"In good sadness, I am sorry that for my sake you have sufferd all this."

To all the families & friends of those killed at Ft. Hood, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

In spite of the business-as-usual attitude expressed by our media & politicians, we recognize the magnitude of your loss--OUR loss. This is indeed a national tragedy on the order of Va. Tech or Columbine. Indeed worse when we remind ourselves that your loved ones were targeted because of their service to all of us.

We remember them. We remember their service. And we want you to know we are standing beside you.

"What needeth then apologies be made."

Shameful. Utterly shameful. He must be too busy ignoring recent elections and can't be bothered to speak up for the oppressed people of Iran.

Obama Speaks Appeasement to Evildoers [Michael Ledeen]

As Michael Rubin notes, there are ongoing demonstrations against the Iranian regime all over the country. It seems clear that the violence from the Revolutionary Guards and Basij is worse than anything to date. The Supreme Leader delivered a verbal beating to President Obama, demanding a full American retreat. And what does our president do? He issues a statement that doesn't even mention the regime's savagery, instead mewling and whining, asking for the Iranian regime to make nice. Here he is, in full Carter/Chamberlain mode:

We do not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. We have condemned terrorist attacks against Iran. We have recognized Iran’s international right to peaceful nuclear power. We have demonstrated our willingness to take confidence-building steps along with others in the international community. We have accepted a proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency to meet Iran’s request for assistance in meeting the medical needs of its people. We have made clear that if Iran lives up to the obligations that every nation has, it will have a path to a more prosperous and productive relationship with the international community.

A sad day to be an American, don't you think? As Churchill said of Chamberlain, we can say of Obama: You had a choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.

In fact, he's already got it. It always happens when you become an accomplice to evil.

More From the Appeaser in Chief [Michael Ledeen]

Just when the president should have been expressing solidarity with the Iranian freedom fighters, he sells them out again:

WASHINGTON – The White House is calling for an end to violence in Iran as security forces there crack down on anti-government protesters.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that Obama administration leaders are following reports of the unrest and "hope greatly that violence will not spread."

Personally, I hope the demonstrations spread like wildfire until the regime burns and crashes.

Shame. Shame. Shame.

"We will bind and hoodwink him so."

A very serious, thoughtful, & provocative piece--certainly a must-read--by Robert Kagan...

Watching the Obama administration launch its "new era of engagement" over the past 10 months, most seasoned observers have pondered two questions: First, if engagement fails, will the Obama team ever acknowledge that it has failed? And what then?

...

The worst of it is that the Tehran regime is now desperately trying to buy time so it can regain full control of the country in the face of widespread anger after the fraudulent presidential elections in June and a still-vibrant Iranian opposition. For the clerics, an endless negotiating process is not merely a means of putting off any real concessions on its nuclear program. It is also, and more important, a way of putting off any Western sanctions that could produce new and potentially explosive unrest in their already unstable country. That is the best card in Obama's hand right now. It's time for him to play it -- or admit that poker is not his game.

"Rememberest thou any that have died on't?"

Michael Ledeen posts this noteworthy piece at NRO:

241 Americans Killed...Can't Quite Remember Who Killed Them [Michael Ledeen]

A very important piece from Barry Rubin, who does many of them. The bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut back in the 80s was noted by the White House, but there is no mention of the killers: Iran and Syria, via their creation, Hezbollah.

Yes, it's craven. But it's what happens when you put "the deal" in front of dignity. Paradoxically, the president would have a better chance of making his deal if he regularly told the truth about the Iranian regime, and stood by the country's people. Airbrushing them out of major historical events only convinces them that they can get away with anything.

"And you, our no less loving son of Albany."

I'm absolutely thrilled to see that my old NNPS shipmate, T.R. Buchanan, is now the CO of my old boat, USS Albany (SSN 753):

NORFOLK, Va. - Cmdr. Thomas R. Buchanan, Jr., relieved Cmdr. Thad E. Nisbett as commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albany (SSN 753) during a change of command ceremony Thursday at Naval Station Norfolk.

Buchanan's most recent assignment was as a Special Assistant to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, and Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.

"As you can imagine, this day means a tremendous amount for my family and me," said Buchanan, who became the ninth commanding officer of Albany. "It just so happens that I have the good fortune to command a ship that was launched on my birthday in 1987. I humbly stand before you to tell you that I am absolutely ready to assume command of this awesome warship, and will do everything to ensure that Albany continues to make history."

Capt. Christopher Thomas, Commander, Submarine Squadron Six, presented Nisbett with a Meritorious Service medal during the ceremony. The medal cited Nisbett for "his superior tactical prowess, unrivaled initiative, and steadfast perseverance while leading Albany on a deployment to the European and Central Command Areas of Responsibility in support of Overseas Contingency Operations, and on four highly successful missions spanning three theaters of operation and focusing heavy on national anti-submarine warfare objectives."

"It has been a tremendous privilege to command such a fine Los Angeles class attack submarine," said Nisbett, who took command of Albany, June 14, 2007.

Nisbett will next report to the Defense Liaison Division.

The Albany is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name of New York's capital city.

"The greater cantle of the world is lost with very ignorance; we have kiss'd away kingdoms and provinces."

Letterman obviously needs a break from the spotlight. My suggestion: hand-off the Top 10 Countdown to Juan Cole--it'll be full of laughs.

Note the faux argumentational form of "myth" vs. "reality" that disguises the worst sort of rhetorical double-speak but in the end can offer nothing more that assurances that we should take old Juan's word for it.

The rest is just "technicalities" and shoulder shrugging about--get this!--Holocaust deniers. Are you kidding me?

Again, I was depressed to see my lefty Academic friends passing this around FB as an example of enlightened reading. *sigh*

Meanwhile, the people of Iran struggle to free themselves from a brutal regime--a regime that Cole says we can trust! And the Obama administration cuts funding for the cause of democracy in Iran.

We are being told by academics, the media, and politicians that "There's nothing to see here, move along, move along..." etc. etc. Where is their passion for Social Justice? For down-trodden people? For a world without nukes?

"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

Assuming that you've seen video of Benjamin Netanyahu's Churchillian address to the UN the other day, I urge you to check out the following video in which he tells a moving story about his meeting with the Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch in 1984: