Securing America with Frank Gaffney Podcast

Tom Trento, Victor Davis Hanson, Roger Noriega, Bill Gertz

Early this morning, news emerged that one of the proponents of the Fort Hood shootings and the 2009 “underwear bomber” Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in a CIA drone bombing in Yemen. Will the death of this US-born cleric bring an end to an era or will other jihadists finally emerge? Tom Trento of the United West discusses with Frank how the United States government is finally going after Americans who have acted against the Constitution. Although his death is a great success for the US, it also revealed that al-Awlaki was merely an actor in a network of jihadists and that we should prepare ourselves for more in the future. Only by attacking the theological system of Sharia can the United States win the War on Terror. It is also vital that the leaders of the US government understand the need for better training for FBI agents and intelligence officers. Instead of crippling them with political correctness, we ought to give them the tools to defend the United States’ Constitution.

What starts and ends wars in the Middle East? The famed historian and the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Victor Davis Hanson continues today’s show answering the question of a possible war between Israel and it neighbors in the region. The situation for Israel is looking more and more hostile than it has in the last thirty years, as former allies to Israel such as Turkey are angling for more confrontation. Although there were major conflicts in 1973, 1982, and 2006 in the Middle East, what stopped them from turning into full-blown wars? Hanson states that a strong stance from the US blocked the region from turning totally volatile. However, all this has changed due to Obama’s weak Middle Eastern policy. Thus, it is only a matter of time before things turn sour for Israel and the United States under Obama’s leadership will be unable to step in to stop it.

Regular guest at Secure Freedom Radio and our resident expert on Latin American affairs, Roger Noriega of AEI shares novel news of Hugo Chavez’s cancer treatments. While the state sponsored press says he is on the upswing, Noriega’s sources continue to confirm that Chavez is not responding well to chemotherapy. Therefore, it is imperative that the United States prepares for a post-Chavez world and the opportunities it will open for possible democracy in Venezuela. Additionally, if Roberta Jacobson officially assumes the head of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Department of State, then what will her leadership mean for foreign policy in Venezuela and Mexico? As a career foreign service officer, she was in charge of the delivery of US assistance to Mexico. While it is important to continue such trends, Noriega argues that as head of the Bureau she should start treating Venezuela as a priority for intelligence collection.

National Security Writer for the Washington Times, Bill Gertz continues the discussion of the US airstrike that killed al-Awlaki and its implications for US national security. The strike in Yemen was carried out by a joint special operations and CIA effort that had been targeting him since May. Gertz also shares with Frank the story of a senior Pentagon official who criticized retiring chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mullen, for speaking the truth about Pakistan’s involvement in past terrorist attacks. This official stated that the intelligence was not clear on the matter and it was not Adm. Mullen’s place to speak on such a topic. Instead of condemning ISI’s actions, the US Department of State is working towards appeasing Pakistan by decreasing the number of drone attacks.

Lt. Gen. Jack Klimp, Ryan Mauro, Tawfik Hamid

The FBI recently disclosed the details of a foiled terrorist plot involving an American man, Rezwan Ferdaus, who planned on flying remote controlled planes filled with explosives into the Pentagon. He developed his hatred for America from websites promoting Islamist extremism. His plot was uncovered by a pair of undercover FBI agents who worked alongside Ferdaus as he established plans. Frank kicks off the show discussing the vital role that training FBI and intelligence officers to fight the ideology of extremism has in preventing terrorist attacks. Many others in the media, including a select few at National Public Radio, promote the idea that educating our agents in these tactics is both politically incorrect and morally wrong. Moreover, they even go as far as deny the existence of Sharia law. These views have only been nurtured by Muslim Brotherhood front groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations who want to make sure that there is no opposition to their activities.

Next, Frank has the rare privilege of sharing his microphone with Lt. Gen. Jack Klimp, retired Marine and President of the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS). The mission of NAUS and its support of the troops are different from the various other organizations out there in that it is an institution that offers its services to all seven branches of the military. Additionally, the organization serves all ranks in all situations including retired soldiers, active duty combat personnel, and even those who will serve in uniform in the future. In a show of solidarity, NAUS submitted a strongly worded letter to the Super Committee warning them about the detrimental consequences that defense budget cuts would have. Besides boasting the incredible achievements of NAUS, Lt. Gen. Klimp also shares with Secure Freedom Radio his insights about the hollowing out of the military from his early days in Vietnam until his retirement. In his view, it took over three decades to rebuild the military into the “national treasure” that it is today after the effects of the Vietnam War. He shares his story of how after the war he served as a commanding reconnaissance officer in Okinawa. During this time, he had more deserters in his platoon than those on active duty.

