OBAMA'S BELIEF IN U.S. MILITARY HEGEMONY NO BETTER THAN BUSH'S

I don't understand Obama's foreign policy.  Why must the United States send marines to reside in Australia?  The broader question:  why must the U.S. have bases in the Far East, or for that matter, anywhere on foreign soil?

It is clearly a provocative act to the Chinese.  It is belligerent and communicates that the U.S. might resort to starting a war against China because of its predominant economic successes.

Obama is no better than George W. Bush.  Like Bush, he must believe, truly believe, in American hegemony.

OBAMA CRITICIZES IRAN FOR AIDING SYRIAN REPRESSSION, BUT NOT SAUDI ARABIA FOR BEATING MEDICAL DOCTORS IN BAHRAIN

Obama criticizes Iran for aiding the Syrian government in its bloody crackdown on protesters even though there is no evidence of Iranian involvement. Yet Obama remains silent when Saudi Arabia sends troops to Bahrain to kill and imprison protesters. Why? Answer: the U.S. Navy maintains its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, not in Syria. Shame on Obama.

OBAMA: CONDEMN BAHRAIN 'S CRACK-DOWN ON MEDICAL DOCTORS HELPING WOUNDED PROTESTERS

I want Pres. Obama to: 1) condemn government violence against doctors in Bahrain; 2) stop mass deportation of Latino undocumented immigrants; 3) end drone attacks against Pakistani villages in Waziristan that kill innocent civilians; 4) fight Republican attempts to destroy Social Security and Medicare under guise of reducing debt.

OBAMA: CONDEMN KING OF BAHRAIN FOR RAIDING HOSPITALS FOR WOUNDED PROTESTERS

Why can't Barack Obama come out and denounce the government repression of peaceful demonstrators in Bahrain? This is disgraceful and American acceptance of unjust repression. Obama is silent because the U.S. has its Navy Fifth Fleet based there. Shame on Obama and Gates and Clinton.

Clifford Krause writes in The New York Times today that King Khalifa's thugs and security forces routinely arrest demonstrators who they find are seeking medical help in hospitals. Khalifa claims the hospitals are dens of Shiite terrorists, a ridiculous claim that Obama should condemn, as there is absolutely no evidence of terrorism in Bahrain.

OBAMA: CONDEMN BAHRAIN'S ACTIONS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEMONSTRATORS

Pres. Obama and Sec. Clinton rightly condemn Qaddafi of Libya. Why won't they also condemn King Khalifa of Bahrain for beating up doctors and nurses, dragging wounded out of hospitals, and now arresting human rights activists? Answer: the U.S. Navy maintains its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Shame on the United States!

Frank Gardner of the BBC reports on the most recent crack down on human rights activists by the government of Bahrain. Here's the link.

UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, IT IS ILLEGAL TO ATTACK ANOTHER COUNTRY WITHOUT U.N. RESOLUTION

Under settled concepts of international law, it is illegal for one country to attack another by invading its territorial space. When Colombia under Uribe attacked a FARC camp within Ecuador two years ago, that was illegal, notwithstanding Condoleeza Rice's imprimatur. And now some believe that Israel's war planes attacked and killed two men in a Hyundai within Sudan. If so, it too violates the law of nations.

See this report from the BBC webpage.

OBAMA: CONDEMN KING OF BAHRAIN FOR SHOOTING PEACEFUL PROTESTERS

The U.S. government condemns Syria and tyrant Assad for shooting demonstrators trying to rid themselves of a cruel dictator. But Obama, Clinton, Gates remain mostly silent when King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa of Bahrain orders his army to shoot and kill Bahrainis who protest against their lack of equality. Why? The U.S. bases its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

WARNING TO PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS: NO KILLING INNOCENT CIVILIANS

Instead of Def. Sec. Gates and Pres. Obama telling Netanyahu that the Israeli government can take any steps "necessary" to defend itself against Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza, Gates and Obama should have warned Israel against attacking Palestinian civilians in a form of "collective punishment."

