Berlin and Ankara Terrorism -- To Be Safe, We Have to Know What or Who We Want to Be Safe From

American Thinker's key analyst-writer, Thomas Lifson, wrote an interesting short piece last Saturday that cast a darker shadow on what he called "Obama’s passivity in the face of genocide in Syria." He said : "The world once again is watching genocidal mass slaughter, despite having as our UN ambassador Samantha Power, who parlayed a book denouncing American passivity in the face of genocide into a professorship at Harvard and her post at the UN. It turns out that it was easier posturing as indignant than doing something about it at the UN. Resigning in protest when her boss failed to enforce the red line he proclaimed over chemical weapons apparently was out of the question for Power. And then all hell broke loose in Syria, with mass carnage." Lifson quotes a friend who sent him this message : "Thinking about self-described “genocide chick” Samantha Power and her boss and his wife and her hashtag responses to genocide, there was something gnawing at me. So, I did a bit of research and came up with this list of genocides : • Armenians in Turkey 1915-1918 / 1,500,000 killed • Stalin’s Forced Famine in Ukraine 1932-1933 / 7,000,000 killed • Rape of Nanking 1937-1938 / 300,000 killed • Holocaust 1938-1945 / 6,000,000 killed • Pol Pot in Cambodia 1976-1979 / 2,000,000 killed • Rwanda 1994 / 800,000 killed • Bosnia-Herzegovina 1992-1995 / 200,000 killed • Syria 2014 - present / 500,000 killed. Eight genocides in the past 100 years. Do you notice a pattern here? Hmm, a clue might be found in American politics…" • Most Americans who know their own history will recognize instantly that each of these genocides occurred while Democrats held the presidency. Of course, Democrat Presidents do not condone or favor genocide. But, the list does say a lot about how they manage foreign policy. And, we know who's promising to change that on January 20. • • • TRUMP'S NEW DHS SECRETARY AND LATIN AMERICA. Also last Saturday, American Thinker published an article titled "Iran’s Theater of Operations in Latin America," by Janet Levy. She writes that the book "Iran’s Strategic Penetration of Latin America," authors and global security experts Joseph Humire and Ilan Berman elaborate on the position of retired US Marine Corps General John Kelly, now the nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, with a collection of essays that provides an incisive look at Iran's penetration of Latin America, beginning in 1979 when the Ayotollah Khomenei became Supreme Leader after the revolution that deposed the Shah. The authours say it was part of Iran’s overall strategy to seek global power and develop nuclear weapons. Latin American experts featured in the book show how Iran's infiltration of Latin America has continued under the cover of commercial activities and cultural exchanges and has been aided by an alliance and shared militancy with the Latin American Left. The experts maintain that, over more than three decades, Iran has been able to forge strong economic, political, and strategic links to the region. • Iran began its strategic infiltration of Latin America in 1982. Much like Iran is now doing in the Middle East, it sent proxy groups to Latin America to export Moslem revolutionary ideas by using a global network of embassies and mosques under the cover of legitimate commerce and diplomatic, cultural, and religious associations that concealed its intelligence activities, claimed diplomatic immunity and gained access to backdoor channels and local governments. Iran’s operatives traveled throughout the region unifying and radicalizing islamic communities and recruiting, proselytizing and indoctrinating young Latin Americans. Levy describes in her article Joseph Humire's recounting of Iran sending in 1983 an emissary, Mohsen Rabbani, an Iranian cleric, as a commercial attaché to set up a trade agreement with Argentina, ostensibly to supply halal-certified meat to the Islamic Republic. Rabbani in 1994 would become the primary architect of a terrorist attack against Jews in Buenos Aires while forging alliances with local shiite Moslems, as well as with radical activists who wanted to shift power away from democratic alliances and US influence. Trade with Iran helped these activists buy political patronage to advance authoritarian rule and enabled them to funnel mass social spending into Latin America, as well as influencing elections. As islamic terrorist entities such as Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) moved into the region, they joined with local radical groups such as FARC and Shining Path, supporting their anti-Americanism and hatred of Jews and Israel. • The Levy article also discusses the role of Venezuelan dictator, Hugo Chavez : "After becoming president in 1999, he forged a close relationship with Iran and hailed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, as a hero. He also demanded criminal prosecution for Israel’s leader, Ariel Sharon, and President George W. Bush for mass murder. Chavez was able to help Iran overcome the hurdles of