SUNDAY SCRAMBLE

PALIN DIVORCE RUMORS: Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin had to shoot down rumors of divorce this weekend. This is simply more proof of the liberal media’s efforts to torpedo her future, and it will fail like all the rest. They have attacked her appearance, her children, and now her marriage. At long last, media, have you no decency? It seems there is no end to their campaign of smear and denigration. Rather than cast aspersions on Palin, it tells us more about the liberals and how much they want to discredit her. They are desperate to belittle her rising star and have no qualms about using whatever means are at their disposal.

NERVY BRITS: Several new public opinion polls came out in Britain this past week suggesting British support for the war in Afghanistan is waning. No surprise, given the parliamentary “foreign affairs select committee” spending their time criticizing nearly every part of the war. The committee even had the audacity to question whether or not the Taliban represent a threat to western security. Now some are suggesting we should talk to the Taliban (see below). That sort of forgetfulness makes one wonder if we really do have any reliable allies anywhere in the world. Afghanistan was supposed to be the war for which everyone was on board for the long haul. Now even the Brits, who I used to consider the least likely to jump ship when the going gets tough, are carping and complaining. It also makes one fear for the long term future of democratic society. Imagine the reaction from the Brits later this month when Afghanistan NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal tells President Obama and the rest of the alliance that a further troop surge will be necessary. NATO troop numbers in Afghanistan are deceptive, with most forces deployed around Kabul or in the north, far away from actual combat. Check out the map here and see for yourself. A leaked memo sent to all British Army units revealed in the media today suggests the Brits are struggling with soldiers that are obese or out of shape. That follows a similar German report several months ago that also bemoaned the amount of beer the Germans are consuming.

NATO will become an essentially useless alliance if it cannot fulfill its primary credo that an attack against one is an attack against all. The alliance has shown in Afghanistan that it may be headed that direction. If we cannot count on allied support in fighting Al Qaeda and those who harbored them, what exactly is the point of continuing to support the alliance? It may be trendy to add new eastern European nations, but why bother if the alliance is hollow? Members have drug their feet in supporting operations in Afghanistan since the onset of the conflict. The statements of support following September 11th now ring somewhat hollow in light of their reluctance to deploy significant numbers of combat troops in areas where they might actually be helpful. It’s time for our NATO allies to stop the complaining and get in the fight or risk going the way of the United Nations.

NEGOTIATE WITH THE TALIBAN ?: Chatter about trying to talk with the Taliban has increased in recent weeks, especially from the Brits. There is a huge difference between flipping some local Taliban and actually engaging Taliban leadership. The Taliban had their chance to govern, and it was a nightmare for the Afghan people and for the rest of the world. They cannot be folded into the Afghan government. Even more outrageous was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s support for such a traitorous idea while at a joint appearance last Wednesday with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Have they both gone mad? Miliband suggested such an approach last Monday in a speech at NATO headquarters, further bringing the alliance’s worth into question.

The only way the Taliban should be “engaged” is with automatic weapons.

HOW LONG, ISRAEL ?: Israel will not wait forever to take action against Iran’s nuclear program. While the Obama administration talks sanctions and continues attempts to negotiate, the Iranians continue their threats against Israel and their march toward deliverable nuclear weapons. President Obama is attempting the same, tired old strategy of negotiating and promising moot sanctions that hasn’t worked for the last six years. It’s difficult to see what he thinks can be gained. He refused to offer any support to the demonstrators in Iran, perhaps in fear of damaging his efforts. The Obama administration has consistently delivered a mixed message on Iran, simultaneously declaring a fully nuclear Iran “unacceptable” while also vowing to protect the rest of the region should Iran achieve a functional nuclear weapon. Which is it, Mr. President?

It is clear Israel will not wait forever, nor should they be expected to do so. Iran has openly and directly threatened their existence. After SECDEF Gates’ recent visit, rumors flew that the U.S. had asked Israel to wait at least eight more weeks. Whether those rumors are true or not, the clock is clearly ticking, and no doubt that ticking is heard loudest in Tel Aviv. Mr. Obama should set a deadline for negotiations to begin in earnest. If the Iranians ignore the deadline, he should begin planning in earnest for a military strike that while obviously dangerous, may be the least risky option of all.

HOSTAGE SITUATIONS: The Obama administration now has two hostage situations to deal with instead of just one. For nearly five months, North Korea has been holding two American female journalists accused of spying. Now Iran is reportedly holding three Americans taken from a poorly marked area of the Iran-Iraq border. Failing to act on either situation reflects very poorly on Mr. Obama and does nothing but encourage these two rogue nations to act out even more. Obama’s campaign promised a new era in U.S. foreign policy that would bring quicker resolution to any crisis. So far that has not been the case.