BEYOND the Idea of on Icon - The New American Magazine - 10-12-09.pdf

Figuring Out the Founders • Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution? • Premier Polish Patriot October 12, 2009 www.TheNewAmerican.com ThaT Freedom Shall NoT PeriSh $2.95 the Idea Beyond of an Icon

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10 Vol. 25, No. 21 October 12, 2009 Photo AP Images; Design by Joseph W. Kelly Cover Story The PReSIDeNCY 10 Beyond the Idea of an Icon by Selwyn Duke — President Obama is a media figure and public idol like no other President before him. This fact says much about newscasters, but it says even more about many Americans. FeatureS 17 21 Photo Courtesy of Richard Mack Photo Courtesy of Paul Blair INTeRVIew 17 Aunt Bee, CSI, and Football by Kelly Taylor Holt — Interview with Pastor Paul Blair. LAw eNFORCemeNT 21 Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution? by Patrick Krey — Former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack is calling on sheriffs to reclaim lost freedoms. 24 TeRRORISm 24 Brown Brokers Prisoner-for-oil Deal by Joe Wolverton, II — Evidence is mounting that England’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown played an important role in freeing the terrorist who brought down a plane over Scotland. BOOk ReVIew 29 Figuring Out the Founders AP Images by Joe Wolverton, II — Four recent books are chosen for review, owing to either their scholarship or the reputation of their authors. hISTORY — PAST AND PeRSPeCTIVe 29 34 Premier Polish Patriot by Charles Scaliger — Tadeusz Kosciuszko used his engineering genius on the behalf of both America’s and Poland’s freedom. The LAST wORD 44 Let’s welcome Another Fan of Nuclear Power! by John F. McManus 34 DepartmentS AP Images 5 Letters to the editor 33 The Goodness of America 6 Inside Track 39 exercising the Right 9 QuickQuotes 41 Correction, Please! COVeR Photo AP Images; Design by Joseph W. Kelly

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Publisher John F. McManus Taste of hope only work in a spirit of charity based on the Editor It does not matter that communism does not truth of God’s Revelation. We’re a long ways Gary Benoit work, nor bring economic justice or happi- from that possibility, so your scary, selective Senior Editor ness. Barack Obama seems not to be con- quotes don’t mean much. William F. Jasper cerned so much with what will work or what JAck hockel Associate Editor will not work, as he is with promoting a uto- Walnut Creek, California Kurt Williamsen pian version of hope. Let them eat hope, he seems to say. Contributors Andrew MAggArd Cap-and-trade Coercion Dennis J. Behreandt Port Haywood, Virginia Unelected bureaucrats are killing our coun- Christopher S. Bentley Steven J. DuBord try. A Competitive Enterprise Institute report states that regulatory compliance costs hit Selwyn Duke Jodie Gilmore Sinister Social workers $1.172 trillion in 2008. Also, it cost $49.1 Gregory A. Hession, J.D. As a longtime subscriber to The new AMer- billion to administer and police compliance. Ed Hiserodt icAn (and previously American Opinion), The total of $1.221 trillion exceeds the 2008 William P. Hoar I am surprised and disappointed that once individual income taxes of $1.2 trillion. R. Cort Kirkwood again I see an article designed to create fear Government regulations add 22 percent to Warren Mass Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. of and discredit the whole profession of so- the cost of every American-made product, Alan Scholl cial work — “ObamaCare Shocker: Send destroying U.S. companies. Ann Shibler in the Social Workers” (August 31 issue). The Obama/Gore carbon cap-and-trade Liana Stanley Child Protective Service workers (Division scheme will finish the destruction of U.S. Michael E. Telzrow of Youth and Family Service workers in my industries and greatly drive up utility costs. Joe Wolverton II, J.D. state) are not social workers. Social work- The non-scientific Environmental Protection Editorial Assistant ers have obtained a professional degree, and Agency (EPA) has ruled that carbon dioxide Denise L. Behreandt have worked the required hours of experience (CO2) is a pollutant. This is ludicrous, as before obtaining their license and title. Many CO2 is necessary for photosynthesis in green Art Director Joseph W. Kelly social workers work in hospitals, schools, or plants to produce the food we eat and the oxy- private therapeutic or clinical settings, and gen we breathe. Over 31,000 U.S. scientists, Research help families every day. We are good listen- including 9,000 Ph.D.s, have signed a peti- Bonnie M. Gillis ers, advocates, networkers, coaches, problem tion (petitionproject.org) contesting claims of Marketing solvers, sounding boards, and collaborators. man-caused climate change and pointing out Larry Greenley The author of the article sounds hysterical the benefits of extra CO2 in the atmosphere. when he says: “Once into your home, they The EPA, created by executive order, Public Relations Bill Hahn will look around and find something, any- works with radical environmentalists to thing, to call ‘abuse’ or ‘neglect.’” Talk about gain and centralize power. Case and point: Advertising/Circulation fearmongering. If you want to criticize Child the EPA worked with the Natural Resources Julie DuFrane Protective Services, then use accurate terms. Defense Council in 1988 to coordinate the Thank you for bringing us the other side false scare of Alar poisoning of apples. Pro- of news. I look forward to reading your fessor David Schoenbrod of New York Law magazine. School confessed how this conspiratorial cynThiA e. chiAriello, lSw game is played in an article in the March Sent via online 1999 PERC Reports entitled “Legislating Printed in the U.S.A. • ISSN 0885-6540 Ideals.” He states, “We wanted new kinds of P.O. Box 8040 • Appleton, WI 54912 statutes that would force agencies to bend 920-749-3784 • 920-749-3785 (fax) www.thenewamerican.com Pope’s Policy society to our timetable.” editorial@thenewamerican.com The August 3, 2009 issue of The new AMer- The EPA is becoming the Green Gesta- Rates are $39 per year (Hawaii and Canada, icAn contained a news item entitled “Pope po; it is now implementing the Biodiversity add $9; foreign, add $27) or $22 for six months (Hawaii and Canada, add $4.50; foreign, add Calls for ‘New World Authority.’” The pope and Global Climate Treaties, even though $13.50). Copyright ©2009 by American Opin- stated this in the context of the need for a the U.S. Senate never ratified either one. ion Publishing, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at change of heart in the way the world views Dr. Schoenbrod admits that environmental Appleton, WI and additional mailing offices. Post- master: Send any address changes to The New economics, technology, bio-ethics, and poli- idealism is a cover for more ulterior motives. AmericAN, P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI 54912. tics. He said that current approaches will not “The point of this system is power, not envi- lead to true and integral human development ronmental quality,” he stated. The New AmericAN is published biweekly by Ameri- until charity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and rec- We must stop the Cap and Trade bill and can Opinion Publishing iprocity are integrated into the world through abolish the EPA. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The John a change in man’s heart. He laid out ideals AdriAn l. Arp, ph.d. in Science Birch Society. (such as a world political authority) that will Twin Falls, Idaho call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 5

Inside Track Taxing Americans Into Good health More U.S. health experts have added their voices to the chorus calling for a tax on soft drinks designed to discourage consumption, Reuters reported on September 16. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, nutritionist Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health, obesity expert Kelly Brownell from Yale University in Connecticut, and others made their proposal in the New England AP Images Journal of Medicine. “We propose an excise tax of one percent per ounce for any beverages that have any added caloric sweetener,” they wrote. “Much as taxes on tobacco products are routine at both state and opposition because it doesn’t want to lose profits, it would be able federal levels because they generate revenue and they confer a to make a point that soft drinks shouldn’t be singled out. If a soft public health benefit with respect to smoking rates, we believe drink tax is instituted, then a doughnut tax, a candy bar tax, an ice that taxes on beverages that help drive the obesity epidemic cream tax, and a chewing gum tax should also be put into place. should and will become routine.” “Importantly, taxes will not teach our children how to live a The group of experts estimates that “a tax of one cent per ounce healthy lifestyle,” Susan Neely, president and chief executive offi- of beverage would increase the cost of a 20-ounce soft drink by cer for the American Beverage Association, said. But the experts 15 to 20 percent.” They believe this would be enough disincen- who so blithely recommend taxes “for our own good” do have a tive that consumption would drop by 10 percent, and that this lesson they want to teach, and it’s not about healthy living. These would affect an individual’s weight. “A consumer who drinks a experts, whether they realize it or not, see government as the conventional soft drink (20 ounces or 591 millilitres) every day nanny who should benignly watch over us, making sure that we and switches to a beverage below this threshold would consume take care of ourselves for the good of society. approximately 174 fewer calories each day.” The lesson these so-called health experts want us to learn is to Americans Against Food Taxes — a coalition of Welch’s, Pep- depend on government to solve our problems. Are too many citi- siCo Inc., McDonald’s Corp., Burger King Holdings, the American zens making the free choice to overeat and become overweight? Beverage Association, and the Corn Refiners Association — is op- Then they see it as being government’s job to take away some of posed to the soft drink tax. While this industry group may be in our freedom to make sure we aren’t abusing it. Verification of Cap-and-trade’s Costs Documents obtained this week from the U.S. Treasury Depart- Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are not convinced. “The current ment reveal the Obama administration’s plans for a massive administration claims to be the most transparent in American global-warming tax through “cap and trade” legislation that has history, yet it’s been hiding a report showing its cap-and-trade already passed the House. The Competitive Enterprise Institute energy plan would cost up to $200 billion every year,” argued (CEI) requested the Treasury documents under the Freedom of Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). “American families can’t afford Information Act and was given an edited version of five records a new $1,761 yearly energy tax, and our economy surely cannot that indicated the cost to American taxpayers would be from afford the 1-percent drop in productivity this big-government bill $100 - $200 billion per year. would cause. The best step we can take right now to lower energy This is just an estimate, since the Treasury had blacked out costs, boost the economy, and clean our air would be to rely on a the end of the following sentence: “It will raise energy prices technology we created: nuclear power.” and impose annual costs on the order of....” Opponents of the plan maintain that the average household would end up saddled Taxpayers in new Mexico with an estimated one to two thousand dollars in added energy protest cap and trade. consumption costs annually, costs that are corroborated by the Treasury’s estimate since there were 105,480,101 households as of the last census. Environmentalists disagree with CEI’s conclusions, claiming that Obama plans to use cap-and-trade revenue to cut taxes. Tony Kreindler, spokesman for the Environmental Defense Fund, explained, “That math ignores the redistribution of revenue back to consumers. It only looks at one side of the balance sheet. It would only be true if you think the administration was going to pile all AP Images the cash on the White House lawn and set it on fire.” 6 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

Inside Track Baucus healthcare Plan would “Break Budget,” Increase Costs of Congress: “We also know that with health care inflation on Max Baucus the curve that it’s on we are guaranteed to see Medicare and Medicaid basically break the federal budget.” Baucus’ bill, the America’s Healthy Future Act, replaces Presi- dent Obama’s proposed “public option” with non-profit healthcare “exchanges.” It would cost at least $774 billion over the next 10 years and cut the projected deficits by $49 billion from exist- ing projected increases. But if the current Medicare and Medicaid spending trends would “break the federal budget,” would a bill AP Images that would cut that spending trend by less than $5 billion per year make the difference? Probably not, unless you believe President Obama was being less than truthful and overly alarmist in his Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) introduced the first “deficit July 22 statement. neutral” healthcare legislation on September 16, but the bill Baucus’ bill would create a mandate loosely based upon the would increase most people’s healthcare premiums by forc- failing Massachusetts system that requires people to purchase ing private insurers to make up for doctor’s losses through the insurance or face stiff fines on their income taxes, which Baucus Medicare program. And it would still “break the federal bud- initially set at up to $3,800 per American family that fails to pur- get” — if you take President Obama at his word. Obama told chase insurance. Under fire, Baucus later proposed cutting that the American people on July 22 in his speech to a joint session maximum fine in half. FDIC Seeks help From Banks The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is considering borrowing billions of dollars from the very banks it is supposed to be insuring against failure, the New York Times reported on September 21. The FDIC has taken control of 94 failing banks since January, depleting its cash reserves from about $30 billion to $10 billion, Sheila not including another $32 billion that has already been set aside Bair to cover banks that are expected to fail in the near future. This $10 billion is all that there is to back up $4.8 trillion in insured deposits throughout the United States. The failure of a single AP Images large bank could leave the fund completely depleted. Sheila Bair, the FDIC Chairwoman, has at least three options. First, Bair could turn to the Treasury Department to take advantage of an already established but currently unused $100 billion banks, but having the FDIC to blame for the bailout would almost line of credit. Second, she could levy a special assessment on undoubtedly push taxpayer tolerance beyond the breaking point. banks that are insured by the FDIC to raise extra money. And The final recourse for Bair and the FDIC is to borrow enough third, the FDIC could turn to the healthiest banks in America to money from the healthiest banks to stay above water. But only borrow the billions of dollars it needs. down the rabbit hole as told in the tales of Uncle Sam’s Adven- The first option is akin to asking for a taxpayer bailout of a tures in Federaland will anyone find such an upside-down twist. government agency that is insuring taxpayers against losing their “It’s a nice irony,” said Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner money, an option that would garner Bair a lot of negative political of a consulting firm known as Federal Financial Analytics. “Like fallout. “Sheila Bair would take bamboo shoots under her nails so much of this crisis, this is an issue that involves the least worst before going to Tim Geithner and the Treasury for help,” said the options.” president of the Independent Community Bankers, Camden Fine. The FDIC wants to borrow from the very banks it is supposed “She’d do just about anything before going there.” to be insuring. Has there ever been an automobile, home, health, The second choice, to raise money by essentially charging in- or life insurance company that asked to borrow money from those sured banks a special fee, would be unpopular with the banks and it insures in order to stay in business? Raising premiums, yes, but could impact their profits enough to put them in jeopardy. Such a not borrowing. Wouldn’t the prudent policyholder simply cancel course could lead to the FDIC setting up banks for the very fail- the policy at the earliest possible opportunity rather than stay with ures that the agency can’t afford to insure against. Of course, the such a financially unsound insurer who was unlikely to pay out current administration would be only too happy to bail out these in the event of a claim? n www.theNewAmerican.com 7

Extended Inside Track The Largest Tea Party: It still gets scant attention from major media displays, your correspondent didn’t see a single poster of that nature. (Had there been any, I would expect that others in the march would have strongly urged the offenders to deposit them in a trash container.) Nor were there threats of an Obama impeach- ment. These people were well aware of the Democratic majorities in both houses and didn’t want to waste a sign. Most Washingtonians had no idea what was going on when they arrived at a Metro station to find hundreds of people with backpacks and signs — most of whom had on T-shirts or caps espousing themes of liberty — already filling the rail cars to standing-room-only occupancy. Whenever a new group would try to squeeze in, occupants would move together even tighter amidst applause and cheers, until only cheers were possible. Countless versions of “God Bless America,” “America, the Beautiful,” and the National Anthem were sung both on the Metro and during the march. Your correspondent had never been in such a crowd where AP Images everyone was friendly, upbeat, and unembarrassed about raising their voices for the ideals of liberty. Once exiting at the Federal Triangle, the protesters were moved H istorians marvel at the American Revolution, not because of what it was, but because of what it was not. Past revo- lutions had been mostly of the internecine variety where one like a human glacier to the staging area at Freedom Square where the marchers first realized just how many (a continuing question) there were with them. Before your correspondent arrived, the prince might murder his brother as an avenue to the crown. police had become concerned about the overflow and started the Another common form had been the overthrow of the current march to the Capitol over one hour early. government by a government-in-the-wings. In the American Many compare the Washington Tea Party with Woodstock in Revolution, neither was the case. There was no prince or revo- 1969. Indeed there are some common elements, as both were lutionary cabal to assume the reins of the state. There weren’t huge gatherings that were more or less spontaneous. The themes any reins or even any state to take over. The revolution was are quite different though. While Woodstock was about “sex, about an idea that we now see as commonplace, but at the time drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll,” the Tea Party was about “limited gov- was, well, revolutionary — the idea that we were endowed by ernment, free-market capitalism, and individual responsibility.” our Creator with certain inalienable rights. Can this ever be captured again? I think so, and I’m going to The Washington, D.C., Tea Party of September 12, 2009 had be there, but with more bottled water. And God Bless America. n similar non-attributes. Crowds came from across the country — ed hiSerodT not for a festival, sporting event, concert, or other type of entertainment. They came not to lobby for a law, show homage to a politician, or celebrate an historical occasion. They came because they wanted to show they felt the country was being moved in the wrong direction — toward a centralized, totalitarian government. They came because they were worried about the world their children would grow up in if the government continued on its path. They came because they were Americans and wanted their elected representatives to know, by their willingness to sacrifice days and dollars, they were livid about massive expenditures of tax money for negative returns. The ubiquitous home-made signs showcased the protestors’ beliefs. Most were about liberty and the danger of losing it. Many were directed at Congress, AP Images reminding them that 2010 was just around the cor- ner. While media talking heads alluded to “racist” 8 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

QuickQuotes Muhtar Kent Proposal to Tax Sugary Soft Drinks Invites Sharp Opposition “I have never seen it work where a government tells people what to eat and what to drink. If it worked, the Soviet Union would still be around.” Coca-Cola chief executive Muhtar Kent strongly dis- agreed with a plan to add a tax of one cent per ounce to AP Images sales of sugar-laden soft drinks. Diet drinks would not be affected. Afghan election Results heavily Scrutinized “We think that about 15 percent of the polling sites never opened on Election Day. But they still managed to report thousands of ballots for Karzai.” An unnamed senior Western diplomat is one among many who believe the recent election in Afghani- stan was rigged to favor the current President. Naming Diane Sawyer as an evening News Anchor Invites Comment “One female network TV anchor is a breakthrough. Two becomes a catfight.” With Sawyer soon to take over as ABC’s evening news anchor, and Katie Couric holding down a similar post at NBC, two of the top three anchors delivering the nation’s prime-time news will be women, a development New York Times columnist Alessandra Stanley found interesting. Gold Price Fluctuation Attracts Attention “The market thinks inflation is coming. With interest rates so low, money is chasing money and the dollar is getting murdered.” A trader in precious metals for more than 30 years, Leonard Kaplan believes the price of gold will hit $1,200 an ounce within a matter of weeks. If You Believe him, the world Is About to end “Enjoy your camping now, people, because the Sierra forests will be burned up by 2050. Greenland’s ice cap will melt. The oceans will rise 21 feet.” A professor teaching energy at University of California (Davis), Daniel Kammen delivered his dire predictions to a gathering of University of California alumni at a campsite. She’s No Fan of either Fidel or the United Nations “The United Nations has declared misery-inducing, freedom-strangling Cuban dictator Fidel Castro a ‘World Hero of Solidarity.’” Columnist Michelle Malkin couldn’t restrain her contempt for the world body when UN General As- sembly President Miguel D’Escoto Brockman announced the award. Constituent Supports his Feisty Congressman “I kind of want to defend Representative Wilson. The president has been trying to shove something down our throats, and Representative Wilson said, ‘Hold on here.’” Lexington, South Carolina, resident Mendel Lindler admired the message sent by the Congressman, even if he didn’t fully approve of the way it was delivered. Wilson had exclaimed aloud that the President was lying during the President’s address to Congress on healthcare. President Jokes About his Frequent TV Presence “I’m so overexposed, I’m making Paris Hilton look like a re- cluse.” Asked about his intention to appear as a guest on five news shows in one day, plus an interview with David Letterman the following day, President Obama laughed off any suggestion AP Images that he is overextending himself. n — coMpiled by John F. McMAnuS Barack Obama call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 9

The Presidency AP Images the Idea Beyond of an Icon President Obama is a media figure and public idol like no other President before him. This fact says much about newscasters, but it says even more about many Americans. by Selwyn Duke need to worship Him. Worshipping God Caesar erected a statue of himself with the has, among other things, the very great inscription, “The unvanquished god”; and T here has long been a certain objec- by-product of reminding us who God is in the mid 2200s B.C., King Narim-Sin of tion to the divine command that we and, by extension, who He is not: us. This the Akkadian Empire was known as “the should worship God. It is simply: may seem obvious, but history has shown god of Agade.” Why does God need you to worship Him? that this simple fact more often than not But today, in the United States, most It is, really, an eminently fair question, and eludes man. For instance, Egyptian pha- feel very much removed from such things. it has an eminently logical answer: God raohs were considered very important Why, our first president, George Washing- doesn’t need you to worship Him. You gods in their culture; in 44 B.C., Julius ton, not only wouldn’t deify himself, he 10 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

wouldn’t even accept an offer of kingship. part — it’s the tearing apart Yet, also today, we see something very of our nation’s governmental nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan different. We see a man being referred to balance of power. as “the messiah” and “the One,” a man Yet, the scope of the nega- said about then-Senator Obama, “When around whom a seemingly unprecedented tive reaction to the speech is the messiah speaks, the youth will cult of personality has arisen. That man is, not explained by such defects. of course, Barack Obama. In point of fact, traditional- absolutely hear. And the messiah is ists would agree with much absolutely speaking.” Fathoming the Fear of its substance, as Obama Whether you consider these deific charac- stressed accountability, warn- terizations more the work of Obama’s en- ing students that all was for naught unless Even this, though, doesn’t fully ex- emies or his friends, certainly they explain they studied hard and listened to author- plain the spasm of anxiety induced by much of the fear evoked by his administra- ity figures. Rather, what apparently raised his speech. After all, while such a focus tion. And those fears were recently stoked alarm were the lesson plans initially meant on the chief executive would always in- again by an event, the September 8 back- to accompany the speech (which, owing spire criticism, it could be chalked up to to-school speech he gave to America’s to the controversy, were later revised). a misstep by the Department of Educa- schoolchildren. In fact, the opposition to They involved having students write let- tion (which issued the lesson plans) or, the talk was so intense that most schools ters to themselves, explaining how they at worst, a self-centeredness not at all made viewing of the speech optional. could “help the president,” and the materi- unknown in politicians. But with Barack And many others simply refused to air als asked questions such as “What is the Obama, the focus is often viewed quite it. Among these were school districts in president trying to tell me?” “What is the differently. Remember that this is the man northern Texas and even a dozen of them president asking me to do?” and “What is who had transfixed youth like no president in Obama’s home state of Illinois. President Obama inspiring you to do?” The in memory, bringing them to the polls like Of course, there were a few plain va- president-this, the president-that ... it again a pied piper; the man at whose feet people nilla reasons for the great controversy smacks of that cult of personality. In fact, would faint at campaign rallies as if they surrounding it. There was that good one gets the feeling that if Obama had a were slain in the spirit; the man who, un- old-fashioned partisanship, the kind that version of a certain famous John F. Ken- like any president before, was described in made the Left apoplectic over George nedy line, it would be, “Ask not what your messianic terms. H.W. Bush’s speech to youth in 1991. president can do for you; ask what you can Yet, are those who fear Obama just There were also specific defects in the do for your president.” paranoid? speech, such as when Obama was appealing to students to do their part to improve education and said, “I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn.” While this seems innocuous enough, it serves to cement a certain misconception about the federal government and its chief executive’s role: under our Constitution, the president certainly has a right to use his bully pulpit to inspire the people, and localities certainly have a right to broadcast a presidential speech to their students, but the federal government simply has no legitimate role in providing equipment and supplies for schools. Of course, somebody AP Images sympathetic to Obama might aver that he was simply trying to appeal to kids by emphasiz- media maven: President Barack Obama is such a regular feature of news-analysis programs, TV presidential ing that he is “doing his part.” addresses, and late-night television shows that critics suggest that his primary concern is gaining celebrity But the point is that it is not his status and that he intends to rely on that status, and not the soundness of policies, to pass his agenda. www.theNewAmerican.com 11

The Presidency cause of this we needn’t reach back through the mists of an- tiquity to find the deification of leaders. And a mere hop, skip, and jump back in time takes us to the most notorious modern case, the man who seemed to want to be regarded a god but ultimately convinced most he was the devil, Adolf Hitler. I illustrated in the TNA piece “Hitler and Christian- ity” (June 9, 2008 issue) how the Nazi leader had a well-defined plan to destroy Christianity but certainly didn’t intend to leave a void. Instead, he was in the process of establishing a type AP Images of neo-paganism with himself as its godhead. Then, even more Cult of personality: in North Korea, citizens literally prostrate themselves to their “Dear Leader,” Kim contemporary but no less devil- Jong-il, which is to be expected because they are reliant on his graces for their every need. As the U.S. ish is “Dear Leader” Kim Jong- presidency assumes more power, Americans will increasingly either grovel to, or venerate, the President. Il of North Korea, the god wan- nabe with a taste for Hennessy, Doting or Deification? response is: with friends like Farrakhan, blonde women, and the bomb. As Robert His defenders would point out that labels who needs enemies? Yet such sentiments Marquand writes in the Christian Science such as “the One” and “the messiah” are aren’t limited to those who believe in Monitor’s “N. Korea escalates ‘cult of often applied to him mockingly by his op- “mother ships” and numerology. The Kim’ to counter West’s influence,” “North ponents, and this is true. But we also have first dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. Koreans are taught to worship Kim Jong Il to ask where this idea of Obama as god- International Chapel, Morehouse College as a god.... The North exerts extraordinary head came from. After all, Bill Clinton religion professor Lawrence Carter, said, control through deification.... [A Kim-fam- was a reviled leftist president who was “No one saw him coming, and Christians ily deification budget] pays for ideology hounded (and deservedly so) by adversar- believe God comes at us from strange schools, some 30,000 Kim monuments, ies, but — although his playboy persona angles and places we don’t expect, like gymnastic festivals, films and books, bill- should never have overshadowed his de- Jesus being born in a manger.” Pundit boards and murals, 40,000 ‘research insti- structive policies — he was more likely Chris Matthews, describing his feelings tutes,’ historical sites, rock carvings, circus to have been labeled the “the Libidi- toward Obama, was giddy as a schoolgirl theaters, training programs, and other wor- nous One.” The answer is that Obama’s with a crush and gushed, “This is the New ship events.” Unfortunately for the North enemies didn’t make up the messiah Testament. I felt this thrill going up my Koreans, however, Kim does not possess image out of whole cloth. For instance, leg.” Then, just recently I met a dentist the godlike ability to wave his hand and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan at a social function who told me that he make these things miraculously appear. said about then-Senator Obama, “When once asked a patient what she thought Instead he spends almost 40 percent of the the messiah speaks, the youth will ab- of Obama. Her response? Among other starving nation’s budget on them. solutely hear. And the messiah is abso- things she said, “He’s the messiah.” And So we’ve seen examples of man dei- lutely speaking.” Of course, the obvious if a February Harris Poll is any indica- fying himself 4,000, 2,000, and 70 years tion, she does not prostrate ago, and in our time, but what about our alone. It asked Americans place? Could such a thing really hap- Obama is certainly one thing: a reflection to name their hero (not their pen in America, the home of “rugged zero), and Obama came individualism”? Well, not only are we of us. Remember, the deification of in first — ahead of Jesus descending into effete collectivism, we him — though encouraged by the media Christ — who occupied also receive no special dispensation from and perhaps campaign image makers the second spot. Clearly, it the laws governing man. And, most sig- seems that the characteriza- nificantly, we see the symptoms, such as — has been effected, ironically, in a tion of Obama as messiah is the presidency taking on a more godlike typically American fashion: by groups and inspired not by paranoia but role as time marches on. No man can ever a negative metanoia. be omnipresent, but the president is ever individuals largely acting autonomously. Also note that man’s na- more present in our lives year by year; ture doesn’t change, and be- no man can ever be all-powerful, but the 12 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

president is ever more powerful with “to be a servant to our president ... and all lead ’em.” It closes with a chorus of “Yes, time’s passage. As Gene Healy wrote in mankind.” The last was toward the end, and we can-can; yes, we can-can....” Yes, we his book The Cult of the Presidency: it was followed by something truly eerie. can ... compete with the North Koreans, it Sounding like brainwashed cult members appears. Isn’t this just a bit too reminiscent The chief executive of the United or Borg-like, mind-controlled cogs in a fu- of how children venerated Hitler in song in States is no longer a mere constitu- turistic science fiction movie, all the actors the 1930s and how children do the same tional officer charged with faithful said in unison, “Because together we can, for Kim Jong-Il today? Doesn’t it strike a execution of the laws. He is a soul together we are, and together we will be bit too close to a place that shouldn’t at all nourisher, a hope giver, a living the change that we seek.” Whatever hap- seem like home? American talisman against hurri- pened to just pledging allegiance to the All this is alarming to many, yet oth- canes, terrorism, economic down- flag? Even the Hitler Youth’s pledge of al- ers will just roll their eyes. They may say, turns, and spiritual malaise. He ... legiance was to the leader and the flag. “You’ve thoroughly ‘Godwinned’ your- is the one who answers the phone Speaking of youth, another video, one self, Duke. How can you compare Obama at 3 a.m. to keep our children safe taken at a Missouri government school, to Hitler?” Yet, in this way of thinking, it from harm. The modern president is surfaced prior to the election. It featured also could be said that I’m comparing the America’s shrink, a social worker, young black teenagers marching like sol- president to King Narim-Sin of Akkad, our very own national talk show diers, dressed identically and wearing Julius Caesar, ancient pharaohs, or any of host. He’s also the Supreme Warlord fatigue pants, and announcing military a thousand kings who would have been of the Earth. style what Obama inspired them to do God. You could also say that I’m drawing and what he would bestow upon the na- some equivalency between all those men. It’s true. The president’s role expands as tion. The video opened with them chanting In reality, though, there are great differ- people clamor for him to reach for the “alpha, omega, alpha, omega...,” which ences among all of them as well as great heavens, blithely unaware that the only could remind one of how “the Alpha and similarities. But even more significantly, taste of the supernatural government can the Omega” is an appellation of God in the whatever Obama is and isn’t, this isn’t offer is a glimpse of Hell. Book of Revelation. Truly eerie, though, about his similarities to such people but was the “Sing for Change” video, featur- our similarities to all people. For Obama is Pledging to the President ing a bevy of fresh-faced children in the certainly one thing: a reflection of us. Re- And it seems this expanded presiden- five- to 12-year-old age range, in training, member, the deification of him — though tial role may now be accompanied by an apparently, to be Akkadians. The hom- encouraged by the media and perhaps expanded president’s ego and expanded age opens with a little girl missing some campaign image makers — has been ef- peasant mentality. For example, there was baby teeth singing, “We’re gonna spread fected, ironically, in a typically American a recent Harpo Productions video featuring happiness; we’re gonna spread freedom. fashion: by groups and individuals largely Hollywood types such as Ashton Kutcher Obama’s gonna change it; Obama’s gonna acting autonomously. that was shown in at least one elementary school. In it they ask viewers to make a Trust, or trust not? in a video, Hollywood celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore humanitarian pledge, and two of theirs are promise “to be a servant to our president,” placing all trust in a man. Our Constitution was “to be of service to Barack Obama” and designed with its cherished checks and balances because no politician should be trusted. call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 13

