Storm Disrupts Obama Memorial Day Event

By Maya Jackson Randall

Heavy thunderstorms caused President Barack Obama to cancel a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill., on Monday.

Thunder and lightning started rolling in over Elwood, south of Chicago, just as the ceremony was to begin.

“Excuse me, everybody listen up,” Obama told the crowd at the event, according to a White House pool report. “We are a little bit concerned about lightning. This may not be safe. A little bit of rain doesn’t hurt anybody but we don’t want anybody struck by lightning.”

As people trudged, drenched and barefoot, across flooded fields to take shelter in available vehicles, a wreath Obama laid earlier blew over. White House spokesman Bill Burton walked van to van in the downpour to alert attendees that the ceremony would be canceled. Instead, Obama would visit with service families who had crowded onto buses.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/05/31/thunderstorm-disrupts-obama-memorial-day-event/

Via Robert Costa:

...

Which brings up the burning question for those of us who live in Colorado: Why hasn't someone explained this concept to U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff?

Sestak non-gate is turning into Romanoff-gate because Romanoff, whose entire campaign is based on the notion that he is a different kind of candidate — free of Washington and corporate influence — will not answer the simplest of questions:

Was he, in fact, offered a job by the Obama administration to try to keep him out of a primary race with Michael Bennet?

The question comes up because The Post's Michael Riley wrote a piece last September in which it was suggested that Jim Messina, the White House deputy chief of staff, did offer up job suggestions to Romanoff for just that purpose.

But Romanoff won't answer the question. And it's worse than that. According to Romanoff spokesman Roy Teicher, not only does Romanoff refuse to answer the question, he won't even say why he refuses to answer the question.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_15191185

By BABAR DOGAR (AP)

LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan lifted a ban on Facebook on Monday after officials from the social networking site apologized for a page deemed offensive to Muslims and removed its contents, a top information technology official said.

The move came almost two weeks after Pakistan imposed the ban amid anger over a page that encouraged users to post images of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.

"In response to our protest, Facebook has tendered their apology and informed us that all the sacrilegious material has been removed from the URL," said Najibullah Malik, secretary of Pakistan's information technology ministry, referring to the technical term for a Web page.

Facebook assured the Pakistani government that "nothing of this sort will happen in the future," Malik said.

Officials from the website could not immediately be reached for comment. They said earlier the contents of the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" page did not violate Facebook's terms.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaYX44y9hFrAImMU0qoclnK-_aMQD9G1QM1O0

Via Allahpundit

Barak: Flotilla organizers to blame

By TOVAH LAZAROFF, YAAKOV LAPPIN AND JPOST.COM STA
05/31/2010 13:44

Defense minister: IDF tried to disperse Gaza protesters peacefully.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a press conference on Monday that while he was sorry for lives lost, the organizers of the Gaza-bound protest flotilla were solely responsible for the outcome of the fatal IDF raid earlier in the day. Fifteen activists were killed and dozens wounded in the violent clashes.

Barak said that the soldiers tried to disperse the activists aboard the ship peacefully but were forced to open fire to protect themselves.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=176998

by Oliver North

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. -- This is the place that receives the most attention on Memorial Day, though it is but one of 141 national cemeteries in the United States and 24 others located on foreign soil. Many of our countrymen will observe this "last Monday in May" holiday with travel, shopping and picnics. But those who take the time to visit one of these hallowed grounds will have an unforgettable experience.

These are the final resting places for more than 3 million Americans who served in our armed forces -- as soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines -- including the nearly 5,500 who have perished in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A visit to one of these quiet memorials is a tribute to those who made history by wearing our nation's uniform and taking up arms to preserve our liberty and free tens of millions of others from tyranny. In words written on stone markers, these places tell the story of who we are as a people.

Regardless of when they served, all interred in these cemeteries sacrificed the comforts of home and absented themselves from the warmth and affection of loved ones. Since 1776, more than 1.5 million Americans have lost their lives while in uniform.

