“I’m a proud Clemson alum, I’m a proud governor, and I’m a proud South Carolinian . . . Clemson showed their heart and humility throughout the entire season, and in an unforgettable national championship victory, they reminded us that, with faith and hard work, anything is possible. That’s what defines South Carolina.” SC Governor and future UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, as she ordered the Clemson colors to fly above the state capitol. Read Full Story
On January 6, the 115th Congress certified the will of the Electoral College and the Constitutional basis for our Republic, officially ending efforts of a disheartened Democrat Party to somehow deflect Donald Trump from becoming our 45th President. Vice President Joe Biden, who chaired this session, memorably chastened Democrats who continued to seek to block the will of the people, declared their attempts to be out of order, memorably stated “It’s over!” and adjourned the session. Read Full Story
As the days to January 20, 2017 wind down, President Barak Obama is doing all he can to leave the incoming Trump administration burdened with additional defense and foreign policy initiatives that at best, like so many during his past eight years, yield little to applaud and at worst significantly increase the dangers to the American people and our overseas allies. These actions only increase the challenge and urgency for President Trump to achieve his promise to the American People that he would “Drain the Swamp.” Read Full Story
Nightfall Sunday—New Year’s Day—marks the end of the eight days of the Jewish Festival of Lights, Chanukah—celebrated by Jews worldwide to remember the Maccabees and the miracle when a single day’s oils was sufficient to light the menorah for eight days. As noted last week, our West Point cadets are reminded of Judah the Maccabee by his statue among “nine worthies” and his leadership against great odds to purge the Temple of Hellenistic cult paraphernalia, reconstruct the sanctuary according to Torah prescriptions and re-consecrate it to the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Read Full Story
This evening is a rare evening—Nightfall begins the first day of the Jewish Chanukah festivities and coincides with Christmas Eve festivities that, for Christians, heralds the coming of a baby Jewish boy we believe is the Messiah prophesized in the Old Testament. Our Jewish friends believe the Messiah is yet to come, and we believe… Read Full Story
‘’. . . And all our yesterdays have lighted fools.
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.” Shakespeare
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Captain Renault: “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” … From the classic scene in Casablanca, made in 1942 This classic “shocked, shocked” line is from the memorable 1942-43 film cast in the shadow of the ongoing Second World War, made in Rick’s Cafe Americain, and addressed to Humphrey Bogart as… Read Full Story
The United States has always responded to major threats, but usually after the danger is obvious essentially to all—often after a rude awakening like at Pearl Harbor in the dawn’s early light 75 years ago tomorrow. Still, even that threat was foreseen and clearly identified by Billy Mitchell and others, but America’s leaders ignored, some even ridiculed, that warning—though others began important advance preparations for the war that was to come. In those years, oceans separated our country from those who sought to do us harm and technology was such that time was permitted for preparations and response. Read Full Story
“President-elect Trump should direct the Pentagon to revive SDI plans for destroying ballistic missiles in their boost phase, shortly after launch — when a ballistic missile is most vulnerable and before it releases its nuclear warheads and decoys. We should not continue depending solely on the more expensive midcourse- and terminal-phase intercept capability.” … “How Trump Can Revive Reagan’s Defense Vision,” National Review, November 29, 2016 Read Full Story
“We propose to rebuild the key tools of missile defense, starting with the Navy cruisers that are the foundation of our missile defense capabilities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As we expand our Navy toward the goal of 350 ships, we will also procure additional modern destroyers that are designed to handle the missile defense mission in the coming years.”
Candidate Donald Trump, September 2016 Speech in Philadelphia
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We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.