The Presidency On a pedestal: Through books like this one, children are being taught that Barack Obama is Messiah-like — come forth to deliver an era of peace and justice. This book claims Obama is a “bridge,” connecting all the races, as well as the rich and the poor. God even spoke directly to Obama, telling him: “Look around you. Now look to me. There is hope enough here to last a lifetime.” Sense of Self You see, people tend to believe they’re different from the poor ignorant slobs who mucked things up so badly in ages past, but it’s said we can learn from history precisely because man’s nature doesn’t change. The prospect of living in tyranny is no more real to most Americans than the prospect of mortality is to most teenagers, yet neither group receives a special dispensation from these realities. All people operate by the same principles, and an unchanging one is this: a decline in faith prostrate people will follow a mes- leads to the deification of demagogues. sianic leader to the ends of the Earth even terton said in Now, given that leaders often pos- if it takes them to the edges of Hell. his classic work The Everlast- sess egos surpassing their mortal status, Whatever you consider Obama — faux ing Man, “A great man knows he is not it’s easy enough to understand why they god, felicitous idol, bad politician, or bold God, and the greater he is the better he would deify themselves. But why would statesman — what is for certain is that as knows it.... Nobody can imagine Aristotle many deify others instead of themselves? we expand any president’s role, our Con- claiming to be the father of gods and men, To grasp this, I think we must explore the stitution’s role contracts. But not only is come down from the sky; though we might utilitarian aspect of faith (this isn’t to say our president neither divine nor someone imagine some insane Roman Emperor that faith is only utilitarian; however, that who enjoys divine right in a kingdom, we like Caligula claiming it for him, or more which is true is also often useful). don’t even have a “presidentdom.” We probably for himself.” It is also correct to Among other things, people find a be- have a constitutional republic. Our whole say that truly great people know that their lief in God comforting. It involves the system is predicated on the idea of having leaders aren’t God, and the greater they ideas that God, or good, will always tri- a balance of power and not an excessive are, the better they know it. umph in the end; that someone is watch- amount of it vested in one man, and this So, ultimately, the warning here isn’t ing over them, cares for them, will help is why we cherish oaths to uphold that about Barack Obama. It is about us. Our them, and will be there for them in the which prescribes that balance of power: tendency to make man into God will al- end. Now, since this human need doesn’t the Constitution. It is also why citizens ways be directly proportional to our disappear along with faith, it follows that are not told, “Ask what you can do for tendency to make God into myth. And people will replace God with something your president.” Rather, if people’s focus whether or not our current president will else when they lose faith in Him. Thus is to be directed toward anything in gov- be found an acceptable god in our minds did millions of Germans cheer Hitler be- ernment, it should be toward our founding or only in his own, or neither, is not the lieving he represented security, triumph, document (which Americans don’t even point. The point is not whether we have economic resurrection, hope, and change. learn much about today), not a man who found our first pharaoh, Akkadian god- And it isn’t surprising that he rose dur- is supposed to be subject to it. And the less king or Caesar. It is that more and more ing the desperate days of the Weimar he is subject to it, the closer we become to we are becoming the kind of people who Republic, with its hyper-inflation and being subjects. need, and will get, precisely that. n hypo-industriousness. It is when people Someone who are desperate that they search for a sav- would accept any ior; when they are brought to their lowest, they have nowhere to look but up. It is degree of deification is not only eXTRA COPIeS AVAILABLe then that they find either the Deity or a unfit to be wor- ➧ Additional copies of this issue of The demagogue. And when you mistake the shipped as a god, new AMericAn are available at quantity- latter for the former, the danger is pro- he is unfit to be discount prices. To place your order, visit found. For you don’t disobey a god, you followed as a lead- www.shopjbs.org or see the card between don’t question him; a god is infallible. A er. As G.K. Ches- pages 34-35. 14 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

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inTerview Aunt Bee, CSI, and Football Former NFL football player and now pastor Paul Blair explains how he became active in the movement to reinvigorate morality and accountability in America and Photo Courtesy of Paul Blair the steps being taken to achieve success. Pastor by Kelly Taylor Holt homa, and attended Oklahoma State Uni- Paul Blair versity in the era of Jimmy Johnson and P astor Paul Blair was reviewing his Pat Jones. After college, I was drafted by sermon notes before one Sunday the Chicago Bears and spent five seasons evening service when he looked in the NFL, mostly with Chicago, finish- of us wanted me to become a up to see Aunt Bee and the church budget ing my career with the Minnesota Vikings. pastor [laughing]! But we prayed about it, committee squabbling over the best use of Unfortunately, knee injuries interfered with and I felt led to submit my name. Another an unexpected budget windfall. You may my plans, and football didn’t turn out to be month passed, and the search committee remember this episode of the Andy Griffith the career I had hoped. I had married, and continued to seek other applicants, which Show — the choir ladies wanted to buy went back to Oklahoma and into business was fine with me. After all, I had done new choir robes, the building committee with my brother. We started Blair Vending all that I could by submitting my name. I to repair the church. Andy, as always, in- and Coffee Company, which still serves the theorized that God was simply testing my tervened with his characteristic common- Oklahoma City metro area, and is begin- obedience and wasn’t really serious about sense compromise, and all was well as the ning its 22nd year. But a little over eight me becoming the pastor. Then, one week episode ended in a happy church service. In years ago I was called into the ministry and our interim pastor was going out of town, juxtaposition only television could accom- consequently take a much less active part and I was asked to fill the pulpit. We had plish, the next image on Blair’s set was an in the business today. I do, however, know great services that day and the question ad for CSI Miami. Paul remembers, “It was what it takes to make a payroll, so I under- was settled convincingly. I’ve been there all fishnet stockings, and blood, and legs, stand the struggle small businesses face. ever since. It really has been a perfect fit. and death, and I thought, ‘How did we get from Mayberry to this?’ It was a bit of a wa- TNA: What caused you to become a TNA: What was your first inkling that tershed moment for me to note how far our pastor? something was wrong in our country? culture had fallen in just one generation. I Blair: Nine years ago, I was serving our Blair: I seem always to have had some don’t want to pass on to my children the church as volunteer youth pastor when the awareness of things, and eventually asked bankrupt culture in which modern Ameri- senior pastor resigned. The search com- myself this question, “Our politicians cans find themselves.” mittee began looking for a replacement can’t really be that stupid — can they?” I Blair, a former Chicago Bears offen- and eventually I felt the Lord beating think back to the 1973 oil embargo, when sive tackle and now pastor of the Fairview me up on the inside to submit my name, we imported about 35 percent of our oil Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, got which was something I’d not considered. from foreign countries. Here we are 36 off the sidelines and into the game in the Being a pastor’s son, I loved pastors, but years later, and our dependency has nearly battle for American heritage and culture never wanted to be one. There were two doubled. If the politicians were really con- in a surprising and refreshing way — one jobs I swore that I would never do, one cerned about protecting our sovereignty, that should encourage us all, especially was bank robber and the other was pas- wouldn’t we have done something about America’s pastors. Our interview with him tor! But my heart ached from the pew, as our dependency on foreign sources for follows. Paul lives with his wife, Cindy, week after week the search committee our energy needs? Likewise, if we were and two sons in Edmond, Oklahoma. updates were announced with no result. I really concerned about terrorism today, was burdened, and mentioned the Lord’s wouldn’t we secure our borders? Over The New American: What is your back- nudging to Cindy, getting a less-than- time, I’ve watched as we did nothing ground? enthusiastic response! We were in agree- about the borders, nothing about energy, Paul Blair: I was born in Edmond, Okla- ment as husband and wife — neither one spent money like a drunken sailor (no of- call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 17

inTerview make them go away. Finally get involved in “dirty politics.” Well, poli- I said, “Wait a minute.” If tics became dirty when Christians aban- “declaration signer and Patriot Pastor there’s an organization that doned their posts. The devil has been glad John Witherspoon understood and stands for protecting the to fill that void for us. It amazes me; every Constitution and maintaining pastor knows the truth in his heart. Ask any believed that civil liberty was dependent the rule of law as established one of them what three institutions God es- upon religious liberty, and religious by our God-fearing Found- tablished on Earth. They will answer “the ers, it’s the JBS. I want to be home, the church, and human government.” liberty upon civil liberty. They go hand in a part of these guys! They will obviously preach that God’s will hand, and truthfully there is no nation on for the home is to be built on the Bible and earth today or in world history that has TNA: How do you combine centered on Jesus Christ. They will agree your faith and activism? that a local New Testament church must one without the other.” Blair: Well, I don’t go look- also be built on the Bible and centered on ing for trouble, but I’m not Jesus Christ. But at that point, we illogically afraid of a scrap. God has conclude that God cares nothing about this fense to drunken sailors) and recklessly always called His men to take hard stands third institution that He created. We have inflated our currency. It seems to me there against immorality and corruption and to abandoned human government to the devil, are those in Washington more concerned proclaim truth. By the fifth chapter in the and now the devil is using human govern- with America becoming part of a global Bible, God found it necessary to raise up ment to attack the home and the church alliance than defending our sovereignty. Enoch to preach to the world about the through ungodly legislation like legalizing This isn’t a surprise. My understanding of ungodliness of that generation and warn homosexual marriage and hate crimes. Scripture is that a one-world, global gov- them of coming judgment. It was not a Knowing the role pastors played in ernment is talked about in the end times, popular message then and still isn’t! America’s birth, it seems to me that our but that doesn’t mean we are to just roll For years now we have been taught only hope is another Awakening led by over and play dead. As a Christian, I’m wrong. Our schools teach atheism and call it courageous, Spirit-filled pastors. But first supposed to spread the Gospel of Jesus science. We are taught a revisionist view of we have to reacquaint modern pastors with Christ to everyone I can (to be Light) and American history, erasing our rich Christian forgotten truths by providing educational also to stand against sin and that which is heritage. We’re told that Christians don’t opportunities for pastors, civic leaders, po- evil (to be Salt). Declaration signer and belong in the culture. Modern seminaries litical leaders, and everyday citizens. Ac- Patriot Pastor John Witherspoon under- train pastors to become “church builders” cidental ignorance is excusable, but willful stood and believed that civil liberty was rather than courageous watchmen stand- ignorance is not. dependent upon religious liberty, and re- ing on the wall. They’ve produced CEOs Most pastors we’ve exposed to the truth ligious liberty upon civil liberty. They go of little businesses, hiding within the four have caught fire and joined together in a hand in hand, and truthfully there is no na- walls of churches competing for custom- work to make a difference in the state of tion on Earth today or in world history that ers. Rather than confronting the culture in has one without the other. an effort to transform it, we’ve abandoned I learned about government little by it. We are told that little by asking questions. Joe Boyd, a Christians aren’t great evangelist and hero of mine, was supposed to very well-read, and used to teach about the Bilderbergers and behind-the-scenes goings- on. I learned a lot from him. TNA: How did you come to join the John Birch Society, and what part does it play in your efforts? Blair: Clark Curry and Char- lie Meadows (members in Oklahoma) were friends of mine and introduced me to the JBS. At first I thought that I really didn’t have time to join another “organization,” but the Photos Courtesy of Paul Blair attacks on our Constitution are real and ignoring them will not Paul Blair at Oklahoma State University and in the National Football League 18 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

Oklahoma. Our prayer is that God will stir the hearts of pastors in every state to rise up, work together, and reclaim their own respective states to the truth of America’s Christian heritage and the biblical principles that served as the foundation for our Declaration and Constitution. TNA: What do you specifically ask pastors to do? Blair: We focus on four things. Our Photo Courtesy of Paul Blair battle is a spiritual one, so first, and foremost, we must pray! 2 Chroni- cles 7:14 gives the formula, “If my Pastor Paul Blair people, who are called by my name, with his wife and will humble themselves, and pray two sons and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will drives and make available unbiased heal their land.” We pray for God’s mercy voter guides so that our members know TNA: What’s next? and we pray for a spiritual awakening in where candidates stand on the issues. You Blair: We just completed a “Citizens of our land. don’t develop a biblical worldview by Oklahoma Proclamation for Morality” that Second is evangelism. Francis Schaef- listening to some ninny like Keith Olber- we read and signed in the Capitol Rotunda. fer, a great theologian and patriot from the mann. Our members have every opportu- One hundred and forty-eight pastors, el- 20th century, said that “the greatest way nity to be informed of the truth and then ders, civic leaders, and politicians joined to- to contend for the culture is to lead people act on it. gether to sign this proclamation. The ACLU to Christ.” We encourage pastors to lead Fourth is activism. That simply means was all stirred up and started howling about evangelism training in their churches so to do something. Christians in America “separation of church and state.” Let ’em that members of their congregations will are famous for wringing their hands and howl. We have our annual “Reclaiming be capable and comfortable in sharing complaining about how bad things are but Oklahoma for Christ Conference.” Last their faith in Jesus Christ with others. not doing anything about it. For example, year, we drew over 1,200 people. We’re Third is education. Where will truth I go to Washington, D.C., every year with also working together with over 50 Chris- be taught? The liberal news media? The some Oklahoma pastors to a conference, tian organizations from across America try- secular humanism of today’s government and while there we visit our Senators from ing to defeat this hate-crimes legislation. schools? Socialist professors in public Oklahoma. While waiting to see Senator This is a perfect example of the difference universities? Our churches must be light- Coburn one year, I asked his assistant how we can make. With the liberal super ma- houses for truth to our congregations. My many calls they typically receive on an jority in both houses of Congress and with church is well rounded. We have Sunday average bill. The answer was five. I was a socialist President, the hate-crimes bill School and preaching on Sunday morn- shocked that a United States Senator re- was supposed to sail through and be signed ing. I teach through the New Testament ceives so little input from his constituents. into law before Memorial Day. We’ve been on Sunday evening and through the Old One way to be active is to be aware what alerting people about how dangerous this Testament on Wednesday night. On Tues- kind of legislation is being run through bill is and working together to call, e-mail, days, we have evangelism training and Congress and then let your representative fax, and send FedEx letters to Congress let- visitation. We are definitely a biblically hear from you. If your Senator, Represen- ting our Senators know that we oppose it. grounded church. But rather than let our tative, or Governor received 10,000 calls Most of those guys hope to be reelected, building rust out the rest of the week, we from concerned Christians on a particular and even the liberals will listen if enough hope to wear it out! Our church is the home issue, I promise you they would take no- people call. Well, it is now more than four of the Christian Heritage Academy North tice. But this is where working together months past Memorial Day, and they still Campus, and we also provide space for is so important. Our group of pastors in haven’t passed the bill. When you consider cooperative home-school classes. We take Oklahoma is all fundamental, Bible-be- the amnesty bill last year and now the hate- advantage of holidays like Thanksgiving, lieving Christians, but we’re from about a crimes legislation, this should be a lesson July 4, and Memorial Day to teach about half dozen different denominational back- that when “We the People” speak, Congress the Faith of our Founding Fathers and the grounds. Benjamin Franklin addressed will listen. If they don’t, then we’ll promise rich Christian heritage of America. We this very issue over two centuries ago by to help them find other lines of work after address the biblical view of social issues saying, “We must all hang together, or as- the next election. in our culture. We have voter-registration suredly we shall all hang separately.” God bless America. n www.theNewAmerican.com 19

