Alexander Solzhenitsyn, RIP

Author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who bravely challenged the Soviet regime and exposed its infamous 'gulags' years before its collapse, has passed away at age 89.

Uprising on the Hill

Friday, August 1, 2008 may mark a seminal day in the intersecting history of New Media forums and American politics. The House Democratic leadership forced an abrupt action to begin its August recess in order to prevent a vote on comprehensive energy development on which scores of Democratic members were likely to defy their leadership and vote with the Republicans (and the majority of public opinion).

Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the lights, microphones and C-SPAN cameras turned off, but instead of ending the discussion, Republican members remained on the floor to argue for comprehensive energy development. Since there was no formal session, the members invited numerous tourists in the gallery to come to the floor and be a part of history in the making.

Jeff Emanuel, writing for the Red State blog, recounts Friday's events and particularly the role of new communications tools ('Twitter', blogs, etc.) Be sure to take the time to watch this 5 minute You-Tube clip from the House floor. (Remember, Nancy Pelosi does NOT want you to see this.)

Meanwhile, the energized Republicans will return to the Capitol tomorrow to continue to raise the energy issue. (Hat tip to Drudge Report) This story has barely begun to develop.

Space Highs and Lows

The third attempt by SpaceX to launch its Falcon 1 rocket ended in failure with an anomaly that occurred around the time of stage 1/2 separation. Company founder Elon Musk said in a statement that SpaceX had recently acquired "a significant investment" and vowed that the company's space efforts would continue.

There should be absolutely zero question that SpaceX will prevail in reaching orbit and demonstrating reliable space transport. For my part, I will never give up and I mean never.

The Falcon 1 setback came after a week of positive space developments including SpaceX's successful full nine-engine static test of it's larger Falcon 9 booster configuration.

Other significant developments last week included the roll-out of Virgin Galactic's White Knight 2, the giant carrier plane for the SpaceShipTwo commercial suborbital spaceplane now under development, and the demonstration of 'Rocket Racing' at the Oshkosh, Wisconsin air show this week.

Finally, the not-surprising but very significant confirmation of water on Mars by NASA's Phoenix lander. Apparently, there have been more intriguing discoveries soon to be made public, on which the White House has already been briefed.

Michael Griffin on HST

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin recently gave an address on the significance of the Hubble Space Telescope. I haven't had time to read it through yet. Maybe I'll get to read it in hard copy tomorrow on the plane to Houston for the Joint Integrated Simulation this week in preparation for the October STS-125 HST servicing mission.

I thought it appropriate to speak tonight about the Hubble Space Telescope, one of the greatest machines NASA has ever built, and about our relationship with that machine and what it has taught us about our universe and, more importantly, ourselves. In October, astronauts on Space Shuttle Atlantis will rendezvous with Hubble to repair and upgrade it for the fifth time in its nearly two decades of service. When they leave, it will be better than ever. It will be better than anyone ever imagined that it might be, back when I was working on the project some twenty-five years ago.

Tipping Point at $4/Gallon

Michael Barone points out how the public attitude on oil drilling has shifted with the recent rise in gas prices.

Now all that is in danger, because the pain of paying $60 for a tank of gas has convinced most Americans to worry less about the caribou or the recurrence of an oil spill that happened 39 years ago. Democratic leaders are preventing Congress from voting on continental shelf and ANWR drilling or oil shale development because they fear their side would lose and are making the transparently absurd claim that drilling won't lower the price of oil. They're scampering to say that they would allow drilling somewhere -- mostly in places where the oil companies haven't found any oil.

Ahead of Its Time

Tomorrow is the fortieth anniversary of the document that may go down in history as one of those most fiercely attacked by so many that have never read it. Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae is a short read as papal encyclicals go, but prophetic in terms of the reaction to it and of the state of today's culture.

It can be foreseen that this teaching will perhaps not be easily received by all: Too numerous are those voices-amplified by the modern means of propaganda-which are contrary to the voice of the Church. To tell the truth, the Church is not surprised to be made, like her divine founder, a "sign of contradiction," (22) yet she does not because of this cease to proclaim with humble firmness the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical. Of such laws the Church was not the author, nor consequently can she be their arbiter; she is only their depositary and their interpreter, without ever being able to declare to be licit that which is not so by reason of its intimate an unchangeable opposition to the true good of man.

Priests for Life has a description and an extensive list of links pertaining to the encyclical and related issues.

Political Video Humor

John McCain's campaign has a hilarious video which lampoons the Old Media infatuation with Barack Obama. (Chris Matthews seems particularly lovestruck.)

Meanwhile, on a nonpartisan note, after gaining fame with their 2004 campaign animations, Jib-Jab is back with its premier 2008 entry.

Anniversary Time Again

NASA

Today is the 39th anniversary of humanity's first expedition to the lunar surface. Check out Rand Simberg's ceremonial commemoration of that epic event.

I got back this morning from the Space Frontier Foundation's NewSpace 2008 Conference held this year in Washington, DC (well, actually in nearby Crystal City, VA). Check out Clark Lindsey's recent posts covering some of the highlights here.

Today is also the fifth anniversary ('blogiversary') of the launch of this humble blog. Here is the inaugural post (Note that I was too inexperienced to think of giving it a title.) on Life at the Frontier.

WYD 2008

Young people from around the world are gathering with Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day events, energizing Faith in Christ in the "Land Down Under" and around the world. Amy Welborn provides a list of links and blogs for the event.

