Mike Renzulli

A few months back I left the Libertarian Party and became a Republican. For the purpose of discussion and disclosure the reasons for my switch I will make known in another post. Meantime, since I am and some have mentioned a few candidates for President in 2012 I would like to mention the man I think will be the G.O.P.'s best shot at ousting BHO from the Oval Office. That man is Jeb Bush. I realize many of you may not have the stomach to embrace another Bush being President and still may have a bad taste in your mouths from George W. but a review of Jeb's record as Governor of Florida is absolutely impressive. Aside from the tax and spending cuts he pushed for and got as Governor he also speaks Spanish fluently and works very hard at the jobs he undertakes in the private and public sector. Jeb is the 2nd Governor in Florida history to be re-elected and had consistently high popularity ratings while in office and when he left. I realize his name could be a contributing factor in his overall success but as near as I can tell it looks like Jeb is mostly a self-made man. If the Republicans give Romney the nod it will be a disaster as he raised taxes and enacted socialized medicine while Chief Exec of Massachusetts that the Dems modeled their legislation after which (as many of you know) is now law nationwide. I appreciate Gary Johnson and Ron Paul but, realistically, but I don't think Paul or Johnson could get the nomination nor do I think either of them would be strong enough to oust Obama if they did.

The same happens with Christians deciding it’s time to go murder some abortion doctors. No argument there. Except in Christianity the structure of the religion is such that the window was/is open to enable dissent within it's ranks. In Islam you don't have that. The religion is complete to where it covers every aspect of your life and conduct. Up to and including yielding to the authority of Sharia law and its courts to resolve disputes. In countries that practice it, there have been numerous instances of dissidents killed because they are considered to have sided with the infidels (i.e. those who are not Muslims) or violate the Koran. Don't get me wrong, I think all religion is evil and, like Sam Harris, think religious moderation is a myth. However, it's hard not to distinguish between the radical Islamists and the religion of Islam itself because (like Harris points out) if you want to see the true nature of a religion, look at the fundamentalists since they are the ones who take their religion seriously. Suicide bombers, abortion doctor assassins and all.

I found this essay interesting and agree with it. I was intrigued with your assertion: Al Qaeda and Bin Laden and their allies have been steadily losing support as they have murdered innocent people in their own countries, as thugs and murderers have terrorized those who violate religious strictures and as it has become clear what 'sharia' means. Moreover, elsewhere in the Middle East (with the possible exceptions of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) from Morocco in the West to Turkey in the East plus Iraq and Indonesia - the largest muslim country in the world, the forces of secularism and modernization are very much at war with, and disgusted by, the bands of would-be religious totalitarians. I would like to see evidence of this since I have been paying attention to the issue of radical Islam and terrorism since Faisal Shazad was nabbed trying to bomb Times Square. What was terrifying for me about that incident was that here was a Pakistani-born Muslim (Shazad) who lead a successful, secular life but became radicalized after listening to lectures by a radical Islamist named Anwar al-Alwaki who has been rubber stamping terrorist acts and giving legitimacy to people like Shazad. What happened with Shazad is right out of Sam Harris's book The End of Faith where a religious moderate becomes radicalized and tries to committ acts of terrorism. I am very concerned about the welfare of the U.S. and western civilization as I look at the present war on terrorism being fought as a way to defend the U.S. and it's allies from the barbaric forces of Al-Quaeda, Hezbollah et all. I have also just finished reading David Horowitz's book Unholy Alliance which points out the ties the American far left has with radical Islamists. A very well-read and thought provoking book.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/gold-coin-dealers-decry-tax-law/story?id=11211611 Gold Coin Sellers Angered by New Tax Law Amendment Slipped Into Health Care Legislation Would Track, Tax Coin and Bullion Transactions By RICH BLAKE July 21, 2010 Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny. The issue is rising to the fore just as gold coin dealers are attracting attention over sales tactics. Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand the scope of Form 1099. Currently, 1099 forms are used to track and report the miscellaneous income associated with services rendered by independent contractors or self-employed individuals. Coin Dealers Flipping Starting Jan. 1, 2012, Form 1099s will become a means of reporting to the Internal Revenue Service the purchases of all goods and services by small businesses and self-employed people that exceed $600 during a calendar year. Precious metals such as coins and bullion fall into this category and coin dealers have been among those most rankled by the change. This provision, intended to mine what the IRS deems a vast reservoir of uncollected income tax, was included in the health care legislation ostensibly as a way to pay for it. The tax code tweak is expected to raise $17 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Taking an early and vociferous role in opposing the measure is the precious metal and coin industry, according to Diane Piret, industry affairs director for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. The ICTA, based in Severna Park, Md., is a trade association representing an estimated 5,000 coin and bullion dealers in the United States. "Coin dealers not only buy for their inventory from other dealers, but also with great frequency from the public," Piret said. "Most other types of businesses will have a limited number of suppliers from which they buy their goods and products for resale." So every time a member of the public sells more than $600 worth of gold to a dealer, Piret said, the transaction will have to be reported to the government by the buyer. Pat Heller, who owns Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Mich., deals with around 1,000 customers every week. Many are individuals looking to protect wealth in an uncertain economy, he said, while others are dealers like him. With spot market prices for gold at nearly $1,200 an ounce, Heller estimates that he'll be filling out between 10,000 and 20,000 tax forms per year after the new law takes effect. "I'll have to hire two full-time people just to track all this stuff, which cuts into my profitability," he said. An issue that combines gold coins, the Obama health care law and the IRS is bound to stir passions. Indeed, trading in gold coins and bars has surged since the financial crisis unfolded and Obama took office, metal dealers said. The buying of actual gold, as opposed to futures or options tied to the price of gold, has been a particularly popular trend among Tea Party supporters and others who are fearful of Obama's economic policies, gold industry members such as Heller and Piret said. Conservative/libertarian commentators, such as Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck, routinely tout precious metal on the air as being a safe, shrewd investment in an environment in which the financial system -- and paper money backed by the rest of the world's faith in the U.S. government's credit -- is viewed as increasingly fragile. The recently revealed investigation by California authorities into consumer complaints against Goldline International, which has used Beck as a pitchman, and Superior Gold Group (which has not) has put a spotlight on what one liberal leaning politician, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., calls the "unholy alliance" between gold coin sellers, such as Goldline, and conservative talk personalities, such as Beck. Beck, who through his spokesman, Matt Hiltzik, declined to comment for this story, and Goldline marketers portray gold coins as a better alternative to owning bullion in the event that the U.S. government ever decides, as it did under FDR in 1933, to make it illegal for private citizens to own physical gold. At that time, the U.S. dollar was still pegged to the price of gold; the gold standard was abandoned during the Nixon administration. Rep. Daniel Lungren, R-Calif., has introduced legislation to repeal the section of the health care bill that would trigger the new tax reporting requirement because he says it's a burden on small businesses. "Large corporations have whole divisions to handle such transaction paperwork but for a small business, which doesn't have the manpower, this is yet another brick on their back," Lungren said in a statement e-mailed to ABCNews.com. "Everyone agrees that small businesses are job creators and the engine which drives the American economy. I am dumfounded that this Administration is doing all it can to make it more difficult for businesses to succeed rather than doing all it can to help them grow." The ICTA's Piret says identity theft is another concern because criminals may set up shops specifically to extract personal information that would accompany the filing out of a 1099. The office of the National Taxpayer Advocate, a citizen's ombudsman within the IRS, issued a report June 30 that said the new rule "may present significant administrative challenges to taxpayers and the IRS." Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures

Thanks everyone for your condolences, advice, and thoughts. I must echo Dennis's sentence when he said: I honestly wish (and still find myself wishing) that she would prove me wrong about my disbelief in an afterlife—that she would find a way to reach out to me and let me know she was still a presence in my life. That's how difficult it has been to say good-by to her: I would gladly change my entire world-view for a chance to be with her again. As you all can probably tell I loved my mom very much. And it wasn't until my dad died that I realized how much I loved him too despite our estrangement. Unfortunately, my dad died a lonely and bitter man. He was so stubborn that his pride was such that he would not even allow himself to call or be in contact with my brother and I. Prior to his passing away, however, I learned from my aunt that he wanted to see both of us while in Hospice. Sadly, we did not get to see him. Upon learning of my mom's slow depreciation of her health and that she might not make it, I had a dream that will remain with me for the rest of my life. It was kissing my mom on her forehead while laying in bed saying goodbye to her. Angie, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. My mother had stage 4 lung cancer before she died. My mother had some of her lungs removed but (fortunately) the chemo treatments she had kept her alive for 5 more years. I hope she will be okay. While I regret not spending more time with her before she passed away, my mom purposely kept the fact that she was going to die from my brother and I so we would not worry and could live our lives normally. It is what she wanted. Fortunately, before she passed away she met and fell in love with a man whom she had a wonderful relationship with, traveled to some places she had never been to before, and (in addition to her family) had numerous friends who cared for her. I am glad she died in love with someone who truly loved and cared for her. She and my dad divorced almost 15 years ago. Since a few people have replied to my post who may still be experiencing grief or soon might, allow me to recommend a book that I found helpful. The titled of it is How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies by Theresa Rando. I found the advice Ms. Rando gives in her book very helpful. Also, since many of you are atheists, I have ordered a book titled Godless Grief which is a book that deals with death and dying from an atheist perspective. After I read it I will let you all know if it is any good. If you all would like to know more about it, book's website is: http://godlessgrief.com. It can also be ordered from Amazon too. Thanks everyone once again.

On June 24th, my mom passed away after her third bout with cancer. She was successful in beating it 2 other times but, unfortunately, the third time was not a charm. This is mainly the reason why my activity on these boards has tappered off. I am still grieving for having lost her. Though she lived a great life and I will remember her for the strong willed person she was, it was so hard for me seeing her depreciate into lifelessness. My dad died in November 2008. I did not grieve as much after getting the news of him passing away since he and I were estranged but after my mom died, the grief I should have felt then has come up and has magnified the intensity of the pain I felt and (in many ways) am still feeling. I have read a good book on the subject of grief and started seeing a therapist to help me deal with what I am experiencing. I know I will get through this. It will be difficult but I know I must.

I think this is so sad and awful. Goodbye, Chris. You will sorely be missed.

Thinking about it further, its looking more like my suspicions (which is all they are) are incorrect (thankfully). Ultimately it really isn't her fault that she has lunatics in her family anyway. Frontpage Magazine just summed up her victory nicely when a commentator there said: There is a win-win to this for all those who support freedom: Rima Fakih is an icon of a liberated Muslim. She would be brutally murdered under strict Shariah law — yes under those inferior cultures — for not wearing a head covering, let alone baring skin for a swimsuit competition. Leftists can meditate on that as they contemplate how to berate America — and make excuses for Islamic gender apartheid — the next time around. By the way, Ian, I apologize if I concluded that you were ignorant of the threat of radical Islamists. I try not to assume things about people in my exchanges with them on these boards and people in general. At any rate, I hope Rima Fakih gets special protection as she will need it from the Jihadists who would just as soon cut her head off or stone her to death for her victory.

Exactly! And once Hezbollah are finished (or continue) slaughtering the Jews all other non-Muslims (i.e. infidels) are next to be hit up for conversion or death. I get the impression that Chris, Panoptic and others who responded to this thread either don't or do not want to understand this. The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world. - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (President of Iran) Teach [your children] this: There is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a mujahid. Put in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom. - Sheik Feiz Mohammed - head of the Global Islamic Youth Center - Sydney, Australia

