Bring Home U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford

This week, United States Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford participated in a tour sponsored by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in the Northwest province of Idlib.  The propaganda tour was organized to show the devastation caused by what government officials described as foreign outlaws and radical Islamists.  The excursion included Syrian officials who explained to Ford that Islamic extremists were responsible for the more than 1,500 deaths that have occurred since anti-government protests began on March 15.  Government officials also told Ford that there have been no peaceful freedom marches, as has been reported by the international media, only foreign radicals looking to destabilize Syria.  Ambassador Ford dutifully attended the government’s tour but has since failed to respond or react.

Ford’s silence dramatically contrasts with his tough talk during his confirmation hearing in March 2010 when he told Senators, “Unfiltered straight talk with the Syrian government will be my mission priority.”  We can only hope Ford’s public silence means he has been giving it to Assad privately.  But unfortunately there are press reports indicating that Ford hasn’t been able to schedule a private meeting with any senior government officials.  So the U.S. Ambassador to Syria just sits and waits. … Continue Reading

Israel: Problem or Solution?

The recent kerfuffle involving President Obama and supporters of Israel that began with the President’s recent speech focusing on the “Arab Spring” and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, has elicited many opinions from all sides of the political spectrum. The President gave his address just days before the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington, D.C. where many were frustrated by his vision of Israel negotiating a political settlement based on its 1967 borders with limited land swaps. While supporters of Israel are understandably worried about President Obama’s position on this issue, as this signals a shift away from the Israeli position, there is a larger philosophical principle at play. … Continue Reading

Reagan’s Real Legacy

As Prepared for Delivery to the Leadership Program of the Rockies—March 11, 2011—Aurora, Colorado

I want to talk about how we use our conservative principles; what we do with this quiver full of arrows in the ongoing battle between freedom and dependency.

But to do this, you’ll have to travel back with me to September 13, 1993.  Specifically, to a high school classroom in the middle of social studies class.

I remember being wide-eyed with excitement that day when they rolled in one of those gigantic old widescreen TVs.  Miracle of miracles, we were going to watch television in class!  And while my burgeoning dreams of ‘The Price Is Right’ weren’t quite realized, the image of what we did watch that day has stuck with me a whole lot longer.  It was the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Accords.

Now I don’t know how much you remember about this event.  It took place on the South Lawn of the White House on a picturesque September day.  Yasser Arafat was there for the Palestinians, bounding around with a Cheshire cat grin on his face.  Yitzhak Rabin, on behalf of the Israelis, looked much less excited to be there.  And when it finally came time to sign the agreement, there was Bill Clinton, arms outstretched, trying to broker an awkward handshake.

As I watched from my seat in that classroom, that handshake fascinated me.  On such a momentous and historic day, war-weary Prime Minister Rabin looked like he had just swallowed his shoe.  I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind as he looked down at Yasser Arafat’s outstretched arm and reluctantly agreed to shake. … Continue Reading

The Devil We Know vs. The Devil We Don’t

The recent explosion of anger from Muslims throughout the Middle East and North Africa is a fascinating story, full of complexity and significance to the United States. Dictatorial Arab and Muslim leaders throughout the world have been traditionally secular, but cultivate Islamic extremism in order to gain some measure of power over their increasingly radicalized populations.  To various degrees, they exploit anger at Israel, the United States, Russia, and as many Western “boogeyman” as they can find.  They routinely oppress women, gays, and minorities, pander to the most violent and ancient resentments among their populations, and appropriate large percentages of oil and natural resources for their own corrupt use.  This is true in Egypt today, where the Obama administration faces its Jimmy Carter moment and must decide how best to handle the possible overthrow of a secular Muslim dictator. … Continue Reading