Securing America with Frank Gaffney Podcast

Catherine Herridge, Thomas Donnelly, Bill Gertz

Is Eric Holder’s Justice Department calling for the shortened sentence for an American Muslim activist and staunch supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah? Frank informs on the alarming AP report in which federal prosecutors are asking for Abdurahman Alamoudi’s 23-year sentence for plotting to assassinate King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to be reduced. Then, Fox News Foreign Correspondent Catherine Herridge, author of the new book The Next Wave: On the Hunt for Al Qaeda’s American Recruits, joins Frank to bring us up to date on the war on terror, both at home with the indictment of Emerson Winfield Begolly, and abroad with the bombings in Mumbai. Herridge details the indictment of Begolly, who was found using the Internet as a recruiting tool to wage terrorist attacks in the U.S., and also a new Government Accountability Office Report showing gaping holes in intelligence and passport security in countries like Pakistan and Kenya. Next, Thomas Donnelly, of the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the defense cuts the debt ceiling debate may bring. Donnelly, Director of the Center for Defense Studies, says cuts ranging from $500 billion to $1 trillion over ten years could be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” as these would follow a generation of slicing into the defense budget. Finally, Bill Gertz, details what he is hearing from “Inside the Ring” on the Pentagon’s strategy for cyber warfare, or lack thereof. The unclassified strategy for cyber warfare has just been released, but there’s a problem: a failure to mention cyber warfare. The plan is merely another means for appeasement, Gertz argues, as he hopes the unreleased classified version includes a stronger strategy that will keep us secure.

Walid Phares, Patrick Byrne, Jim Kouri

Across the emerging power vacuums in the Middle East, could the Muslim Brotherhood, the most organized Islamic network in modern times, gain widespread control? Walid Phares, Professor at National Defense University, joins Frank for two segments to discuss the implications of the Arab Spring or what may become an Islamist Fall. Phares, author or The Coming Revolution: Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East, talks about the perils of the U.S. engaging with nations where it remains to be seen who will take power, and Obama’s “responsibility to protect” Libya but not Syria. Next, Patrick Byrne of Overstock.com, talks about raising the debt ceiling and how it can be used as a bargaining tool to work towards a balanced budget. Byrne adds his insight on the importance of avoiding a default, the Chinese downgrading the U.S. creditworthiness and the state of financial warfare. Finally, Jim Kouri, of the Washington Examiner, talks about the drastic reductions coming for the Department of Defense, and how the Obama Administration is “taking a page from the Clinton playbook,” in gutting national security. Kouri also reminds the U.S. that if it shirks from the fight overseas, the war will move closer to home, as Hezbollah already operates within the Western Hemisphere.

Representative Rob Bishop, Rebeccah Heinrichs, Andy McCarthy

America’s continued reliance on foreign sources for energy expose our country to grave security threats. Frank discusses his concerns that the government is neglecting the country’s need for more self-reliance when it comes to energy matters. Instead of fixing the problem proactively, he fears that only a catastrophe such as a natural disaster or a terrorist attack will push the government to start searching for new sources of energy. Congressman Rob Bishop, of the 1st district of Utah, joins Frank to examine the current issues facing American border control and the National Security and Federal Land Protection Act that might compromise the ability to carry out their duties. Eighty percent of the Arizona and Mexican border is deemed public land; however, American border guards are only allowed to patrol the twenty percent that is private. Rebeccah Heinrich chats about her new article, Is Russian ‘Reset’ Worth Kicking Allies to the Curb, which examines how the Obama administration is burning bridges with foreign allies in regards to missile defense in order to qualm Russia’s concerns. Lastly, Andy McCarthy gives us his take on the muddled policy being implemented in Syria; as well as the Obama administration’s “willful blindness” in fighting a global war without a global strategy.