Panoptic I never said she didn't have rights and I would never (and would not mean to) imply that anyone of Lebanese descent (including Rima Fakih) is a terrorist or anyone else doesn't or shouldn't have individual rights. I do apologize if I left you or others in this thread with the impression that my comments smacked or smelled of (as you say) racism or were (as one other board participant said) bizarre. Including if my expressions of concern may have been logically flawed. If they are please let me know. I am always interested in getting feedback to do better. I will never subscribe to a person, group, or point of view that chooses to hate others for any reason. At the same time I find it somewhat insulting to be, what I percieve on your part, accused of such beliefs. Such allegations are baseless. If that was not your intent, please clarify. Due to the fact that I have not parused these chat boards and interacting with people on them very often may have contributed to this conclusion. I apologize profusely for the outcome as evidenced in your comments. However, I would hope you and others would take into consideration that it is far better to exchange ideas and thoughts in person rather than on these boards or in e-mail since they leave out the ability for real and continued discourse which gives each other the ability to know the people behind the ideas. Anyone who knows me knows that I am an honest and honorable person. However, my concern (and perhaps fear) is the potential and (which I percieve to be) the eventual demise of great civilizations as evidenced by Western countries (like the U.S.) that could be decimated at the hands of radical Islamists hell-bent on bringing it down either by direct or clandestine means with the ultimate goal of world domination. Radical Islamic Mullahs are quoted as saying that they want Islam (at least their version of it) to dominate the world by 2050. In the process they want people to convert or die. To deny this (which I think you and many who participated in this thread seemed to do) is really to live in denial. Perhaps I have paid more attention to it than most recently, but I would hope you would agree this (for lack of a better term) phenomenon is a threat. I have read and watched news stories about this issue extensively and consider myself well informed enough about the issue of radical Islam and the intent of people who subscribe to it. I am a lover of liberty like many on these boards and in the Objectivist movement. I also harbor a very high amount of integrity too. I am sure you and the others on this board do as well and I eagerly await your response if you want to have a frank and honest dialogue and not one based on insults or mistakes or misperceptions.

She may not violate (as you say) the rights of someone directly. However, one interesting thing that has happened since her election is that anyone who criticizes her election (such as Debbie Schlussel) or makes a comment about it (such as Daniel Pipes for his comments on affirmative action with Muslim women winning beauty contests) are being condemned by liberal columnists and politicos as being racist or anti-Muslim. By their doing so I think it helps to contribute to stifle debate, discourse and discussion on issues such as this and to the potential appeasement of radical Islam. For more examples of what I am talkinng about, check out books recently written by Bruce Bawer. His first book on the subject of radical Islam and appeasement While Europe Slept is excellent and I think he goes into more detail in his new book Surrender.

When did I accuse Rima Fakih of being a terrorist? Did I say anywhere in these posts I thought people of Lebanese descent were all terrorists? Perhaps I should elaborate on my point(s) or the point I am trying to make. I said that Rima Fakih has family that are members or supporters of Hezbollah. Like I said since she does, she could be supporting of them knowingly or unknowingly. My opinion is that Fakih is knowingly doing so but I leave open the possibility that she may not. Time will tell if she is and because of her family ties I think she needs to be questioned in public and watched very closely. My concern about Fakih is no different than my concern about Mel Gibson being an anti-Semite. Despite his denials and notable apology for his anti-Semitic tirade in 2006, Gibson still hasn't been questioned thoroughly by the press about his views about Jews. In his drunken outburst Gibson blamed Jews for all the wars of the world. When interviewed by Diane Sawyer he said he didn't think Jews weren't responsible. What he wasn't pressed on to answer on what wars he thinks what they are responsible for. In regards to the Holocaust Gibson said he knew Jews died and a great tragedy took place. Every holocaust revisionist around would say something similar. But Gibson was not asked if he thought there were gas chambers and an attempt to gas Jews with them. Holocaust deniers have their own meaning for the Holocaust and feel they can honestly say they believe in it even while denying it.

I have not seen something by her that states all Muslims are barbarians and I am sure you are correct with regards to generalizations. However, I have cross checked a number of her sources and claims on this issue and they seem legit. For example, Schlusser successfully got the FBI to dump giving a community service award to Imad Hamad who (up until recently) was under investigation for links and support to terrorist groups and helped bankroll Fakih's pageantry.

It is not bizarre if one takes into account a facet of the religion itself. It is a tenet of Shia Islam called taqiyya which is a doctrine codifying deception against non-Muslims (i.e. infidels). You can read more about this here: http://www.meforum.org/2095/islams-doctrines-of-deception Despite her clothed stripper performance and denials that she did anything wrong, the fact remains that Rima Fakih comes from a prominent Shi'ite family and with that status comes the ability to get away with a lot if the end result is to conduct a deception in the name of her faith.

