Bassam Tawil: The Terrorists Funded by the West Peter Huessy: National Security Threats vs. Defense Cuts Burak Bekdil: Arab Spring, French Autumn...

In this mailing: Bassam Tawil: The Terrorists Funded by the West Peter Huessy: National Security Threats vs. Defense Cuts Burak Bekdil: Arab Spring, French Autumn The Terrorists Funded by the West by Bassam Tawil  •  November 17, 2015 at 5:00 am The French and other Westerners need to wake up to the reality that the Palestinians who are condemning the terror attacks in Paris are the same ones who are praising terrorists who murder Jews, and naming streets and squares after them. Once again, Abbas's Western-funded loyalists are hoping to convince the world that there are "good" and "bad" terrorists. The good terrorists are those who murder Jews, while the bad terrorists are those who target French citizens. In fact, Abbas is doing his utmost to support the terrorists and their families. For the war on terrorism to succeed, France and the rest of the Western countries also need to fight those who are harboring terrorists, glorifying murderers, and to stop financing the practitioners of terrorism who now regard it as a big, juicy cherished business. Spot the difference... Left: Emergency workers carry the dead body of a victim who was murdered by Islamist terrorists, who shot and stabbed civilians on a Jerusalem bus last month. Right: Medics carry a victim who was wounded by Islamist terrorists, who shot civilians at a Paris theater last week. Only a few hours before the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas appeared at a joint press conference in Ramallah together with the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades. The press conference was held shortly after a Palestinian terrorist murdered two Israelis near the West Bank city of Hebron: Rabbi Yaakov Litman, 40, and his son, Netanel, 18. Five other family members -- Litman's wife, three daughters aged 5, 9, 11, and a 16-year-old son -- suffered minor wounds. The Jewish family was driving to a pre-celebration of a fourth daughter's wedding when the Palestinian terrorist opened fire at their vehicle. At the press conference in Ramallah, however, President Abbas again chose to ignore the terrorist attack that was carried out by a Palestinian. Although Abbas knew that a Jewish man and his son had just been murdered, he refused to condemn the attack. Continue Reading Article  National Security Threats vs. Defense Cuts by Peter Huessy  •  November 17, 2015 at 4:30 am The nation's media, who seem to assume that Americans are weary of war, rather than that they are desperately frustrated at being infantilized and lied to, rarely discuss what defense programs need more investment. If anything, they discuss what defense programs should be killed. Defense spending grew from $265 billion in 1996 to $300 billion in 2000, a 13% increase, equivalent to a $76 billion annual increase today. And the plan to balance the budget reached its goal in 1997. Why can America not do that again? Reform tax policy. Restore a sound defense budget plan. "You think defending this nation is expensive; try not defending it." — Senator Ted Cruz, Nov. 10, 2015. An infographic from the AEI report "To rebuild America's military," charting the shrinking post-Cold War U.S. military. Especially as ISIS, Iran and others openly threaten the United States, it seems increasingly urgent for this administration and the next to determine the level of defense spending America should support. A new study by the American Enterprise Institute, (AEI), authored primarily by defense experts Tom Donnelly and Mackenzie Eaglen initially supports using as a minimum baseline the defense five year plan proposed in 2012, by then Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. Unfortunately, too often in Washington a discussion of defense spending frequently defaults into arguments over whether major tax rate increases must be part of the bargain. This failure is in part due to policy proposals to increase defense spending often being linked to with other proposals -- to cut tax rates, reform entitlements and balance the budget. Combined, these proposals are often described as unworkable and radical, and are thus easily dismissed. Continue Reading Article  Arab Spring, French Autumn by Burak Bekdil  •  November 17, 2015 at 3:45 am In Erdogan's Turkey, "protestors" could hold signs honoring the terrorists who had perpetrated the Paris attacks, as well as Osama bin Laden. No one was prosecuted under the articles of the Turkish Penal Code that regulate "praising crime and criminals." The two Turkish leaders do not hide their ambitions of building a "mildly Islamist" Sunni regime in Syria. Hoping that "mild Islamists" may one day morph into secular, pro-democracy crowds is an extremely dangerous deception, designed to advance Islamism. "Mild Islamists" often morph into jihadists. It is the same Turkey that President Barack Obama said at the G-20 meeting was "a strong partner" in fighting IS. Have a nice sleep, Mr. President! Protestors in front of an Istanbul mosque hold signs honoring the terrorists who perpetrated the Paris attacks, as well as Osama bin Laden, January 16, 2015. (Image source: DHA video screenshot) Alain Juppé, former French prime minister (1995-97), once said: "I would like to stress this point without reservation: France sees the Arab Spring as auspicious. The Arab Spring holds out tremendous hope -- hope for democracy and the rule of law, hope for peace and stability, hope for better future in which every person can pursue goals commensurate with his or her needs, talents and ambitions." Ten years ago, in October and November 2005, a series of riots took place in the suburbs of Paris and other French cities. Rioters burned cars and public buildings at night. The rioters were mostly young immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa who declared Islam as an inseparable part of their identity. The French government declared a state of emergency, but the riots resulted in three deaths (of non-rioters), many police injuries and nearly 3,000 arrests. Continue Reading Article