economic sanctions and engage in both legal and illegal commercial activity, including acquisition of strategic minerals for nuclear weapons development, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Chavez filled his cabinet with islamists and became a close partner with then-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. According to the authors, during this period Iranian influence in Latin American countries increased significantly." • Levy's article also raises the question of what the future holds for Latin America : "Since the death of Chavez and the economic decline in Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the trajectory of Iran-Latin America relations has shifted. Iran retains commercial interests in many countries in the area and is working to strengthen its political and economic ties. It continues to maintain its innocence in the Buenos Aires bombing, despite substantial evidence to the contrary and negative publicity from the suspicious death of chief prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, in January 2015. Many Latin American countries are wary of Iran’s influence, regional intelligence gathering and its status as a state sponsor of terrorism." • But, Donald Trump’s election, according to Levy, may signal a game change in Latin America. Trump has repeatedly stated his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, hinting at a possible reimposition of sanctions. And, a ruling by Columbia’s Constitutional Court to allow expedited congressional approval for a peace accord with the Hezbollah-allied terrorist group, FARC, could limit the ground previously available for islamic terrorism in South America. Additionally, the presence of increasingly Euro-friendly regimes in Argentina, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, could put brakes on Iran’s continued hold on power in the region. Finally, and most plausibly, with retired General John Kelly as the nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, Iran’s use of Latin America as a nexus for terrorist operations could be dramatically curtailed, if not eliminated outright. • Why?? Because General Kelly is the former commander of United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), the Unified Combatant Command responsible for American military operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. • • • NETANYAHU COUNTERS IRAN INFLUENCE. If General Kelly works on establishing better relations with Latin America and rebuffing Iran's presence there, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking his own approach to the problem that is Iran. He just completed a landmark visit to two of the world’s wealthiest Moslem nations -- Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. His visits represent a diplomatic coup against Iran. It highlights Israel’s ability in recent years to overcome the former taboo in the Moslem world on openly embracing the Jewish state, experts on the relevant countries said. The visit to Azerbaijan, an oil-rich shiite nation with a border and tense relations with Israel’s arch enemy Iran, is Netanyahu’s second. He visited in 1997, during his first tenure as prime minister. His visit to Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth-largest country and Central Asia’s undisputed economic powerhouse, is the first by an Israeli prime minister to that mineral-rich country. And while Arab and Iranian economies are in trouble because of falling oil prices, Israel’s economy has experienced a meteoric leap. Its gross domestic product per capita rose to $38,127 in 2015 -- higher than Spain, Italy and France, according to the Economist. • Experts agree that part of Israel’s ability to forge strong alliances in the Moslem nations of Central Asia is the region’s strong tradition of religious tolerance, which sets it apart from many other Moslem countries. The reasons for such tolerance are complex, derived from the region’s history under Soviet rule and the fact that the countries are ruled by dictators who are quick to ruthlessly uproot any sign of religious radicalism that they view as a threat to their countries’ stability, as well as that of their own authoritarian rule, says Giora Pozailov, a historian at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, who specializes in Central Asia’s Jewish communities. • • • TRUMP PICKS FRIEDMAN TO BE AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL. And, President-Elect Trump is forging ahead with his rapproachement with Israel, the country historically close to the US but pushed somewhat aside under President Obama. Trump announced last Thursday that David M. Friedman is his pick for Ambassador to Israel. David Friedman is an Orthodox Jew and prominent attorney in the New York Area. During the 2016 race, Friedman was one of Trump's chief advisors on Israel. When Friedman was chosen for the spot, he said : “Mr. Trump's confidence is very flattering. My views on Israel are well known, and I would advise him in a matter consistent with those views. America's geo-political interests are best served by a strong and secure Israel