Securing America with Frank Gaffney Podcast

Andy McCarthy, Jeff Kueter, James Carafano, Jim Hanson

Andy McCarthy starts off today’s show explaining how the Obama Administration seems to be circumventing the Constitution at their leisure. What path is the president leading America down and what will be the consequences his actions in regards to American security?

Jim Carafano from The Heritage Foundation discusses the recent defense strategy unveiled by President Obama and what it means for the United States’ defense capabilities. He then explains the concept of Rotational Forces as a part of the defense budget cuts and its implications on active duty servicemen. Will the U.S. be able to carry out its global responsibilities? Will the U.S. become a second class military power in the world as a result of the cuts in its defense budget? Will these factors lead to WWIII?

Jeff Kueter, President of the George C. Marshall Foundation starts with his assessment of America’s position and standing in regards to the Space. He then points out that there are no vigorous exploration programs and the lack of persistence and tolerance for failures of technology used in such programs. If the administration maintained consistency and provided resources could there be a possibility of developing capabilities to strike targets on land from space?

Jim Hanson a former special operations command officer discusses his views about Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) on its 10^th anniversary. The concept of Gitmo has been a brilliant idea as a means of extracting information from hardened radical terrorists, and how appalling it would be close the detention center and send back these terrorists to their home countries to be rehabilitated. The general consensus and feedback from the armed forces has been negative on closing this center and sending these terrorists back so they could rejoin their organizations and fight against the United States. Jim then concludes by expressing his thoughts on Iran’s nuclear program and what the consequences would be if Iran became a nuclear power.

Michael Rubin, Gordon Chang, Andy McCarthy

Michael Rubin joins Frank in segment one  to explain how Iran could only really close the Strait of Hormuz for no more than a day because it needs to import gas as well as export oil for its own economy.  Iran is trying to psychologically increase oil prices in order to reap the benefits. Michael Rubin then touches on the relationship between the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt’s military leaders are more like businessman than soldiers and therefore are willing to make a deal with the Muslim Brotherhood if it is beneficially.  What will this mean to Egypt and the region? Will the Muslim Brotherhood destroy the military in order to gain sole control over Egypt? What are the implications of the Prime Minister of Hamas visiting Turkey at the behest of the Turkish government?

Gordon Chang joins Frank to speak on how the North Korean regime is trying to show solidarity for Kim Jung Un while China is determined to maintain stability within the Korean peninsula by propping up the new North Korean leader. China is doing its best to put money and resources into Kim Jung Un which would make North Korea essentially the fourth Chinese province. China will end up absorbing North Korea and therefore everything North Korea does will be an extension of Chinese foreign policy.   China’s support to rogue regimes does not end with North Korea, but is also extended to Iran. Will China become more hostile in 2012 and how will China use the Law of the Sea Treaty to restrict international waterways?

Andy McCarthy spends twice the amount of time with Frank in order to educate us on the cost of American security. Is America really to blame for the world’s problems? Is the root of Islamic extremism and Islamic terrorism ideology or some outside factor? Paul Stockton, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Security, refused to acknowledge the threat to America posed by Islamic extremism and Islamic terrorism. He refused to even utter those words in a Congressional testimony as part of the Obama Administration’s appeasement platform. In fact, the Obama Administration is turning to an Islamic extremist that has advocated the death of U.S. soldiers in order to broker a deal with the Taliban.  Also, the president is welcoming the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who wants to abandon the peace treaty with Israel. Was does this mean for Israeli security and who will the Israelis turn to for help, America?

