Category Archives: Israel

Allen West : The Lessons of History – National Review Online

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by Allen West via National Review Online

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
— George Santayana

We should study history not just to memorize dates and places but to analyze trends. I see our country once again following a particular disturbing trend at a critical time when we should be more prudent.

Now, I will be one of the first to say that we can find savings of taxpayer dollars in the Department of Defense budget. Before I was sworn in as a member of Congress, I stated on Meet the Press in the waning months of 2010 that we could find fraud, waste, and abuse in that budget.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I backed up that assertion in April 2011 when my first piece of legislation, which identified and eliminated funding for several wasteful programs in the DOD budget, made it to the House floor. It passed 393–0, and the savings to the American taxpayer was $35 million per year.

However, what I see occurring now is not judicious cost-cutting but the degradation of our military capability. We are once again forgetting that the preeminent responsibility of the federal government is to “provide for the common defense.” Some people have confused this with providing welfare and guaranteeing happiness on the notion of limitless rights.

Since World War I, we as a nation have viewed any end of major combat operations as an opportunity to achieve fiscal responsibility through cutting the military budget. When World War II ended, we ramped down, and then we had to ramp back up for the Korean War. After the Vietnam War and the Cold War, we once again gutted our military capability.

I was commissioned as a second lieutenant on July 31, 1982, and the following year, after graduating from the University of Tennessee, I went on active duty. I witnessed the transformation of the U.S. military in my early years: Humvees, Bradleys, Abrams tanks, Apache attack helicopters, Blackhawk transport helicopters, and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) artillery, the A-10 close-air support platform — all this new technology and equipment was instrumental in my first combat tour, Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

We were highly trained and ready for action thanks to our soldiers’ preparation at places like the National Training Center in the California desert. But after the victory came the reduction in forces, and defense cuts became the source of funds for government spending on other programs, such as midnight basketball.

In those days, we did not have enough small-arms ammunition for rifle qualification. We had to carefully budget our annual allocation of artillery rounds, so we did more dry-fire operations. The shortage of spare parts and tools made maintenance operations very intense. But the one thing we could not control was that the world was growing yet more dangerous. The enemy pays attention to our weakness, and they have a vote.

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Allen West “Today, as we wish our Jewish friends a happy Passover, lets also reflect on the freedoms so many have fought to preserve in our own nation”

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Dear Friends:

Sundown tonight marks the beginning of Passover and the Seder.

While we all come from different faiths and backgrounds, each of us can learn much from this Jewish holiday commemorating the struggle of the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago, their emancipation from slavery in Egypt, receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, and establishment of their homeland in the Promised Land.

The eight day feast of Passover is a time when Jewish people reflect upon the story of their ancestors and retell it, parent to child, to ensure the love of liberty is passed on from generation to generation.

The Jewish people’s liberation from tyranny is not so different than ours as Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought the British monarchy so that we could enjoy the fruits of our labors and the liberties they believed were inherent to all human beings. But today, too many of us have lost sight of this and our freedoms seem not to be cherished as they should. This is abundantly evident in our political system that seeks to take away the very liberties enshrined in the Constitution-the right to bear arms, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and more.

So today, as we wish our Jewish friends a happy Passover, let us also reflect on the freedoms so many have fought to preserve in our own nation, and ensure the love of liberty is passed on to our future generations.

Allen West
Lt. Col. Allen B. West, USA (ret)
U.S. Congressman (2011-2013)

Allen West “The greatest nation in the world is begging for respect and has become a laughing stock in the Middle East.”

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by Allen West via Facebook and Twitter

If this were not so serious I would be ROTFLMAO. President Obama steps up and says he has kept a campaign promise and withdraws all US forces from Iraq. Now, Secretary of State John Kerry is in Iraq begging them to stop allowing Iranian forces to transit through Iraq into Syria. In August 2011, I was part of a US Congressional visit – no Democrats were there – and heard PM Netanyahu request we do not empty our troop presence in Iraq which would create a vacuum to be filled by Iranian hegemonic dominance. Iraqi PM al-Maliki is just a tool of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Way to go Pres Obama, the greatest nation in the world is begging for respect and has become a laughing stock in the Middle East.

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Allen West “Obama is finally realizing policy in the Middle East is not like politics in America”

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by Allen West via Facebook Status Update:

If it’s not obvious then one must be blind. President Obama displays more competence in filling out a March Madness NCAA tournament bracket – which he has always submitted on time – than articulating an understanding on fiscal, tax, monetary and now, foreign policy. His joint press conference yesterday with Israeli PM Netanyahu illustrated someone completely incapable of contending with complex foreign policy issues as he whined everything is “not easy” or “too hard.” Sad thing, President Obama is finally realizing policy in the Middle East is not like politics in America (i.e. American Idol). And if Israeli Ministers said chemical weapons have been used in Syria, I trust their assessment. Guess we will be leading from behind again – down South we call that following.

Allen West interviews investigative journalist and Israeli activist Lee Kaplan about anti-Semitism at American universities.

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Allen West interviews investigative journalist and Israeli activist Lee Kaplan about anti-Semitism at American universities. Why is this happening? What can be done about it? And is the political left uniting with the Islamists on campus? Find out in this interesting conversation.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS POWERFUL DISCUSSION

Crisis of the University: Why Are Colleges Hotbeds of anti-Semitism, and What Can Be Done?