Mix or Mat for Spe ch Figuring Out the Founders • Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution? • Premier Polish Patriot Quanticial Discou ty October 12, 2009 nts www.TheNewAmerican.com THAT FREEDOM SHALL NOT PERISH $2.95 Immigration news Update Beyond the Idea of an Icon Through Rose-colored goggles? This issue examines the Obama administration’s plan to gain passage of the Law of the Sea Treaty. The issue of immigration won’t rest until the Administration officials claim that the treaty U.S. Congress takes decisive action. As the U.S. has been made more palatable since the Reagan economy continues to melt down, learn the players and gambits in the immigration debate — and Beyond the Idea of an Icon administration opposed it. This issue shows otherwise. (September 14, 2009, 48pp) TNA090914 learn what would likely be the best solution. (July President Obama is not only approaching 20, 2009, 48pp) TNA090720 household saturation, with his regular appearances on news programs, talk shows, Cap and Trade In the Shadows of Promise and presidential addresses, but his visage can Even as the majority of Americans are up in be found in commercials, in children’s books, arms about proposed restrictions and additional How closely do Barack Obama’s actions as payments that are attendant to the proposed president match his campaign pledges? The cover and celebrity videos. Marketing alone didn’t healthcare legislation, the cap-and trade Bill, which story in this issue answers that question regarding lead to this phenomena. What did lead to it? makes the healthcare proposals appear almost a dozen important promises. (August 31, 2009, (October 12, 2009, 48pp) TNA091012 benign, is about to be heard by the Senate, after 48pp) TNA090831 already passing the House. (September 28, 2009, 48pp) TNA090928 ✁ QuAnTITy TITlE/DESCrIPTIon ToTAl PrICE Beyond the Idea of an Icon MAIL COMPLeTed FORM TO: ShopJBS • P.O. BOX 8040 Cap and Trade Mix or Match APPLeTON, wI 54912 ❏ 1 copy $2.95 Order Online: www.shopjbs.org Through Rose-colored goggles? ❏ 10 copies $12.50 ❏ 25 copies $22.50 Credit-card orders call toll-free now! 1-800-342-6491 In the Shadows of Promise 100+ copies* Name ______________________________________________________________ Immigration news Update enTeR MIx OR MATCH QUAnTITIeS And SUBTOTAL Address ____________________________________________________________ SUBTOTAL WI ReSIdenTS Add 5% SALeS TAx SHIPPIng (See CHART BeLOW) TOTAL City _____________________________ State __________ Zip ________________ Phone ____________________________ E-mail ______________________________ For shipments outside the u.s., please call for rates. ❑ Check ❑ ViSA ❑ Discover 000 0000 000 000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 Standard: 4-14 ❑ Money Order ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express VISA/MC/Discover American Express Order Subtotal Standard Shipping Rush Shipping business days. Three Digit V-Code Four Digit V-Code $0-10.99 $4.95 $9.95 Rush: 3-7 business Make checks payable to: ShopJBS ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ $11.00-19.99 $7.75 $12.75 days, no P.O. Boxes, $20.00-49.99 $9.95 $14.95 HI/AK add $10.00 # _________________________________________ Exp. Date ________________ *For rush orders and special rates for case lots of 100, call (800) 727-TRUE or go to ShopJBS.org. Signature ___________________________________________________ 091012

Law enforcemenT Can the County Sheriff Save the Constitution? Former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, who became front-page news when he filed a suit challenging the constitutionality of the Brady Bill, is calling on sheriffs to reclaim lost freedoms. Sheriff Richard by Patrick Krey mack of Graham R County, Arizona ichard Mack, former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona, is not afraid to ruffle some feathers in order to halt what he considers violations of the U.S. Constitution. In 1993, Con- gress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Photo Courtesy of Richard Mack Prevention Act (commonly referred to as the Brady Bill), which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton and went into effect on February 28, 1994. A provision of the Brady Bill compelled state and local law-enforcement officials to perform man- datory background checks. Mack, then a Graham County sheriff, was outraged. In response, Mack gained distinction by being the first sheriff in the nation to file a lawsuit against the Brady Bill. The lawsuit finally stand up and stop being pawns in ples upon which our country was founded, made it all the way to the Supreme Court, the federal government’s unconstitutional then the county sheriff has to be involved which ruled that the provision was indeed schemes. “We must start at home, in our in that process. That’s where we are today. unconstitutional as a violation of the Tenth counties, in our own ‘spheres.’ We must We don’t have anywhere else to turn, so Amendment principles of federalism. erect the barriers and keep those at bay why not turn to the guy who promised to Now Mack is once again making head- who would confiscate bank accounts, do just that?” lines with his latest effort to stand up for guns, land, property, and children. Sher- Why just 50 pages? Mack explains: “I the Constitution. In a 50-page booklet iff, you are the people’s sworn protector. know law enforcement and I know sher- entitled The County Sheriff: America’s You cannot shrink from that duty merely iffs; they’re not going to get involved in Last Hope (available from his website because the violator comes into town with anything that’s too long. They can read www.sheriffmack.com), Mack concisely a three piece suit and a fancy attaché case.” this really easily and there’s no excuse not explains what he believes is the proper In an interview with The new AMeri- to read it.” Mack has started a campaign role of law enforcement, as well as how cAn, Sheriff Mack explained what his goal via his website to distribute one booklet to your local sheriff can be the last line of was with writing this booklet. “My goal is each sheriff in the United States. “We have defense for the U.S. Constitution. Mack to educate sheriffs to their proper authority about six states covered right now. We’re passionately argues that real change is not and their standing as the ultimate check going to keep moving and identify sheriffs going to come from Washington, D.C., and balance for the people in their county. in the country who have the guts to fulfill but instead from local county sheriffs who If we are going to get back to those princi- their constitutional duty.” call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 21

Law enforcemenT and with a strongly worded ist. “I was … a by-the-numbers jerk.… We explanation as to why the had to write tickets and lots of them. We Sheriff Mack suggests that a non- Brady Bill, or 20 more just needed arrests and felonies and DUIs and complying county sheriff would be a much like it, would have no place druggies in jail and our efforts supported in Arizona.” Mack suggests in the newspapers. I got caught up in all more efficient and effective way to restore that a non-complying coun- of this and loved it. We literally justified constitutional governance to the land of ty sheriff would be a much our existence — on the backs of citizens.” the free than endless legal challenges more efficient and effec- Then in the early ’80s, Mack went under- tive way to restore consti- cover for a one-year assignment in narcot- in federal courts filled with politically tutional governance to the ics, and it got him to question the entire appointed lawyers. land of the free than endless war on drugs. “What was this all for? Why legal challenges in federal did so many people have to go to jail be- courts filled with politically cause of marijuana, especially when it was The County Sheriff: hope for America appointed lawyers. “Sheriff Nixon from less harmful than alcohol? Is law enforce- Mack’s experience with fighting federal Lincoln County, Montana, did just that. ment really about public service, or public gun-control legislation of the mid ’90s He didn’t join our lawsuit. He just said, harassment?” was quite the learning experience for him. ‘No, I’m not enforcing the Brady Bill,’ His soul searching, combined with “So here’s the U.S. Congress making an and he didn’t. We won a major landmark years of research, led him to the following unconstitutional gun-control law, requir- monumental decision but the sheriffs in conclusion: “I am now totally convinced ing a county official to enforce it and pay this country have the authority to say ‘no’ that the ‘Drug War’ is a farce. It provides for it, and then threatening to arrest him if to the federal government and that’s what no benefit to the public and actually makes he refuses! What a government!” we all should have done.” the drug problem worse.” This personal Looking back on the episode, though, epiphany didn’t just stop at the issue of Mack wishes he handled things dif- who Is Sheriff Richard mack? drug prohibition but also extended to the ferently. “In retrospect … I wish I had Mack, who started his law-enforcement entire method of using law enforcement as never filed it. The most effective and in- career in the Provo police department in a revenue-raising tool for government. “I expensive measure that should have been Utah during the late ’70s, doesn’t mince got fed up with the numbers game in law taken was for all the sheriffs of Arizona words when it comes to describing his per- enforcement and with the idea that we, the to simply send the Brady Bill back to sonal transformation from a standard po- police, were here to force people to wear Congress with a CC to the White House lice officer to a committed constitutional- their seat belts and to have their papers [license, registration, insurance, inspection, etc.] in order before they could freely go about their lives.” Mack looked at the way law enforcement was being handled and didn’t see public servants searching for the truth or advocating the rights of the accused. In- stead, he saw a system contrary to what he in his heart believed to be right. “It is a corrupt system based on ‘win-loss’ records. Principles of freedom and equality are bypassed in order to concentrate on the money-generating numbers and plea bargains. If innocent citizens get nailed in the process, then it is ... considered collat- eral damage.” Mack didn’t just see abuses being perpetrated at the state level but also at the federal level in a much more flagrant and blatant manner. Photo Courtesy of Richard Mack Richard Greatest Threat to America: mack with The Federal Government Judge Andrew What does Sheriff Mack view as the big- Napolitano gest threat facing America today? Global warming? Terrorism? The swine flu? Again, Mack pulls no punches and states exactly what is on his mind. “The great- 22 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

est threat we face, as a nation, is our own federal government.” Mack’s opposition to federal overreach is not limited to just when Democrats control the levers of federal power. Mack staunchly opposes right- wing overreach. He vigorously objects to an interventionist foreign policy, as well as abusive national-security tactics applied domestically. “The elitists of Washington, Richard mack D.C., including those of both major par- speaking in ties, have turned America into a socialistic Texas democratic dictatorship. We are a police state and welfare state all rolled into one enormous gluttonous debt.” Sheriff Mack does not see a bright future for America if we don’t turn back the clock Photo Courtesy of Richard Mack on the expansive growth of government. “It is a mathematical certainty that the bigger the government, the smaller the freedom. You cannot have huge government and abundant freedom simultaneously.” Saying “No” to the Feds For those who are absolutely fed up with the constant violations of the U.S. Consti- tution, Sheriff Mack’s proposition to nul- lify federal overreach by just saying “no” istration announced that it was looking to against federal intrusiveness.” Mack high- is entirely practical advice. ‘repeal and replace’ the controversial law.” lights an incident in Nye County, Nevada, The notion of state interposition, or Has the time come for such action? where the local sheriff told federal agents state nullification of unconstitutional Boldin believes that the time has definite- that if they tried to confiscate cattle from federal laws, is a concept as old as our ly come. “James Madison, in his report a local rancher, he would arrest them. The Republic; Mack’s proposal to extend it of 1800, said that interposition must not feds backed down and the cattle remained. to the county sheriff level merely adds a be employed ‘either in a hasty manner, or Mack explains, “For federal officers to new decentralist twist. Could such a pro- on doubtful and inferior occasions.’ And come in to the county and take over in posal possibly work? Michael Boldin, the he was quite right. But, with the massive any respect is the epitome of usurpation, founder of the Tenth Amendment Center amount of constitutional overreach com- and he who is the rightful steward of the and an expert on the subject of state nul- ing from the federal government, choosing county needn’t tolerate any such usurpa- lification, believes that it could. Boldin one overreach to resist is like shooting fish tions whatsoever.” told The new AMericAn, “It’s my opin- in a bucket.” As far as federal legislation requiring ion that the best way to resist the federal the action of local sheriffs, Mack asserts government and its incessant violations of The Next Step that “they’re entirely meaningless and the Constitution is not to continually try to What kind of feedback has Mack received have no way of being enforced unless [the ‘vote the bums out’ every election season, from other sheriffs who have read his county sheriff] says so.” Mack argues that but instead, to virtually ignore it. Nullifi- book? “Sheriffs from Oregon, Montana, the worst that can happen is that the sheriff cation, simply saying no to federal laws Colorado, Washington, and Wisconsin will lose out on some federal funding. outside the scope of their constitutionally have all voiced overwhelming support and Mack himself acknowledges how very delegated authority, is the path to liberty ... are getting more on board every day.” revolutionary his proposal is, but argues for this country. It’s powerful, it’s peace- The only type of negative feedback he has that it is vital to preserve our freedoms. “I ful, and it works, as can be seen in the received is from “a couple [of sheriffs] know this all sounds radical. Standing for state-level revolt against the Real ID Act who have expressed reluctance, but most freedom has always been labeled as radi- of 2005. In 2007, multiple states passed of those just boil down to whether or not cal, but ‘extremism in the defense of lib- resolutions refusing to implement the fed- they have the guts to do it. I think most of erty is no vice,’ to quote Barry Goldwater.” eral Real ID act on grounds that it was them know this is true but just don’t want Mack stands firmly by his warning that unconstitutional. Instead of attempting to to be the tester to see if it really works.” for “the tyrant to win … the only thing that force the law to implementation, the fed- Indeed, as Mack is quick to point out, has to happen is for the nation’s police and eral government delayed implementation, “There are already several examples of sheriffs to be convinced that all laws must and earlier this month the Obama admin- sheriffs and local governments standing be enforced.” n www.theNewAmerican.com 23

Terrorism Brown Brokers ment of Scotland would ever make such a behind-the-scenes deal for al-Megrahi’s freedom, both the son of longtime Libyan Prisoner--for-oil Deal dictator Moammar Gadhafi and Britain’s former ambassador to Tripoli tell a different tale. It is a head-shaking story rife with purposeful obfuscations, cleverly England’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he’s innocent, worded agreements, and shady wink-and- nod double deals that smell fishier than the but evidence is mounting that he played an important role in cod wrapped up daily with greasy chips in freeing the terrorist who brought down a plane over Scotland. the News of the World. Not surprisingly, given his already tenu- ous grip on the helm of the ship of state, owing to the several and sundry other scan- dals and controversies dogging him, Gor- don Brown has issued a complete denial of any wrongdoing or questionable behavior regarding the release of Megrahi. While in Birmingham, England, Brown told reporters, as quoted by the BBC: “There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to Colonel Gadaffi.” This brief article, however, will delineate chapter and verse how the record, official and unofficial, of the events culminating in the “compassionate release” (which under Scottish law is available by application to any inmate with less than three months left to live) of a convicted Libyan terrorist and murderer belies Brown’s denial and, in fact, reveals quite a different and despicable story. “No Conspiracy” “Conspiracy” is defined by the Un- abridged Random House Dictionary as “an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surrep- AP Images titious plan formulated in secret by two or more persons.” What follows is irrefutable evidence that Gordon Brown’s actions, england’s Prime minister Gordon Brown (left) has been accused of facilitating the taken in concert with those of other Lib- release of airline bomber Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi at the behest of Libyan leader yan, Scottish, and British officials, were Moammar gadhafi, in exchange for giving British Petroleum access to Libya’s oil absolutely consistent with every essential fields. In 2008, he also refused to ask the Libyan government for a cash payout for IRA element of that definition. bombing victims who were killed with Libyan explosives. Although the dramatis personae, including supporting roles, is long and distin- guished, the scope of this article forces us by Joe Wolverton, II “compassionate release” of convicted ter- to focus on just the lead actors and those rorist Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi from the eligible for “best supporting” nomina- T he buck (or the pound, in this case) Scottish prison where he was serving a life tions. First and foremost is Gordon Brown. stops at the desk of perpetually sentence for having bombed a commercial Gordon Brown, the prime minister of the embattled British Prime Minister airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, United Kingdom, is himself a Scot. He Gordon Brown. According to numerous killing 270 people. has insisted that the decision was solely reports in newspapers in the U.K. and Despite weeks of Brown’s denials and and constitutionally under the bailiwick worldwide, a clandestine oil-for-prison- pretended offense at the very suggestion of the Scottish government and not that of ers deal with Libya facilitated the recent that either his government or the govern- the greater United Kingdom. Brown sticks 24 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