Mvemba Dizolele, Senator Rick Santorum, Andy McCarthy

Mvemba Dizolele of the Hoover Institute provides his take on Congo elections. The Democratic Republic of Congo hosts the Holocaust of our time. 6.9 million deaths since 1998. Will unrest from this year’s election lead to civil war in what is already the most deadly and unstable region on the planet? Hoover Institute fellow Mvemba Dizolele walks Frank through the state of play and helps us begin to get a picture of the world’s most complex and dangerous place. Presidential candidate Senator Rick Santorum spends time with Frank to speak about his fellow presidential candidate Ron Paul’s ridiculous notion that America and the world will be safer if America just concedes to field to the Russians, Chinese or Islamists. Congressman Paul is advocating complete isolation and even goes so far as to blame America for the world’s problems. The world has never been as dangerous as it is now and therefore now more than ever America needs to exude influence and maintain a global presence. Why should America be surprised that a federal judge issued a statement citing Iran as an accomplice in the 9/11 attacks? Iran has been hostile towards the U.S. since the 1970s and has worked to kill more U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than the Taliban and the Iraqis. Iran is using their oil revenue to attack and undermine U.S. presence in the Middle East as well as going after America’s ally, Israel. Finally, Senator Santorum touches on the Law of the Sea Treaty which he feels is in complete violation of American sovereignty and another attempt to create world governance. Senator John Kerry is pushing an agenda to diminish American sovereignty and power, but the world is a better place when America is in the lead and taking a proactive role. Who do you want to be in control of the seas, America and our values or these despots and their values which are in complete opposition to freedom and liberty? Andy McCarthy joins Frank to give his analysis on Secretary Clinton’s meeting with the OIC. When good sits down with evil, it is never a good thing. There is nothing to be gained from this meeting because what the OIC wants is to impose Sharia on to the American landscape. The best thing that can come out of this meeting is nothing, the status quo which is not what the Obama Administration wants. Secretary Clinton announced that the government would not infringe on freedom of speech, but will try to use “naming and shaming” to condemn those who speak ill of Islam. Is it right that the American government tries to shame its citizens for speaking their mind? Instead of serving for the common defense, the government will now be trying to teach Americans how to behave. Year after year the Muslim Brotherhood as been trying to infuse Sharia into American life and every year they fail, so now they are trying the same tactic but are using a different rhetoric. The Brotherhood is trying to use the incitement laws in America in conjunction with Sharia blasphemy laws to claim that speaking ill of Islam will incite violence and therefore must be outlawed. This is the new tactic being used in order to impose the Sharia blasphemy laws here in America. Same story, new tricks but will the Obama Administration give in to the wishes of the OIC and the Muslim Brotherhood? Another trick of the Muslim Brotherhood is to buy their way into American culture. Powerful positions in the media, institutions of higher education such as Harvard as well as social networking sites are just a few ways in which Islamists are trying to infiltrate the West and impose Sharia on all freedom loving people.

Dr. Phillip Karber, Rep. Ted Poe, Rep. Mike Rogers, Andy McCarthy

Georgetown University professor Dr. Phillip Karber speaks with Frank on the topic of Chinese underground tunnels. Dr. Karber and his students have worked tirelessly to expose China’s underground tunnel system that has been built by China’s Strategic Rocket Force. It is referred to as China’s Underground Great Wall and this program has been going on since 1985 and consists of 3,000 miles of underground tunnels designed to hide their nuclear arsenal. How many weapons are stockpiled in this underground maze? This significantly increases the risk from the Chinese and therefore must be dealt with by the U.S. government. China has more tunneling underground than the rest of the world combined, what are they trying to hide? Will America now see China as a security threat and not just a nuisance?    

Representative Ted Poe joins Frank to give his take on the Eric Holder drama. It seems that Attorney General Holder can’t get his story straight nor can he get control of his own house. He claims to not know the answer too many of Congresses questions which leads people to believe he either has no control over his house and is incompetent or he is a liar. Congressman Poe also explains a development in a DEA operation where money might have been given to the drug cartels in hope of tracking the money up the ladder. Is this another Fast and Furious type case? It seems the money has been lost and now the cartels have large sums of money given to them by the U.S. government. Representative Poe also talks about technology from the military in Iraq will now be used on the border since troops are coming home and this technology will no longer be needed overseas.  Finally, Congressman Poe sent a letter to Secretary Clinton to ask her to explain to the OIC in their meeting, that any anti-blasphemy law is a violation of American free speech and therefore there should not be laws that prohibit any criticism of religion. Did Secretary Clinton make this point clear to the OIC?

Representative Mike Rogers spends time with Frank to explain what happened to the drone that landed in Iranian hands. The drone was actually more banged up than previously thought and the Iranians put it back together for propaganda purposes.  Representative Rogers also comments on the Homeland Security policy pertaining to how American agents are trained on terrorist threats. Political Correctness does not make a situation right; an FBI agent who is only taught about half the problem can only be half affective. Our government needs to give both sides of the equation, not all Muslims are extremists, but there are radicalized Islamists who seek to destroy this country and that needs to be taught to American agents. Allowing them to hear all sides of the problem makes them more affective and can better protect this nation. Finally, Congressman Rogers speaks on having some level of American force needs to stay in Iraq to help ensure security and help the Iraqi security apparatus grow and function on their own. How can we adequately train our law enforcement if we cannot talk openly about the threat?