At countless funerals and memorial services for those who lost their lives in the service of our country, I hear the question, "Why is such a good young person taken from us in the prime of life?" Plato, the Greek philosopher, apparently sought to resolve the issue by observing, "Only the dead have seen the end of war." I prefer to take my solace in the words of Jesus to the Apostle John: "Father, I will that those you have given me, be with me where I am."

http://townhall.com/columnists/OliverNorth/2010/05/28/memorial_day_2010

In KY, Rand Paul Breaks From Gate Slightly Ahead of Jack Conway in Battle for Bunning's Open Senate Seat: In an election for United States Senator from Kentucky today, 05/28/10, Republican Rand Paul edges Democrat Jack Conway, 51% to 45%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for the Louisville Courier-Journal and WHAS-TV.

9 of 10 with a favorable opinion of the Tea Party Movement vote for Paul; 9 of 10 with an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party Movement vote for Conway. Paul leads n Western KY, North Central KY, and among gun owners, pro-life voters, college grads, and the affluent. Conway leads in Eastern KY, among Moderates, and among pro-choice voters. 16% of Republicans cross over to vote for Conway; 29% of Democrats cross over to vote for Paul.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=449002cd-96f2-411a-8419-77665b6b5d27

Netanyahu Cancels Visit as White House Regrets Loss of Life Following Israel Flotilla Conflict

Published May 31, 2010

| FOXNews.com

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled plans to visit the White House on Tuesday after Israeli commandos killed at least 10 activists aboard a flotilla heading toward Gaza overnight with aid and arms in violation of an Israeli blockade.

The White House is taking a cautious approach before chastising Israel as it awaits more details on what happened in the conflict. The United Nations was preparing an emergency session that would most likely end in condemnation. 

Netanyahu had been expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., Tuesday after leaving Canada, where he's been meeting with officials there. Instead, he is headed back to Israel.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/31/white-house-regrets-loss-life-israeli-attack-aid-ship-violating-gaza-blockade/

Via Ed Morrissey

Here is a timeline of events:

 

A brutal ambush at sea

Ron Ben Yishai recounts bloody clash aboard Gaza-bound vessel: The lacking crowd-dispersal means, the brutal violence of ‘peace activists,’ and the attempt to bring down an IDF helicopter

Our Navy commandoes fell right into the hands of the Gaza mission members. A few minutes before the takeover attempt aboard the Marmara got underway, the operation commander was told that 20 people were waiting on the deck where a helicopter was to deploy the first team of the elite Flotilla 13 unit. The original plan was to disembark on the top deck, and from there rush to the vessel’s bridge and order the Marmara’s captain to stop.

Officials estimated that passengers will show slight resistance, and possibly minor violence; for that reason, the operation’s commander decided to bring the helicopter directly above the top deck. The first rope that soldiers used in order to descend down to the ship was wrested away by activists, most of them Turks, and tied to an antenna with the hopes of bringing the chopper down. However, Flotilla 13 fighters decided to carry on.
One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.
Navy commandoes slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.

However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896796,00.html

The humanitarian relief fund who was trying to go to Gaza is not so peaceful and has radical ties and a radical past:

Portrait of IHH

1. Prominent among the coalition organizations participating in the aid flotilla scheduled to arrive in the Gaza Strip in the coming days is the Turkish IHH (Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH, “humanitarian relief fund”). It is a radical Islamic organization which was established in 1992 and formally registered in Istanbul in 1995. It is headed by Bülent Yildirim.

2. IHH has a broad program of important activities in distressed areas. They include sending food and support to orphans, establishing educational institutions, hospitals and clinics, programs for vocational education, supplying medicines, building mosques and preventing the violation of human rights in various Islamic locations throughout the world. In recent years it has begun widening its activities to European countries, in part by establishing branches which bear its name.

3. In practice, besides its legitimate humanitarian activities, IHH supports radical Islamic terrorist networks. In recent years it has prominently supported Hamas (through the Union of Good). In addition, the ITIC has reliable information that in the past IHH provided logistical support and funding to global jihad networks.