Founder of Worldthreats.com and National Security Advisor for the Christian Action Network, Ryan Mauro pops in again to shed some light on the situation on the ground unfolding in Syria. As there is more and more bloodshed in Syria and the Turks continue to play games in the region, Syria is either headed down the path of civil war or will have its uprising crushed in a massive bloodshed. The main problem of US policy in the region is that our leadership fails to distinguish between our friends and enemies within the rebel factions. President Obama even stated that he believed only twenty percent of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was made up of Islamic extremists. As violence continues to spiral out of control in the region, more and more Muslims have reasons to support the extremists as they see these groups winning the war.

Today’s Secure Freedom Radio concludes as Frank sits down to discuss Islamist ideology with Tawfik Hamid, a former extremist who worked in Egypt for an organization under al Qaeda. He describes how the stealthy form of jihad penetrates deeply into different who share the same idea to cast the world under a shroud of Islam. These groups use sophisticated methods to change people’s minds no matter their social class or background education. Their tactics have thrown the US and the world into civil friction and have infiltrated our flow of ideas.

Amb. John Bolton, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Jim Hanson

What would the 2012 election look like without President Obama as the Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party? Frank gets today’s show rolling reflecting on the comments his colleague, Dick Morris made concerning the upcoming election. In Frank’s eyes, President Obama might pull out of the election for fear of the criticism that he will face during election debates. Even members of his own party are apprehensive in the extreme of having President Obama lead the ticket for the Democratic Party. Former President Bill Clinton supports such criticisms and is starting to promote his wife as a future candidate.

Has the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen finally uncovered the truth about Pakistani intelligence services (ISI) and its connection with known terrorist groups? Former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton has a forthright discussion with Frank on the topic. Adm. Mullen admitted that the ISI has obvious connections with dangerous terrorists in Afghanistan and have even nurtured the Taliban. Although little of this information was novel news, most people were still shocked by the specificity of what he said. Adm. Mullen even acknowledged the fact that the ISI was party to the attack on the NATO and US headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ambassador Bolton also shares his thoughts on Obama’s UN speech this past week and how he sees it more as an “election” speech rather than one developing new policy. Moreover, in order to gain more of the Jewish vote, Obama’s speech tried to retract his past adverse policy towards Israel and its allies. The United States’ foreign policy truly is worst after two and a half years of Obama leadership.

Is it right for Texas to offer in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants while they do not even offer it for children of veterans? Representative Louie Gohmert of the 1^st district of Texas displays his disbelief that his state is giving a better deal for children of illegal aliens than for children of wounded or retired soldiers. According to Rep. Gohmert, the legislation was part of a larger budget bill and Governor Perry did not know that the tuition legislation was included. Therefore, by voting for the budget bill, his whole party voted for this tuition qualification. Not only are fellow Texans angry at the bill, but also Hispanics who have legally gone through the immigration process. Rep. Gohmert continues to refutes claims that President Obama would not seek reelection. In his view, a man such as Obama, who takes credit for SEAL Team Six operations will not easily step gracefully out of the limelight.

Our “boots on the ground” guy and weekly guest at Secure Freedom Radio, Jim Hanson concludes today’s Secure Freedom Radio supporting the Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta’s decision to speak the truth about the damaging effects of defense budget cuts. This is the first time that any Secretary of the Obama administration is standing up to Obama and to Democrats in resistance of their ludicrous suggestions for defense cuts. The whole reason we have a defense budget is to support those who we put in harm’s way, argues Hanson. The American people will not accept a large cut in their military force, especially if it means putting our country in jeopardy. With the money floating into entitlements, the US should be able to locate some money for those who have honorably served. Additionally, Adm. Mullen’s admission that Pakistan is “playing both sides” gives validity to former claims on the subject.