by this disavowal despite the daily mul- tiplication of documents proving he was complicit in a furtive deal to arrange the release of Megrahi from Greenock Prison in Scotland, where he had been incarcer- ated for over eight years. Another principal player in the scandal AP Images is Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary. Although allegedly originally opposed to the notion of the release of Me- grahi under any circumstances, MacAskill A hero’s welcome: In August, Scotland released Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi (right), one of changed his mind, and on August 20 an- the terrorists convicted of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing nounced at a press conference that Me- 270 people. In Libya crowds cheered al-Megrahi’s return. grahi’s application to the Scottish courts to be released on compassionate grounds resulting from his diagnosis of terminal meetings and missives leading prostate cancer was accepted and that to the release of the Lockerbie In letters leaked to the Times, the Megrahi would be flying home to Tripoli. bomber is coming from him and As late as August 5, after an in-cell meet- his agents. For example, whereas British government and its agents ing with Megrahi, MacAskill proclaimed all the British and Scottish inter- in Libya decided that it was “in the that Megrahi would not be released on ests in the deal have vociferously compassionate grounds. Then, in what asserted that Megrahi’s name was overwhelming interests of the United the timeline reveals is coincidental with not only not mentioned by them, Kingdom” to let Megrahi go free. Megrahi’s dropping the appeal of his con- but specifically eliminated from viction and the final approval by Libya of any list of potential prisoners eli- lucrative business deals with British multi- gible for release under a Prisoner Transfer from Libya. This man’s name is David nationals, MacAskill reversed his opinion Agreement (PTA) worked out and signed Garro Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne. and signed the papers that punched Me- by Tony Blair (former U.K. prime min- Lord Trefgarne is a member of the House grahi’s ticket home. As should be expect- ister) and Colonel Gadhafi in 2007, Saif of Lords. In fact, he is one of only 92 he- ed, despite MacAskill’s vigorous defense Gadhafi remembers his discussions with reditary peers left in the House of Lords of the legality and humanity of his actions, British officials this way: “It was obvious after enactment of the House of Lords Act he has come under immense pressure from we were talking about him [Megrahi]. We of 1999, which eliminated hundreds of the his countrymen, and the calls for his ouster all knew that was what we were talking members of that House who had inherited are growing louder and coming from very about. People should not get angry be- their seats. prominent and powerful voices. cause we were talking about commerce or Besides his familial influence and his On the Libyan side of the equation, the oil. We signed an oil deal at the same time. seat in Parliament, Trefgarne has other in- leading figure is Saif Gadhafi, the son of The commerce and politics and deals were terests that touch and concern the matter Moammar Gadhafi, the de facto Libyan all with the PTA.” Not exactly the tone of at hand. Namely, he is the chairman of the leader since he led a successful coup d’état the discussions as related by the British. Libyan British Business Council (LBBC), in 1969. Gadhafi the younger doesn’t wear Perhaps the most interesting actor in this an organization established in 2004 that the muzzle of the establishment, and there- real-life drama is a man whose influence describes itself as a group that “promotes fore much of the surreptitious detail of the straddles the miles separating the U.K. business relations and commercial activity call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 25

Terrorism AP Images Avoiding controversy: even as england’s Prime Minister is under fire for reportedly releasing a terrorist to help British Petroleum (BP) cement a contract in Libya, BP denied soliciting aid, saying it didn’t need any boost. Yet if gordon Brown should be bumped from office for the scandal, it would be surprising if he were not given a golden-parachute job by BP or a Libyan business group. between the British and Libyan business decision to release Megrahi and its world- tack on Pan Am Flight 103) for oil (spe- communities.” Furthermore, the organiza- wide impact in light of the fact that many cifically the untold barrels in rich reserves tion’s website boasts that “we work with of Megrahi’s victims were American, it is found under Libyan soil, so passionately and enjoy the support of both the U.K. and no wonder that so many worked so hard desired by BP and others). As the headline Libyan governments.” It is this organiza- to keep so much secret. David Cameron, in the Sunday Times of August 30, 2009 tion, whose leadership is drawn from Brit- the leader of the Conservative Party in so succinctly declares: “Lockerbie bomber ish seats of power, that may have brokered the U.K. Parliament, has outright accused set free for oil.” As investigators, legisla- the deal that not only gave Abdul Megrahi Downing Street of “double dealing” and tors, and journalists from around the world his freedom, but gave British Petroleum told the Times of London, “For weeks have perused the documents recently re- (BP) a chance to take a long, rewarding dip he’s [Gordon Brown] been refusing to leased by London and Edinburgh, there into the pool of Libyan oil. More on the dy- say publicly what he wanted to happen to is little doubt among most of them that namic between oil contracts and prisoner al-Megrahi, yet we now learn apparently the key that unlocked Abdul al-Megrahi’s releases and the role Trefgarne and LBBC privately the message was being given to prison cell was being turned by British played in it follows later in this piece. the Libyans that he should be released.” commercial interests, chiefly BP. Brown, it seems, was ably covering up any In letters leaked to the Times, the Brit- “No Cover-up” concessions, tacit or explicit, given to the ish government and its agents in Libya Even those with a mere cursory under- Libyans regarding the release of Megrahi. decided that it was “in the overwhelm- standing of the machinations of a con- While, if true, this is certainly damning, ing interests of the United Kingdom” to spiracy know that concealment is the most Cameron and his lot are not guiltless in this let Megrahi go free. Those interests are important element of the accomplishment mess, as the aforementioned Lord Trefgar- identified as a multi-billion-dollar oil ex- of a plot. In the present case, all the deals, ne is a former chairman of the Association ploration contract that would have been handshakes, letters, and secret confabs of Conservative Peers, a group intimately rejected by the Libyan government had a that combined to free oil and prison- connected with the larger Conservative promise of granting freedom to the infa- ers were hidden for months and perhaps Party. Interestingly, Trefgarne himself par- mous Libyan terrorist not sweetened the years, taking into consideration the first ticipated in the coverup. Letters he wrote pot. The British were anxious to make a meeting by British Foreign Office officials to Kenny MacAskill urging the judge to deal, even a shoddy one, as it had for years with Moammar Gadhafi in Libya in 2002, consider releasing Megrahi for the greater been actively engaged in trying to find al- as well as the negotiations carried on in British good just came to light thanks to ternative sources for oil, seeing as how the 2004 by Gadhafi and Tony Blair (see the the investigative work of reporters from the North Sea reserves it relies on so heavily timeline accompanying this article). While Guardian newspaper in the U.K. are drying up and any other source of oil in it may be difficult, as with any coverup, to the eyes of the U.K. is better than the more identify the precise moment the obfusca- “No Deal on Oil” obvious provider: Russia. tion began, it is easy to point to several This facet of this sordid and sorrowful As Edward Davey, a spokesman for the covert operations that occurred before the story is perhaps the most distasteful, as Liberal Democrats, declared, “This is the lights were turned on and the rats began it essentially represents an exchange of strongest evidence yet that the British gov- scrambling for cover. blood (that of American, English, and ernment has been involved for a long time Given the controversial nature of the Scottish victims of Megrahi’s terrorist at- in talks over al-Megrahi in which com- 26 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

mercial considerations have been central ny of Sir Richard Dalton, a former British with Libya. Furthermore, it denies that to their thinking.” The strong evidence to ambassador to Libya and a member of the negotiations were ever in jeopardy over which Davey refers is the leaked letters board of directors of the LBBC. Dalton whose name was or was not excluded from exchanged between Jack Straw, the U.K. told the Times, “Nobody doubted Libya the PTA. BP does not deny, however, that Justice Secretary, and Kenny MacAskill, wanted BP and BP was confident its com- it is thrilled at the prospect of cashing in the man who stands with Gordon Brown mitment would go through. But the timing on the U.K. government’s capitulation to in the eye of the hurricane. of the final authority to spend real money its new, placated Libyan business partners. The correspondence between Straw and was dependent on politics.” This is con- MacAskill began around July 2007. A cou- vincing, indeed, given Dalton’s experience “No Attempt to Instruct ple of months earlier, BP had announced and familiarity with Libya, the LBBC, and Scottish ministers” that an exploration deal with Libya worth the overall gives and takes of modern po- In what to the Scottish people must be the over £15 billion was in the works. As of litical wheeling and dealing. ultimate insult, it seems that Scottish au- November of that same year, the Libyan For its part, executives at BP have re- thorities, specifically Kenny MacAskill, government was still sitting on the deal, mained silent except to assure the world crumbled under the considerable pres- refusing to ratify it without some crucial that politics played no part whatsoever in sure exerted on them by English parties amendments. Paramount among the de- the negotiation and ratification of its deal determined to secure acceptance of the sired codicils was a PTA between Libya and the U.K. that was originally initiated by Tony Blair and Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. Since the agreement’s inception, Gadhafi had insisted that Abdul al-Megra- TiMeLiNe (Author’s own work combined with a similar timeline published in the Times of London on September 1, 2009) hi’s name be included on the list of potential exchangees. For years, British officials December 1988: Former Libyan Intelli- tary, tells his Scottish counterpart, Kenny refused to permit Megrahi’s freedom to be gence Officer Abdul al-Megrahi plants a MacAskill, he would exclude al-Megrahi part of the deal. That all changed, howev- suitcase bomb aboard Pan Am Flight 103 from any prisoner transfer scheme. er, when the huge BP deal was still sitting that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Gadhafi’s desk unsigned in December killing 270 people. December 2007: Straw tells MacAskill he of 2007. has reversed this position on the grounds On December 19, 2007, Straw sent a April 1999: Al-Megrahi is arrested and of UK’s “overwhelming interests.” letter to MacAskill informing him that taken to Camp Zeist in the Netherlands London was dropping its insistence that to await trial. September 2008: Al-Megrahi diagnosed Megrahi’s name be excluded from the with prostate cancer. PTA list. The reason: oil. Not just a drop January 2001: A Scottish judicial panel or two, but millions and millions of barrels finds al-Megrahi guilty of the Lockerbie May 2009: Prisoner transfer deal rati- and the money to be made from it. Accord- bombing and sentences him to life in fied. Libya applies for al-Megrahi to be ing to the Times of London, Straw’s fate- prison. sent home. ful letter to MacAskill read in salient part, “The wider negotiations with the Libyans August 2002: Foreign Office Minister July 2009: Foreign Office Minister Ivan are reaching a critical stage and, in view of Mike O’Brien meets Moammar Gadhafi Lewis says he hopes MacAskill will con- the overwhelming interests for the United in Libya. sider transfer request. Kingdom, I have agreed that in this instance the [PTA] should be in the standard March 2004: Tony Blair meets Gadhafi August 5, 2009: MacAskill rules out form and not mention any individual,” thus in Libya. New talk of cooperation. prisoner transfer. tacitly throwing Megrahi’s name into the mix and pleasing the Libyan government May 2007: BP announces £545 million August 12, 2009: Al-Megrahi applies to interests that the British were now desper- oil-drilling concession in Libya. Scottish courts to drop his appeal. BBC ate to appease. obtains story that al-Megrahi is to be re- Like night following day, in less than May 2007: Britain signs “memorandum leased on compassionate grounds. two months after Straw surrendered his of understanding” with Libya. opposition to the exclusion of Megrahi’s August 18, 2009: Al-Megrahi’s applica- name from the PTA, Libya relented and June 2007: Scottish First Minister Alex tion accepted by the courts. signed the documents necessary to give Salmond condemns UK government for signing memorandum, saying it includes August 20, 2009: MacAskill says al-Me- BP access to its untapped oil reserves. As negotiations on prisoner transfer and that grahi is to be released on compassionate mentioned above, this version of the story the Lockerbie bomber is a matter for grounds. is confirmed by Saif Gadhafi. He isn’t the only witness for the prosecution, however. Scottish justice system. August 21, 2009: Al-Megrahi flies Perhaps even more credible is the testimo- July 2007: Jack Straw, the Justice Secre- home. www.theNewAmerican.com 27

Terrorism BP-Libyan oil contract. There were many self, and the U.K. at large would all suffer parently received loud and clear. For de- high-placed officials, government and cor- immediate and irreparable harm if minds spite the vaunted walls around Scottish porate, using all their combined powers of weren’t changed and changed quickly re- sovereignty and the independence that persuasion in an effort to sway MacAskill. garding Megrahi’s future. Scotland claims to have in such mat- Of particular note is the fact that one of In case MacAskill didn’t get the point, ters from the government of the greater those interested in flipping MacAskill may Trefgarne, according to the Guardian United Kingdom, on August 21, 2009, have been his own brother, Allan, who has newspaper, closed his message to Mac- convicted terrorist and murderer Abdul worked as a senior executive at BP. Admit- Askill by saying, “May I end by empha- al-Megrahi walked out of a Scottish pris- tedly, Allan MacAskill no longer works sizing that speed is of the essence, princi- on after serving only eight years of a life for BP, but he worked for the petroleum pally, of course, for humanitarian reasons, sentence. He then flew home to Libya giant for over 20 years. but also because of the shadow which and was greeted as a hero by throngs of Although his efforts were unaided by may otherwise fall over the UK-Libyan his cheering countrymen. consanguinity, one of the Englishmen relations — and especially the interests of This scene, so revolting and unfathom- leaning heaviest on Kenny MacAskill LBBC Scottish members and indeed oth- able to the families of those murdered to sign Megrahi’s release papers was ers.” That was undoubtedly Trefgarne’s by Megrahi, was played out as part of a the aforementioned aristocrat, Lord Tref refined way of putting the iron fist of raw larger production performed solely for the garne. Adding his contribution to Mac- commercial considerations inside the vel- purpose of putting Libyan oil money in Askill’s already-full mailbox, Trefgarne vet glove of humanitarianism and Scottish the hands of British corporations. Those wrote a letter to MacAskill in July re- patriotism. Curiously, despite MacAskill’s corporations must now justify to them- minding him that there were many Scot- response to Trefgarne that he would not selves and the world the probity of trading tish interests to be served by the passage be swayed by commercial, economic, or a murderer for money, money exchanged of the BP oil exploration deal, and the political concerns, on August 20, 2009, he with a nation whose own hands are stained fulcrum on which all these deals turned set Megrahi free. crimson with the blood of British subjects, was the release of convicted terrorist thus proving that although blood may be Abdul al-Megrahi. Trefgarne informed Black and Red thicker than water, blood, even the blood MacAskill that the LBBC, Scottish busi- The message, or perhaps “instruction” of one’s own countrymen, is sometimes nesses with ties to Libya, Scotland her- as Gordon Brown would call it, was ap- not thicker than oil. n

Book review Figuring Out the Founders of the founding and growth of the United freedom of his country, personal renown, States and the lives of those men whose power, wealth, and success. The last four hands were on the plow as the first seeds of these traits, although not traditionally were sown. ascribed to Washington, do not, the author From the masses of What follows is a survey of four recent- states, make Washington a villain or cor- material about the founding ly published books about the Founders and rupt. In fact, Ferling avers, it was Wash- their time. These books were chosen be- ington’s remarkable ability to “fulfill those of our country, four recent cause of the reputation and noted skill of ambitions” that is the signal mark of his books are chosen for the authors and the important contribution greatness. Many men strive for wealth, of their works. As stated above, there are fame, and power, but few are possessed review, owing to either stacks of books to be read on this subject, of discipline and drive sufficient to the their scholarship or the and the books reviewed in this article are task. Washington combined an unmatched but a taste of the richness offered in the strength of will with a consuming desire to reputation of their authors. Founding Fathers book buffet. preserve the liberty of his country, and cre- First up is the latest book by John Fer- ated a name and fame that is unparalleled by Joe Wolverton, II ling, the author of several best-selling among his more-educated and wealthier S troll casually along the bulg- ing bookshelves of your local bookseller, and you’re sure to see rows and rows of books chronicling books on the founding era, including the award-winning Almost a Miracle. Fer- ling’s latest work is an analysis of the emergence and rise of the first American to be called the “Father of his country”: contemporaries. Ferling documents how Washington, although not born to immense wealth nor trained in the finest schools, was clever and determined enough to manipulate (in the lives and times of the generation of George Washington. The Ascent of George the strictest use of that word) every small men known reverently to us as the “Found- Washington is an entertaining description opportunity to great advantage. Washing- ing Fathers.” These were the fearless men of the roots and branches of the politi- ton’s ascent was fueled by “powerful pa- who boldly declared independence from cal career of our first president and most trons” who helped establish him as a mili- the tyranny of the world’s most formidable prominent Founding Father. tary leader (despite a lack of soldiering empire and then set about establishing the Despite its disfavor at the time of our experience) from a very early age. Ferling steadfast moorings upon which to build founding, “ambitious” is the word Ferling makes it clear that in his view this sponsor- the mightiest republic in the history of the uses to describe the chief motivation for ship in no way diminishes Washington’s world. This plot of land on the field of his- the extraordinary rise of George Washing- accomplishments. Many young men ben- tory is ripe for scholarship, and there is ton. According to Ferling, George Wash- efit from similar support and make nothing never an end to the “hows” and “whys” ington was ambitious for many things: the of themselves and, in fact, squander their call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 29