Tony Snow, RIP

Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary and political talk show host and commentator, passed away after battling cancer at age 53.

I recall seeing Tony Snow speak last year at a conservative conference in DC. He was gifted with combining strong advocacy with gentleness and humor and his strong Catholic Faith. In addressing graduates of Catholic University, he said:

And pretty soon you are thinking about God. Don’t shrink from pondering God’s role in the universe or Christ’s. You see, it’s trendy to reject religious reflection as a grave offense against decency. That’s not only cowardly. That’s false. Faith and reason are knitted together in the human soul. So don’t leave home without either one.

Dr. Michael DeBakey, RIP

The man who did so much to advance heart medicine has passed away at age 99.

Happy Independence Day!

(This post I made last year is just as relevant today.)

As we join in the festivities of the Fourth, let's strive to keep to the values proclaimed in the Declaration that make it worth celebrating.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Power Line Blog links to a speech given by President Coolidge on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration and highlights a paragraph very relevant to the social and political issues in today's society.

About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.

ADDITION: 7/4/08: Check out this powerful video and remember those who are sacrificing for us.

This Anniversary is a Real Blast

Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the explosive arrival of a large object from space in Siberia on June 30, 1908. The issue of detecting asteroids or comets in the vicinity of Earth's orbit around the Sun, known as Near Earth Objects (NEOs), and responding to, preferably by deflection, of those that threaten to impact our planet, has gained attention in recent years. The B612 Foundation has as its purpose development of NEO deflection methods. Also, the citizens' space agenda organization Prospace (of which I am a member of the Board of Directors) included NEOs in this years 'March Storm' agenda.

It Ain't Over'Til It's Over

John Fund explains why, despite the conventional wisdom, there's no certainty of an Obama inauguration next January.

The McCain campaign can't expect to win the election on the strength of their man's personal appeal or character. He is most likely to win by engaging Mr. Obama on the issues, and forcing debates over competing visions of foreign policy, and the size and scope of government. Tackling concerns about energy and food costs are key.

Here Mr. McCain has an opening. On many core issues, the country still leans right of center. In last week's Washington Post poll, 50% of voters favored a smaller government with fewer services while 45% wanted a bigger government with more services - the same percentage breakdown as in June 2004.

Second Amendment Ruling

One doesn't have to have a big interest in guns to applaud an occasion when the Supreme Court (albeit by a narrow 5-4 vote) bases a decision not on foreign law, an "emerging national consensus", nor "the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life", but on the US Constitution. What a concept!

Michael Reagan celebrates this week's Supreme Court ruling striking down the DC handgun ban, but ends on a cautionary note.

The Supreme Court ruling has been greeted by the American people as a welcome sign that many of their rights long threatened by out-of-control judges who make or misinterpret laws, rather than enforcing them, are now at last being safeguarded by the High Court.

That’s a dangerous misconception. The new decision was a 5-4 ruling. That tiny majority, often reversed in other rulings that defy the meaning of the Constitution, will vanish if the liberals manage to elect Barack Obama and give his party sufficient control of Congress to guarantee that future Court vacancies will be filled with activist liberal justices who will turn the Constitution upside down.

Water Ice and More on Mars

Phoenix mission scientists last week announced that material observed disappearing from a trench dug by the robotic lander was frozen water that evaporated after being exposed by the digging. (See the amazing evidence here.)

Since then, the mission team has begun to use the Phoenix lander's chemical analysis capabilities, which are already yielding quite interesting results.

Tim Russert, RIP

The Nation and the world are remembering Tim Russert for his contributions to journalism. He was known for asking tough questions, but probably more than many in today's media, was fair to people on all sides. Tim Russert's passions went beyond journalism and politics, as he was known for his devotion to his family and his Catholic faith.

I learned earlier in the week that a friend I'd grown up with from grade school through college had recently passed away. These two instances of people passing in the prime of their lives are a reminder to me that we each don't know how much time we have in this life and that we should be mindful of the next life.

Discovery Returns

The STS-124 mission completed this morning as the Shuttle Discovery landed in Florida after its highly successful mission to the International Space Station. The next mission to fly is the one I'm involved in supporting, the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope in October. Here is an impressive video preview. (Hat tip to NASA Watch.)

MARS Rising

Orbital Sciences Corporation has confirmed its selection of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, VA for launching the company's Taurus II launch vehicle. The rocket will demonstrate cargo resupply of the International Space Station along with lofting satellites into orbit.

As I've already noted, having an emerging major spaceport will be an exciting development for this region.

UPDATE 6/10/08 Here's the round-up of links from Spacetoday.net.

Year of the Potato

Almost halfway through the year, I've learned that the United Nations is honoring one of my favorite foods by observing 2008 as the International Year of the Potato. The observance highlights the spud's contribution to agriculture and mitigating world poverty. (Hat tip to Dr. Astropixie.)

Hi-Def Space History

This Sunday night the Discovery Channel starts it's spectacular series When We Left Earth showing (some never before shown in public) scenes from NASA's video vault covering the epic history of the US space program. Check out the spectacular video preview trailer.

Lab Delivery

The Kibo Lab has been successfully installed and opened up by the ISS/Discovery crews.

Discovery in Orbit at ISS

NASA/Jerry Cannon, George Roberts

Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off Saturday afternoon on its mission to the International Space Station (where it arrived today). Highlight will be the installation of the large Kibo Japanese laboratory module.

