Message #162310

[Harconen]

            More than one hundred prominent scientists (including a Nobel Prize winner) send a letter to Obama telling him his climate change views are “simply incorrect,” and that his oft-repeated statement that the global warming “science is beyond dispute” is not true. The letter reads, in part, “We, the undersigned scientists, maintain that the case for alarm regarding climate change is grossly overstated. Surface temperature changes over the past century have been episodic and modest and there has been no net global warming for over a decade now,” and “The computer models forecasting rapid temperature change abjectly fail to explain recent climate behavior. Mr. President, your characterization of the scientific facts regarding climate change and the degree of certainty informing the scientific debate is simply incorrect.” Obama is nevertheless charging down a path of imposing punitive taxes on carbon dioxide emissions to slow down what he believes is man-caused global warming—or as a first step in an attempt to take over the energy industries. [2193]

            Obama visits Turkey on April 6 and addresses its parliament, where he says the United States has been “enriched by Muslim-Americans” and offers “deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world—including in my own country.” Obama’s remark no doubt leads many skeptical critics on a search to find any shred of evidence that Islam has “shaped the United States.” (Some might argue that Muslims “re-shaped” the New York skyline on September 11, 2001; others might argue that by “in my own country” Obama meant Indonesia.) Obama states, “Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country. I know, because I am one of them.” (The New York Times calls the statement a “bold move,” because of “right-wing web site” claims that Obama is a Muslim.) Obama adds, “America’s relationship with the Muslim community, (and with) the Muslim world, cannot and will not just be based upon opposition to terrorism. We seek broader engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” With his comment, Obama suggests it is only the issue of terrorism that should divide the United States and Muslim countries; he ignores the fact that tens of millions of Muslims hate America (and Western Europe) for significant core reasons—including democracy, rights for women, capitalism, culture, and comparatively unrestricted freedoms—that simply capturing Osama bin Laden and some terrorists will not resolve. Although Obama also states, “The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam,” a large part of Islam is certainly at war with the United States. Obama says nothing to challenge any moderate Muslims to stop radical Islamists from engaging in terrorist activities that reflect negatively on their religion. Obama also pledges support for Turkey’s desire to join the European Union. (President Sarkozy then tells French television the decision is not Obama’s to make, essentially telling Obama to mind his own business. Europe does not want Turkey in the EU because of concerns about open borders and massive emigration from Turkey into Western Europe, and because Turkey does not embrace European culture and is not a European country.) [2199, 2201, 2207, 2227, 2233, 2267, 2313]