"A Global Joke" 

There are disturbing reports from Capitol Hill that the so-called border security bill currently being drafted by the House Homeland Security Committee represents a step backwards. 

First, The Daily Caller reported that the bill unbelievably reduces the amount of double-layer fencing along the border. Now, Kenneth Palinkas, president of a union representing 12,000 United States Citizenship and Immigration Service officials, is blasting the bill for undermining the enforcement powers of immigration officers. In a letter released yesterday, Palinkas wrote:
 

"H.R. 399 . . . does nothing to preclude anyone in the world from turning themselves in at the U.S. border and obtaining automatic entry and federal benefits.  Almost anyone at all can call themselves an asylum-seeker and get in; it's a global joke. . . . 

"We admit individuals who have no business being admitted the United States, whether public charges, health risks, or radicalized Islamists, and in large numbers.  It is unfair to employees, unfair to taxpayers, and unfair to anyone concerned about immigration security."

Jindal Gets It 

I noted with interest something Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said yesterday regarding immigration. While discussing our history and current threats, he said the following:
 

"We need to stand up and say, 'If you want to come to America to be Americans, if you want to learn our language and our values, we welcome you here. But you can't come here if you want to overthrow our culture, set up your own communities where you don't abide by the same laws and freedoms we expect for everybody.' . . . If people don't think America is this great country, don't come here. They can stay where they came from."

I've written about America being a country in which we let a thousand flowers bloom. But what if there were an imaginary faith that felt black men and women were not people for the purposes of protection under the law. Would anyone say, "Come on in. This is a land that welcomes anyone who believes whatever they want"? Would we want to welcome such a group with open arms? 

Let's put aside the Islamist propaganda of our president and the ayatollah for a moment and look at the facts about Islamic countries around the world. 
 

• According to one recent report, Muslim-majority nations represent nine of the ten worst violators of religious liberty. 
   
• The status of women in Islamic countries is dismal. Two women are currently on trial for driving in Saudi Arabia. They didn't hit anything. They were not intoxicated. Saudi women simply are not permitted to drive cars. 
   
• We know from polling that huge numbers of Muslims around the world support terrorism and the death penalty for leaving Islam.
   
• And in a world reeking with anti-Semitism no other faith is so poisoned with that ancient evil as Islam. There is a reason attacks against Jews in Europe have increased as Muslim populations have grown. 

  Let's put illegal immigration aside. Why isn't there a serious national debate about whether we should be permitting legal immigration from those who think women should be treated like property, who reject religious pluralism and think you should be put to death if you insult Muhammad? 

  America's great experiment in ordered liberty under God is not a suicide pact, as one Supreme Court justice famously said about the Constitution. Nothing in our history should require us to knowingly bring into the country those who in many cases appear to reject all of our founding principles. 

  Radical Islam Must Be Defeated 

  I know it can be tempting to ignore events beyond our borders. But history has proven the dangers of doing so. That's why I feel compelled to share with you the statements of German journalist Jurgen Todenhofer.

  Todenhofer recently spoke with Al Jazeera about his brief time embedded with ISIS fighters in Iraq. Ponder this exchange:

  Al Jazeera: What was the most difficult discussion or uncomfortable issues?

  Todenhofer: . . . As far as our meetings with the ISIL fighters were concerned, the discussions were very hard. I have read the Quran many times in German translation, and I always asked them about the value of mercy in Islam. I didn't see any mercy in their behaviour. Something that I don't understand at all is the enthusiasm in their plan of religious cleansing, planning to kill the non-believers. . . . 

  "These were very difficult discussions, especially when they were talking about the number of people who they are willing to kill. They were talking about hundreds of millions. They were enthusiastic about it, and I just cannot understand that."

  There is no negotiating with barbarians like that. And the enemy isn't just ISIS. It's Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaeda and Shiite mullah's chanting "Death to America! Death to Israel!" Radical Islam -- in all its forms -- must be defeated. 

  The New Persian Empire 

  The death of King Abdullah has put Saudi Arabia in the spotlight. For their part, the Saudis feel like they are in a vice: ISIS is on the march to their north, while Iranian-backed Shiite rebels have seized Yemen to their south. (By the way, the Saudis are building a serious border security fence. Why can't we?)

  Charles Krauthammer writes that a new Iranian empire, stretching from Syria to Yemen, is emerging in the Middle East. And pro-American Arab states are looking on in horror as Barack Obama acquiesces not only to Iran's territorial gains but to its nuclear ambitions as well. You can read more here. 

  Cruise With Kristol, Barnes & Bauer 

  Have you ever wanted to take a cruise to Alaska? If so, here's the perfect opportunity! 

  Join Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes and me for The Weekly Standard's 20th anniversary Alaska cruise. In addition to the majestic beauty of God's creation, you'll enjoy panel discussions, seminars and numerous social events. 

  Cabins are going fast, so make your reservation today. Click here for more information. 

  I look forward to seeing you in Alaska!