Update on Rachel's Field

In September 2006, I posted a short piece with links regarding Rachel's Field, an effort by some local prolife friends to establish a memorial to unborn babies lost to abortion. For the latest on the twists and turns on this amazing ongoing effort, please check out the Rachel's Field web site.

It's Fun to go to the I-S-D-C!

Yes, that's a take-off of a Seventies song, but the International Space Development Conference 2008 is being held here in DC tomorrow through Sunday, and that's where I'll be.

Phoenix Makes Landfall on Mars

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Timely image of Phoenix suspended from its parachute descending to the surface taken from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter


NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Icy, patterned ground on Mars, imaged by Phoenix after landing.

The Phoenix lander arrived in the northern polar region of Mars last evening. A number of spectacular images have already been released. In a few days, controllers will start commanding the robotic lander to begin digging into the permafrost and conduct experiments on the frozen water deposited there. The results may provide indications on the possibility that microbial life was or is present on this region of Mars.

Another Venture on Mars to Begin Sunday

The Phoenix lander will land on the northern polar region of Mars on Sunday. There the NASA spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, will investigate the significant presence of frozen water at this region and what it could mean for the past or present possibility of life on Mars.

Here is the Phoenix Mars Mission home page, which I've also added to my side bar.

Personhood in Colorado

A prolife group in Colorado says on Tuesday it will turn in more than enough signatures to qualify an initiative on the state's November ballot recognizing the personhood of unborn human beings from the moment of fertilization. The initiative potentially sets up a challenge to the 1973 Supreme Court decisions which imposed abortion on demand in the United States and will highlight the visibility of abortion during this year's elections for president and other offices.

Awaiting a Launch Site Decision

Orbital Sciences Corporation will shortly announce it's decision on whether its primary launch site for the Taurus II rocket will be Wallops Island, Virginia or Cape Canaveral, Florida. The vehicle will be one of those selected by NASA to demonstrate capabilities to resupply the International Space Station.

Along with my desire to see larger rockets launched from a location three hours driving distance from my residence, I think the nation could use two Atlantic coast orbital launch facilities to provide redundancy inn case of hurricane damage to either site.

Cosmic Bumper Cars

The Space Telescope Science Institute yesterday released a collection of images of colliding galaxies to mark the eighteenth anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. The awesome images show a variety of structures caused by the collisions of these huge collections of stars. Be sure to check the tabs for videos, information and related links.

A Blessed Day in DC!

It was quite an experience to participate in the Mass this morning with Pope Benedict XVI in Washington, DC in a congregation of over 45,000. A joyous spirit filled the participants and I also noticed excitement and interest among others who did not attend the Mass. Here are a few of my pictures from Nationals Stadium.


The Holy Father Enters Nationals Stadium in the Popemobile


Pope Benedict Delivers his Homily during the Mass



Nationals Stadium as an Outdoor Church

For more background, here are reports from EWTN and the Washington Post.

Welcome Pope Benedict XVI!

Pope Benedict arrived this afternoon at Andrews AFB aboard 'Shepherd One', the call sign for the Alitalia jet that brought him from Rome. The Holy Father will have a heavy itinerary over the next five days in Washington, DC and New York City, proclaiming the theme of his visit, Christ Our Hope.

Papal fever has been building for days and I'm excited to be able to participate. I will be going with my parish Thursday morning to the outdoor Mass at the new Nationals Stadium. Stay tuned to EWTN for TV and Internet coverage of the papal visit.

Politics of Condescension

It seems that the two Democratic presidential wannabees aren't so much tearing each other up but each tripping themselves up. Hillary Clinton had barely torpedoed her own campaign with her tale of imaginary snipers when Barack Obama comes along commiserating with affluent liberal donors in San Francisco about small town residents 'clinging' to guns or religion out of 'bitterness' over the economy.

Noemie Emery writes that Obama's revelation has been a pattern followed by some previous Democratic candidates.

After their unexpected loss in 2004, Democrats were much too impressed by Thomas Frank's treatise What's the Matter With Kansas? which complained that they lost because middle-class voters were too stupid to vote their 'real' interests (which were presumably served by the Democrats), because conservatives wickedly played on their fears. ('Fear' is the Democrats' answer for every vote they don't get.)

Yuri's Night

Saturday is the annual celebration of Yuri's Night with 189 parties scheduled on and around the planet. Find a party near you to celebrate humanity's steps into space. I'll be attending the celebration at the Goddard Space Flight Center Visitors Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Trading Places

Soyuz launch of Expedition Seventeen on Tuesday Credit: NASA TV

The crew handover on the International Space Station is underway with the arrival on Thursday of Expedition Seventeen to relieve Expedition Sixteen.

Circus on the Severn Folds Its Tent for 2008

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned its 2008 session last night. This WBAL report summarizes what was done and (in some cases, thankfully) not done. Here is a summary of legislation posted by the Maryland Catholic Conference.

Terri's Day

Today is the third anniversary of the court-imposed cruel death of Terri Schindler Schiavo. Terri's family have asked that this date be observed as a day of remembrance.

Meanwhile, Nat Hentoff takes Barack Obama to task for his comments on the 2005 congressional action on Terri's case.

When he was a professor of constitutional law, Obama probably instructed his students to research and know all the facts of a case. The reason Congress asked the federal courts to review the Schiavo case was that the 41-year-old woman about to be dehydrated and starved to death was breathing normally on her own, was not terminal, and there was medical evidence that she was responsive, not in a persistent vegetative state.

