Secretary of State Tony Blinken dodged questions Tuesday about why Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline but is allowing Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline. (So much for all that garbage about being tough on Russia.) Blinken said that he could not comment on "domestic policy or politics." But the Keystone XL pipeline involves Canada, and in April the good Secretary gave a whole big speech about domestic energy policy, even mentioning "systemic racism." He also dodged questions about Iran's funding for terror groups like Hamas, making the nonsensical and irrelevant claim that Iran would be more responsible inside a nuclear deal than outside of it.
But as bad as Blinken was, the Republican questions were just as disappointing. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) did a good job by asking about Keystone -- but he seemed only too willing to accept Blinken's answers about Nord Stream 2. Other Republicans also let Blinken off the hook on Keystone XL, when they really could have pinned him on his lame excuse about "domestic" policy.
I don't think fireworks are always helpful or effective, but Blinken spews such unbelievable nonsense that Republicans really ought to use these opportunities to point out the folly of his administration's self-destructive foreign policy.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