IHH Links To Hamas

4. IHH’s orientation is radical-Islamic and anti-American, and it is close to the Muslim Brotherhood (Hamas’ parent movement). IHH supports Hamas and does not hide the connection between them. Hamas also considers its links to IHH and Turkey to be extremely important, and regards Turkey as a target audience for its propaganda network (Palestine-Information, Hamas’ main website, has a Turkish version, and as of the end of 2009, the website of its military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has also appeared in Turkish).

5. In recent years, especially since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, IHH has supported Hamas’ propaganda campaigns by organizing public support conferences in Turkey. At those conferences, which featured the participation of senior IHH figures, the heads of IHH expressed their support for Hamas and its strategy (including the armed struggle it favors), in defiance of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ rival.

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_e105.htm

Israel: At Least 10 Killed on Gaza Flotilla

Published May 30, 2010

| Associated Press

JERUSALEM -- Israeli commandos on Monday stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens after encountering unexpected resistance as the forces boarded the vessels.

The operation in international waters off the Gaza coast was a nightmare scenario for Israel that looked certain to further damage its international standing, strain already tense relations with Turkey and draw unwanted attention to Gaza's plight.

The two sides offered conflicting accounts of what happened.

A reporter on one of the boats said the Israelis fired at the vessel before boarding it, and the Israelis said they only opened fire after being attacked by activists with sticks, knives and live fire.

Israeli security forces were on alert across the country.

The activists were headed to Gaza on a mission meant to draw attention to a 3-year-old Israeli blockade of the coastal territory. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas militants took power there.

"It's disgusting that they have come on board and attacked civilians. We are civilians," said Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, which organized the flotilla.

Speaking from the east Mediterranean island of Cyprus, she said she had lost contact with the flotilla at about 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).

Israel had declared it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza and had offered to transfer the aid to Gaza from an Israeli port. Israeli naval commandos raided the ships while they were in international waters after ordering them to stop about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Gaza's coast, according to a pro-Palestinian activist in Greece involved in the aid mission.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/30/reports-israeli-ships-attack-aid-flotilla-dead/?test=latestnews

Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran

Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv

Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.

The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including air bases and missile launchers.

The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.

The flotilla’s commander, identified only as “Colonel O”, told an Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating deep and far, very far, from our borders.”

Each of the submarines has a crew of 35 to 50, commanded by a colonel capable of launching a nuclear cruise missile.

The vessels can remain at sea for about 50 days and stay submerged up to 1,150ft below the surface for at least a week. Some of the cruise missiles are equipped with the most advanced nuclear warheads in the Israeli arsenal.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7140282.ece

Documents Show Early Worries About Safety of Rig

By IAN URBINA

Published: May 29, 2010

WASHINGTON — Internal documents from BP show that there were serious problems and safety concerns with the Deepwater Horizon rig far earlier than those the company described to Congress last week.

The problems involved the well casing and the blowout preventer, which are considered critical pieces in the chain of events that led to the disaster on the rig.

The documents show that in March, after several weeks of problems on the rig, BP was struggling with a loss of “well control.” And as far back as 11 months ago, it was concerned about the well casing and the blowout preventer.

On June 22, for example, BP engineers expressed concerns that the metal casing the company wanted to use might collapse under high pressure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/us/30rig.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=all

NATO general: Taliban are training in Iran

Gen. Stanley McChrystal also says fight will extend long beyond July 2011

updated 1:33 p.m. ET, Sun., May 30, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan - The commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Sunday there is "clear evidence" that some Taliban fighters have trained in Iran.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal told reporters in the Afghan capital that Iran — Afghanistan's western neighbor — has generally assisted the Afghan government in fighting the insurgent group.

"There is, however, clear evidence of Iranian activity — in some cases providing weaponry and training to the Taliban — that is inappropriate," he said. McChrystal said NATO forces are working to stop both the training and the weapons trafficking.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37425874/