Entrepreneurial Space Developments

This was a big week for developments in the emerging commercial space industry:

- XCOR went public with the announcement of its Lynx suborbital spaceplane. The vehicle's applications could include space tourism, scientific research and helping to address the military's need for 'operationally responsive' access to space.

- A commercial agreement was announced for flying a portion of a deceased persons ashes to the lunar surface, in an expansion of an existing service that takes human ashes into space.

The Space Access 2008 conference is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona. Henry Cate has posted his first report here. Note that his final paragraph links to several other bloggers covering this conference, which brings together the leaders in the emerging entrepreneurial space industry.

Welcome Home Endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour returned to Florida Wednesday evening following its sixteen day mission adding to the capabilities of the International Space Station.

Have a Blessed and Happy Easter!

At daybreak on the first day of the week
the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus
took the spices they had prepared
and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb;
but when they entered,
they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were puzzling over this, behold,
two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.
They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.
They said to them,
"Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised.
Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners
and be crucified, and rise on the third day."
And they remembered his words.
Then they returned from the tomb
and announced all these things to the eleven
and to all the others.
The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James;
the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,
but their story seemed like nonsense
and they did not believe them.
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb,
bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone;
then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Lk 24:1-12

For an explanation of why Easter comes so early this year, check out this Space.com article.

Entering into the Paschal Mystery

Hugh McNichol of PewSitter.com writes about the Easter Triduum which began this evening of Holy Thursday.

For us Catholics this evening event begins recounting the events that will lead to the Cross on Good Friday, and thankfully the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. However the focus on the Eucharistic sacrifice, the partaking of the Eucharistic Bread is the event that keenly shows our Catholic identity and union.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke, RIP

Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the science fiction author and sci/tech visionary passed away today in Sri Lanka at age 90. Clarke was the first to propose geosynchronous orbit as the place to locate the communications satellites that have served to bring our world closer together. He is perhaps most well known as the author of the story that Stanley Kubrick made into the profoundly inspirational movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Sir Arthur was one of the major influences on those of us who are involved in trying to open up the space frontier. Look for more commentary on the major space web sites and blogs.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Artist unknown, Link by Catholic Forum

Monday is March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Celebrations have started early over the weekend. Also, since it happens to fall during Holy week this year, a rare occurrence, the Church is not liturgically observing the feast on Monday. So, be blessed, safe, and happy whenever you are celebrating Ireland's patron saint.

Catholic Forum provides descriptions of St. Patrick here and here.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

In the spirit of the holiday, check out LiveIreland.com for webcasts of Irish music and other media direct from Ireland.

Working in Space

The STS-123 mission to the International Space Station is progressing nicely, with the addition of the logistics module for the Japanese Kibo laboratory and the work-around that has awakened the still-being-assembled Dextre robot.

Life and Politics

It's been an unbelievable week, with Spitzer, Ferraro and the Preacher (Barack Obama's, that is), but there are real issues we face. ProLife Blogs has a post explaining why John McCain is the only obvious choice when it comes to protecting human life. While his support for embryonic stem cell research is definitely not prolife, he appears open to rethinking that position. Meanwhile, the two Democratic presidential wannabees are going to ridiculous extremes to please the pro-abortion lobby.

Lighting Up the Night

NASA

Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off early this morning on the STS-123 mission to the International Space Station to deliver part of the Japanese laboratory module Kibo and a Canadian robotic arm system called Dextre. The mission will last for sixteen days.

The Approaching Storm

I'll be participating in the annual ProSpace March Storm on Capitol Hill next week. the issues to be presented this year include bolstering the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (space station resupply), Mitigating disastrous impacts by Near Earth Objects and promoting Space Based Solar Power as a future energy source. To learn more and to register to participate, go to this link. (Training on Sunday is a mandatory part of participation.)

McCain Has It

John McCain won the four primaries held today and Mike Huckabee gracefully announced he is dropping out and endorsing McCain. McCain delivered a strong speech defining how his positions on Iraq, the economy and other issues differ sharply from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who are still in too-close-to-call races in Ohio and Texas. Here's the latest posting on the whole situation from Fox News.

William F. Buckley, RIP

He was conservative before conservative was cool. In fact, he helped to make conservative cool. Yesterday morning, it was announced that William F. Buckley, the articulate commentator who energized modern conservative political thought, had passed away at age 82. Many tributes are being collected at the on-line site of the magazine he founded, National Review. WFB went beyond politics to be an articulate spokesman for his strong Catholic Faith. May his example inspire us who share his beliefs to carry on the fight with the same class and cheerfulness.

NASA's Latest COTS Award

NASA last week awarded Orbital Sciences Corporation funding for the demonstration of its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) proposal for resupplying the International Space Station.

What is particularly exciting about this development is that Orbital plans to conduct its Taurus II launches for this project from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. It will be exciting to take the three-hour drive down to watch these larger rockets liftoff, as I did for the two Minotaur launches in 2006 and last year.

Also last week, Wallops received a boost from passage of Virginia's "Zero-G/Zero-Tax" bill designed to spur new space industries in the state.

Atlantis Comes Home

Shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth this morning after delivering the Columbus laboratory module to the International Space Station. Atlantis will next fly later this year to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

Wayward Satellite Targeted

The US Government has announced plans to 'shoot down' a spy satellite in a decaying orbit to mitigate safety and security risks posed by surviving debris.