It could very well be that she is unwilling or unknowingly helping Hezbollah. Unfortunately, her family members could give money Rima earns and gifts to them to relatives overseas who, in turn, give the money to terrorist groups. However, I think Fakih needs to be pressed to publicly denounce Hezbollah. If she does not that maybe an indication where her loyalties lie. Debbie Schlussel is doing a fairly decent job of pointing out who is supporting Rima Fakih. Among them is Najah Bazzi who was busted for Medicaid fraud and has openly stated she is embarrased to be an American. There is also Imad Hamad who is a supporter of terrorist groups (like Hamas and Hezbollah) and finanically supported Fakih's pageant candidacy. Rima Fakih is either a willing participant in deception or is unknowingly doing so. Whom she has surrounded herself with and is supporting her leads me to conclude its the former.

Yes but the Jordanian monarchy seems to be outwardly westernized and open to westernization of their country. Internally maybe another matter. However, while Fakih looks great, I am suspicious of her because of the ties she has and of the region she hails from. Back in 2006 the Israeli military bombed a Hezbollah compound located in Fakih's hometown of Srifa, Lebanon which at the time was/is known to be a stronghold of the group. If Fakih is Shi'ite Muslim and she is involved in a deception, we can thank Donald Trump and the dupes at the Miss U.S.A. franchise for helping to add momentum to the appeasement of radical Islam.

Robert, I have not seen where Adonis has made these claims or statements. However, the responses he gives to posts leads me to conclude he gives thinly veiled responses which imply to me he is sympathetic to Iran, the Shi'ites, and might be an anti-Semite. Can you point me in the direction of where he said he had sympathies to Shia or talked down Wahabbi or Sufi Islam?

I wouldn't believe this claim as far as I could throw it. As it turns out, the L.A. Times published a story (link below) in 2009 stating that the IAEA concluded that Iran lied about it's nuclear facility construction. As it turns out, the IAEA states that Iran began construction of it's first nuclear facility in 2002 despite claiming it started in 2007. Despite the country's so-called agreement on this, it will not stop Iran from continuing to pursue nuclear technology and know-how behind closed doors. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/17/world/fg-iran-nuclear17 Adonis is either very smart or very naive. Due to his responses in this and other threads, I am concluding that it is the former.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100517/wl_mcclatchy/3507971 New Miss USA: Islamic fundamentalism in a bikini? WASHINGTON — To win the title of Miss USA, Rima Fakih paraded across a Las Vegas stage in a nearly microscopic bikini. She skirted disaster when she almost tripped in her glittery white evening gown. Finally, she told the judges that health insurance should cover birth control pills. Fakih, a 24-year-old Arab-American whose family hails from Lebanon , has almost nothing in common with the religious zealots who inspire militant Islam. Yet the tiara had scarcely come to rest on her cascading dark tresses Sunday night when the far reaches of the right wing blogosphere went ballistic. Debbie Schlussel , a conservative blogger, charged that Fakih was a radical Muslim because she shares her family name with some officials in Hezbollah , the militant Lebanese Shiite Muslim group. The Jewish Internet Defense Force , a pro-Israeli website, proclaimed it "a dark day for America." Daniel Pipes , an outspoken neoconservative author and former adviser to Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, wondered about "this surprising frequency of Muslims winning beauty pageants" — he listed five examples in three countries since 2005 — and suggested that the Donald Trump-owned Miss USA pageant had bowed to affirmative action. Arab community leaders in Fakih's hometown of Dearborn, Mich. , have hailed her win as a sign of the diversity of their culture. For all the stereotypes of servile Arab women trapped in a deeply conservative society, Fakih's appearance alongside blond, blue-eyed contestants from Oklahoma and Colorado seemed to validate what Imad Hamad , the director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn , said was "the richness of America." Nevertheless, by Monday afternoon "rima fakih hezbollah" had become a suggested search term on Google . Magnus Ranstorp, a Swedish political scientist and one of the world's leading experts on Hezbollah — Arabic for "Party of God" — said it was "ludicrous" to suggest that Fakih, whose family includes Christians and Muslims, is a Hezbollah sympathizer. With her low-cut gown and jewel-encrusted bracelet — not to mention the tiny bikini, "She would be flogged if she showed up in any of Hezbollah's neighborhoods in Beirut ," the Lebanese capital, Ranstorp said. If there was any doubt about that, it may have been erased Monday, when pictures surfaced of Fakih dancing in a stripper contest — with $1 bills stuffed into her tight-fitting top — as part of a 2007 Detroit radio station promotion. Fakih won the contest, according to the "Mojo in the Morning" radio show, and took home prizes that included jewelry, gift certificates, adult toys and "a stripper pole for home use." Even that revelation, however, did nothing to deter Schlussel, whose biography at debbieschlussel.com says she holds law and business degrees from the University of Wisconsin , and who last week wrote a post titled "Reason #883,254 Not to Eat at Muslim-Owned Falafel Shops ." Fakih was merely engaging in "deception of the infidels to further the cause of Islam/jihad," Schlussel wrote Monday.