with Jerusalem as its undivided capital.” According to , Trump decided on Friedman because of the strong relationships he has in Israel and his outstanding reputation in the business world. The President-Elect said of Friedman : "As the United States’ Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman will maintain the special relationship between our two countries. He has been a long-time friend and trusted advisor to me. His strong relationships in Israel will form the foundation of his diplomatic mission and be a tremendous asset to our country as we strengthen the ties with our allies and strive for peace in the Middle East. Nothing is more critical than protecting the security of our citizens at home and abroad.” • Predictably, Democrats are already fuming about Friedman's stance on moving the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In addition, he's called Jerusalem Israel's “eternal capital.” The Associated Press reports that Trump's team has been in touch with Nir Barkat, Jerusalem's mayor, and that Barkat is under the impression that Trump is serious about relocating the embassy. Former Obama adviser David Alexrod is calling for the Senate to shoot down the nomination : "Trump just took hammer to the prospect of a 2-state solution. The Senate should reject this nomination!" • More interesting are the reactions from left-leaning American Jewish groups, who say they will work hard to keep the Senate from confirming Trump’s nomination of Friedman as US ambassador to Israel -- the left-leaning J Street group, Americans for Peace Now, the Israel Policy Forum, the Union for Reform Judaism, and the New Israel Fund -- all more or less agree that Friedman represents the extreme views that are at odds with most American Jews.” • The more conservative American Jewish organizations celebrated Trump's choice. Zionist Organization of America president Morton Klein said in a statement that Friedman “has the potential to be the greatest US Ambassador to Israel ever.” Klein wrote : "Friedman has a powerful grasp of Israel’s defense needs, the dangers they face, and the danger now of a Hamas/PA State. No previous ambassador appreciates the political, historic, legal, and religious rights of the Jews to Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem like David. Yet he respects and understands the beliefs and hopes and dreams of the political left in Israel and America. This, in addition to his heartfelt love of Israel and all its people, makes him uniquely qualified for this position.” The Republican Jewish Coalition said the nomination “sends a powerful signal to the Jewish community and the State of Israel that President-Elect Trump’s administration will strengthen the bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region.” Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a group that works with conservative pro-Israel Christians in the United states, called Friedman a “great American” in a statement : “David is truly a great American and a loyal ally of Israel, and we look forward to working with him to enhance joint US and Israeli interests while seeking to promote peace and stability for the people of Israel and all of her neighbors." • • • ISRAEL REACTION TO FRIEDMAN APPOINTMENT. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pleased with Friedman's nomination and his deputy foreign minister, Tzipi Hotovely, said she was also pleased and named Friedman’s pro-settlements posture as a reason : “The expressed intention to appoint Friedman is very welcome news for Israel. His positions reflect the desire to strengthen the standing of Israel’s capital Jerusalem at this time and to underscore that the settlements have never been the true problem in the area.” Dani Dayan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and himself a former settler leader, posted on Twitter a photo of himself and Friedman, and congratulated the nominee. Reactions to the appointment by Israeli politicians included reference to the Trump team’s announcement that Friedman -- who like incumbent ambassador, Dan Shapiro, is Jewish and speaks Hebrew -- intends “to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region, and look forward to doing this from the US embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem.” TRUMP'S POSITION. Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus said on Sunday that the President-Elect’s pick of lawyer David Friedman as the ambassador to Israel was not an indication that he rejects the notion of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict : “There’s going to be things that individually people may believe in their hearts or in their mind. But ultimately, it’s their job to represent the President-Elect of the United States and his foreign policy.” Times of Israel reports that over the course of the presidential campaign, "Friedman was outspoken on his belief that West Bank settlement activity is not an obstacle to peace and that Israel does not face a 'demographic threat' to its Jewish character if it fails to separate from the Palestinians." Trump’s transition team announced the nomination on Thursday, in a statement that quoted Friedman predicting he would work from “Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem.” The Trump statement said : “The bond between Israel and the United States runs deep, and I will ensure there is no daylight between us when I’m President. As the United States’ ambassador to Israel, David Friedman will maintain the special relationship between our two countries.” The Palestinians, on the other hand, have voiced their concerns, calling the nomination “a warning signal.” • • • THE US POSITION ON JERUSALEM. the US Congress recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 1995 and mandated the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but successive Presidents have exercised a waiver in the law, citing national security interests. US security officials believe that moving the embassy to Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians and Moslems as well as Jews and claimed by the Palestinians as their capital, would precipitate anti-American violence in the region and beyond. But, Trump has vowed to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer who has for years represented President-Elect Trump and his real estate development business, supports and has funded construction in settlements and suggests it is time to think of alternatives to the two-state solution. Friedman is not alone in questioning the viability of the two-state solution. Many serious analysts in Israel and around the world are now asking if the two-state solution is even the best answer. The Palestinian leadership has refused to engage in meaningful negotiations for more than a decade, and Israel is now deeply invested in the West Bank settlements, which while not illegal, have been used by the Palestinians as an excuse to refuse to recognize that Israel is a legitimate nation or to begin discussions that could lead to a solution of some kind in the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate. • • • DEAR READERS, a friend I look to for advice and testing of my ideas sent me a note on Tuesday about the Berlin attack, partly to ask me to be careful and partly to remind me that we are at war with terrorism and operating without any widely agreed strategy about how to fight it. He wrote : "No one is safe. To be safe we have to know what or who we want to be safe from. That would take an acknowledgement that maybe Trump will make, but actions speak much louder than words. And the actions of governments in their PC attitude is the strength of the radical islamic terrorist. We know for the greater part who they are and almost daily where they are. [But] to break the back of Terrorism will require more moxie than anyone right now wants to exert. Many civilians would die just as they have in other wars, hospitals bombed, children dead in the streets because they are for the most part willing shields....Islam, Moslems just don't understand that they hold the key. I think they also have no idea about rights or freedoms given to them or offered by them. They don't fit into the mosaic puzzle of the world community. So, do we give them their corner of the planet and make them prisoners so to speak? Or [carry out a war that could become] an act of genocide for the well being of everyone else? Or do we continue this tit-for-tat game? After all, a few hundred innocents' deaths is a relative small price for not making needed decisions." He mentioned the "Criminal Minds" statement -- at least "ASK THE QUESTION." He added : "Well, someone needs to at least 'Ask The Question.' Open minds in a dialogue could come to a conclusion." My friend has been engaged in the fight against terrorism of one sort or another for many years and he finished his message to me by saying : "Let me tell you they [the islamic jihadists] are the purest evil I've ever faced. They understand us and our weaknesses -- our leaders don't understand them at all." • As I watch the West and its politicians and Intel experts talk to the mainstream media about the Berlin attack and the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, my friend's words ring true. And, culturally imbued as I am with the icons of the 20th century, I see in my mind a famous film scene -- the final moments of "Casablanca" when, as they go off together determined to beat the Nazis, Rick the American turns to Louis the Free French officer and says, "Louis, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Are Trump, Netanyahu, the French, British and Germans, and the few friends we still have in the Middle East determined to break the back of islamic terrorism? Trump is pointing the way with the appointment of David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel. Are they prepared to walk back the blunders already made with Iran and bring it under control. Trump is pointing the way with General Kelly at DHS. We certainly have the means. Do we have the will? On that answer depends the future of our world. Trump -- with Kelly and Friedman -- could be the beginning we need in the fight against 21st century terrorism. They are asking the Question.