Rand Simberg points out that more robust space capabilities would allow for more elegant solutions to this type of problem.

'Chesapeake Primary' on Ice

Tuesday's primaries in Maryland, Virginia and DC, which drew high voter turnout despite a nasty ice storm in the afternoon and evening, gave boosts to John McCain and Barack Obama.

Also of interest were two Maryland congressional races where incumbents, one Democrat and one Republican, were turned out by challengers more liberal and conservative respectively. This appears to indicate the strong roles the base of each party play in determining candidates and party direction.

Pope Benedict XVI on Evolution

The Catholic Times (of the diocese of Springfield, Illinois) has an interesting article explaining how Pope Benedict XVI separates the validity of the science of evolution from the philosophical debate raging between some of its advocates and critics.

Pope Benedict has weighed in several times on evolution, essentially endorsing it as the "how" of creation but cautioning that evolutionary theory cannot exclude a divine cause.

And yet, many people are under the vague impression that this pope has rejected evolution, or is getting ready to, or has serious objections to the science involved.

....

It probably doesn't help that the pope has shown a fondness for the phrase "intelligent design." He uses it to describe the idea that, whatever the biological processes involved, the natural world as a whole appears to witness to a divine creator.

That's not the same as the concept of a designer God intervening at particular points in natural development, however.

....

Lest there be any doubt about Pope Benedict's views, the academy has prefaced its booklet with a lengthy papal quotation from last July.

"I see in Germany, but also in the United States, a somewhat fierce debate raging between so-called ‘creationism' and evolutionism, presented as though they were mutually exclusive alternatives: Those who believe in the creator would not be able to conceive of evolution, and those who instead support evolution would have to exclude God," the pope said.

"This antithesis is absurd because, on the one hand, there are so many scientific proofs in favor of evolution which appears to be a reality we can see and which enriches our knowledge of life and being as such. But on the other, the doctrine of evolution does not answer every query, especially the great philosophical question: Where does everything come from? And how did everything start which ultimately led to man?" he said.

Political Assessment

The past few days have seen a frenzy of developments in the presidential race. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue an amazingly close race which will no doubt keep the suspense going and creates some interesting challenges for the Democratic Party, which prides itself on its identity politics.

John McCain has emerged as a clear leader in the Republican race with Mike Huckabee emerging as the strongest alternative. McCain's lead has caused some restlesness among some conservative media and intellectual leaders, given the Arizona senator's record of positions on various issues ranging from traditional conservative to moderate and sometimes liberal, and his sometimes cantankerous way of expressing those positions. Other conservative leaders point out, even with their disagreements with him, that McCain is a far superior alternative to either of the Democratic contenders. (Not surprisingly, some media reports are sensationalizing this controversy.)

I see a period of 'courtship' where McCain is trying to win over enough conservative supporters to support his campaign and provide a margin of victory in November. There will have to be some give and take, with McCain explaining where he has a largely conservative record, explaining honestly where he differs, and showing respect for those who differ with him (as he did at CPAC last week). Assuming McCain is the nominee, it's also up to conservatives to join in the give and take and consider where they share common ground with him.

It is appropriate for Republican voters in the remaining primary and caucus states who not totally satisfied with John McCain to vote for Huckabee or another alternative. For one thing, the race isn't over yet, and this year has certainly had its surprises. Also, it does give a voice to those concerns that John McCain will have to address assuming he is the nominee.

I see the stakes as too high to sit out the election or even vote for the Democrat as a way of protesting Senator McCain's shortcomings. Perfect can be the enemy of the good, especially taking into consideration the likely agendas of a Clinton or Obama administration. Allowing a defeat this year and expecting or hoping for a comeback in 2012 is not acceptable, given the national security situation and the likelyhood of one or more Supreme Court vacancies in the next four years.

One of the most compelling statements I've read about this situation is this article on ProLife Blogs, focusing on the primacy of protecting human life. (I'm not sure if the aricle is correct in including Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity among those vowing never to vote for McCain.)

So, c'mon, Ann and Rush and Sean and Dr. Dobson. Let's feel free to criticize John McCain for his blunders (and, yes, they are many) and let's do what we can to require him to fill his cabinet with more consistent conservatives. But, goodness gracious, let's not help win the Oval Office, the State Department and the all-important Supreme Court for those who will not only deny all restrictions and regulations of abortion here at home but will promote it as "health services and population control" around the world.

Adding a New Room

The Shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station (ISS) crews have successfully attached the Columbus laboratory module to the ISS, opening the way for a new phase of research aboard the station.

Columbus Sails on Atlantis

NASA

At last, the Shuttle Atlantis lifted off into space today carrying the European Columbus laboratory module to the International Space Station.

Running two months late, the repaired shuttle Atlantis thundered safely into orbit today after expected storms from a weakening cold front failed to materialize. The low-level hydrogen fuel sensor circuits that derailed two launch tries in December worked normally today, clearing the way for launch of Atlantis and a European Space Agency research module bound for the international space station.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday and here is Catholic Online's Welcome to Lent 2008 feature. Here's a report on Pope Benedict's comments today and the US Catholic Bishops' Lenten web site.

"The call to conversion is, then, an encouragement to return to the arms of God the tender and merciful Father." Pope Benedict XVI

Super Tuesday

The 'Super Tuesday' primaries and caucuses have come and gone with McCain in the lead while Romney and Huckabee hang in there. Meanwhile, Clinton and Obama continue their close contest.