Ilan Berman, Representative Buck McKeon, Gordon Chang

The Obama administration recently released their new approach to terrorism, which Ilan Berman calls the administration taking a “victory lap.” Frank converses with Ilan Berman about this new “accommodation strategy” and what it means for organized and radical Islamic groups. Frank then visits with Congressman Buck McKeon to talk about Afghanistan and the defense budget. He also gets the Congressman’s take on Panetta’s recent speech from Iraq. For over 200 years, the United States has maintained a firm stance on the right of every country to have freedom of navigation in international waters. Thus, Gordon Chang urges the United States to stick to this stance and publically condemn the military actions of the Chinese in the South China Sea. Additionally, says Chang, the United States needs to stand with the democracies of the world like India, instead of supporting state-sponsors of terror such as Pakistan.

Rep. Francisco Canseco, Bill Gertz, Jeremy Rabkin, Sen. Mark Kirk

Congressman Francisco Canseco, of the 23^rd district of Texas, joins Frank to discuss the concerns of cross border violence with Mexico. Canseco, who represents 800 miles of the border, explains the parallel universe between the Administration’s claim the border is more secure than ever, and its own Homeland Security and FBI agencies admission that they have no way of measuring cross border violence. Next, Bill Gertz, “Inside the Ring” columnist for the Washington Times, explains the Obama’s Administration’s imminent concession to Russia on missile defense and a shift in strategy for Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan to smaller scale operations. Then, Dr. Jeremy Rabkin, George Mason School of Law Professor, discusses the confusion due to the lack of congressional authorization in the war in Libya. Rabkin finds the President’s definition of war disturbing, which labels anything short of ground troops a mere “kinetic military action.” Finally, Sen. Mark Kirk, of Illinois, elaborates on the situation that would bring the Russians into the U.S. missile defense program and a new proposal that would base radar defense in unstable and Iran-leaning Turkey rather than in the Czech Republic, a strong NATO ally. Sen. Kirk also discusses the myriad of reasons why trying terrorist suspects like Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame in civilian courts is a bad idea.

Jeff Kueter, Roger Noriega, Jim Hanson

After the arrest of informants who aided in the Osama Bin Laden raid, growing evidence of a double game being waged by the ISI, and the recent report that North Korea paid Pakistani officials for information regarding their nuclear program, Frank questions the stability of Pakistan and addresses these mounting concerns. Next, Jeff Kueter, President of the George C. Marshall Institute, discusses the rise of Chinese space power and fall of America’s as the space shuttle mission comes to an end. Kueter explains the security threat of a strike to our space assets, but also how the U.S. is working to minimize how China would be able to affect our National Security. Roger Noriega, our resident Latin America expert, joins Frank to update the situation in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez’s declining health, and the ensuing power vacuum. Noriega also reports his testimony during today’s Congressional hearing on Hezbollah in Latin America, where he explains that operatives are more than merely “fundraising” in the Western Hemisphere, as State Department officials have said, but actively awaiting an opportunity to attack. Finally, Jim Hanson, of blackfive.net, unmasks the Administration’s approach to terrorism, asserting, “’lawfare’ is not the best way to fight terrorists,” upon Obama’s recent selection of a former prosecutor as the next Counter Terror Chief. Hanson also details how this method is damaging morale within the military, as life and death decisions made on the battlefield are being prosecuted in the courtroom.

Mark Helprin

Mark Helprin, writer, novelist and pundit, joins Frank for a full hour to discuss the most pressing national security issues of the day, from terrorism, Afghanistan, Iran, China, to the defense budget. Helprin, former adviser on Defense and Foreign Relations to presidential candidate Robert Dole, describes the current Administration’s view of terrorism as a law enforcement issue: “the people that crashed our planes into our buildings are all dead so the case is closed.” This mentality, coupled with a policy of refusing to name our enemy, is inadequate in fighting the war on terror, he contends. Next, Helprin talks about the difficult situation in Afghanistan and a pattern in recent years of the U.S. destabilizing situations in the Middle East. Helprin also gives his take on the so-called Anti-Terrorism Conference in Iran, and China’s ship building capacity, which he claims will reach naval parity with the U.S. in five years. Finally, Helprin addresses the question of maintaining the defense budget amidst the debt crisis. He maintains that the idea that the economy must be in order before building up our defenses is a fallacy, and that the Republicans risk losing their position as the party of strong national defense if they succumb to this misconception.