James Roche, Andy McCarthy, David Davenport

Will the reality of a Russian government run by the admittedly authoritarian Vladimir Putin translate into a hurdle for the Obama administration? Frank opens today’s Secure Freedom radio with his thoughts on the subject. When Putin officially becomes President again, this will be the first time in Moscow since 2000 that Russia will acknowledge that there is no power center besides this one man. The Obama administration, as displayed in the past, is completely helpless in stopping this authoritarian rule from continuing. The current administration’s policy towards the Russian government has been based on appeasement of its leaders. Thus, Russian strategic forces are being upgraded with new weapons, as the United States must downgrade its own. By passing the New START treaty, the Obama administration has stopped any production for new nuclear technology and has only forced the US to cut up our long-range nuclear weapons. Why are we allowing such an atrocity to occur while the Russians are able to keep their short-range missiles? Next, the 20th Secretary of the Air Force, James Roche joins Frank to educate us on the situation unfolding in the Air Force and Navy due to defense budget cuts. According to Roche, the current situation is not unlike that of the Carter administration. Since the Reagan administration, American presidents have continued to use existing material while not replenishing the resources. Therefore, the Navy and Air Force have shrunk dramatically and most of our equipment has become outdated. Additionally, Congress has prohibited any solider in uniform from making an acquisition decision. This is an example of how bureaucracy tries to find fault with everything, including the defense budget. This is merely a lack of understanding history, argues Roche, who uses the example of Britain’s once all mighty naval power. By following the socialist trends in Europe, the United States will continually weaken their naval and military power. Only if the United States continues to be strong in national security, can we continue to hold onto our self-reliance. Contributing Editor for National Review Online and weekly commentator on Secure Freedom Radio, Andy McCarthy discusses his desire and America’s need for a competent President during these trying times. In the words of Ambassador John Bolton, President Obama is the “First Post-American President,” who is rejecting American exceptionalism and innovation. McCarthy fears what Obama will do in the one and a half years that he has at the helm of American leadership. Now, in order to gain more financial backing for his re-election campaign, he is catering his policies more towards the Jewish minority. Hurting the situation, the President maintains an ignorant view of foreign policy in regards to Palestine. His administration believes that most Palestinians are in favor of an Israeli state, whereas data suggests that over 90% of Palestinians in their early teens through early 30s deny that Israel has a right to exist. How can our leaders expect the numbers to be any different when it is as central to the Palestinian identity that Israel needs to be destroyed as the First Amendment is to Americans? Research Fellow and Counselor to the Director at the Hoover Institution, David Davenport gives us a legal lesson on the qualifications for statehood. Currently in international law, there is no clearly defined test to determine whether a territory is or is not a state. There is also no clear body that has the power to recognize a nation as such. However, there are four traditional criteria that determine the legitimacy of a state. The two most important of these criteria are that the state must have a clearly defined territory and have control over this territory. Palestine does not fulfill either of these requirements; therefore, it cannot be considered for statehood. Davenport thinks that the reason they are asking for statehood now is due to their frustration with the Two-State Agreement failing between the cracks.