W's FY2009 Budget Request

President Bush's final full budget request of $3.1 trillion was released this morning. Needless to say, there is already much controversy over what gets cut and how big the deficit is.

Alan Boyle sees some good things for science, with a big 'if' concerning ongressional approval.

"If those labs can get through this year, and appropriations follow the requests, then starting next year, those labs and those physical programs will be in much better shape," Koizumi told me.

That's a big if. Over the past seven years, Bush has repeatedly faced criticism for his approach to scientific issues such as global warming and stem cells - but on this issue, he's the one who looks like the champion of science, while members of Congress come off looking like Neanderthals.

Jeff Foust takes a first look focusing on the NASA portion of that budget.

Across the Universe

NASA is about to send a transmission of the Beatles' song Across the Universe toward the star Polaris as a celebration of multiple anniversaries. The official site is here.

The transmission is now underway.

The transmission was sent as planned at 7 PM EST. NASA TV provided live coverage from the Jet Propulsion Lab as the music was transmitted. Hopefully, there will be a replay available for streaming from either of these sites.

Fifty years ago this evening,...

...America's first satellite, Explorer I was launched. Alan Boyle reviews the event here and Jack Kennedy provides links to a couple of videos here.

Explorer 1 gave America a chance to recover some of its confidence and prestige after the Sputnik shock, but there was a scientific payoff as well: The data returned by the satellite showed that Earth was not surrounded by a swarm of killer pebbles, as some scientists had feared. However, the cosmic-ray readings hinted at the existence of bands of radiation surrounding the planet - an unexpected result that led to the discovery of the Van Allen Belts.

Political Happening

McCain takes the lead after Florida and Giuliani and Edwards exit, but the big political event for me this week was last night's Campaign for Life gala in DC for the Susan B. Anthony List, a dedicated women's prolife political action committee. Check out the link for the great work that they do and consider making a contribution.

Remembrance of Space Heroes

NASA is observing the anniversaries of its human losses in spaceflight: Apollo 1 (forty one years ago yesterday), Challenger (twenty two years ago today), and Columbia (five years ago next Friday, February 1). Space.com remembers each of these events and their impact on the nation's space efforts.

W's Final SOTU

President Bush is giving his final State of the Union message. His agenda includes maintaining tax cuts and curbing earmarks, supporting research into new energy sources and morally ethical medical research, and completing the mission in Iraq and meeting other international commitments.

SpaceShipTwo Unveiled

Virgin Galactic unveiled its designs for its SpaceShipTwo commercial suborbital spaceliner and for its WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane.

Check out the Virgin Galactic site for a couple of(large file size) videos. HobbySpace provides some more streamlined videos and the press release along with Richard Branson's unveiling speech.

2008 really will be the Year of the Spaceship.

Politics This Week

Fred left the race on Tuesday, after promoting a consistent conservative agenda and more of an interest in governing than in campaigning.

It was the Dems' turn in South Carolina today, and Obama won big.

The People Came to March for Life

This is the view as I neared the top of Capitol Hill. Many thousands filled Constitution Avenue for blocks looking back, as there were many thousands ahead before I reached this point.


This is a shot I took from the 'bloggers' perch' at 1st and Constitution near the end of the March route.


Speaking Truth to Power in front of the Supreme Court.

For links to more images and information from the March, check out ProLife Blogs and Blogs for Life.

This Injustice Will Fall

The events of the past twenty four hours were so inspiring and energizing, even while commemorating the infamous 35th anniversary of abortion-on-demand being imposed on our country. From the Vigil Mass for Life last night at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Basilica to the Blogs for Life Conference this morning, the actual March for Life itself and a post-March Capitol Hill reception only serve to energize me with hope and determination to see this great injustice overturned.

From the LifeNews article on the March:

Hundreds of thousands of pro-life people turned out for the annual March for Life in Washington, braving cold temperatures to take a stand for the right to life of unborn children. While marchers mourned 35 years of legalized abortion, many sounded a hopeful theme for a pro-life future and think the decision will eventually be reversed.

As with other recent marches, the number of young adults and high school and college students impressed organizers and provided another reason to be optimistic.

"People will get on a bus and travel 24, 48, 72 hours, some even further," Concerned Women for America president Wendy Wright told the Washington Times. "That's such an immense dedication, which is striking when you consider it is not on behalf of privileges or rights for themselves."

Why We March

This is a slightly revised and updated article I first wrote and posted in 2004 at this time.

Tuesday, January 22, marks the 35th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions which imposed abortion-on-demand in the United States. Once again, concerned citizens will gather on Tuesday for the annual March for Life, which in recent years has usually drawn more than 100,000 participants. Now, why do so many people consider it so important to take time on a weekday to come to Washington, DC at the coldest time of the year to make their voice heard on this matter?

Before I go on any further, I need to say a couple of things. First, nothing in this article is meant to condemn anyone who has had an abortion or has been involved in abortion in some way. Far from condemning those with an abortion in their past, the people in the prolife movement are about healing and forgiveness, and want it to be clear that there is hope after abortion. Post-abortion counseling can be found through many church denominations and pregnancy counseling centers.

And second, while the prolife movement consists largely of people with strong religious convictions who feel called by God to defend the defenseless, that doesn't make the protection of human life a narrow, religious issue. The facts that the defenseless exist and that they deserve protection in the human family can be persuasively advocated by non-religiously reasoned arguments.

