strike:Continue Reading

The EU’s Two Intractable Issues & Election Anxiety

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Brussels is breathing a sigh of relief. The first round of the French elections have passed with Marie Le Pen, the anti-immigration, anti-European Union candidate, and Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, pro-open borders and pro-European Union, heading for a runoff election on May 7th. Macron is heavily favored to win the runoff election according to polls. It is telling that both candidates are effectively outsiders – candidates from the French establishment parties were defeated.

But Brussels should not feel overly confident with this short-term respite. While Le Pen is likely to lose the runoff election, she will remain a political force. If she somehow pulls off an upset win, the shock to the EU will be severe – perhaps fatal. Italy, however, may be the true test for the EU. Indeed, Italy may be the place where the fate of the European Union is decided.Continue Reading

Russia’s Strategic Interest in Syria

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“One of the most important tasks is to broaden the energy supply … Energy determines today international security and social as well as economic development in many respects. In reality the well-being of millions of people is directly dependent in energy security.” – Vladimir Putin

“Qatar would like to see WJC (Bill Clinton) “for five minutes” in NYC, to present $1 million check that Qatar promised for WJC’s birthday in 2011.” – Amitabh Desai (Dir Foreign Policy – Clinton Foundation)

Russia has long supported Syria and the Assad regime – and has assisted Assad politically, financially and with military aid since the beginning of the Syrian conflict. On September 30, 2015, Russia officially joined the fight in Syria with a series of airstrikes. Prior to direct Russian intervention it had appeared the Assad regime would collapse. Fast-forward to the present. The rebel forces have lost and pro-Assad forces now control most major cities. ISIS remains in the less populated Syrian northeast.

So, why is Russia involved with Syria?Continue Reading