David Satter, Senator Jon Kyl, John Fonte, Gordon Chang

What will 12 more years of authoritarian Putin rule mean for democracy in Russia and the future of US-Russia relations? Expert on Russia and the Soviet Union and author of the Age of Delirium: The Decline and Fall of the Soviet Union, David Satter relays his views on the recent disclosure by Vladimir Putin that he will switch places with the current President, Dmitry Medvedev. What does this switch mean for the international community and, more importantly, for the national security of the United States? By admitting Putin has more influence in Russia than Medvedev, he is dropping any pretense that there is political competition in Russia. The Russian leadership wanted to be perceived as a democracy, without being one in reality. This sort of leadership is a throwback to the Soviet regime, which attempted to create a substitute for reality based merely on ideology. This habit of fooling and manipulating is deeply rooted in modern Russian culture. If this continues, Western leaders such as Obama will continue to be seduced by the Kremlin-like Russian government. Next, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona joins Frank to give his expert opinion on how Putin “ripped the mask off of” the current affairs in Russia. According to Senator Kyl, this is merely a continuation of the Soviet days, where the leadership took any effort to advance Russian interests, while harming those of the United States. The Obama administration is further curbing US interests abroad and exposing our weaknesses by ratifying the New START treaty. While this treaty is the most important treaty passed with the Russians for President Obama, it was an ill-advised method of arms reduction. The only means of reducing the impact that this treaty will have on the United States under the leadership of President Obama, argues Senator Kyl, is instigating a major push back from the Senate. The Senate must make its voice heard in order to stop Obama from reducing our nuclear deterrent plan. Additionally, the United States, by putting defense on the chopping block is “inviting trouble by not being strong.” John Fonte, of the Hudson Institute discusses his new book, “Sovereignty or Submission: Will Americans Rule Themselves or be Ruled by Others?” Sovereignty can simply be defined as a “self-government political community with nothing ruling above the Constitution.” The globalist movement occurring within the United States is sabotaging the supremacy of the Constitution. In the minds of these globalists, international law should dictate rulings in the American Supreme Court. This “downloading of international law” into the American judiciary system is even threatening to define the US’s role in war. According to Protocol 1 of the Geneva Convention, of which the United States is not a signatory, bombing raids can only be carried out after notifying civilians in the region. This has no place in the constitutional judiciary system, as judges should interpret law and not create it. Writer at Forbes.com and resident China expert here at Secure Freedom Radio, Gordon Chang concludes today’s show with the Chinese angle on Putin’s decision to swap places with Medvedev. Putin has always had an interesting relationship with China, as he is on the one hand competing with them and on the other hand participating in mischievous deeds with Beijing. However, Russia is facing the continued threat from the Chinese who are crossing the border and settling in far-east Russia. These Chinese are boosting the economy from trading and other industrious activities. This could be seen as an attempt by the Chinese to reclaim the portion of Siberia that they lost during the Qing Dynasty.

Roger Noriega, Claudia Rosett, David Rivkin, Bill Gertz

Is the all mighty leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, on his final months of life? Visiting Fellow at AEI, Roger Noriega kicks off today’s show sharing his thoughts on Hugo Chavez’s deathwatch. According to sources in the country, Hugo Chavez has just returned from his third round of chemotherapy to treat his colon cancer. This information contradicts official reports by Venezuelan officials who stated that he had just returned from his fourth trip to Cuba. The earlier trip to Cuba for chemotherapy was a fabrication of the Chavismo leadership who wanted to appear open, while also keeping the opposition guessing. This is the perfect example of a classic dictatorship, says Noriega, where the top leaders continually lie. Additionally these sources say that Chavez will not survive his cancer, but might stick around until the October 2012 elections. If he is able to hold on to life, the organized opposition groups will have a slim chance at beating him. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the Obama administration holds a “flat-footed” policy in South America, where they would rather ignore Chavez than speak out in support of opposition groups. Was Obama’s speech in front of the UN General Assembly able to successfully put heed to his comments in May acknowledging the possibility of a Palestinian state? Journalist-in-residence at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Claudia Rosett covers the ominous stirrings in the United Nations. Although this will be the seventh time that the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will come before the UN General Assembly, the more pressing issue is the Palestinian statehood debate. The General Assembly is consumed by the political debates surrounding the issue. Rosett is critical of Obama’s speech, as she sees it as a campaign speech rather than a Presidential one. Palestinians were similarly disappointed in his speech, as it failed to endorse or acknowledge official statehood such he did in a speech last year. On the other hand, Israel was happy with his speech as he did not make mention of the 1967 borders. In Rosett’s view, these debates are merely methods of ganging up on the US and its allies in order to give them a “giant poke in the eye.” American attorney and political writer, David Rivkin presents the legal case against Palestinian statehood. As said by Rivkin, objective criteria must first be met in order for a given entity to be granted statehood in the United Nations. Under these rights and duties, the given entity needs to have a territory, population, government that exercises effective sovereignty, and is able to go into agreements with other nations. According to these standards, Palestine does not meet the basic objective criteria to become a state. Palestine does not control Gaza or even the West Bank. Since Israel controls most of the land that Palestine claims, Israel is the only one that can “midwife” Palestine into a state. Furthermore, the United Nations is not in the business of recognizing the state, but is only able to take an existing state and make it a member of the UN. While some argue that the Vatican is an exception to this rule, Rivkin fires back that the Vatican, as the oldest existing state in history was able to merely ushered into the UN with non-member status. Weekly regular guest here at Secure Freedom Radio and National Security Writer for the Washington Times, Bill Gertz concludes today’s show enlightening Frank on how Adm. Mullen of the NSC directly links the Pakistani ISI with the Haqqani terrorist network, an arm of Al Qaeda. The White House is also working on a secret mini-Nuclear Posture Review that will change military requirements for the U.S. strategic arsenal. This allows them to use the cover of budget cuts to pursue an ideological zero nuke policy. Also, Gertz talks Wikileaks and how one cable reveals that North Korea has had a greater counterfeiting capacity than previously known of U.S. monetary notes.

