SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:03 P.M. ET: 

PROFESSOR STROOCK – It once again gives me pleasure to recommend a military novel by Professor Will Stroock, one of our distinguished readers.  I highly commend "World War 1990 – Operation Arctic Storm," available at Amazon here.  The story involves a major world conflict fought in the northern tier, with combat in Alaska.  As usual with Stroock, you get an authoritatively written story, packed with action and real background on military forces.  The action is seen from a number of capitals and commanders.  Fast-paced reading.  I'm looking forward to Will's next, "World War 1990:  Operation Eastern Storm."

GOOD DECISION – The president of Israel is refusing to meet with Jimmy Carter when Carter comes to the region.  From the Jerusalem Post:  "President Reuven Rivlin has refused to meet with former US president Jimmy Carter during his upcoming visit to the region, due to his stances over recent years seen as 'anti-Israel.'  In recent years, Carter has become one of the most prominent critics of Israel, notably when during last summer's war with Hamas he denounced the IDF's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza as illegitimate."  Carter was the early version of Barack Obama.  It's about time someone stood up to him. 

WRECKAGE – One of the great sources of pride in New York City over the last 24 years has been the dramatic reduction in crime.  New York went from one of the most dangerous cities to one of the safest.  Now, thanks to Marxist Mayor Bill de Blasio, it is all in jeopardy.  From conservativetreehouse.com:  "No longer willing to play second fiddle to Chicago, New York has re-entered the race to sit atop the infamous list of most dangerous cities.  'NEW YORK, New York — Twenty people have been shot and one victim has died after shootings in NYC since Friday.'  While it is still too early to tell how successful Mayor De Blasio will be in his quest to retake the mantle from Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel, it appears his policies to remove law and order are unleashing the strongest villains amid his societal construct.  '[…] More than a dozen people were wounded Saturday night alone in NYC.  The rise in violence comes as Mayor de Blasio ends "stop and frisk" practices, others blame warmer weather.  According to CBS New York, Saturday’s shootings wounded eight people in the Bronx, three in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan.'"  I love those who blame warm weather.  Never blame the shooter.  No, sir.  They are just oppressed.  De Blasio, as noted in today's posts, wants to be president.

LET'S GET TOGETHER ON THIS – Vice President Joe Biden and Field Marshal Barack Obama might consider having a meeting, or at least an exchange of love letters, to get their stories on Iran straight.  From JTA:  "WASHINGTON (JTA) — An Iran nuclear deal will not include substantial sanctions relief at the front end, Vice President Joe Biden said.  'If at the front end they expect there to be total sanction relief or significant sanction relief, there will be no deal,' Biden said in an address in Cambridge, Mass., on Friday to a Democratic political action committee, Politico reported. 'This will be, "You have to earn it."  Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said that there will be no deal between Iran and the major powers unless there is immediate total sanctions relief."  Biden contradicted his boss, who strongly hinted Friday that there could be immediate relief.  Discuss, fellas.  Discuss.

April 20, 2015