Regular guest Andy McCarthy speaks with Frank about Sen. John Kerry’s appeasement with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. His praise of the emergence of the Brotherhood is something that Americans should take note of. America is the biggest contributor to the IMF and therefore when the IMF sends money to Egypt to support the Brotherhood, it is sending American taxpayer money. Is John Kerry just carrying the banner of the Obama Administration? It is obvious that the Muslim Brotherhood’s civil arm is no different from its military arm. When will Americans wake up and acknowledge this threat? Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and that is an acknowledged terrorist organization.  What are the implications for American liberty is Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration concede to the demands of the OIC? What can Congress do the stop the transfer of a war criminal and terrorist

 

Jon Perdue, Stephen Hunter, Andy McCarthy

Jon Perdue spends time with Frank to explain the relationship between Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Venezuela. The Iranian Quds Force is helping to train Venezuelan forces to prevent any dissention within Venezuela.  Venezuelan military officials have claimed they will not support any new regime even if they are democratically elected. It has been reported that the IRG (Iranian Republican Guard) worked with the students that overran the British Embassy to prevent dissention within Iran. With Iran having a U.S. stealth drone, it is only a matter of time before Venezuela gets their hands on that technology. How long will it take Chavez to reverse engineer the drone? What are the implications of one of Iran’s top military officers being caught in Bolivia?

Author Stephen Hunter speaks with Frank about his new book “Soft Target.” Hard targets are heavily defended instillations whereas soft targets are civilians and instillations that are not protected such as malls. The story centers around armed terrorists taking control of a mall in America, a plotline that could very easily come to fruition. Stephen also speaks about the evolution of terrorism and how there will always be terrorists because there will always be people who are easily manipulated or bribed into committing terrorist acts. Is there any real solution to terrorism? How do we combat an enemy who is willing to die for what he believes in?

Andy McCarthy and Frank converse on the topic of submission and how the Obama Administration is enacting policy that forces American serviceman to submit to Islamic culture. The Islamists waged a domestic war for submission against America over ten years ago and are winning that war. America needs a leader that will stand up for the Constitution and American values instead of submitting to the wishes of certain communities. Andy also speaks on how the Muslim Brotherhood is creeping into Egyptian society, pushing their way into power positions in order to have a say in Egypt’s future. Finally, Andy speaks to the ridiculous allegations by Sen. Paul that American civil liberties are at risk as a result of the bill Sen. McCain and Levin. This is completely outlandish considering the bill just reinforces current law.

Gordon Chang, Barry Rubin, Mackenzie Eaglen, Andy McCarthy

Gordon Chang explains China’s “Zero Sum Game” with the United States. The Chinese view towards relations with the U.S. is that one side must win and one side must lose. America sees relationships as win/win for both parties, whereas the Chinese feel that only one party can win and dominate the international system. What can America do to “win” this game? China has becoming more aggressive in their rhetoric towards America. Chinese Flag Officers have claimed that China will engage America in war within the next 5-10 years. How can the American government ignore claims such as that? There are now signs that the Chinese economy is declining and becoming smaller. What does this mean for the Communist Party? Economic tribulations for China will result in them becoming more belligerent towards their neighbors in order to keep the peace within the populace. What will happen if China starts to breakdown? With the EU collapsing, what does that mean for the US and China? The U.S. is in the best position to weather the storm because America has the largest domestic economy, but China will suffer greatly.

Dr. Barry Rubin gives a history lesson on the Muslim Brotherhood. He explains where they came from and how they collaborated with the Nazis during World War 2.  It is reprehensible for the Obama Administration to work with the Muslim Brotherhood and their subsidiaries. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is leading U.S. policy in the Middle East; this is equivalent to the U.S. using Fidel Castro as their advisor to Latin America. How can this policy possibly have a positive outcome? The Obama Administration has claimed that they support the new governments of the Arab Spring and this is part of his Muslim outreach program. If Obama works with the Muslim Brotherhood, what would that mean for American security? The Muslim Brotherhood claims to be moderate, which they are not, and if they gain power then they will follow the Turkish model and slowly take over every aspect of society, not with force, but through controlling the government and legal institutions. This takeover will be slow and take time so as not to arouse suspicion from the international community. What does this mean for Israel, the Middle East and the United States of America?