Like I said in my letter, I said a full-scale military attack should be pursued. This could mean either an invasion, missile/bomb strikes or both. If the U.S. decided to invade the country, it's clear the way to go about it is with troops stationed in the U.S. mainland or shift troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as bases in Europe and have them go in. it might make sense to conduct a bombing of the country prior to any U.S. troops setting foot in Iran. Now that I have elaborated, I would like to know your thoughts on how you would deal with Iran or to halt terrorism being conducted against the U.S. As far as if the U.S. government having the testicle to pull such an effort off, I don't think it can afford not to. The threat Iran is to the U.S. and it's allies is serious enough to where they will have to invade or attack.

The following is the text of a letter sent to President Barack Obama. Similar letters were sent to Senators John McCain, Jon Kyl and my representative in the U.S. House of Representatives: Dear Mr. President, What I am about to articulate in this letter is a decision I do not come to lightly and a Google search will confirm the previous activities I participated in prior to writing you. Free countries have a right, though not a duty, to invade and attack dictatorships since they enslave, strike fear into and intimidate the people who live under them and support subversive activities abroad that further their philosophical or religious ideology on which they are based. Neither the Afghan Taliban nor Saddam Hussein posed an immediate threat to the United States. However, if the events occurring in Iraq and Afghanistan are any indication our invasions and occupations of both countries are/were a mistake. Not because they were illegitimate or immoral (they were not) but because it's clear that Iraq and Afghanistan were the wrong countries to invade. Our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have placed our military in a precarious situation where they are vulnerable to attack from Iraqi insurgents supported by a vastly funded radical Islamic network. This is the result of a lack of resolve on the part of Congress and the Executive Branch to allow our armed forces to complete their missions with the resources they need. This practice needs to end and, with all due respect, you need to ensure they do. By not adequately funding missions of the U.S. military is a prescription for failure and I am sure you would agree our missions in both countries should be conducted with the resources the U.S. military needs to do it's job or our armed forces need to be brought home. I originally campaigned against both incursions mainly due to my concerns about the growth of government power as a result of war, my initial concern for the lives of the innocent Iraqi civilians and the lives of U.S. military personnel. At the time I also thought the U.S. lacked a legitimate reason to invade either Iraq or Afghanistan due to the U.S. government’s covert and military involvements in the middle east. As you may know, the Iran is the 4th largest exporter of oil. As a result, the regime is able sustain itself via massive amounts of revenue generated from oil export sales. Not only can the Iranian theocracy sustain itself but it can also fund other endeavors such as terrorism. Iran committed an act of war in 1979 when Iranian Revolutionary forces took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held its personnel hostage. As you may also be aware, since that time Iran has funded terrorist groups that have mainly attacked Israel, U.S. installations overseas, our allies and their citizens. Though they will not openly say it, it’s abundantly clear that Iran has been and is still at war with the United States, its people and its allies. Therefore, we should bring the fight directly to them and take the regime down. In light of recent circumstances with the near bombing of Times Square on the part of a sympathizer of the Pakistani Taliban (who is supported by Iran) and extensive, further research on my part I have concluded the only way to halt terrorism in the West and put the brakes on radical strains of Islam would be to invade Iran. Taking out the Iranian regime would drastically defund terrorist groups and send a message to radical Islamists that the United States will not sit by and allow states that support terrorism to exist or continue supporting seditious activities. Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology should make a military attack and invasion of the country even more of an immediate priority since with nuclear technology in their possession, Iran can and will be able to assist or educate terrorist groups in the construction and usage of dirty bombs. With all due respect, diplomatic efforts in this regard are futile. The Iranian President and his government’s representatives are only putting up fronts in their dealings with you and U.S. diplomats. The Iranians are lying if they make promises or deny their activities. Unfortunately, diplomacy cannot and will not stop Iran from continuing its support of terrorist groups and from obtaining nuclear technology. I respectfully urge you to discontinue diplomatic negotiations or dialogue and support a full-scale military action against Iran. Air strikes, imposing sanctions, or supporting dissident groups in the country (while legitimate and moral to do so) are only a band aid on the overall problem. The Iranian regime is an outlaw nation and an enabler of terrorism. The Iranian government must be directly taken out with the full force of our military. Military action is the only way to ensure justice for the past and present victims of terrorism and to ensure the long-term safety of the United States, its citizens and our allies. Thank you.