Book review would always be “first in war, first cence of time and space was more re- in peace, and first in the hearts of sponsible than anything else for the de- his countrymen.” velopment and nurturing of the American Ferling’s contribution to Wash- republic. To support his thesis, Ellis quotes ingtoniana presents nothing new, George Washington, whom he calls “the but the familiar stories he tells is most prominent revolutionary of all,” with done in a well-crafted and com- regard to the perfect storm of events and pelling manner that recommends geography that provided the rich soil that itself to a general audience. sustained the tree of liberty: “A multiplic- ity of circumstances … appear to have Chance and Circumstance cooperated in bringing about the happy In American Creation: Triumphs resolution.” The time was right for the se- and Tragedies in the Founding curing of American independence because of the Republic, Joseph J. Ellis, the Founders benefited from the learning in his latest skillful narrative of the Enlightenment and the bellicose of the history of the early re- disposition of the government of George public, takes off the table two III, which led to protracted wars with possible (and popular) expla- France and Spain, thus requiring England nations for the establishment to spread precious resources around and of the American republic: prevent her from focusing exclusively on “divine intervention” and subduing the American rebels. (Of course, “dumb luck.” While the for- one might conclude that such an argu- mer has an army of adher- ment is really a claim that coincidence, or ents, the pews in the second “dumb luck,” is responsible for America’s chapel are nearly empty, so founding.) it is no great stretch for Ellis Finally, Ellis says that America’s geo- to disregard it as a serious graphic separation from England (and the contender for the likely source of might of its army and navy) and the rich advantages. To George Washington, how- American success. To eliminate the hand store of natural resources combined to ever, much was given, much was required, of Providence as a contributor (the prima- provide for and protect the young nation and much was produced. He made himself ry contributor, some would argue) in the from those determined to deprive her of “indispensable” in both war and peace. formation of the foundation of the United her rightful legacy of self-rule. A crucial component of Washington’s States, however, is to ignore the recorded indispensability was the reliability of his opinions of those who themselves unwavering moral strength and unques- helped frame the Constitution and tioned integrity. Ferling points to two the institutions it brought into being. written sources of Washington’s moral That said, Ellis is a masterful story- compass: Seneca’s Morals and Joseph teller and his unmasked admiration Addison’s Cato. From Seneca, Washing- for the Founding Fathers makes his ton learned that dedication to the cause book a superb contribution to the li- of liberty had always demanded adher- brary of recent books on the topic and ence to the “virtues of sacrifice, tenacity, a worthwhile subject for study. courage, restraint, and the control of one’s To his credit, Ellis begins by pro- emotions.” From Cato he recognized that claiming (correctly and remarkably sacrifice was not enough, one must also among modern historians) that the be “deserving of success.” Ferling dem- Founders would have resented the use onstrates ably that from his earliest days of the word “democracy” to describe in the Virginia militia to his retirement the “ideas and institutions” they devel- to his beloved Mt. Vernon, Washington oped and adapted for the government of proved himself an outstanding alumnus the nascent republic. Ellis explains that of this autodidactic academy of moral the wise men of the founding era con- instruction through his consistent display sidered democracy a byword, and, as a of grace and leadership. Furthermore, his political system, a step just above, mob virtue and unwavering commitment to the rule. Indeed, Ellis states, the Founders cause of American liberty, married to his regarded democracy as unworkable and determination to conquer his weakness- unsuitable to the “genius” of America. es, guaranteed that George Washington Ellis declares that a unique coales- 30 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

ful tyranny of the government of George III and his ministers as the spark that ignited the Washington, although not born to flame of independence. Amer- immense wealth nor trained in the finest icans, Bernstein correctly as- schools, was clever and determined serts, saw themselves as “free- born English subjects” with a enough to manipulate (in the strictest history and a right of self-rule use of that word) every small and local government free from the meddling and legislated opportunity to great advantage. disregard of the English parliament. The question that had to be answered and the debate of which led to ern Americans receive in the history of the American War for Independence was, ancient Greece and Rome. However, in “How did the English Constitution apply this latest work, Richard places some of to Britain’s exercise of authority over her the blame on the Founders themselves. He American colonies?” Britain’s unwilling- argues that the Founding Fathers emulated ness to even address this question led to the ancients so well that they eventually the American rebellion, a struggle fought replaced their heroes as models for how to not to overthrow a government, but to re- establish and maintain a balanced, repub- store the freedom and self-determination lican government. As Richard expresses Creating a Constitution that was their rightful inheritance as Eng- it: “The Founders drove the ancients from R.B. Bernstein, in his latest book, The lishmen, albeit a far-flung one. their pedestals and occupied their places.” Founding Fathers Reconsidered, takes Most of the ink used by Bernstein is Richard identifies among the displaced only a slightly different approach than that in his analysis of the Constitution. His ancients several ancient chroniclers as the taken by Ellis. His contribution to this sur- book describes how the Founders ably chief influences on the Founders’ under- vey is a synthesis of the “fascinating schol- combined the lessons of history — the ad- standing of the lessons of history. Among arship” produced over the last 40 years vancement of the Enlightenment — with these were Herodotus (“human behavior of study of the founding era. For his part, their own unique experience to produce [is] the prime determinant of history”); Bernstein proposes to “take the Founding a novel, though historically sound, form Thucydides (democracy is simply mob Fathers down from their pedestals without of balanced government. He argues that rule and was the ruin of Athens); Polybius knocking them down.” For the most part, the Constitution is a “human artifact that (history showed that governments were he is successful and adroitly describes the human beings made and that human be- cyclical and the solution to breaking the Founders and their time without diminish- ings must make work.” That description cycle was mixed government); Cicero ing the glory of their accomplishments. is almost accurate, but it leaves out one (“natural law is derived from nature and Generally, in today’s historical zeitgeist crucial adjective. I would suggest the fol- stamped in invisible characters upon our for digging through all the scraps of paper lowing re-write: “The Constitution is a very frame”); Sallust (corruption and the paving the paths of greatness (particularly remarkable human artifact that extraordi- those trod by the Founding Fathers) to find nary human beings made and that human whatever little bits of clay that can be stuck beings must make work.” to the feet of remarkable men, one should be wary of any book proclaiming a new Considering the Classics consideration of our nation’s Founders. The last book in this review is by renowned Fortunately, Bernstein does not subscribe classicist Carl J. Richard, who delves into to this manner of treatment of the Found- the lessons of history that the Founders ers and his book is a logical and easily leaned upon — the lessons Bernstein de- read examination of the history that made scribes in more truncated form. Richard’s the Founders, the history they made, and latest study of the influence of the clas- what history has made of their handiwork. sics on the Founders is entitled Greeks and In this book, as with the one reviewed Romans Bearing Gifts: How the Ancients above by Joseph Ellis, Bernstein attributes Inspired the Founding Fathers. There is America’s size and distance from the pow- very little of new scholarship in Rich- ers of Europe as the two primary reasons ard’s book, but it is a necessary reminder for her miraculous formation and growth. of where to look if one seeks the deepest Despite setting that forth as his thesis, the roots of American liberty. narrative in the book points to Americans’ As in his other books on this subject, resentment of the unchecked and disdain- Richard laments the lack of training mod- www.theNewAmerican.com 31

Book review ances that is the hallmark of our internal and incremental encroachment of Constitution were taught to read, tyranny. They must be zealous guardians, ellis explains that the wise men of the write, and believe the words of ready to sound the alarm and call their founding era considered democracy a Plutarch, Tacitus, and Suetonius. fellow citizens to arms when even in the These men regarded the lessons distance they regard the approach of any byword and, as a political system, a taught them by the ancients as force, friend or foe, that through ambition step just above mob rule. articles of faith by which their or avarice, whether one man or a congress, actions should be guided. As would seek to pull down the pillars of self- Patrick Henry said: “I have but determination and free government. love of wealth destroyed Rome); and Livy one lamp by which my feet are guided, *** (the past is prologue to the future and one and that is the lamp of experience.” The The books reviewed in this brief survey must study history to know what models to Founding Fathers walked fearlessly down are worthy additions to anyone’s library follow and what traps to avoid). the path of history thanks in great measure of books about the Founding Fathers and There were other ancient historians to the record of the errors made by their the early republic. The authors are well- who served as tutors to the Founders. republican forebears. educated and rightfully renowned for The Founders benefited from an educa- From the stories and lessons related by their skill in identifying and analyzing the tional system that demanded reading and Richard in his engaging book, one learns swirl of factors and figures that combined study of the works of Greek and Roman from the history of Sparta, Athens, and so uniquely and successfully to establish classics. In fact, an ability to read these Rome that the cause of freedom is best and maintain the world’s most enduring works and translate them from the original served by people of sincere heart, spurred republic. It is the responsibility of the tongue into English was a basic require- by love of country, fed on a diet of the cau- reader to glean from their words the les- ment for college admission in the time of tionary and inspirational tales of history, sons and warnings necessary for the con- the founding. From about the age of eight, and exercised in the daily demonstration tinued enjoyment of the liberty bought by the men who fought for our independence of republican virtue. Those who would our Founders at the price of their lives and and formed the system of checks and bal- live freely must be vigilant in resisting the fortunes. n

THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA The Flying eye hospital It is a grueling job for the hospital’s of September 15 for their charity alone was A 48-seat classroom with a big-screen TV, 21 crew members, but very rewarding as up to almost $10,000 — and that amount a waiting room, an exam room, a treatment well. “You are away from your friends and doesn’t include donations inspired by Haz- room, a recovery room, a scrub room, and family for all but two months of the year, ard to other food banks around the country. an operating theater; certainly typical of living out of a suitcase and working seven Although always grateful for food do- what you would find in an — airplane? days a week,” onboard operations manager nations, food banks are extra appreciative Yes, a DC-10 jet, to be precise. Of course, John Kona told BBC. “But when you see of cash gifts, as they can buy in bulk and this is no ordinary jet; this is the ORBIS the smile[s] on the faces of the children really stretch donated dollars. Estimat- Flying Eye Hospital. BBC News for Sep- you help, all of that just melts away.” ing they can make about 80 meals for tember 11 presented the story of this each $100 donated, Second Harvest can U.S.-based airborne mobile eye clinic and now serve 8,000 more meals this year — teaching hospital. The $93 Club thanks to the $93 Club. ORBIS was founded by Dr. David You’re in line at the grocery store, and the Paton, head of the ophthalmology depart- woman in front of you has just rung up a ment at Baylor College of Medicine in cartload of groceries and discovered that “Different Legs” Houston, Texas. Paton had been traveling her wallet is missing. What do you do? Learning to walk is something that usually the world extensively as a visiting faculty If you’re Carolee Hazard of Menlo happens when a person is 14-18 months member in the 1970s, and was dismayed Park, California, you pay for the woman’s old, but for Michael Kogan it’s also hap- at the incidence of blindness and lack of groceries with your credit card, consider- pening when he is 28 years old. Kogan eye-care services in the poorer countries he ing it a “random act of kindness” and sim- is learning to walk a different way, with visited. He especially noticed the very high ply a way to help someone in need. She different legs, and is very grateful, as just incidence of childhood blindness (for ex- never expected the bill, a little over $207, a few months ago he was facing life in a ample, India has a childhood blindness rate to be paid back. But when Jenni Ware, the wheelchair. of almost one in five, according to BBC) recipient of Hazard’s kindness, retraced According to the July 27 Philadelphia and the nearly complete lack of pediatric her steps and found her wallet, she sent Inquirer, good Samaritan Kogan had ophthalmology services. Paton often met Hazard a check for $300, suggesting that stopped late at night to help a woman local doctors with a desire to cure blinding the $93 extra be used for a massage. change a flat tire last April when an acci- diseases, but they were unable to come to Silicon Valley’s MercuryNews.com re- dent occurred in which both his legs were the United States for education. lated that Hazard was unsure at that point severed above the knees. Soon after, the His solution? A mobile teaching hos- what to do with the additional money, local news station ran a story on Kogan pital. If the students couldn’t come to the whether she should keep it or return it, so and his situation, which prompted an out- classroom, why not bring the classroom to she posed the question to her Facebook pouring of emotional and financial support the students? community. The overwhelming response for him from the local community. One United Airlines donated ORBIS’ first was that she should donate the excess to extraordinary gift came from Tim Rayer “clinic,” and in 1982 the first mission was charity. Hazard loved the idea and chose of Prosthetic Innovations in Eddystone, flown to Panama. Since that time, the Fly- the Second Harvest Food Bank as the ben- Pennsylvania, who volunteered to make a ing Eye Hospital has visited 75 countries eficiary. She then took it one step further, pair of prosthetics for Kogan. Nbcphila- (thanks to volunteer pilots from United deciding to match Ware’s $93 with $93 of delphia.com reported that Rayer designed, Airlines, who do the chauffeuring), and its her own, and thus completely unexpect- measured, constructed, and fit the artifi- staff, drawn from a pool of over 500 volun- edly was born the $93 Club. cial legs in a week. The cost was $60,000 teer medical personnel, has treated millions When Hazard’s Facebook friends — and was completely borne by Rayer. of people and presented hands-on ophthal- learned of her matching donation, they Kogan is extremely thankful for Rayer’s mic instruction to thousands of doctors, also decided to “join the club,” with local incredible act of generosity. “I will pray nurses, and medical assistants. According friends and neighbors each donating $93 for the rest of this life for this guy’s fam- to ORBIS’ website, www.orbis.org, the to Second Harvest, some children do- ily. God bless him.” For Rayer, the joy is program also includes training in preven- nating 93 cents, and out-of-state friends simply in helping. “You can’t put a price tive care and biomedical engineering. The pledging to donate $93 to their own local tag on it. It’s amazing, it makes you feel traveling ophthalmologists perform a wide food banks. Within a week the total for great,” he told NBC. variety of surgeries on local patients in Second Harvest was up to $2,300. It be- So now, at 28, Kogan is enthusiastically the plane’s operating theater, and the local came so big that Hazard soon launched a learning to walk all over again. “I can’t medical students can watch the procedures Facebook page dedicated to the club, and wait until [I’m] walking again. It doesn’t live on the big screen. Staff members also then the local media picked up the story. matter [about] my legs. Different legs. conduct lectures onboard and visit the local The Second Harvest Food Bank website, Still legs.” n communities to teach and serve. www.2ndharvest.net, says that the total as — liAnA STAnley call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 33

