Iran: No Inspections 

Iran's top military commander, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, expressed his opposition this weekend to international inspections of Iranian military bases. In a letter to the country's nuclear negotiators, the general wrote: "Iranian military officials are not allowed to let the foreigners go through the country's security-defense shield." He continued: 
 

"Iran's military officials are not at all allowed to stop the country's defense development and progress on the pretext of supervision and inspection and the country's defense development and capabilities should not be harmed in the talks. . . . Iran's national security necessitates guaranteed irreversibility of the sanctions removal and this is no issue for bargaining, trade or compromise."

The general's comments should be taken seriously as they largely echoed previous statements by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. But without real, unscheduled inspections of the regime's known military facilities it will be impossible to verify Tehran's compliance with any deal. And, of course, hidden Iranian facilities present another opportunity for cheating. 

The American people overwhelmingly believe that the Iranians will cheat, and they are right to be suspicious. The Iranians already are cheating. 

Two Men, Two Deaths -- Who Deserves Honor? 

Freddie Gray and Brian Moore both died at the age of 25. Freddie was well-known in his west Baltimore neighborhood, where for eight years he sold drugs to gangbangers and kids. Brian Moore was well-known on his beat in New York City, where he served as a police officer.

In the last five years, Brian tried to save New York City from its Freddie Grays. He had made over 159 arrests during that brief time and was the recipient of two exceptional police service medals.

Freddie died in Baltimore a week after being injured in police custody in the back of a police van. Six officers are now facing various charges related to his death. Gray's death set off demonstrations that degenerated into rioting that destroyed scores of businesses and injured over 100 policemen.

Brian Moore was murdered by a career criminal, Demetrius Blackwell, who shot him in the face when Officer Moore asked him if he had a gun in his waistband. Hundreds of policemen stood at attention as Moore's body was taken away. Many wept along with Raymond Moore, Brian's father and a retired NYPD sergeant. 

The streets of New York City were otherwise quiet. Perfunctory statements of regret for Brian's death were made by assorted public officials. 

Except to those who loved him and worked with him, Brian Moore will likely not become a lasting memory. The people he protected will go about their daily lives assuming there will always be another Brian Moore willing to put himself in harm's way to keep the barbarians away.

Freddie Gray is already a national symbol. We are told he is proof of institutional racism and another victim of out-of-control cops. His life of crime was not his fault. We just need to spend more money in an attempt to make government a substitute for family and God.

Lots of people are speaking and fighting for street criminal Freddie Gray. Who is fighting for the Officer Moores? Who really cares? 

Race Relations Worse 

According to a New York Times/CBS News poll, Americans feel race relations are the worst they have been since the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Sixty-one percent of Americans say race relations are bad, while 34% say they are good. 

Those figures are sadly ironic considering that millions of Americans voted for Barack Obama hoping our nation's first black president could bring racial reconciliation. Instead, Obama's tenure in the White House seems to have accomplished the opposite. 

Let's Talk 

Many in the media and on the left have repeatedly called for a national conversation on race. Of course, when the left says "conversation" it really means conservatives need to shut up while we listen to lectures from Al Sharpton or Barack Obama. 

But I think everyone would appreciate a real conversation where each side listens so that fewer people end up like Freddie Gray or Officer Brian Moore. Let's start with both sides conceding a few points. 

For example, the left should stop supporting programs that undermine family formation. There are a lot of police in black neighborhoods in part because there are so few fathers. 

More than 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. Research shows that children raised in fatherless homes are more likely to grow up in poverty, attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol and drop out of school. 

The left should stop the charade that "lack of investment" or spending is the problem. Consider this: In 2001, George W. Bush's budget requested $40 billion for the Department of Education. This year, President Obama's budget calls for spending more than $82 billion. And don't forget the $100 billion schools got in the 2009 stimulus bill. 

Perhaps some on the left might reconsider their opposition to school choice, thereby empowering low income families to free their children from failing schools. 

Now, what about the economic/establishment wing of the Republican Party? Perhaps they should drop the rhetoric about eliminating the minimum wage. Overwhelmingly people want it raised -- including many Republicans. Yes, I know all of the arguments about how a higher minimum wage can destroy jobs. But we will never win that argument. 

In addition, the corporate wing of the GOP could rethink its support for amnesty for illegal immigrants. There is little doubt that high levels of immigration, especially illegal immigration, have hurt minority communities by driving down wages.