Anne Korin, Agent Jeffrey Scott, Representative Donald Manzullo, Pat Stallings

Why is the United States allowing OPEC cartels to have a monopoly on 79% of the world’s oil? Co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Anne Korin opens today’s Secure Freedom Radio overviewing the mission of the United States Energy Council. The Energy Council is comprised of former cabinet members and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies who wish to reduce the strategic importance of oil in the world. The Council must talk more about the US’s dependence on foreign oil and the need for us to design a proper program that would reduce our vulnerability to oil supply disruption. Furthermore, the United States needs to knock oil off the “strategic pedestal” on which we have put it. Korin explains how salt, as the only means of meat preservation, once held the same sway over the economy that oil now does. She expresses the need for natural gas to come into competition with oil. Currently, 98% of transportation is oil based, whereas it only costs $100 more per car to enable vehicles to run on natural gas. If so, why hasn’t the United States invested in natural gas? Next, Supervisory Special Agent Jeffrey Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration brings Frank up to date on the recent DEA missions to stop the drug cartels that run rampant south of the border with Mexico. In July, the DEA announced the result of their Project Delirium, in which they conducted a series of investigations into the La Familia Michoacana (LFM) drug cartel. During these investigations, US and Mexican law enforcement found $62 million in US currency, 2,800 pounds of meth and cocaine, 1,000 pounds of heroin, and made over 2,000 arrests of drug traffickers. Agent Scott discusses how Project Delirium is an umbrella operation under which several smaller operations are running. The purpose of umbrella operations such as Project Delirium are used to decrease duplication of investigations, as well as used to target and disrupt the largest cartels in one stroke. Project Delirium, says Agent Scott, showed the commitment at the political and law enforcement level of the Mexican leadership and police force, as well as successfully showed increased cooperation between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies. These investigations proved to weaken both the leadership and drug trafficking structure of LFM. What does China’s monopoly on rare earth minerals mean for US national security and foreign policy? Representative Donald Manzullo of the 16th district of Illinois and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific joins Frank to give us his take on the Congressional hearings that he organized on the issue. Currently, 97% of the world’s ores are controlled by China. While controlling 97% of the world’s ores, China is also capable of mining 35% of the world’s rare earth minerals. According to Rep. Manzullo, it is not that there is a limited supply of raw rare earth minerals, but rather that the difficulty lies in transforming the minerals from this raw form into a usable product. These minerals are used in both low end and high-end magnet capabilities. The high-end magnets created from these minerals can also be used for the guidance systems of military drones. Thus, due to China’s monopoly on the minerals, they have the capability to have a monopoly on the future of high-end efficiency commodities and military equipment. In a rare treat here at Secure Freedom Radio, Vice President for Department of Defense Business Operations for Point Blank Solutions, Inc, Pat Stallings, concludes today’s show enlightening us on his company and the body armor it produces to protect our men and women in law enforcement and the US military. Although the company has been making body armor for 37 years, it was not until after 9/11 that there was a huge demand for body armor to protect our soldiers. The body armor business itself did not really develop until the late 90s when the Department of Defense invested in armor due to the threats to US military men and women in Bosnia and Kosovo. According to Stallings, it is the wish of any body armor company to make a product that is as mission capable as possible, while also protecting the quality of the armor itself. The new armor designed by Point Blank holds 100% performance record in combat. His company is also in the processing of finding new materials that will reduce the weight of the armor by 20%, or 1-½ pounds.