WATCH: Allen West and Abraham Sion Discuss the myths and lies about the Jewish State

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Allen West interviews Israeli expert and professor, Abraham Sion, in order to cut through the myths and lies about the Jewish State. Listen in and find out the truth about the conflict, the “settlements” and the Palestinians.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION BY CLICKING HERE TO WATCH ON NEXT GENERATION TV VIA PJTV

Allen West Explores the Next Generation in Israel

Allen West, Michelle Fields and John Phillips discuss Middle East politics and Obama’s Israel trip

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After much criticism, and after visits to Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, President Obama has decided to visit Israel. Find out what Col. Allen B. West, Michelle Fields and John Phillips think as they discuss Middle East politics, Chris Rock, gun control, women in combat and more on this Next Generation

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH PJTV’S & NEXT GENERATION TV DISCUSSION 

Obama Headed to Israel, Postal Service Woes and Another Look at Women In Combat

Rep. Allen West released this statement today regarding the Hamas attacks on Israel”

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(WASHINGTON)—Congressman Allen West (R-FL) released this statement today regarding the Hamas attacks on Israel”

“For the first time in some 20 years, enemy rockets and missiles have fallen near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The government of Israel has noted that, since the beginning of 2012, more than 768 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza, and over 12,000 in the past 12 years. Israel, like any nation, has the right to defend itself against such vicious attacks. There is no justification for the violence that Hamas and other terrorist organizations are employing against the people of Israel. I strongly condemn the actions of a known radical Islamic terrorist organization, Hamas.

Hamas claims to have the best interests of the Palestinian people at heart, yet it continues to engage in violence that does nothing but set back the Palestinian cause. Attacking Israel on a near daily basis does nothing to help Palestinians in Gaza, nor to move the Palestinian people any closer to achieving self-determination and independence. My greater concern is the alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood-controlled government of Egypt and Hamas. Egypt possesses a modern military force and if under the control of radical Islamists, namely Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood, could pose a serious threat to Israel from the Sinai desert. Further exacerbating this situation are the unaccounted for shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that escaped from Libya.

From the north, we must recognize the potential threat from Hasan Nasrallah and Hezbollah with their medium- and long-range rockets and missiles. Since the 11thanniversary of 9-11 United States Embassy and Consulate attacks, we have seen a growing threat in the Middle East. This threat, the common radical Islamic enemy of Israel and America, now feels emboldened from a foreign policy of appeasement, the so-called pivot from the Middle East, and a posture of “provocative weakness.” Indeed the enemies of Israel paid attention to actions, not words or phone calls, and since President Obama decided not to visit our best ally, they associated that with a green light.

Our best response at this time would be a demonstration of naval strength, such as to move an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) into theater to provide a show of force in support of Israel. We also should have additional missile defense systems alerted for deployment.

Now is a time when Israel, the world, and their enemies must know, by action, that the United States of America will never abandon the State of Israel and that never again, truly means never again.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rep. Allen West Supports Israeli Military Strike Against Hamas

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(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Allen West (R-FL) released the following statement today upon learning of the Israeli military strike that killed a Hamas military leader:

“I fully support the Israeli military strike that killed the Hamas military wing chief, Ahmed Jabari. Hamas is a known Islamic terrorist organization and clearly states in its charter the aim to destroy the modern day State of Israel.

Mr. Jabari has been responsible for countless rocket and missile attacks originating from Gaza Strip into Southern Israel. I have personally seen the destruction this causes, and visited the City of Sderot where bomb shelters stand on school playgrounds and children suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Israeli’s turned over Gaza to the Palestinians in an offer to further the peace process. What they have received in return are more attacks and carnage. I stand with Israel, and as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, will support supplying the requested resources enabling Israel to defend herself from our common enemy, radical Islamic terrorism. We cannot abandon our best ally in her true time of need. We have no doubt that the new Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt supports Hamas.”

Rep Allen West’s Leadership Traits that Very Few Possess – BIZPAC Review Exclusive

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Allen West’s visit to Israel schools Obama in leadership

By: Marc Kahlberg  - Source: BIZPAC Review - Date: October 6, 2012

Leadership is a trait known to many, learned by some and perfected by few. It is not something that can be inherited or passed on or even learned in a textbook. It’s about taking responsibility, and has to be earned on a daily basis.

John F. Kennedy perhaps described it best: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

Ronald Reagan praised Kennedy’s words of wisdom, adding his own: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We d didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

In December 2009, at an Israel seminar I hosted on security challenges in a radically changing world, I was introduced to a leader bearing the same characteristics of both these great men. I was afforded the privilege of spending several days with Lt. Col. Allen West.

Along with 12 other delegates from Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe, the American military officer’s leadership qualities were instantly apparent.

While discussing the Middle East and Africa, where radicalism and terror has been as much a concern as the cost in human life is alarming, West presented his views on a more violent turbulence that “would surely sweep over Africa, the Middle East and spill off into Europe.” He said it was essential that America was strong on foreign policy because “any signs of weakness shown by the United States would trigger radical Muslim elements into an even more violent campaign.” How right he was, as we have seen the seasons change from an Arab Spring to an Arab storm of carnage and death.

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