Covert Effort to Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program Continues

Posted on Monday, December 5, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“Everything that [GOP presidential candidate] Mitt  Romney said we should be doing–tough sanctions, covert action and  pressuring the international community  — are all of the things we are  actually doing.”

— unnamed senior Obama administration official

In recent months there have been a flurry of reports about mysterious explosions and incidents at or around Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Here are a number of peculiar incidents that occurred over the past few months:

  • January 2010: Iranian nuclear scientist killed by the explosion of a motorcycle fitted with a bomb
  • November 29, 2010: Iranian nuclear expert Majid Shahriari killed by an explosive charge placed in his car; Nuclear scientist, Fereydoun Abbasi survived a similar attack on the same day
  • May 16, 2011: Iranian-led assassination of Saudi diplomat in Pakistan
  • August 12, 2011: Explosion of a gas pipeline running from Iran to Turkey disrupts Iranian gas exports
  • October, 2011: FBI uncovered an Iranian plot to use explosives in a Washington, D.C. restaurants to assassinate the Saudi ambassador
  • November 12, 2011: Huge explosion leveled buildings at an Iranian military base 30 miles west of Tehran killing 17 government officials, including a founder of Iran’s ballistic missile program
  • November 17, 2011: IAEA passed a resolution expressing “deep and increasing concern” over Iran’s nuclear activities
  • November 24, 2011: Iran claimed to have arrested 12 CIA spies in a spy ring within Hizbullah
  • November 28, 2011: Explosion near Iran’s Isfahan uranium conversion facility; Several hours later, Hizbullah launched four 122-mm Katyusha rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon
  • November 29, 2011: Iranian protestors stormed the British embassy in Tehran
  • December 1, 2011: European Union tightened sanctions on Iran and discussed potential plans for a possible oil embargo; U.S. Senate passed a unanimous bill to give the president the power starting July 1 to bar foreign financial institutions that do business with Iran; Italy and several other EU governments recalled their ambassadors from Iran
  • December 2, 2011: Britain expelled Iranian diplomats from the country
  • December 4, 2011: Iran claimed to have shot down a U.S. drone

David Sanger of The New York Times also has an excellent analysis of the situation here. The evidence seems to suggest that a covert war between the West (including Israel) and Iran is well underway.

God help us.

Posted in Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

More

Posted on Sunday, December 4, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

In the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Shia LaBeouf’s character, Jacob Moore, asks Josh Brolin’s character, Bretton James, how much money would be enough for him to end his career and settle down. His answer:

More.

These days, the liberal establishment seems to have the same answer on taxes. While the left’s Occupy Wall Street movement has successfully highlighted the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots, liberals have astutely avoided calling a more “progressive” tax system what it really is: wealth redistribution.

Naturally, the left fails to acknowledge that this remedy has always been its answer to inequality, and one that has failed colossally and consistently throughout modern history.

Meanwhile, the debate in Congress has steadfastly avoided any discussion of a net reduction of government expenditures. Those “crazy” Republicans have only succeeded in reining in the rate of increase in government spending.

Yet, the left continues to drone on about how the wealthy are allegedly not paying their “fair share”. Again, the left has astutely avoided explicitly defining what it means by “fair share.” In fact, the top 10% of earners pay 45% of all taxes, a share larger than any other OECD country. The “dastardly” 1% pay a full 40% of income taxes. By this measure, it seems they currently pay more than their “fair share”.

But ask a liberal, any liberal, how much is enough. How much is one’s “fair share”? No liberal to whom I’ve ever spoken can answer this question. Yet it has an unambiguous answer: Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Business, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Bush vs. Obama: Unemployment (November 2011 Jobs Data)

Posted on Friday, December 2, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Change in Total Private Employment (in thousands), Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Update: Click here for the most recent jobs statistics.

On the first Friday of every month, I update the unemployment numbers so that I can compare the unemployment rate under President George W. Bush with the unemployment rate under President Obama at that time. The genesis of this ritual began when I felt compelled to respond to some left-leaning sites that were comparing Obama’s first two years and four months in office with Bush’s last and worst economic year (the above chart shows the most recent incarnation of this narrative).

Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Islamists on Track to Win Egyptian Election

Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

I predicted earlier this year that the Arab Spring would likely result in further Islamic radicalization of the Arab world. According to The New York Times, the “mainstream” Muslim Brotherhood has captured about forty percent of the Egyptian vote, based on early election results. “Mainstream” in Egypt is a decidedly relative term. It is important to note that the teachings of Muslim Brotherhood “scholars” like Sayyid Qutb inspired folks like current al-Qaeda leader and terrorist mastermind, Ayman al-Zawahiri. To make matters worse, a second, ultraconservative group of Islamists captured a further twenty-five percent of the vote; the combined Islamist bloc therefore represents 65 percent of the total.

According to The New York Times:

“That victory came at the expense of the liberal parties and youth activists who set off the revolution, affirming their fears that they would be unable to compete with Islamists who emerged from the Mubarak years organized and with an established following. Poorly organized and internally divided, the liberal parties could not compete with Islamists disciplined by decades as the sole opposition to Mr. Mubarak.”