Ambassador Yorum Ettinger, Walid Phares, Zuhdi Jasser, Jim Hanson

What does it mean for the Free World and Israel should Palestine get a state adhering to the 1967 borders? Ambassador Yorum Ettinger tries to answer this question while also warning us of the possible implications that this would have for the United States. In Ettinger’s opinion, by supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, international leaders are acknowledging Palestinians who were known supporters of Saddam during the 1991 Iraq War and even collaborated with him in the invasion of Kuwait. These same Palestinians condemned the US for executing Saddam. Moreover, Ettinger thinks that Mahmoud Abbas has close bonds with the top Russian government officials and was even educated in Russia. These connections could be used in the future to provide a foothold for the Russians and Chinese in the region, as well as is a death sentence for the pro-US government in Jordan. We don’t need another rogue regime that would be a tailwind for the US’s enemies. How have the past two to three years of US foreign policy gone to sour in the Middle East, especially in Syria? Professor at the National Defense University and Lebanese native, Walid Phares joins Secure Freedom Radio today to give Frank his insights on the Syrian opposition leadership that seems to be producing some unsavory characters. Phares states that the father and son Assad regime has participated in non-stop oppression of its own people starting in the 1980s. However, the Assad regime has reached the point of no return, argues Phares, as they have refused to implement any political reforms. Additionally, he discusses how there needs to be a change of direction in Washington, such as identifying the true good guys in the region before a new policy can be implemented. The US leadership can do this by first making the distinction between the duel opposition groups: civil society and the Muslim Brotherhood backed groups. President and Founder of the American Islamic Forum, Zuhdi Jasser shares his personal family experiences under the Assad regime in Syria. Syria is the perfect environment for radical groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, since they offer them a veil of religious protection. Although the Muslim Brotherhood and other extremist groups would thrive in the country, Syria would never be controlled by such organizations since it would remain secular. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, however, causes the most problems in the United States. Most of these groups are closely intertwined with Muslim advocacy groups in the United States. This is most problematic since the Obama administration does not have the “Constitution internally to deal with it.” Jasser furthers his point by stating that the Arab Spring would only give way to the Islamist winter and when it does leaders in Washington will not be able to distinguish between Islamist rebels and those fighting for Western ideals. Weekly guest here at Secure Freedom Radio, Jim Hanson concludes today’s show with his “boots on the ground” perspective to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the cuts on retirement benefits for members of the US military. While Hanson is in favor of the repeal of the discriminatory policy, he believes that sexual orientation should not be used in the military to further the gay agenda. Furthering such agendas has no business in the military, states Hanson. Military men should be respected for their service and not their sexuality. Frank also talks with Hanson about the ludicrous retirement benefit cuts for US military veterans.

Michael Prell, John Lehman, Shaun Waterman, Andy McCarthy

What will President Obama do in the wake of a unilateral declaration of independence by Pakistan and why is he not stepping forward to say no before the official vote? Author of the book, Underdogma: How America’s Enemies Use Our Love for the Underdog to Trash American Power, Michael Prell joins Secure Freedom Radio to discuss how the Leader of the Freedom World is demonstrating a lack of moral clarity. According to Prell, “Israel needs a friend who will stand up and protect her,” rather than a leader that hides behind the United Nations. Prell believes that the President should absolutely and aggressively support the wishes of the American people. These wishes include the seventy percent of Americans who support Israel and its mission. Supporting these Americans, is “the easiest political call to save your behind, Mr. President,” urges Prell. Furthermore, as the most powerful man in the world, Obama needs to stand with Israel, so that America and the world can stand with him. Next, Former Secretary of the Navy under the Reagan administration, John Lehman enlightens us on his recent article commemorating 100 years of US Naval Aviation. In this article, Lehman describes the particular culture of the pre-WWI daredevils to the current US Navy. He says that it is this rare culture in the US Navy that allows naval aviators to be cool under pressure and make quick informed decisions during high-risk situations. This culture of “swagger” in the US Navy is currently under attack by groups that want the Navy to conform to stringent guides of political correctness. This was apparent during the Tailhook scandal in which more than 100 aviators were let go after allegations of sexual harassment. Additionally, Lehman talks defense budget. He believes that the US must fix the way we are spending our money. Instead of supporting the bloat of bureaucrats, we should focus more on maintaining our modern naval aviation in order to continue to provide security in international waters. Shaun Waterman of the Washington Times gives us his insight into the recent intelligence hearings in which the US intelligence agencies were “bullish about our successes against the center of al Qaeda in the Afghanistan and Pakistan border.” However, Waterman states that there still is not a clear-cut US strategy when dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is an offshoot of the al Qaeda ideology. While the US might have successfully combated al Qaeda physically, we have yet to develop a good method in killing the extremist ideology. Waterman also shares with Frank his thoughts about a recent testimony this week by North Korean defectors. He says that the interesting aspect of their testimonies were the extreme methods in which they tried to get anti-Communist messages into North Korea. Contributing Writer to National Review Online and weekly regular guest at Secure Freedom Radio, Andy McCarthy concludes today’s show discussing the “Arab Spring” movement in the Middle East and their attitude towards US involvement in the region. According to McCarthy, more than 80% of Muslims in the Middle East continue to follow Islamist ideology or hold an al Qaeda attitude in which they want to establish an Islamist state and not a state based on Western liberalism.