Okay Adonis, I will take a stab at this part of your comments. Without having read the entire thread, I would like to jump in to address very flawed reasoning in your logic and misstatements about Gaza. Thailand officials seized a North Korean plane last year whose cargo was a weapons cache will of rockets and other weaponry. The type of weapons were such that they could be used in ground-to-ground combat and which are found being used by Hamas and Hezbollah against Israeli cities and armed forces. You cannot deny that Hamas is building tunnels from Gaza into Israel as a means of smuggling weapons into the area and that Hamas has deliberately stored the weapons they use against the Israelis in population centers essentially using Gaza civilians as human shields. When Israel (despite their best efforts to warn civilians before retaliating for the rocket attacks Hamas conducts) hits back and destroys weapons caches where civilians are, Hamas instantly blames Israel for civilian casualties. Hamas also uses the tunnels they have constructed as a means to kidnap Israeli soldiers too. The entire Gaza Stip is now (and may previously been) used as a place to arm and train terrorists. In 2006 Iran announced they would send money to aid Hamas which Hamas uses to purchase weapons they use against Israelis in terrorism or missle strikes. It would be a mistake to allow Iran to have nukes. If their support of Hamas is any guide, it is a fact that Iran arms and trains terrorists. Once the country has nuclear technology they can then develop the means to arm and train terrorist groups they support in the use of dirty bombs. It is Hamas, not Israel, that is hell-bent on death and destruction and you know that Israel has to fend almost for itself against it's neighbors who are predominately Muslim and are dictatorships. Israel has had to fight numerous wars of self defense just to be able to maintain her existence. Countries like Syria, Jordan and even Iran resent Israel because of the prosperity she enjoys and it's obvious they want to bring Israel down. Iran has no interest in peace especially since the country's President has said he wants Israel wiped off the map and has attended rallies where attendees loudly chant Death to America! So I get the impression you are either in denial or trying to excuse the behavior or countries like Iran and groups like Hamas ignoring the evil they committ.

Hi Jean, Great to have you on board! I am glad you brought this up because I have been wondering if there are some members of minority groups (such as blacks) who are Objectivists. I am glad to see there are and you seem to count yourself as one. FWIW, if you like to read, Zora Neale Hurston was black and someone Objectivists and libertarians could appreciate. She is a lesser-known but certainly notable Old Right author who, like her associates (such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Isabel Paterson, and Garet Garrett), was critical of FDR and The New Deal. Her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God is considered a classic of literature.

That's because, like Peikoff, she doesn't like to hear the truth. Great job, Robert! I went ahead and deleted my positive review of this book. Shame on Mayhew for what he did and ARI for printing/supporting it.

I know really. I realize there maybe some bad apples who are police officers but (overall) the ones I come in contact with are decent, polite and hardworking people. Now, back on the subject of foreign policy, in terms of dealing with dictators, I wonder if it legal to start a foundation specifically geared to raising money via tax-deductible donations in order to place bounties on the heads of dictators such as Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. If there is a foundation for this I would donate money to that. If there isn't I wonder if there are any on these boards that would be willing to help me start one and is something libertarians, Objectivists and even conservatives would support handily. I would be up to starting such a group.