hisTory— PasT and PersPecTive Premier Polish Patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a member of Poland’s nobility, used his engineering genius on the behalf of both America’s and Poland’s freedom. by Charles Scaliger B ritish General John Burgoyne must have been bitterly disappointed one day in July 1777 in the upper Hud- son Valley — the day his army, hot in pur- suit of the Americans they had just driven from Fort Ticonderoga, ran into a lake that wasn’t supposed to exist. This part of upstate New York had already been thoroughly explored and mapped, yet the Red- coats, confident of speedily overtaking and finishing off the American force, suddenly found themselves blocked by a brand-new body of water where dry forest and field was supposed to provide swift passage. The British must have soon ascertained, as they AP Images tried to find a way around the unexpected obstacle, that the lake was the work of the Americans; somehow, the Continentals had Tadeusz kosciuszko, a Polish patriot, is congratulated by Gen. Horatio Gates after the victory figured out how to swiftly divert a river into over the British at Saratoga. Kosciuszko, an engineer, had planned the American defenses. the path of a pursuing army. They probably had no idea who was responsible, but the ever known,” and who is today regarded upon graduation, and soon left for Paris on water, along with large tangles of trees de- as a national hero in four countries — the a scholarship to study art and architecture. liberately felled to create impenetrable bar- United States, Poland, Lithuania, and Bel- Kosciuszko’s first love, however, was riers, bought the Americans enough time to arus — was probably as instrumental as military science, and although as a for- escape and fight another day. any single man could have been in assur- eigner he was unable to formally enroll The architect of the Americans’ remark- ing the success of the American cause. in any French military academy, he edu- able escape after the debacle at Ticon- cated himself as best he could in all things deroga was in fact not an American at all, Path to America military, especially engineering, by at- but a brilliant young Polish military en- Kosciuszko was born in 1746 near the tending lectures and reading whatever gineer, Tadeusz Kosciuszko (pronounced town of Kosava in what was then the French works on the subject he could lay kosh-CHOOSH-ko). A product of Prus- Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and his hands on in the many libraries in Paris. sian and French military schooling, Kos- is now part of Belarus. His family was At the same time, Kosciuszko became ciuszko, who had become a passionate Polish nobility — albeit not exception- acquainted, seemingly for the first time, partisan of liberty while studying in Paris, ally prominent — which enabled him to with the doctrines of liberty in circulation volunteered his services and technical ex- enroll in Polish military school, where he in mid-century France. We may assume pertise to the American cause in 1776. So studied history, languages, economics, and that he studied the likes of Montesquieu great was his genius for building fortifica- philosophy in addition to military science. and Locke, whose writings on liberty and tions that the man Thomas Jefferson once As testament of his military precocity, he limited government were also having a called “as pure a son of liberty as I have received the rank of Captain of Artillery profound effect in the American colonies. 34 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

Burgoyne’s surrender He returned to Poland in 1774, where at Saratoga he attempted to find gainful employ in the Polish military. Two years previous to his return, however, Russia, Prussia, and Aus- tria had partitioned Poland, reducing its territory by 30 percent and compelling the Polish to submit to humiliating reforms in the structure of the Polish government and military that would prevent the upstart Poles from trying to throw off the yoke their more powerful neighbors had im- posed on them. Kosciuszko found, doubtless to his dismay, that there was to be no place for him in a drastically reduced and denatured Polish military. After less than two years in his homeland, during which Library of Congress time he attempted to elope with a young female student but was apprehended and punished, Kosciuszko once again headed for the West. At first he tried to find military employ in Saxony, but failing that, he returned Chief Engineer, supervised the fortifica- his only options were to “save his honor to Paris, where he learned of the revolt tion of various sites along the Canadian and lose his army” (i.e., try to defend the against Britain in the American colonies. border, but his first truly indispensable fort against hopeless odds) or “save his Kosciuszko left almost immediately for contribution came at Fort Ticonderoga in army and lose his honor” — the Ameri- America, sensing at last an opportunity to July 1777. An American force of fewer cans decided to withdraw before the Brit- put his remarkable talents to use for a cause than 3,000 men under General Arthur St. ish could surround them entirely. They that he wholeheartedly supported. He was Clair defended the fort located near the abandoned Fort Ticonderoga under cover warmly received by the American Conti- southern end of Lake Champlain, and Brit- of darkness and managed to make a clean nental Congress in late summer 1776, and ish General John Burgoyne (nicknamed getaway, thanks in no small measure to also met and befriended Thomas Jefferson “Gentleman Johnny” for his love of fine Kosciuszko’s delaying tactics. after reading and being profoundly moved clothing and other civilized niceties) was As General St. Clair had anticipated, the by the Declaration of Independence. Kos- bearing down on Ticonderoga with an political outcry over the largely bloodless ciuszko was able to produce a letter of army of 7,000 seasoned regulars plus an- British victory at Ticonderoga was consid- recommendation from a Polish prince, and other thousand or so Canadian and Indian erable on both sides of the Atlantic. A ju- Congress, desperate for military engineers volunteers. bilant King George is said to have rushed in the early months of the war, inducted Kosciuszko noticed upon arrival at into his wife’s bedchamber while she was him into the Continental Army. Ticonderoga that a nearby hill, Sugar dressing, shouting, “I have beat them! I In October, Kosciuszko was made a Loaf, was actually higher than the fort have beat all the Americans!” European Colonel of Engineers, and promptly set to and might provide a vantage point for powers antagonistic to the British, like work fortifying the city of Philadelphia, the British to shell the fort. He recom- France and Spain, had been biding their which the British, already masters of most mended to St. Clair that the Americans time, reluctant to risk a war with Britain of New York City, northern New Jersey, occupy and fortify the top of the hill, but over a hopeless cause. The ignominious and Long Island, were soon expected to his suggestion was rejected. When the retreat at Ticonderoga seemed to vindi- attack. Kosciuszko concentrated his ener- British arrived, they lost no time securing cate their skepticism. In the Continental gies on fortifying the city’s river defenses, Sugar Loaf and, as Kosciuszko had pre- Congress, meanwhile, the Americans de- building a series of formidable aquatic dicted, began fortifying the heights, hop- spaired of ever mustering the fortitude to blockades that apparently stymied the ing to have cannons in place before the defeat the British in a stand-up, set-piece British; when they ultimately took Phila- Americans discovered what was going battle. John Adams gloomily opined that delphia in September of 1777, they did so on. Fortunately for St. Clair by land. and his army, some careless campfires lit on Sugar Loaf Kosciuszko left almost immediately for Engineering Greatness alerted the Americans to America, sensing at last an opportunity Congress, impressed by Kosciuszko’s what the British were doing. early work, assigned him to assist the After an agonizing council to put his remarkable talents to use for a beleaguered Northern Army operating in of war inside the fort — in cause that he wholeheartedly supported. northern New York State. Kosciuszko, as which St. Clair admitted that www.theNewAmerican.com 35

hisTory— PasT and PersPecTive Burgoyne, meanwhile, ing for reinforcements, but by early Oc- was feeling hard-pressed. tober, it became clear that none would be Kosciuszko had designed and supervised His army had suffered nu- forthcoming. His army reduced by casu- the building of the works at Bemis merous delays attempting to alties and desertions to around 5,000, he transport cannons and other decided again to launch an attack on the Heights against which Burgoyne’s army material from Ticonderoga, heavily fortified American positions on had broken its teeth, and was to provide and was low on food and October 7, in what is known to history as other essentials when it fi- the Battle of Bemis Heights or the Second Washington’s army again and again nally reached the vicinity of (and final) Battle of Saratoga. This en- throughout the war with invaluable insight Saratoga. gagement ended disastrously for the Brit- and engineering expertise. As the Americans expected, Burgoyne could not af- ish. One of their ablest generals, Simon Fraser, fell in battle, along with roughly ford to settle in and wait for 400 other British soldiers. Burgoyne “we shall never be able to defend a post reinforcements. He attacked the Ameri- himself was nearly killed as his forces until we shoot a general.” St. Clair, al- can positions shortly after his army’s ar- retreated in disarray to their defenses, and though later exonerated in a court-martial, rival, knowing that only a swift victory within a few days, the Americans had the was summarily relieved of command and would avail his men after the hardships British surrounded and beaten. Offered never again served in the field. It was left of the march from Ticonderoga and with honorable terms, Burgoyne formally sur- to General Horatio Gates to restore some food almost gone. In what is variously rendered on October 17. The victory at semblance of order and dignity in the known as the First Battle of Saratoga Saratoga was the first time the Ameri- Northern Army. or the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, Bur- cans defeated the British in a set-piece The American forces withdrew to goyne’s forces, attempting to surround battle, and it marked a turning point in the vicinity of Saratoga. On a steep hill the American forces entrenched behind the war. For the first time, the Americans overlooking the Hudson River, known Kosciuszko’s works on Bemis Heights, had demonstrated to skeptics abroad that as Bemis Heights, Kosciuszko went to did achieve a Pyrrhic tactical victory, they could hold their own in every respect work, constructing elaborate fortifica- wresting control of the eponymous farm against the British military, prompting tions that he believed would withstand from American forces on September 19, France to throw in with the Americans a anything the British could throw at them. 1777 at very considerable cost in men few days after learning of Saratoga. During the hectic period of preparing for and morale. Daniel Morgan’s rifle-toting For their newfound expertise in mili- another stand against General Burgoyne’s sharpshooters in particular took a terrible tary engineering, the Americans had Kos- formidable army, Daniel Morgan arrived toll, killing large numbers of British of- ciuszko to thank. He had designed and in Saratoga with a considerable force of ficers and artillerymen. supervised the building of the works at riflemen from Virginia. Burgoyne withdrew in frustration, hop- Bemis Heights against which Burgoyne’s army had broken its teeth, and was to provide Washing- ton’s army again and again Detailed map showing throughout the war with in- the layout of Fort valuable insight and engineer- Ticonderoga ing expertise. His next task after Saratoga was to fortify the lower Hudson River, for which he designed numerous all-but-impregnable forts and defensive positions. Perhaps recalling the great chain that blocked the Golden Horn (the harbor of Constantinople) for the better part of a thousand years, Kosciuszko even had an enormous chain extended across the Hudson that could be raised above the water to block the passage of invading ships. His best work was reserved for West Point, whose forti- fications (which still stand) 36 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

do away with constitutional government. Kosciuszko, commander of an entire division of the Polish army, engineered three impressive victories over the numerically superior Russian army — at Zielence, Włodzimierz, and Dubienka — before the Polish king, Stanisław August, went over to the side of the Targowica Federation and betrayed his country to the Russians. Dismayed but undeterred, Kosciuszko fled abroad where, along with other like- Monument to minded Polish exiles, he began planning Tadeusz Kosciuszko an uprising against Russian rule in Po- in Kosciuszko Park land. The uprising, known to posterity as in Milwaukee, the Kosciuszko Uprising, came in March Wisconsin 1794, and saw Kosciuszko elevated to the leader of all Poland. After his brilliant victory at the Battle of Racłavice in early April against a larger and better-armed Russian force, Kosciuszko promulgated in May the famous Proclamation of Połaniec — doubtless modeled in some respects after the American Declaration of Inde- pendence — which, among other things, freed the Polish serfs. Unfortunately both for Kosciuszko and for Polish serfdom, neither the uprising nor the Proclamation were successful. Kosciuszko’s luck ran out at the Battle of Maciejowice, where he was wounded, captured, and imprisoned in St. Petersburg. The Polish uprising, bereft of its leader, collapsed soon afterward. Kosciuszko lan- guished for two years in a Russian prison proved too much for the British even to Heading Home before being pardoned and released by contemplate attacking. During his time Kosciuszko, however, felt the summons of Czar Paul I. He spent the balance of his at West Point, Kosciuszko is said to have his homeland. True to his republican prin- life agitating for Polish freedom and for been gifted a slave (one Agrippa Hull), ciples, he directed his good friend Thomas republican principles generally. He died in whom he immediately freed. Jefferson to dispose of his land and to use Switzerland in 1817 from typhoid fever. In 1780, Kosciuszko was transferred the monies from its sale to free as many Kosciuszko probably contributed more to the Southern Army under General Na- slaves as possible and to educate them (his than any other foreign national save La- thanael Greene, where he continued to request was never carried out, and in 1852 fayette to the cause of American indepen- contribute his engineering and tactical the Supreme Court awarded his property dence, and his name today graces a bridge skills to helping the depleted and demor- to his descendants). In July 1784, Tadeusz in New York City, a county in Indiana, and alized American forces avoid total de- Kosciuszko returned to his native Poland. an island in Alaska, as well as numerous feat in several successful tactical retreats Emboldened by the successes of the streets and monuments. In Poland, scarce- across major rivers. In the South he was American Revolution, he soon undertook ly a town or village exists without a street also given his own command for the first to secure the same blessings of liberty or square named in his honor, and streets time, leading men into battle and planning for his countrymen. In 1791, the Polish bearing his name are found as well in campaigns. He organized the blockade Commonwealth became the first modern Belgrade, Vilnius, Budapest, and even St. of Charleston that led to eventual vic- European nation to adopt a written consti- Petersburg. Nor are these accolades ill-de- tory over that British stronghold and to tution, and withal one that enacted signifi- served; for Tadeusz Kosciuszko — general, the final collapse of the British war effort cant reforms aimed at eliminating serfdom engineer, artist, architect, and noble son of in the South. After the war’s conclusion, once and for all. Many of the Polish nobil- liberty — was certainly one of the greatest Kosciuszko was promoted to the rank of ity objected, however, and, after forming souls ever born on European soil, and one Brigadier General and awarded a sizable the treasonous Targowica Confederation, to whom both Americans and Poles owe a plot of land by a grateful Congress. invited the Russians to invade Poland to great debt for the gift of liberty. n call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 37