I condemn those Palestinians who fired rockets into Israel endangering innocent Israelis. I also strongly condemn acts of collective punishment inflicted by Israel against Palestinian society and civilians in Gaza.

OBAMA NEEDS TO DO MUCH MORE THAN URGE RESTRAINT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS

I condemn those Palestinians who set off a bomb on an Israeli bus and I equally condemn the government of Israel for authorizing the Israeli army to fire tank mortar shells and kill a Palestinian playing football with his two grandchildren. Both are war crimes and should be punished. Obama and Clinton merely recite uselessly that, "Both sides should use restraint."

WAR CRIME: U.S. DRONES KILL 40+ PAKISTANIS IN WAZIRISTAN

To think that Democratic liberal former congressman Leon Panetta as CIA head is in charge of these strikes against "terrorists" in Waziristan is sickening and revolting. Stop US drone attacks against Pakistani villagers.

Of the 40 people killed, how many were ordinary Pakistani villagers? Hows many were farmers, wives, children?

Sending unmanned American drones to shoot missiles at men, women and children is unjustified and illegal. Furthermore, it is a war crime that should not go unpunished.

See this article from BBC World News.

FORGET ABOUT "AMERICAN INTERESTS" IN BAHRAIN; CONDEMN GOVERNMENT VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS

Instead of Clinton and Obama merely "cautioning" the kings of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on restraint, why can't Obama and Clinton clearly condemn government brutal repression of peaceful protesters in Bahrain? Fuck American interests; stand up for those who want political democratic reform.

See this report by Ethan Bronner in The New York Times today on its website.

BYU DISMISSES BLACK BASKETBALL PLAYER FOR PRE-MARITAL SEX

BYU has dismissed Brandon Davies from the men's basketball team because of an "honor code" violation. It turns out Davies admits having sex with his girlfriend. BYU is owned and operated by the LDS Church. How many present general authorities of the LDS Church had pre-marital sex when they were younger? A lot, maybe even the majority, I imagine. Why weren't they punished like Brandon Davies? Was Davies singled out because he is African-American?

WHY DID OBAMA VETO UN RESOLUTION CALLING ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ON PALESTINIAN LANDS "ILLEGAL"?

What was Obama thinking when he ordered Susan Rice U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to veto a security council resolution calling Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem "illegal"?

It is beyond doubt that under international law, land taken by a state in a military conflict must be returned to the vanquished. Israel seized this land from Palestinians in the 1967 War.

Erecting Israeli settlements upon this land violates international law and is "illegal."

WHY OBAMA DISAPPOINTS AS PRESIDENT

Obama disappoints: his waffling on the anti-democratic moves by King Khalifa of Bahrain against peaceful protesters; his veto of UN resolution calling Israeli settlements in occupied territories "illegal;" and his adoption of "secure our borders," code for "we don't want any more brown-skinned Mexicans who speak a foreign language."

WE NEED U.S. POLICY THAT SIDES WITH DEMOCRATIC PROTESTERS IN EGYPT

As the NYT article by Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger describes, the ruling party of Egypt headed by Dictator Mubarak refuses to give up power, refuses to end the "state of emergency" that denies freedom of speech, freedom of dissent and other basic civil rights, refuses to hold free and fair elections. Why can't Obama unequivocally side with the pro-democracy demonstrators?

TOTAL BULLSHIT: THERE CAN BE A JUST WAR

The NYT Sunday Book Review features "The Violence of Peace, America's Wars in the Age of Obama," by Yale law professor Stephen L. Carter, and reviewed by James Traub, contributing writer for the NYT Magazine and a weekly columnist for ForeignPolicy.com.

Traub writes about Carter's acceptance of a "just war," in the Augustine and Aquinas tradition. War must be a last resort; the force used must be proportional; and "whenever possible," civilians must be spared.

The concept of a just war is pure fiction and total bull. No war is ever just. The fiction arises because kings and presidents want some moral justification for what they will engage in, and their lackeys come up with pseudo-moralistic and quasi-philosophic justifications for their leader's actions.

