By Dr. BRIAN K. CLARDY

When I normally pen an article on foreign policy, it is based upon observations made in both written and broadcast media, as well as listening to my favorite pundits discuss the issue in detail. This, coupled with my own formal academic training, has made for an exciting life and career in discussing international relations and diplomacy. However, when I speak of Sino-U.S. relations, I am not coming strictly from an intellectual and policy based hermeneutic, I also address it as someone who spent a number of days touring that rising power and was deeply impressed with what I saw and experienced.

As part of an eight-person delegation from Murray State University, I was fortunate to have visited the Peoples’ Republic of China as guests of the Peoples’ Education Press. For two weeks, we toured most of the significant cultural and historic sights in Beijing and some of the major cities in Henan Province—specifically Lyuoyang, Zhengzhou, and Keifeng.

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Multilateralism in its Beginning

By LARRY WILKE

It appears that at least one German didn’t continue swooning over the Dork Knight after his first visit to Germany, a visit that he made when he should have been campaigning (lying) at home. In an article entitled “Obama’s Nice Guy Act Gets Him Nowhere on the World Stage” (spiegel dot de), Gabor Steingart wonders out loud about our President. His points are valid but they need a bit of focus. Allow me to assist.

“When he entered office, US President Barack Obama promised to inject US foreign policy with a tone of respect and diplomacy.it’s not working.” “Promises” substantially lighter than helium is the Obama specialty. Anyone familiar with his shampaign to the degree that the Americans were subject to isn’t surprised by this revelation. “Respect and diplomacy” Obama style consists of an endless series of “courtesies and groveling.” “Respect and diplomacy, it’s not working.” Mr. Steingart, that is the Obama nomenclature. He has had the same effect upon the American public. Directly because of him, several million of them aren’t “working” either.

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By Dr. ROBERT OWENS

When the neo-cons,  a group of liberal democrats realized Margret Thatcher was right in saying, “The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money” they decided liberalism is as Michael Savage contends a mental disorder.  In the 1970s and 80s they abandoned the Good Ship Democrat proclaiming themselves Born-Again Republicans.  Generally they still carry the baggage of their former psychosis when it comes to social issues, but when it comes to foreign affairs and military matters they sound like Errol Flynn playing George Custer in They Died With Their Boots On, “Don’t wait for orders from headquarters. Mount up everybody and ride to the sound of the guns.”

These neo-cons not only flew high into the circles of on-air talking-heads they swirled through the Bush White House leading us into Iraq.  Now they’re beating the drums for massive reinforcements in Afghanistan.

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Welcome to the USA!

By ROBERT STARK

The shooting at Ft. Hood by an American Muslim of Palestinian descent has sparked up much of the usual rhetoric about “Islamo-fascism.” Since 9/11 many Americans consider America at war with radical Islam and to some even the entire Muslim world. Some are even calling for banning Muslims from the military, which is unconstitutional.

There were many suspicious signs that the shooter Nidal Malik Hassan had radical beliefs, but political correctness kept those in positions of authority from taking action. Hassan had stated that he wanted out of the military and was even willing to offer financial compensation to leave. Hasan was set to be deployed to Iraq and did not want to go and kill fellow Muslims.

It is easy to take a knee-jerk reaction toward these type of tragedies, but much like 9/11 they are a product of our government’s policies. While some political hacks say we are hated for our freedom, the reality is that we are engaging in wars against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, unconditionally supporting Israel over the Palestinians, and continue to have our troops in Saudi Arabia, which Muslims consider Holy Land to protect oil interests. All of these along with the promotion of decadent immoral culture by Hollywood in the Muslim world are reasons that there is a rising tide of Islamic extremists who are willing to sacrifice their lives and freedom to kill Americans.

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By ROBERT STARK

In his first interview after being released from prison last week, former congressman James Traficant let the cat out of the bag about the stranglehold that the Pro Israel Lobby has over Washington DC. The interview took place last night with Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren.

Susteren asked him if he has any grudges. Traficant says that he was the number one target of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee and the Justice Department. He goes on to say that “he believes that Israel has a powerful stranglehold on the American government. They’re controlling much of our foreign policy. They’re influencing much of our domestic policy. Wolfowitz as undersecretary of defense manipulated President Bush number two back into Iraq. They’ve pushed definitely, definitely to try to get Bush before he left to move into Iran. We’re conducting the expansionist policy of Israel and everybody’s afraid to say it. They control much of the media, they control much of the commerce of the country, and they control powerfully both bodies of the Congress. They own the Congress.”

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By Dr. ROBERT OWENS

Is it time to double-down in Afghanistan?  Is it time to send more of our fellow citizens to a long hard slog in a country whose synonym is Quagmire?  As our economy is being outsourced, our debt monetized and our infrastructure crumbles will we meekly follow the leader deeper into a thankless nation-building campaign in the Little Bighorn of nations that’s resisted and foiled every empire from Alexander to Moscow?  Or is it time to re-think America’s international military commitments?  Though settled by European kingdoms seeking empires the United States wasn’t founded to become an empire.  Individuals fought against the empire building tyrants until their determination and resolve won independence against all odds.

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By LARRY WILKE

In what can be considered a stunning turn of events, it is “no longer a secret” that Iran has a second uranium enrichment plant. This information was made available to the public right before the beginning of the G-20 conference today. Now that this “information” has been made public, it will be very interesting to see what is done with it or better yet, who will actually do something about it as opposed to just talking to hear themselves speak.

In “Iran Reveals Existence of Second Uranium Enrichment Plant” (Washington Post) we read that “Obama will call attention to the existence of the underground facility.” Whatever. The only thing that concerns Obama is “calling attention” to himself. What is of much greater importance is what are you going to do about it?

Holding yet another yawner of a press conference with a furrowed brow and a Bill Clinton inspired wagging finger merely reinforces the weakened posture of the United States. The last thing that we need is another liberal hot air strikes or one of their patented solipsistic sorties. Obama and those of his ilk have enabled such “activities” by the world’s totalitarian tyrants to take place because for generations, they have worked feverishly to remove the “or else” from the “diplomatic discussions.”

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By EDMOND D. SMITH

Early morning sunlight flashed in Bill’s face, which wrinkled in irritation. He rolled on his back, leaving the worst of the light on his shoulder but too late; the sun had done its job. He was awake. He lay there for another minute or two but finally caved in to the inevitable, threw the heavy blankets aside and sat up, dropping his feet to the floor.

Brr. Freezing. He got up, the chill starting to sink in, and looked at his thermostat. 60 degrees. *SIGH* It was on days like this that he missed being able to set his temperature as he liked it instead of having a federally regulated thermostat set it for him. He knew a couple of tech-savvy guys who had hacked theirs and set it so that they were comfortable. Later they said it was almost worth the huge fine they had to pay and almost worth the public shaming. Almost. Bill had a sneaking admiration for them but realized, of course that carbon crimes were no small matter.

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By PAUL SCHNEE

In his “INFERNO” Dante wisely reserved the most scalding corners of Hell for those who, in a moral dilemma, tried to remain impartial. If Barack Obama had been a character in Dante’s Divine Comedy we would have known exactly where to find him. You will recall that when Russia invaded Georgia, during our election, the best Obama could do was to issue a statement saying “both sides should show restraint” thus drawing a moral equivalency between the attacker and the attacked. The inability to distinguish between the arsonist and the fire-fighter is a hallmark of the appeaser. Those of us who are unable to remain impartial between the fire and the fire department believe that a firm and immediate statement of moral support saying that the United States, as a beacon of freedom and democracy, stands with the Iranian people in their desire for fair elections, civil liberties, and the rule of law, should have been issued at once. This would not have smeared their protests with the “taint” of Americanism which so concerns the reluctant champions of democracy. Such a declaration of solidarity may seem a bit like stating the obvious but it is akin to “Give me liberty or give me death”. It has the salutory effect of stiffening the spine and focusing attention on freedom from tyranny.

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By NANCY MORGAN

Graphic video of an Iranian woman being shot dead while watching the Iran protests with her father is sweeping the net. While Iran state media is doing its best to put a muzzle on foreign media reporting on the violent revolution unfolding in Iran, American media is under no such constraints. Americans are treated to the news that Obama is eating an ice cream cone.

As news of 20 deaths so far between protestors and police in the streets of Tehran is reported by Iran’s state media, American media reports that Hillary Clinton is recovering from surgery on her elbow. Though the surgery has been described as minor, it has apparently left Hillary without a voice, as no statement has been forthcoming from our Secretary of State about the millions of Iranians who are risking death to protest their oppression by a tyrannical government.

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