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“... the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” EXERCISING THE RIGHT Gun Boutiques resident said he heard gun shots and went we must rise and defeat this bill from giv- Business continues to surge when it out shortly afterwards to see police on the ing extraordinary powers to limit gun sales comes to gun shops, and so shop own- scene and a body slumped over in the pas- by the Attorney General.” ers across the nation are looking into senger seat of the vehicle. The man said Alan Carubba, writing for Borderfire new ways to expand their operations to the police told him it was an apparent rob- Report, agrees that the “government’s capitalize on the thriving market. The St. bery gone wrong, adding, “or it went right, consolidated watch list, used to identify Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Sep- depending on how you look at it.” people suspected of links to terrorists, has tember 8 that Steven King, owner of Bel- now grown to more than a million names leville Indoor Shooting Range and Metro since 9/11.” Could the ever-expanding list Shooting Supplies, is planning to open Teen Attackers’ Tale include normal law-abiding citizens? In a series of “smaller neighborhood gun KVUE.com in Austin, Texas, reports that reality, it already does. shops” to reach new buyers. In particular, on Friday, September 4, four teenagers, Just ask former Assistant Attorney Gen- King is looking to market his wares to a (three 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old) eral Jim Robinson, who found himself on growing segment of gun-owners: women. attempted a home invasion in the middle a terror watch list due to similarities be- He plans to set up his new stores “to look of the night. The teens were armed with a tween his name and someone else’s. Rob- like a boutique. It’s a jewelry store for handgun and two pellet guns. One of the inson told USA Today, “It’s a pain in the guns…. Guys will buy guns in a cave, attempted robbers pointed his weapon at neck, and significantly interferes with my girls want bright, clean and pretty. They the homeowner, who swiftly fired his gun travel arrangements…. I suppose if I were want to feel comfortable. A guy will not in self-defense. One 16-year-old was im- convinced that America is a safer place be- be offended by walking into a bright, mediately killed and a second died later at cause I get hassled at the airport, I might clean, beautiful store, where a girl would a hospital. The third 16-year-old was hos- put up with it…. But I doubt it.… I expect be offended walking into a cave.” pitalized with serious injuries. The oldest my story is similar to hundreds of thou- The trend of women arming themselves one ran away but later returned later to sands of people who are on this list who is taking place all over the nation. John check on his friends and was arrested. find themselves inconvenienced.” Petricone, an employee at a gun store, told But could that inconvenience at airport the News Times in Danbury, Connecticut, screenings grow into a much more seri- “I think that the percentage that you’d see Backdoor Gun Ban? ous preemptive ban on gun ownership? We of women … has quadrupled.” Petricone The notoriously anti-gun Senator Frank have already witnessed the Department of also explained that pistol safety classes Lautenberg (D) of New Jersey has spon- Homeland Security’s attempt to slander that were formerly 90 percent men are sored a bill in the Senate that would give with a broad brush people who voice dis- now evenly split between the two genders. Attorney General Eric Holder the author- sent and label them as domestic terrorists. Most of the gun salesmen attribute the ity to block gun sales to people on terror The Department advocated scrutinizing swell in gun ownership among women to watch lists. Lautenberg maintains that this supporters of 2008 presidential candidates increased concerns for safety and self- is simply closing the “terror gap” where Ron Paul and Chuck Baldwin as potential defense. Although, as Ray Sausanavitch, people presently on the watch list can still terrorists, as well as U.S. veterans. If strict owner of Wolf’s Indoor Range and Shoot- purchase firearms. adherence to the Constitution, opposition ing Center in Bristol, explains, “It’s all due But advocates of the Second Amend- to governmental policies, and military ser- to Mr. Obama, our biggest salesman…. ment don’t believe the senator’s assertions vice is all it takes to get one identified as a Whenever you get a threat that something and instead perceive it as just another effort potential terrorist, could civilian disarma- might be taken away, it doesn’t matter to expand federal gun control. Alan Got- ment be that far behind? what it is ... sales of that particular item tlied, chairman for the Citizens Committee Is this simply the first step in a larger are going to go up…. It’s just that simple.” for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, writ- strategy to identify opposing voices and ing in the Columbia Basin Herald, warns then disarm them? One only needs to that trial “by innuendo and misinformation briefly review the historical records of Quick Cabbie ... has put 1 million Americans and maybe the world’s most repressive regimes to The Charlotte Observer reports that on even you on a terrorist watch list without see how they systematically and progres- September 6 a cab driver successfully de- your knowledge.… Lautenberg wants gun sively made it impossible for anyone they fended himself from a would-be robber. purchases stopped for just being on the deemed a threat to own weapons. Ameri- The cabbie picked up what he believed list. Current law states federal officials can citizens should be concerned when- was a regular customer. The driver was must find some other disqualification of a ever the federal government attempts new stunned when the man pulled a gun on would-be gun buyer, like being a felon, an efforts to limit gun ownership, no matter him. One could only imagine how shocked illegal alien or a drug addict. Is your name what rhetoric they use to disguise their the armed assailant was when the driver on the list and can you get it removed?… true intentions. n pulled his own gun and fired. A nearby Like all other threats against our freedoms, — pATrick krey www.theNewAmerican.com 39

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Obama education critics: “insane, nutty and racist” Item: In a September 8 column entitled “Republican Critics of Obama’s School Speech Stoke the Fires of Bigotry in Amer- ica,” HuffingtonPost.com blogger Mario Almonte wrote: “Within this immense pool of 60 million who voted Republi- can thrives a disturbing core of religious fundamentalists, ultra conservatives, and all-purpose extremists whose true motivation — when you strip away their often irrational and contradictory rhetoric — is a hatred of everyone and everything that Newscom is different from them. They are the true Ugly Americans, who hate the Jews, the Blacks, the Latinos, the homosexuals — Cheerleading squad: When President Obama delivered a national address to students around the and anybody who believes in anything country, he mainly encouraged kids to study hard and be responsible. But his proposed speech they do not.... These are the same people was initially roundly condemned, when the Department of Education released questions that were who Republicans now support when they to accompany the speech, questions that would lead students to support Obama’s policies. publicly validate the dubious argument that Obama’s true motive, in addressing the media) will divine a bigoted, malicious ing, and nationalizing. Again, insists the school children, was to brainwash them motive lurking beneath the surface of even Obamaphile press corps, these are merely into following his ‘socialist’ agenda.” the most reasoned voice of opposition. It code words to disguise the virulent rac- Item: CNN anchor Campbell Brown in- doesn’t seem to matter that the Obama ism of those opposed to President Obama. toned on September 9: “Can we have a program thus far has already nationalized (Singing from the same sheet music, rational conversation...? It’s time to get the auto industry, as well as the banking communist dictator Fidel Castro wrote a real and get at the facts. I want to take a and financial industry, or that he has ap- column on August 25 defending Obama, minute to talk about some of the insanity pointed upwards of nearly 40 “czars” (by charging that “the extreme right hates him we have witnessed over the past few days; recent count) who are exercising author- for being African-American” and “the the ridiculous charge that the president ity over vast swaths of our economy and racist right will do everything possible to of the United States addressing American society — without Senate confirmation, wear him down.”) children is a dangerous thing.” which is to say without any constitutional But, let’s take CNN’s Campbell Item: Joan Walsh, editor-in-chief of authority. Nor does it seem to matter that Brown’s advice (even though she didn’t Salon.com and frequent TV commentator, President Obama is pushing relentlessly herself) to “get real and get the facts.” The wrote in her Salon blog on September 14: for nationalized healthcare, a vast Nation- facts are that in advance of the address, “Finally, when Republicans began object- al Service program, and a national CO2 Arne Duncan, Secretary of the federal ing to Obama’s speaking to schoolkids last “cap and trade” program that will fasten Department of Education, sent letters to week, you couldn’t ignore the racism: Lis- draconian federal regulatory controls on educators throughout the nation suggest- tening to some parents expressing actual virtually every human activity; character- ing lesson plans to coincide with Obama’s fear of having Obama beamed into their izing these socialistic programs as, well, message. Teachers in pre-kindergarten kids’ classrooms, it was hard to imagine socialistic, is verboten. through 6th grade, for example, were en- such hysteria being inspired by a white Big Media hysteria, hyperbole, and couraged to have their pupils “write let- president.” hyperventilation over opposition to Presi- ters to themselves about what they can do CorreCtIon: The Obama adoration choir dent Obama’s political agenda went into to help the president. These would be col- in the major media have been assigning the overdrive during the August congressional lected and redistributed at an appropriate “racist” and “extremist” labels to critics recess, when the President and members later date by the teacher to make students of the new President since before he was of Congress were confronted at Town Hall accountable to their goals.” Is it the job elected. No matter how controversial, un- meetings with an unprecedented ground- of the schools to instruct our children to constitutional, expensive, or expansive any swell of constituents who expressed anger “help the president” — even if that means Obama program proposal may be, you can and concern over the runaway government helping him institute programs, policies, be sure his supporters (both in and out of spending, borrowing, taxing, regulat- and legislation of which their parents call 1-800-727-truE to subscribe today! 41

strongly disapprove or even Many critics of Obama’s find morally reprehensible? education program are also The federal Education De- aware that the President’s partment guidelines also sug- speech to the schools was not gested teachers tell students happening in a vacuum. On to “build background knowl- the same day that Obama’s edge about the president of the speech was broadcast to the United States by reading books nation’s schools, the Bill and about presidents and Barack Melinda Gates Foundation and Obama.” As if our children Viacom, the mega-media giant, have not already been saturated launched their five-year “Get with Obamamania. The public Schooled” National Education backlash to the plan caused Initiative at the Paramount Pic- the Obama Educrats to real- tures studio lot. ize they’d gone too far too fast; Serving as a launch pad for they replaced the manipulative the venture is a “Get Schooled” “classroom activities” on the video featuring President Department website with more Obama with American Idol innocuous fare. Even Salon’s pop diva Kelley Clarkson and very pro-Obama Joan Walsh NBA superstar Lebron James admitted on MSNBC with A YouTube video of children singing about Obama changing the world that aired on the same day as Chris Matthews on September has many worried that children are being conditioned to look at the the President’s school speech 4 that the administration was president as all-powerful — similar to indoctrination in dictatorships. over Viacom’s massive net- indeed “overreaching” with work, which includes MTV, this scheme and that “there sometimes is a The “Sing for Change” campaign video BET, CMT, Comedy Central, Nickelode- tin ear in the people around Obama. They features a roomful of winsome children on, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, and VH1 (to do play into this cult of personality.” (That in UN-powder blue T-shirts emblazoned name but a few channels). These Viacom did not prevent Walsh, seconds later, from with “HOPE” earnestly hymning to sav- “entertainment” vehicles have been some joining Matthews in denouncing parents ior Obama, who’s “gonna change the of the top villains in the ongoing corpo- opposed to Obama’s overreaching cult.) world.” Equally, if not more disturbing, rate media culture war aimed at dumbing It is this very real and disturbing cult of is the “Obama Youth — Junior Fraternity down, bumming down, and scumming personality, combined with Obama’s mili- Regiment” video of the black male teens, down our society. Viacom has also dis- tant “change” agenda, that understandably dressed in military camouflage fatigues, tinguished itself by unfailingly pushing a has many parents concerned — and right- who march into a Kansas City, Missouri, leftward political agenda, from enlisting fully so. The term “cult of personality” is classroom and chant their support for youth in Al Gore’s battle to save the uni- something we associate with totalitarian Obama and his healthcare plan. Ditto for verse from the global-warming non-crisis, dictators: Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao, the Fayetteville, North Carolina, teacher to a global “Safe Sex” campaign that pre- Tito, Fidel Castro, Robert Mugabe, Aya- Diatha Harris, who asked her young stu- scribes condom use (“Rubber Rocks!” is tollah Khomeini, Pol Pot, Kim Il-Sung. dents whether they’re “pulling for” Obama the MTV slogan) while engaging in the Americans, we smugly tell ourselves, or McCain and then browbeat to tears a promiscuous sex promoted by Viacom’s would never succumb to such demeaning young girl (whose father is a soldier in lewd, crude, raunchy programming. sycophancy and servitude; we’re much Iraq) for saying she supports McCain. This In our 24/7 pop culture of celebrity idol- too sophisticated and independent for that. cruel child abuse and unethical exploita- atry, Barack Obama is constantly present- However, many parents have viewed some tion of classroom authority was caught ed to young people as the epitome of cool, of the videos on the Internet of fresh-faced on video by a Swedish documentary crew hip, smart, and sexy. The charges of Fidel children and youth singing and chanting (and then went viral over the Internet). Castro and his like-minded comrades in their praises to Obama in scenes that look Parents know that these are not isolated the Big Media punditocracy notwithstand- eerily, creepily similar to video clips of incidents. They know the national teacher ing, parents are not “racist” or “insane” for children in communist North Korea sing- unions (the NEA and AFT) provide many suspecting that President Obama and/or ing to the “Dear Leader,” or to the scene of Team Obama’s staunchest “change” his fanatical followers would exploit his from the movie Cabaret where the ideal- cadres and provided the Obama campaign speech to the schools to further his Big istic Hitler Youth sing the stirring “Tomor- with some of its largest campaign contri- Government political agenda. n row Belongs to Me.” butions. — williAM F. JASper 42 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

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The LAST wORD by John F. McMAnuS let’s Welcome Another Fan of Nuclear Power! A few weeks ago, En- A few weeks after the ergy Secretary Ste- March 28 accident, Dresser ven Chu surprised Industries paid for a remark- a National Public Radio in- able two-page spread in the terviewer with an unequivo- Wall Street Journal featuring cal endorsement of nuclear an eye-catching quotation power. In answer to a question from noted physicist Dr. Ed- about his choice of living near ward Teller. In huge letter- a coal-fired or a nuclear-pow- ing, it stated, “I was the only ered plant where electricity victim of Three Mile Island.” is generated, he responded, Indeed, Dr. Teller was. He “If you look at the difference explained that, while working between a coal plant down 20 hours per day to counter the river and a nuclear power “the propaganda that Ralph plant, personally I’d rather be Nader, Jane Fonda and their living near a nuclear power ilk are spewing … I suffered AP Images plant. There’s less of the pol- Steven Chu a heart attack.” He contended lution we know about that is that nuclear power is a major dangerous. Nuclear power part of solving the worldwide has a record in the United States that is very, very good.” energy problem, a problem he labeled “the greatest present-day This isn’t supposed to be a position taken by a high govern- threat to the prosperity and survival of nations.” ment official. His answer prompted interviewer Steve Inskeep to Generating electricity from the atom’s energy is an American tease him about possible neighbors who might not like the idea invention. But less than 20 percent of the electricity we consume of living near such a power plant. Undeterred, he added to his is produced this way. Contrast that with France, where nuclear non-politically correct stance by expressing the further belief power generates 76 percent of the nation’s electricity. Belgium, that storage of nuclear waste is “less an issue.” Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and Japan also employ this marvel- When nominated for Energy Secretary, Dr. Chu expressed a ous invention more than does our nation. South Korea and China firm commitment to ending our nation’s addiction to foreign oil. have ambitious plans to follow the trend. But the United States How serious such a commitment is needed can be gauged from remains tied down by bureaucratic impediments and a fright- a few unimpeachable facts. peddling anti-nuclear minority. When informed that our nation was importing 30 percent The following facts need airing. Studies show that pollutants of the oil we were using, President Jimmy Carter declared the from burning coal and oil cause premature deaths. Evidence “moral equivalent of war” to deal with the situation. (Use of the demonstrates that hundreds of birds fall victim to wind farms Carter phrase quickly went the way of the dodo bird when its each year. More eagles have been killed by wind turbines than initials were discovered to be MEOW.) But the Carter-led war were lost in the famous Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska’s began, and one of its early “victories” saw the creation of the coasts. It is physically impossible for a nuclear power plant federal Department of Energy. Thirty years and hundreds of bil- to explode like an atomic bomb. Moreover, unlike coal-fired lions of dollars later, the United States is importing 60 percent of plants, which have smokestacks emitting pollutants into the at- our oil. And the Department of Energy continues to impede the mosphere, nuclear power plants (which have cooling towers that use of the safest, cleanest, cheapest and most efficient method emit water vapor) keep the waste contained within the plant of generating electricity — nuclear power. itself. And there is relatively little waste because relatively little Anti-nuclear protestors were already a political nuisance in uranium is used, compared to other fuels, for the amount of early 1979 when an accident in central Pennsylvania occurred at energy produced. And nuclear waste disposal is a political prob- the Three Mile Island nuclear power station. No one died; no one lem, not a problem for science. was hurt at the site; and within a few days, touring the inside of After 50 years of using this technology, it can be said without the plant could have been safely undertaken by anyone. What hap- hesitation that nuclear power is far safer than fossil-fuel-fired pened at Three Mile Island demonstrated how safe nuclear power plants in every conceivable way: accidents, environmental dam- truly is. But not only was the plant shut down, its next door twin, age, health effects, long-term risk, you name it. So, like a breath where no accident had occurred, was also shut down. Nuclear of fresh air, we welcome the assessment of Dr. Steven Chu and power was immediately and intensely awarded an uncalled-for hope that his sensible and scientifically reasonable attitude can black eye by hysterical media experts and the nation’s leftist agita- triumph before America’s lights go out — politically and in tors who have always preferred shutting down our nation. every other way. n 44 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 12, 2009

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BEYOND the Idea of on Icon - The New American Magazine - 10-12-09.pdf — Document Transcript