Pratish Shah, Caroline Glick, Rep. Sue Myrick, Gordon Chang

Is it possible to train our soldiers in combat situations without physically putting them through the trials of war? Director of Marketing for Quantum3D, Pratish Shah, says that his company already has a solution to this dilemma. The Expedition DI is a 3D digital combat simulator that puts combat soldiers in real life war simulations. The combat soldiers wear a head mounted display and a visual computer backpack that creates virtual imagery in any virtual world situation. The simulator is able to create the same environments such as marketplaces in Iraq and Afghanistan that would test combat soldiers’ ability to distinguish between civilians and enemies. This level of confusion or “fog of war,” have helped deployed soldiers in preparing them for realistic urban or rural warfare situations, as well as re-hone the skills of recently returned combat fighters. Shah says that the simulator is so realistic that troops are winded and sweating after being fully immersed in these combat situations. The value of the Expedition DI was recognized as the Industry’s first self-contained combat infantry simulator and honored with an editor’s choice award from Military Embedded Systems. Next, Senior Fellow for Middle East Affairs at the Center for Security Policy and deputy managing editor for The Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick joins Frank to discuss the UN follies occurring regarding a solution to Palestinian statehood. Glick believes that this debate in front of the UN will only amount in escalated attacks against Israel. Additionally, she imagines that the conflict will drag out for weeks or months, in which time the UN will extract sufficient concessions from Israel to shut up Palestine. The current debate is not necessarily Palestinian statehood, as the UN has already twice recognized Palestine, but whether or not Palestine has a standing in the International Criminal Court, argues Glick. Furthermore, Israel is undermining its own leverage and the leverage of its international friends in the Israel-Palestine conflict as it refuses to cut off aid to Palestine. While some believe that Mahmoud Abbas, the current President of the Palestinian National Authority, has agreed to a two-state solution, Glick refutes these claims. In her view, Abbas has continually provided Hamas with funding and has tried to instigate political warfare and the destruction of the Israeli state. The Honorable Representative Sue Myrick of North Carolina’s 9th district spends a little time with Secure Freedom Radio to talk about the recent intelligence hearings on the situation of al Qaeda ten years after the 9/11 attacks. As Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence, Rep. Myrick considers these hearing to be a good step in getting the two committees together in open dialogue about the situation. While she states that al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan have been sufficiently weakened, she is worried that the organization is trying to recruit Americans to join in the effort to bring down the United States. This makes the situation even direr, as we no longer know who they are or where they are. Rep. Myrick urges the Obama administration to pay more attention to this matter and fully dedicate them to a counter-radicalization program. Rather than focusing on the growing Islamist influence abroad and in our own nation, however, the administration is trying to shut down any viewpoint on the issue that contradicts the administration’s own viewpoint. Writer for Forbes.com and weekly regular at Secure Freedom Radio, Gordon Chang concludes today’s show enlightening us on the growing tensions over the South China Sea. China has claimed all of the South China Sea as its own internal lake. This poses a great threat to international trade, as 50% of the world’s cargo shipping passes through the South China Sea. This declaration by China of ownership of the South China Sea and its drilling in the South China Sea also challenge the United States’ dedication to freedom of navigation. Moreover, Chang gives us an insight into the change of opinion happening in the Philippines. When its nice policies have failed to pacify Beijing, the leadership of the Philippines has reached out to the United States military.