First, let's start with a little scientific background (from the Science for Unborn Human Life website) about how each of us began our lives as unique human beings. A new human being is conceived when a sperm fertilizes an egg. The sperm has 23 chromosomes and so does the egg. But the fertilized egg has 46, half from each parent, and is genetically unique. These 46 chromosomes, which are fixed at conception, establish the child's sex and are a blueprint for how it will develop, both during pregnancy and after birth.

Blood vessels start to form very early, about 13-18 days after fertilization. Then, on about the 20th day - nearly the end of the third week - the foundation of the brain, the spinal cord, and the entire nervous system is established. The heart begins to beat on about the 22nd day after conception, circulating blood throughout the child. The arms begin to form on about day 26, followed by the beginnings of the legs on day 28, the same day that the mouth opens for the first time.

Both the eyes and ears are developing rapidly during the seventh week after conception. At this time, the thumbs, neck, heels of the feet and all of the fingers are also present. Taste buds begin to form during the eighth week after conception. All parts of the limbs are apparent at this time. In addition, the fingers and toes have lengthened and are completely separated.

By the end of the eighth week the overwhelming majority (several thousand) of the body's organs, structures and systems have already begun to develop. Few, if any, new structures begin to form after this time. During the remainder of the pregnancy, development consists mainly of growth and maturation of the parts of the body that are already present.

Isolated arm, leg and backward head movements begin at about 7 to 10 weeks after conception. During the ninth week, a regular pattern of breathing movements is observed, with a median frequency of about 30 breaths each hour.

These are just the highlights of how you developed during the first 2-3 months of your life. Now consider that a majority of abortions are performed during the tenth to twelfth week of gestation. Some are performed much later in the pregnancy, when the child has grown larger and any unbiased observer would recognize a baby when they see one.

So why if the evidence so clearly indicates that a unique human life begins at conception, how did the deliberate and violent destruction of that life come to be imposed as a 'constitutional right'? Time does not permit describing the whole history of abortion or the intertwining influences of the eugenics and population control movements. Let's start with the socially turbulent late sixties when a growing pro-abortion movement subversively exploited the legitimate aspirations of women for greater rights and participation in society.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson, former abortionist and co-founder of the pro-abortion group NARAL, has since changed his mind and heart and is now a leading prolife advocate. He points out the disinformation at the heart of the pro-abortion campaign.

- "The statistics that we gave to the American public about illegal abortions annually; the statistics we fabricated regarding the number of women dying from illegal abortions annually; all of these matters were pure fabrication and still persist to this very day."

- "We spoke of 5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year. I confess that I knew the figures were totally false. It was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics?"

- "We in NARAL were in the business of coining slogans principally for the media . . . we scattered catchy slogans for them . . . to use . . . in their stories. Slogans like "reproductive rights", "freedom of choice", "pro-choice". For many years we've known them to be hollow and meaningless. They're just catchy and, essentially, without substance."

The movement made rapid progress. California, New York and a few other states passed 'liberalized' abortion laws (though some other states rejected them). But what imposed abortion on American law were two Supreme Court cases, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, pronounced on January 22, 1973. The combined effect of the two decisions was to effectively impose abortion-on-demand throughout the nine months of pregnancy. Since that time, over forty eight million human beings have been exterminated by abortion in the United States.

Aside from the grave issue that was decided, the finding that abortion is part of a constitutional 'right of privacy' is considered an overreach of judicial power even by some legal scholars who describe themselves as 'prochoice'. The 'reasoning' was based on 'penumbras' the justices claim to have seen in the constitution.

Did you know that the two plaintiffs in the Roe and Doe cases, Norma McCorvey and Sandra Cano, have filed affidavits to the effect that they were manipulated into their roles and that the decisions should be overturned? You would think that this development would be considered unprecedented in Supreme Court history, but I guess Dan Rather, Katie Couric, the New York Times, etc. forgot to inform you.

One fact that is becoming evident that abortion-on-demand is not such a great thing for women. Abortion has left many women emotionally and sometimes physically scarred. Campaigns such as Silent No More and Women Deserve Better are tapping into this hidden anguish.

Also evident is the effect on our society, with conflicting attitudes on how we treat not only the unborn, but also the sick, disabled and elderly. Consider the heart wrenching case of the judicially imposed death of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Abortion has torn marriages and families apart, and led to a hardened and increasingly violent culture. The raging debate over embryonic stem cell research and human cloning shows the growing risk posed by a disregard for the dignity of every human life.

So, we have had for the past thirty five years, a culture that in some ways has grown cynical, forgoing the promise of a hopeful future for instant gratification, or more often, the resignation to unimaginative 'solutions' that pit mother against child or people against the planet. One is reminded of a quote from the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats:

"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed and everywhere a ceremony of innocence was drowned."

These Supreme Court abortion decisions were assumed to have 'settled' the issue in our society. Yet much to the consternation of the pro-abortion establishment, the movement of concerned citizens to protect life has only grown in strength over the past thirty five years. The prolife movement has pursued multiple paths: educating the public, lobbying and litigating for change, participating in politics, and especially reaching out to help women with unplanned pregnancies. On the political front, abortion played a decisive role in the 2004 Election results and in the confirmation hearings of John Roberts and Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court.