Maj. Jeff Struecker, Gordon Chang, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Andy McCarthy

The U.S. will launch its final space shuttle mission on Fri., July 8, and Maj. Jeff Struecker, retired U.S. Army and 1996 recipient of the Best Ranger Competition, asserts that our national security will be undermined as a result, as much of the technology we rely on, such as Google Earth and GPS, was obtained through space exploration. Struecker, author of the novel Fallen Angel, a space-based intelligence story, joins Frank to discuss space as the final frontier for where we fight our battles. “Everyday we’re losing ground to other countries,” he says as a consequence of ending the shuttle program. Next, Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, describes how that collapse could be hastened by the unraveling of Communist control. Chang explains how China’s claims for stability reveal the opposite, as a financial boom led by foreign business has also brought foreign ideas, leading to rising dissent within the country, and the Party’s clambering to maintain control. Then, Rep. Louie Gohmert, of the first district of Texas, discusses the Obama Administration’s decision to reach out to the Muslim Brotherhood in a continued policy of what he terms, “embracing our enemies and slapping our friends across the face.” “The history one day will be written and this will be described as the way you go about losing a country,” says Gohmert on our current foreign policy and the aligning with a group that supports terrorism and a global caliphate. Finally, Andy McCarthy, of National Review, provides his weekly insight, discussing Iran’s so-called Counter Terrorism Conference that concluded America and Israel lie at the center of terrorism problems in the world. More alarming still was that allies Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan were in attendance. McCarthy also defines what he calls the “Incoherent Wing” of the Republican Party after Presidential Candidate Tim Pawlenty declared Iran on the verge of isolation; merely two days after 60 countries converged there to denounce the U.S.

Bill Gertz, Trent Franks, Caroline Glick, Riki Ellison

In the encompassing debt crisis, will Republicans be able to avoid the impulse to cut defense? Bill Gertz, columnist for the Washington Times, comments on the changing of the guard at the Pentagon and CIA, in which he is unsure if Leon Panetta, who lacks defense background, will have the resolve to keep his promise that there will be “no hollow force on my watch.” Next, Congressman Trent Franks, of Arizona’s second district and member of the House Armed Services Committee, joins Frank to discuss the astonishing decision for the U.S. to resume contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, and explains why “this administration gets it so wrong.” Franks also informs on the Electromagnetic Pulse threat, and how he has introduced the Shield Act to prevent it. Then, Caroline Glick, of the Jerusalem Post, adds her perspective on the Muslim Brotherhood, and updates the situation with a second flotilla soon to be approaching Israel. Glick, also discusses Huma Abedin, Deputy Chief of Staff to Hillary Clinton and wife of disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner, and her little known but strong family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood organization. Finally, Riki Ellison, founder of Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, talks about Iran’s launching of ballistic missiles and the changes needed in the missile defense budget to deter Iran and defend the Eastern border of the U.S.

Senator Rick Santorum

Presidential Candidate Sen. Rick Santorum checks in with Frank for a full hour while in route to a campaign stop in Pittsburgh.  The Senator breaks down what he calls a “Gathering Storm” of security threats facing the United States, from Communist China, to the “Messianic Revolutionary State” of Iran, a “new nemesis” in Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Islamic Extremism.  “We have to draw a line in the sand,” says Santorum as he explains what is at stake in the next election for national security.  The Presidential hopeful argues his position that President Obama has proven to be a weak horse, by “wringing his hands” with Iran, and being “more concerned with growing the size of government” here at home, rather than acting out American interests abroad.  Finally, he describes the foreign policy a Santorum Presidency would bring: relying on American interests and our allies and not the UN.