" Are You NUTS!?"

Do Americans like to give up on anything? We are, historically, a tenacious bunch. We like to pursue our undertakings to their end; to see things through. We like to hold our ground and grit our teeth. Weakness is not part of the American nature.

On December 16, 1944, Americans entered the area known historically as the "Battle of the Bulge" at Bastogne. It would prove to be one of the turning points of WWII. The Germans referred to the roads surrounding Bastogne as the "road octopus"; a navigational nightmare. The Bastogne area was critical to the Allied strategy; Eisenhower ordered to "Hold at all costs!" Elements of the 101st Airborne were in the middle of it all. They were completely surrounded by Germans, their hospital had been overrun, there was no safe area, they could not be re-supplied; they were cut off. If any situation seemed hopeless, this was it. On the 22nd, the Germans sent a surrender party to the American camp, under the cover of a white flag. The message sent to the division commander was that there would be total annihilation unless the Americans capitulated. When the message was delivered to division commander, General Tony McAuliffe, his reply was "Us Surrender?, AW NUTS!!" The single reply of "NUTS" was sent to the German commander. While that was going on, American forces encircled the German armor and the tide of battle changed; it was the Germans who were forced to surrender. Americans don't like to give up!

Barack Obama wants the Congress to ratify the new START agreement; the reduction of our nuclear arsenal, giving away some of our national defense, as an "olive branch" to the rest of the world. The pursuit of nuclear disarmament is noble; at this time it is foolish. Mr. Obama wants to reduce our nuclear arsenal by 40%; from 5000 weapons to 3000 within the next ten years. It also rules out the development of new weapons and restricts our use of those weapons that are now available to American defense.

As we face Iran, North Korea and now the interference of Venezuela and Syria in this hotbed of nuclear pursuit, is giving up our arsenal a good idea? Michael Turner (R-Ohio) made this statement "While the administration pursues deep cuts in our nuclear forces in the hopes that others will follow; Iran and North Korea programs continue unabashed." Are we binding our hands against possible dangerous foes? Once again, Barack Obama is showing weakness to the world; once again, he is kneeling in submission. Strength, not weakness, is all that dictators understand! It's time to hang on to our weapons, not lay them down!!