Mackenzie Eaglen joins Frank to give the truth behind the defense budget cuts. In 2011 the White House Budget Office reported the Defense Budget at $730 billion and President Obama requested that in the next fiscal year it be cut to $703 billion; this was before the debt ceiling deal. The year after that the Defense Budget will be cut by another $26 billion and in 2013 President Obama has requested the Defense Budget be capped at $652 billion. It would be 2016 before the Defense Budget would be able to grow back to 2011 numbers. Since Obama has been president, $700 billion have been cut from defense. Unlike Entitlements, Defense does not have a clear base line for which to cut money. So why is everyone looking to cut Defense when it is much easier to cut Entitlements? What impact will these cuts have on our national security? America’s Navy is the smallest it has been since World War 1 and these cuts will make it the smallest since the 19^th century; what ability will they have to protect the world’s waters? With these cuts the Air Force will be the smallest it has ever been in history and already it is small and aging.

Weekly guest Andy McCarthy gives his analysis on the future Defense cuts and what that means to American security. Andy explains the need to make cuts to defense, especially with a mounting debt, but the government needs to keep in mind their priority and responsibility to protect the homeland.  Why aren’t there cuts to Entitlements? Protecting the nation is a responsibility enshrined in the Constitution, not Entitlements yet they are not on the cutting table. It is necessary that America has a clear goal and direction for its defense and then come up with an intelligent budget to allow the DOD to achieve those objectives.  

 

Jim Hanson, Jon Adler, Andy McCarthy

With Jim Hanson, Jon Adler, and Andy McCarthy Happy Thanksgiving!  Today's show starts with Frank's take on the debate.  You've just got to listen.  You won't find a better analysis on the GOP CNN national security debate that cuts to the heart of matters like Frank does. Jim Hanson of Blackfive.net brings his own brand of boots on the ground GOP national security debate analysis as well.  He also lays out the economics of good intelligence collection weighed against the costs of war especially in the Middle East. Jon Adler of the he Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association raises the sadly ignored issue of what the budget cuts mean for those protecting us on American Soil.  He also has some choice words for politically correct counter terrorism training policies.

Richard Perle, Richard Fisher, Andy McCarthy

Richard Perle, former Assistant Secretary of Defense during the Reagan Administration, gives his insights on presidential candidate’s competency in foreign policy.  Richard feels that it is vital that foreign issues are debated before the election so voters can see which candidate truly understands national security and foreign policy issues. America cannot lead from behind therefore America needs a leader who will lead and push American leadership to the forefront of the international stage. The Russian Reset policy is a prime example of the Obama Administrations failure to lead. Vladimir Putin, who worked for the KGB during the Cold War, has yet to accept the fact that America won the Cold War and uses every opportunity to advance Russian interests at America’s expense. America cannot be the punching bag for any nation and that makes it vital to American security that a leader with a strong foreign policy is elected.

Richard Fisher, Senior Fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center explains the asymmetric capabilities of Communist China. China has provided over 1 million parts that either have been used or will be used in American military technology and those parts have been found to be defective by the Senate Armed Services Committee. China sees an opportunity to flood the American market with defective technology which will degrade the US military machine. What is the cost of using defective Chinese hardware in American military technology? Should the DOD be buying military parts from China? How can America buy military hardware from a country that it could potentially be at war with? What do we really know about China’s nuclear arsenal? They have constructed up to 3,000 kilometers of underground tunnels to conceal military weaponry and that should cause concern as to what they are hiding and what it could be used for.

Finally, weekly commentator Andy McCarthy explores the theory of Islam versus Islamism. Doctrinally, Islam is the source of the motivation for Islamist ideology and a classical interpretation of Sharia. Non-Muslims can live within a Muslim society, but must be subservient under the eyes of the classical views of Sharia. There are a lot of Muslims that embrace Western ideas and want nothing to do with the radical Sharia way of line. The threat is Islamism, not Islam. Islamism is the idea of Islamists wanting to create a world where Sharia rules and everyone else must either convert or be expelled. There are many followers of Islam that are allies of the United States and see these Islamists as as much of a threat to freedom, as Westerners do. Andy then goes into an Islamist, who supports terrorism, detained at Guantanamo Bay was transferred to England and is now suing the British government for how he was treated while in custody. The British feared what might happen if this case went to trial so they settled with this terrorist supporter for 1 million pounds ($1.6 million dollars) and is now living the high life in Britain.

Roger Noriega, Patrick Poole, Rep. Frank Wolf, Andy McCarthy

Have US immigration officials and judges failed to realize that Hugo Chavez has established a dictatorship that drives out his opponents? Visiting Fellow at AEI and resident Latin American expert here at Secure Freedom Radio, Roger Noriega joins guest host, Fred Grandy to discuss the Chavez dilemma. The Chavez regime is suggesting that exiles who flee Venezuela to seek asylum in the United States are criminals. Why doesn’t the Obama administration step up against Chaves to defend those seeking asylum within our borders? According to Noriega, US officials continue to coddle Chavez due to their belief that US policies are responsible for all of the ills in South America. Is it this “liberal guilt” that allows the Chavez regime to act without consequence or is it merely the ignorance of the Obama administration?

Next, author and journalist Patrick Poole shares with Fred his expertise on Middle Eastern affairs. Did member of the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council and member on the Texas Department of Safety Advisory Council, Mohamed Elibiary use his security clearance to give sensitive documents to a left-leaning publication? Additionally, why did Elibiary use these documents to paint Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Department of Safety Advisory Council as Islamophobic? Why would Elibiary, a self-proclaimed Muslim deradicalization expert, side with Islamist extremists? The publication to which these documents had been exposed turned them down, as they stated they were not as they appeared. According to Poole, the real question is not why did he do these things, but how did Mohamed Elibiary first get elected to the advisory councils?

Is Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia’s 10^th district a true champion for human rights or did he simply have a bad travel agent? Rep. Wolf shares the microphone for another segment of “The Cloakroom” with Fred Grandy. Not only does he touch upon the human rights issues that he presents in his new book, “Prisoner of Conscience: One Man's Crusade for Global Human and Religious Rights,” but he also gives Fred an inside look into his personal connection to the abuses occurring throughout the international community. Is it true that the words in the Constitution are a covenant to protect freedom throughout the entire world? If so, why are most Americans more disinterested in human rights issues today more than before?

Should the United States have left Qaddafi in power or is the new Libyan leadership a ray of hope? Contributing Editor for National Review Online and weekly guest, Andy McCarthy concludes today’s show expressing his opinions on the overthrow of Qaddafi in Libya. Will the next five to ten years in the Middle East be ruled by a hegemonic power or be dominated by warring factions?

Zuhdi Jasser, Kori Schake, Andy McCarthy

How many nuclear weapons do enemies of the United States have? It is estimated that at the end of the Cold War, the United States’ estimates for Russian nuclear weapons was off by a factor of two. How will the US be able to continue to survive in a world where its nuclear capabilities are being crippled, while our enemies’ abilities are growing? Frank opens today’s Secure Freedom Radio reflecting on the situation unfolding in countries such as China, where they allegedly have 3,000 miles of underground tunnels set aside for nuclear weapon storage. However, Chinese nuclear production peaked in 1980 and has been flat ever since. Why then is the Chinese media continually exaggerating the amount of weapons being produced each year? What are the Chinese up to these days?

Founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, Zuhdi Jasser discusses the situation unfolding in the Middle East. Have the two opposing factions in the Middle East facilitated the rise of Islamism in the region? According to Jasser, secular fascism and Islamic fascism are currently waging a war. The extreme factions created by these tensions are causing Islamism to come to fruition. Although Islamism in some countries poses as a supporter of democratic free elections, it continues to corrupt and manipulation the system. These same groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood preach the same civilization jihad that is at peace with al Qaeda’s agenda. How is the United States going to defeat these ideas globally when they continue to grow like wildfire?

Next, Kori Schake of the Hoover Institute examines how she is hopeful that Libya after forty years of dictatorship will rise to the occasion and establish helpful social services for its people. Her hopes stem from the fact that the Libyan people have done much of the on the ground fighting and established public services themselves without help from outside forces. She does not know, however, what the true intentions of the National Transitional Council are and what it means for the future of the country. Is it merely the natural outcome of Libyan society or is it a backlash to Qaddafi’s regime?

Contributing Editor for National Review Online, Andy McCarthy concludes today’s show touching on the topic of Islamophobia. Although critics define Islamophobia as “an irrational fear of Islam,” McCarthy argues that there is a need to be concerned about something that affects us all. The idea that having a rational fear of Islamism is racist is just the desire of some leftist groups to suppress free speech and assert political correctness.