Oh-Bama Tree, Oh-Bama Tree: US Capitol Christmas Tree Pays Homage to Obama, But Not to Jesus

As one who conveniently ignores all things Christian when there’s any conceivable possibility that someone of “another faith” could push forward their bottom lip in a pout of offence, Barack Obama has repeatedly demonstrated his propensity toward portraying himself as America’s politically inept correct “Panderer-in-Chief“. Now it appears that, as the “Narcissist-in-Chief“, he is worthy to replace the Reason for the Season with anything other than the rationale of why we call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree.  Should we be the least bit surprised from an administration who is perfectly at peace — and plans to resume formal contact — with an anti-Semitic and anti-Christian Islamist “Freedom and Justice” party whose own official motto states unequivocally that “Allah is our objective – The Prophet is our leader – The Qur’an is our law – Jihad is our way – Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope”? …

“(CNSNews.com) – The 63-foot Sierra White Fir that was lighted at the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Dec. 6 as the official 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree includes a prominently displayed ornament paying homage to President Barack Obama, but includes no ornament readily visible to a person standing near the tree’s base that uses the word “Christmas,” or includes an image of the Nativity, or bears the name or image of Jesus Christ.

On the north side of the tree–at a height of about 4 feet and easily visible to people standing near it—there is an ornament that says: ‘I ♥ President Obama.’

When asked whether the tree included any ornaments that mention or depict Christmas or the birth of Jesus, the office of the Architect of the Capitol, which is responsible for the tree, told CNSNews.com that it ‘does not have a policy nor any restrictions concerning the themes for the ornaments’ that go on the tree. The office could not say, however, whether or not this year’s Christmas tree does in fact include even a single ornament that directly references or depicts Christmas or Christ.

The office of the Architect of the Capitol also did not directly respond to the question of whether any other elected official—in addition to President Obama—is mentioned on any ornament hung on the tree.

‘There may be ornaments like those you describe near the top of the tree, or they could have been obscured or moved due to wind or weather,’ the architect’s office said in a written statement to CNSNews.com.” Read more.

Israel: IDF’s Appointment of New ‘Iran Command’ Chief Raises Eyebrows

Israel is dead serious about eliminating the growing existential threat that has infected the former Persian ally and understands that a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities and leadership is fast becoming the only option left on the table.  The IDF’s appointment of an “Iran Command” chief now leads the world to face one of two possibilities: Either plans are well under way for a unilateral strike against Iran’s nuclear program headed by a suicidal theocracy, or plans are well under way for a coordinated strike against Iran’s nuclear program headed by a suicidal theocracy, and Israel is letting the free world know that the time has now come to unite for the sake of peace …

By Amos Harel – “The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz to create a new army formation, to be known as the Depth Corps, followed recent recommendations issued by a team headed by Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot. Eizenkot was tapped for the task last summer, after he completed his assignment as GOC Northern Command and began an educational leave of absence.

Maj. Gen. Shai Avital was named head of the new corps, which has already earned the somewhat overstated sobriquet ‘the Iran Command.’ Israel already has a command for Iran affairs – the Mossad, which since the last decade has been doing the heavy lifting in the campaign against the Iranian nuclear threat. If there is any unit within the IDF that deals with Iran specifically it is the Israel Air Force, the main branch that will be called upon in the event of an Israeli attack on the country’s nuclear facilities.

The new corps could, in the future, assist in mobilizing special forces in the Iranian context. More important, it will have the job of planning and leading operations in areas far beyond the borders, operations that are connected to the covert war against terror organizations (and, indirectly, against Iran ). One could imagine, for example, operations that have been ascribed to Israel, such as alleged IAF air strikes and special forces operations in Sudan, or the assassination of a Syrian general at his home in northern Syria.” Read more.

Israeli Navy completing secret 2 year submarine upgrade – “Israel will boost its long-arm strategic capabilities with the reinstatement of one of its Dolphin-class submarines that underwent an unprecedented structural overhaul. The submarine, one of three currently in the navy, arrived in Israel in 1999 and is the first to undergo the mid-life renovation. The Israeli submarines, which were purchased from Germany, have an expected lifespan of 30 years. The submarine was taken out of service almost two years ago but the renovation was a carefully guarded secret in the navy so Israel’s enemies would not know that one of its three submarines was out of commission.” Read more.

Israel hosts Italian Air Force for joint training exercise – “The Israeli and Italian Air Forces on Friday completed a two-week joint training exercise involving fighter jets from both nations. Three Israeli fighter jet squadrons (including F-16A, F-16C and F-15I aircraft) and two Italian fighter jet squadrons (including advanced Eurofighter and veteran Tornado aircraft) participated in the exercise. The exercise was conducted at the Uvda Airbase in the southern Negev Desert.” Read more.

‘Obama is Worried’: Reports Surface That Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s Health May Be Deteriorating

Very interesting developments are being reported regarding Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and rumors that he may be suffering from cancer. If, as FT’s Michael Williams suggests, the tough position taken by Turkey against Syria could be the final catalyst sealing the fate of Bashar al-Assad, what could happen if the head of Turkey’s leadership is no longer himself in a position to lead the country against the Syrian dictatorship, or Turkey’s focus shifts its spotlight away from Syria? Coincidental timing, or is there a higher power pulling the strings? …

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu – “Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphatically denies reports he is suffering from cancer, but Obama is worried.

Western intelligence sources told DebkaFile Sunday that Erdogan is suffering from rectosigmoid cancer, but it is not known what stage the disease has reached.

The Turkish daily Today’s Zaman reported last week that Health Minister Recep Akdağ said, ‘Our prime minister is in good health, but we recommended he gets some rest following recent laparoscopic surgery.’

His condition forced him to cancel a scheduled visit to Qatar last week. Erdogan has been unusually quiet and out of the public eye since his surgery on November 26, but official photographs show him smiling and hosting foreign officials the same day.

Despite the denials that Erdogan has cancer, officials have given no explanation why he was being treated in a special room. Erdogan is usually featured in Turkish newspapers almost every day, but he has been conspicuously absent from the pages of two of Turkey’s most popular dailies, Today’s Zaman and Hurriyet.

His prolonged absence from public life and his ‘rest’ outside of the capital of Ankara is worrying the Obama administration, especially in view of the instability in Syria, according to DebkaFile’s sources. If Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad directly involves Iran in the Syrian crisis, Turkey’s response could be critical to further developments in the Middle East.” Read more.

Turkey’s stance will seal the fate of Syria’s Ceausescu – “When the leader of the rising power in the Middle East reminds a neighbour, and former close friend, of the fates of Adolf Hitler and Nicolae Ceausescu, that is a health warning to be heeded. So what are the chances of Bashar al-Assad taking the advice of his erstwhile friend, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan? In my experience, slim indeed… in Mr Erdogan, Mr Assad may have met his match. Turkey is growing more and more impatient with Mr Assad – and increasingly carries more weight in the region than the Arab League does.” Read more.

Report: Turkish Prime Minister’s Health Deteriorating – “The health of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has deteriorated in the three weeks following his intestinal surgery, according to Arab media. An unconfirmed report says Erdogan was taken to an Ankara hospital, Sunday evening because of his deteriorating condition.” Source – Arutz Sheva.

Health minister says Turkish PM Erdoğan fine, just resting – “Turkey’s Health Minister Recep Akdağ has said there is nothing wrong with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s health after last month’s surgery. ‘Our prime minister is in good health, but we recommended he gets some rest,’ Akdağ said on Thursday. The Prime Ministry announced on Wednesday that Erdoğan cancelled a trip to Qatar this week to spend more time recovering from surgery at home. The prime minister had been scheduled to visit Qatar on Dec. 10-12. Erdoğan, 57, underwent abdominal surgery on Nov. 26 and has been resting out of the public eye since then.” Read more.