Is anyone surprised? Anyone?
As Written By Allen B. West:
We’re coming up on the third anniversary of the launch of AllenBWest.com. I remember when Editor-in-Chief, Michele Hickford, presented this idea to Angela and me back in our home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, PGA National. I absolutely did not think there would EVER be enough content to daily populate an opinion-editorial based news website — boy, was I wrong as two left feet. Yes, egg on my face, along with those who thought a 24-hour sports channel would never survive — now we can’t live without ESPN.
Not only has Michele Hickford created a top-notch website maximizing and synchronizing various aspects of social media, we’ve grown in writers. We now have Michelle Jesse as Associate Editor, Matt Palumbo, Michael Cantrell, and on occasion Derrick Wilburn and Jesse Jane Duff. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank so many of you who see me out and about and let me know you appreciate these pages.
And you know you’re being effective when you’ve got your own dedicated progressive socialist trolls on assignment from Media Matters. At times I check out some of the comments to gain feedback and it never ceases to amaze me the lack of intellectual rigor from our leftist friends.
This site is all about educating, informing and challenging you, our readers, to think beyond and expand your thoughts, perspectives and insights on the critical issues of the day. And yes, sometimes we even get to have fun, especially as we witness our favorite progressive detractors tie themselves in knots trying to shift the conversation, or actually, not even comprehend the issue.
And we have another prime example for today, as reported by the astute journalist Adam Kredo of the Washington Free Beacon: The State Department issued a warning on Monday urging U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, which has made the detention of Americans a priority.
The latest travel advisory, which emphasizes Iran’s desire to capture U.S. citizens, comes on the heels of a growing scandal over the Obama administration’s decision to pay Iran $400 million in cash on the same day that it freed several U.S. hostages.
The payment has been cast by lawmakers and others as a ransom payment and prompted concern among U.S. officials that Iran is making arresting Americans a priority.
The travel warning is meant to “highlight the risk of arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, particularly dual national Iranian-Americans,” according to a State Department announcement on Monday. “Foreigners, in particular dual nationals of Iran and Western countries including the United States, continue to be detained or prevented from leaving Iran.”
“U.S. citizens traveling to Iran should very carefully weigh the risks of travel and consider postponing their travel,” the warning adds. “U.S. citizens residing in Iran should closely follow media reports, monitor local conditions, and evaluate the risks of remaining in the country.” Iran continues to imprison Americans, particularly those holding dual Iranian citizenship, according to the State Department.
This, Ladies and Gents, is what I call a ‘Bravo-Foxtrot-Oscar’ — a Blinding Flash of the Obvious. This is what I meant when I said earlier that these Obama administration chuckleheads will always provide ample material for analysis. Sadly so for our Nation, and it gives us ample opportunity to share with you that which oft time you will not get from the mainstream liberal progressive media.
So the highly intellectual collectivists of our U.S. State Department have just told us what we REALLY already knew — don’t go to Iran if you are an American. And how offensive that the State Department would issue a warning, a travel advisory, emphasizing Iran’s desire to capture U.S. citizens. Like we hadn’t realized that since the original Islamic revolution, when our Embassy was ransacked and our citizens taken hostage. The Obama administration has acquiesced and compromised with the mad mullahs of the Iranian Islamist regime and paid them off — most recently with the “financial leveraging” of $400M to Iran for the release of four Americans.
And here’s the real kicker: the Iranians still hold three Americans hostage, illegally. Isn’t it rather perplexing that the liberal progressive left embraces illegal immigrants, but care little when Americans are illegally held by the number one state sponsor of Islamic terrorism? The actions of the Obama administration have come to this, they’ve placed a target on the backs of our citizens, placing their very lives in danger. One can only deduce that based upon the recent “leveraging”– in the middle of the night of laundered cash on pallets — that the going cost for an American is $100M.
And again, let’s analyze the excuse that this was money owed to Iran. These funds were owed to the Iranian regime of the Shah of Iran, with whom the arms deal was made. We owe the Ayatollahs nothing — matter of fact, the initiation of the revolution that deposed the Shah made that deal null and void. Furthermore, there were some four previous U.S. presidents after Jimmy Carter — Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr. — who did not commit restitution of those funds to the Islamic regime.
Again, I ask a somewhat rhetorical question, what level of influence does the modern-day Rasputin, Valerie Jarrett, have when it comes to Barack Obama’s relations with Iran? And on Monday we asked you, what impact will Huma Abedin have on a potential Clinton presidency — heck, what influence has Ms. Abedin already had upon our State Department policies?
“Iranian authorities have detained and harassed U.S. citizens, particularly those of Iranian origin,” the travel warning states. “Former Muslims who have converted to other religions, religious activists, and persons who encourage Muslims to convert are subject to arrest and prosecution.”
The Obama administration expressed particular concern about commercial airlines doing business with Iran. This warning comes as American companies such as Boeing continue to pursue million-dollar business deals with the Islamic Republic.
“The U.S. government is concerned about the risks to civil aircraft operating into, out of, within, or over Iran due to hazards from military activity associated with the conflicts in Iraq and Syria,” the warning states. “The FAA has advised U.S. civil aviation to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within, or over the airspace over Iran.”
The hypocrisy of the whole matter is rather laughable. We just gave millions of dollars to a country ruled by individuals who violate every single basic human right we hold dear. Perhaps Obama does not hold these principles and values dear — after all, during the Iranian Green Revolution, he was silent. And we’ve shared with you details of how Obama is supporting Boeing in securing airline contracts from the Iranians.
But, I suppose “what difference at this point does it make”? After all, who cares if Americans have a target on their backs and the Iranians hold three ….
Full Story Here:
Days after admitting ‘leverage’ for Iran hostages, Obama FORCED to admit this… – Allen B. West – AllenBWest.com