“But while there are so many laws of our ancestors’ devising, and many that the deified [Emperor] Augustus enacted, the former have become ineffectual because they are forgotten, the latter (which is worse) because they have been flouted. This has only bolstered confidence in the life of luxury. For if you hanker after what is not yet forbidden, you may fear its being forbidden in the future. But if you have transgressed in a prohibited area and not been punished, there is no fear or shame after that.” — Tacitus, The Annals (1)

Continue reading “Those who flout the republic’s laws, fan the flames of rebellion”

Mr. President:

I was driving home Friday afternoon (10 March 2017) and listening to Oliver North doing an interview on FOX. North was delighted that we now had 5,000 troops in Iraq and 1,000 in Syria and — he said — more would be going to each. North also gleefully praised you for “listening to your generals.”

Continue reading “Mr. Trump: Re-intervention in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan kills the chance to revive America”

“And thus the community perpetually retains a supreme power of saving themselves from the attempts and designs of anybody, even of their legislators, whenever they shall be so foolish, or so wicked, as to lay and carry on designs against the liberties and properties of the subject.” — John Locke, Second Treatise, Chapter 13 (1)

“General revolts and rebellions of a whole people never were encouraged now or at any time. They were always provoked.” — Edmund Burke, 1777 (2)

Continue reading “A lesson from two George Bushes: Never give the elite the benefit of the doubt”

President Trump’s remark about Sweden and Muslim refugee violence was absolutely correct; Muslim violence of multiple ugly sorts is a nightly occurrence in Sweden. But those American journalist fellows — you know, the guys who are intentionally putting bulls-eyes on their backs — will not write talk about it because:

Continue reading “Trump was right, Sweden is being wrecked by Muslim violence, the U.S. media is hiding it”

For the past several years I have been considering an article to address the issue which the media is constantly whining and wondering about; namely, the killing of journalists overseas in war zones and elsewhere. I have hesitated until today because I write with some directness, and did not want to seem to be endorsing such activity. But I really think that the question should be asked not as “Why are journalists being killed overseas?” but rather as “Why is it that more journalists are not being killed overseas and domestically?”

Continue reading “But Senator McCain, you and most of the media are enemies of the American republic”

In recent days, there have been a number of straws in the wind claiming that the Trump administration is pondering whether to reinforce America’s utter defeat in Afghanistan by sending more U.S. troops there. The media report, for example, that the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, has asked for more ground troops, almost certainly for use in the now out-of-control southern Afghan provinces of Kandahar and Helmand. This kind of media report is generally the prelude to an official announcement that more troops will be sent. If sent, the reason for more troops will be something akin to “the general in charge on the ground in Afghanistan knows best, and we must support him to finish the job after all the war has cost America in blood and treasure.”

Continue reading “President Trump: Afghanistan is your easiest task — GET OUT”

In an interview with FOX’s Bill O’Reilly on 5 February 2017, President Trump botched an exemplary opportunity to strike a major blow in favor of a durable America First foreign policy. But more such chances are sure to appear, and the President ought to be ready next time out.

Continue reading “Mr. President, tell the media that Putin is infinitely less murderous than U.S. democracy crusaders”

The past two weeks have been full of examples that demonstrate how difficult it is to defend the United States from its enemies — as the saying goes — foreign and domestic. The Trump administration’s first step toward improved U.S. national security — the travel ban — was opposed by multicultural and therefore brain-dead political, religious, media, and academic elites in North America and Europe. As long as these paragons of idiocy are addicted to the genuinely stupid idea that you can make a political entity stronger by adding ingredients that erode its unity and pits its citizens against each other, domestic security will remain far over the horizon.

Continue reading “On the travel ban, the Islam war, and more interventionism”

“Tell them from me that they can talk and write resolutions and print threats to their heart’s content. But if one drop of blood be shed there in defiance of the laws of the United States, I will hang the first man of them I can get my hands on to the first tree I can find.” — Andrew Jackson, 1832 (1)

“I tell you, Hayne, when Jackson begins to talk about hanging, they can begin to look out for ropes!” — Senator T.H. Benton to Senator Robert Hayne, 1832 (2)

Continue reading “On sanctuary, Mr. President, speed fueled by Jacksonian fury is vital”

On 13 January 2016, the Moscow Times reported the following:

“Russian army personnel are being briefed for deployment to Syria, according to military brochures obtained by Russia’s Novaya Gazeta newspaper. … One brochure is emblazoned with the logo of the Red Army — a red, white, and blue star — and features a Russian-Arabic phrase book, a map of Syria and the Middle east, and an illustrated guide to military equipment and ranks within the Syrian army. … Military experts say the brochures are similar to those handed out to Soviet troops before and during the Afghan war, Novaya Gazeta reported.”

Continue reading “Putin pitches in to clear the way for Trump’s America First foreign policy”