Particularly significant is that the change in public attitudes on abortion is most striking among young people (who've lost peers they've never met). This is manifested in polling results and an upsurge of prolife activism among college students, much to the consternation of their professors and, in some cases, their parents. Sort of adds a new twist to some lyrics from the sixties by Buffalo Springfield:

"Young people speaking their minds, Getting so much resistance from behind."

So the buses are starting to roll, as thousands from distant states once again journey to Washington, where many will gather in prayer the night before or the morning of the March. Then we will rally and march, knowing that those we are trying to defend would some day defend our nation, write great literature, cure disease, compose stirring music, and explore and begin to settle the Solar System.

But more than for their potential accomplishments, we speak out for them simply because of the inherent dignity of each of their lives. In so doing we are responding to a great calling as individuals and as a civilization. And we'll continue to speak and march and work and pray, confident in the hope that, one of these years, we'll no longer face the cold winds. Instead, we'll gather on a warm spring day to celebrate the inclusion of the youngest in the human family within the protection of the law.

Prez Race Results

McCain wins in South Carolina, while Romney and Clinton take Nevada. Fred came in a distant third in SC and his future plans appear TBD.

Blogs for Life

I'll be going to the Blogs for Life conference Tuesday morning in DC prior to participating in the March for Life. Check out the interesting list of prolife speakers.

Meanwhile, I'm watching on EWTN the rally for the West Coast March for Life occurring today. Speaking now is Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, carrying on his struggle for human rights.

Go Fred!

It's too wild and crazy to predict the outcome in South Carolina's primary tomorrow, never mind the actual nominations and general election, but right now I find myself favoring Fred Thompson as being the most consistent in supporting life, liberty and opportunity. Rick Moran writes how Thompson defies the conventional wisdom and provides more substance in his communication.

Vision 2.0?

Some planetary scientists, former astronauts and former NASA division directors are planning to meet at Stanford University in February to propose an alternative space vision to the one laid out by President Bush and currently being implemented by NASA.

Top U.S. planetary scientists, several astronauts and former NASA division directors will meet privately at Stanford University on Feb. 12-13 to define these sweeping changes to the NASA/Bush administration Vision for Space Exploration (VSE).

Abandoning the Bush lunar base concept in favor of manned asteroid landings could also lead to much earlier manned flights to Mars orbit, where astronauts could land on the moons Phobos or Deimos.

Their goals for a new array of missions also include sending astronauts to Lagrangian points, 1 million mi. from Earth, where the Earth's and Sun's gravity cancel each other out and spacecraft such as replacements for the Hubble Space Telescope could be parked and serviced much like Hubble.

The "alternate vision" the group plans to offer would urge far greater private-sector incentives to make ambitious human spaceflight plans a reality.

There's a lot that makes sense in this agenda as described in the article. The current exploration launcher architecture is facing serious technical issues and budgetary shortfalls and should certainly be re-evaluated. Accelerating human missions to the asteroids and the Lagrange points would really help open the frontier and spur the growth of a spacefaring civilization. Finally, enabling greater private sector involvement is most critical to creating a spacefaring civilization by making space activities affordable and profitable.

The major flaw I see in this group's vision, at least in the general way it is described in this article, is the seeming dismissal of lunar exploration having any significant value in the future development of space. Paul Spudis and Dennis Wingo make a case for the Moon playing a vital role for the development of space and providing benefits to humanity. If the lunar program is bogging down our space exploration efforts, it's the implementation that's the problem, not the role of the Moon itself.

It will be interesting to see where this group's vision will go after the Stanford meeting. While not flawless, this group and their agenda can contribute to a re-evaluation and revitalization of the vision for our future in space.

On MESSENGER's Wings


Mercury imaged by the approaching MESSENGER Spacecraft
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

The MESSENGER spacecraft flew by the planet Mercury this afternoon, the first of three flybys before the spacecraft enters orbit around the planet in 2011.

This evening some friends and I (after a stop for Mexican food and margaritas just outside the Lab) attended a Planetary Society sponsored event at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the organization which built and is now controlling the pioneering spacecraft. We heard one of the leading mission scientists present a good background on the science and exploration of Mercury. However, the latest results and images from the flyby won't be available until Tuesday, so check back with the MESSENGER web site.

The Vision Thing

Today is the fourth anniversary of President Bush's 'Vision speech' on the future American direction in space. Jeff Foust looks at why this year is critical to the future of the Vision, noting that presidential politics and budgets are only part of the challenge facing the U.S. space exploration effort.

Beyond the budget and politics, there are a number of other issues that could impede progress on, or even threaten the future of, the Vision over the next year. Project Constellation in particular has a number of key technical milestones in the coming year, and while NASA and its contractors are confident about their progress, some people continue to raise concerns about the current architecture, including whether the Ares 1 vehicle is underpowered (or the Orion capsule is overweight). If those concerns persist through the year, it might open the door for a reconsideration of the entire technical architecture should the next president decide to replace Griffin as NASA administrator.

Edmund Hillary, RIP

Famed explorer Edmund Hillary, who was part of the first team to climb Mount Everest and return safely in 1953, died at age 88 in New Zealand yesterday.

Many shared anecdotes of personal meetings with the late adventurer, describing him as an iconic New Zealander whose achievements were important to both the country and the world.

Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson said his enduring image of Hillary was his love of the natural environment of the frozen continent.

"Most of all you could tell he was in love with what was outside, which was that wild, harsh continent and the ability to live in that," