Outgoing Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas is reportedly pushing the United Nations to declare a Palestinian state – something Israel says can only happen through negotiations and mutual agreements. So is this a surprise? Are we looking at another surge in violence? Would it be one Palestinian state or two? And why don’t Israelis trust the United States? We ask retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Elihu Ben-Onn, who is now a radio talk show host in Israel.
The Senate may vote this week on the nomination of Judge David Hamilton to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Why are conservatives calling Hamilton ‘unacceptable’? Why do they see him as a judicial activist and a threat to religious freedom and parental rights? We ask Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, and ask her if she supports a filibuster to stop Hamilton after she worked against filibusters of Bush judicial nominees.
Sarah Palin’s highly anticipated book his the shelves on Tuesday. It already tops the best-seller list. Does this prove that Palin is still wildly popular and can mount a serious presidential run in 2012? Or is she permanently branded as a policy lightweight who is past her peak? What does she have to do to prove she is a competent candidate? We ask longtime GOP strategist and pollster David Johnson.
Retired U.S. Air Force General Tom McInerney slams the Obama Justice Department decision to try 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9-11 conspirators in civilian court. Why? What does this tell him about the Obama approach to terrorism? What legal pitfalls could await this prosecution in civilian court? How would it be different in a military tribunal?
Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt served as chief spokesman for the military in Iraq and was involved in the planning of the successful counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq. Why is he concerned that President Obama is sending the wrong message to our enemies by ordering his national security team back to the drawing board on Afghan policy? And why does he say George W. Bush set a more clear goal in Iraq than Obama seems to be setting in Afghanistan?
Texas Rep. Mike Conaway says it’s vital for the Obama administration to be fully transparent as the Ft. Hood investigation continues. He says the public has a right to know all the findings. Conaway also says he feels ‘unsettled at best’ about the president’s latest delay on Afghan policy. Why does he think that?
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he is worried the length of time President Obama is taking to make his decision put our troops in danger. Chaffetz also says he finds it curious that Obama and the Democrats breathlessly pushed their health care plan but have no sense of urgency at all on the policy in Afghanistan.
More and more details are being learned about the Ft. Hood gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan – especially his support of and connections to radical Islam. Who was the imam in the Washington area who became Hasan’s mentor? What was this imam preaching? What is his connection to organized terrorism? We ask terrorism expert Daveed Gartenstein-Ross of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
John Gizzi of Human Events tackles the week’s biggest political stories. How does he explain his inaccurate prediction that the House would not pass Obamacare? Why is he still confident nothing will actually become law? What does he make of the sudden resignation of Lou Dobbs from CNN? Why does he think Dobbs could be on a ballot pretty soon? Why is President Obama having such a hard time settling on an Afghan strategy? And what message does Gizzi have for America’s veterans?
Former Pentagon official K.T. McFarland says military service was scorned during and immediately after the Vietnam War. She says President Reagan healed the wound by speaking on Veterans Day and thanking Vietnam veterans for their service. She says Reagan also showed his appreciation by beefing up the military. As for the current war, McFarland says President Obama needs to carefully decide what the mission is for our troops in Afghanistan – that is far more critical than the number of troops he sends.