War never spares civilians, it always targets them. See the American carpet bombing of German cities during WWII, the dropping of American nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or the drone attacks currently conducted by the CIA in the Waziristan areas of Pakistan.

War is never proportional. The larger the bomb or shell, the better. The more destructive and lethal the weapon, the sooner it is incorporated into the action.

And war is never the last resort. Consider George W. Bush's action against Iraq. Saddam wanted a compromise. Bush would not permit it.

CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOULD CONDEMN PAEDOPHILIA, NOT HOMOSEXUALS

Here's an egregious display of antagonism to homosexuals at the funeral of gay activist David Kato in Uganda, as reported by the BBC. A Catholic priest at the funeral service began to disparage and condemn homosexuality.

The Catholic Church should first take a look at the practices of its own clergy, a priesthood which is riddled with paedophilic practices. Instead of condemning sexual practices which do not involve children or minors, the church and the bishops need to condemn the sexual abuse of children.

OBAMA "THE ENEMY" OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS

Elvira Arrellano, the lady who took refuge from pursuing American immigration officials several years ago in a Chicago church, says that Obama is not a friend of Latinos but "the enemy." Obama lacks understanding of Latino culture. Obama approves the increase of deportations, mostly Latinos. Obama neglects Latino problems.

I agree.

Look at last night's State of the Union speech.

Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. (Applause.) I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation.

Obama showed no feeling for the thousands of Latino college students who lack proper documentation. He said nothing about the effect of deportations on Latino families, nor did he refer to the large contributions of Latino immigrants in the U.S.

OBAMA SHOWS TILT TOWARDS ISRAEL IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

I thought the U.S. government under Pres. Barack Obama would take a fair approach to solving the Middle East crisis. Instead the Palestine Papers published by Al Jazeera and The Guardian show that Obama's policy has been one of pressuring the Palestinians to make concessions, and, at the same time, no corresponding pressure on Israel and the Israeli government to make concessions in return, especially about settlements and the right of return of Palestinians to come back to their ancestral homeland.

MR. OBAMA, STOP DEPORTATIONS OF LATINOS

Why have deportations of Hispanics and Latinos surged under Barack Obama and Janet Napolitano?

Deportation is like a death sentence. A person is violently torn away from a job, family, spouse, children, home and neighborhood, and under penalty of the law can never return.

I blame Obama for being culturally insensitive to those from Latin countries to the south. Obama seems to have no knowledge of Spanish culture, Obama does not speak any Spanish, Obama appears to treat all of Latin American with indifference. No wonder Janet Napolitano can get away with the fast pace of these inhumane deportations.

VATICAN CALLS ON BERLUSCONI TO REFORM "MORALS"

Can there be any more ridiculous and transparent example of sexual hypocrisy than the call by a Vatican official today for Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi to reform his sexual mores? The BBC reports on the story today.

The Catholic Church, whose priesthood is riddled with paedophiles, publicly chastises Berlusconi for consorting with show girls. Now Berlusconi should indeed avoid inviting under-age models to his parties and/or having sex with them, but apart from this serious question of age majority which I don't want to minimize, Berlusconi's modus vivendi of befriending models and show girls, assuming they are of majority age, seems much more tolerable and acceptable than Catholic priests preying upon and sexually molesting children.

BRITISH OFFICIAL DENIES PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT IRAQ

Here's another case of government officials in the U.K. and U.S. trying to block the release of information embarrassing to governmental leaders. The top civil service official in the Britain has banned the release of transcripts of conversations between George W. Bush and Tony Blair over Iraq.

Why? Because obviously the content would embarrass present and former officials of the British government, and indeed show that Tony Blair was George Bush's poodle.

IDEA FROM PROF. CORNELL WEST

Instead of Hillary Clinton and the U.S. Government concentrating on building a case against Wikileaks and Julian Assange for publishing secret cables from the State Department, how about Pres. Barack Obama directing his administration to crack down on wrong-doing contained and disclosed in the cables, such as the torture and other misdeeds committed by governments supposedly "friends" of the U.S., such as Tunisia, Iraq and China?