While voting has taken place in only about a third of Egypt’s provinces, these areas included some of the nation’s most liberal areas. As such, the representation of Islamist groups is more likely to increase as the voting continues. Given that Egypt is the largest Arab country by population, this development is likely a major blow to regional stability and American interests.

Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Biting the Hand That Feeds: Occupy Protestors Close Apple Store on Black Friday

Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

The video above shows Occupy Oakland protestors accosting a customer trying to enter the Apple Store in San Francisco on Black Friday.

So much for the movement being a whole new paradigm — a whole new paradigm in thuggery, perhaps.

Posted in Business, Crime, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics, Socialism | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

America’s First Experiment with Socialism

Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

I discovered this brilliant Reason.tv video via Divided We Stand United We Fall. Sorry for the delay, I’ve just reawakened from my tryptophan-induced coma. Happy belated Thanksgiving!

Posted in Finance and Economics, Food Security, Humor, Leadership, Media, Policy, Politics, Socialism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Freedom vs. Security: Why Pepper Spray Is a Civilized Way to Disrupt Law-Breaking Protests

Posted on Friday, November 25, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

There is an interesting debate going on at Tarheel Red with Nick from Poison Your Mind about the pepper-spray incident at University of California-Davis. The video images of the pepper-spray incident at UC-Davis do not look good. Apparently, they are so ugly that the University is firing people over the incident. As the left relishes what seems to be a propaganda coup, it is important to step back and analyze the facts.

In any protest, there is an inherent tension between freedom and security. First Amendment rights are paramount in this country, and the state ought to protect and respect them. That said, the United States is a nation of laws for a reason. Certain laws and regulations exist to ensure that the exercise of my rights do not prevent or harm the exercise of yours. As such, there inevitably is a balancing act between these two goals. Continue reading →

Posted in California, Crime, Leadership, Media, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , | 47 Comments

A Few Reflections On America During the Holidays

Posted on Friday, November 25, 2011 by mbsbvu

The video clip below is a patriotic medley that’s been a favorite of mine for several decades. I never seem to tire of it. In fact, I think we would all benefit if one greatly expanded it and its sentiments.

What Can I Do for My Country?

The best description of the video clip’s sentiment is “what can I do for my country?” Most Americans would likely agree with this sentiment, but the key question is how to go about bringing that into reality. One thing I believe we need is something Newt Gingrich has espoused for many years: fixing America’s broken processes.

We can all probably agree that establishing a fair, prudent, and reliable national budget ranks near the top of processes that America needs to fix.

My Proposed Solution

Here’s a brief synopsis of my proposed solution for fixing this process: Continue reading →

Posted in Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Evidence of an American Caste System?

Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

My father was a high school math teacher. My mother was an elementary school teacher. My younger sister teaches junior high mathematics. I, however, pursued a different path than my parents did. In both the military and in the financial services industry, up to 50% of the people with whom I have worked had parents who also had held similar jobs.

Even celebrities (I would include presidents and senators in this group) beget children who become celebrities. For instance, NBC recently hired both Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush Hager as correspondents. Senator McCain’s daughter, who is just 27 years of age, has been named a contributor to the MSNBC news channel. Somehow I doubt any of them have any major experience at a local or even a college news outlet. My sympathies go out to those journalists without an “A-list” parent, who were probably much more qualified for these positions.

Even the United States military appears to be evolving into an American warrior caste. A recent Pew Research study found that veterans are more likely than the average American citizen to have family connections to the military (70% of veterans vs. 62% of all adults). Half of veterans have a parent who also served in the military vs. 41% of the general public, and 43% of veterans reported having a sibling who served vs. 27% of all adults. Veterans are also more than twice as likely than the average American to have a child who also served.

It is also interesting to note that more Republicans than Democrats have military family ties with 73% of Republicans saying they had an immediate family member who served in the military vs. only 59% of Democrats.

I have no problem with a system that provides financial rewards to those in society who create value through innovation and hard work. I do have a major problem with a system that creates unfair shortcuts to success based not on merit but rather on pedigree. In America, talent should triumph.

Posted in Business, Leadership, Media, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Newt Gingrich Won the Republican Debate

Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Newt Gingrich won the debate hands down.

No one else was even close.

He was honest and pragmatic on immigration, recognizing the tough reality that a percentage of the eleven million illegal immigrants have been living and contributing to American society for decades. He admitted that some people would have to go, but that he would implement a policy that was fair and rational.

His answer on Iranian sanctions conveyed a depth of understanding about national security policy that no other candidate has. He proposed imposing sanctions on Iran’s gasoline imports. Few policymakers are aware of the fact that Iran imports a huge percentage of gasoline because of that country’s limited refining capacity.

Newt’s answer on the Patriot Act was also nuanced and thoughtful.

After this debate performance, Newt could pose a serious challenge to frontrunner Romney. That said, aside from Gingrich’s wonkish brilliance, his personal life has been a bit tumultuous and could likely turnoff more socially conservative Republican voters.

Posted in Central Asia, China, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Crime, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments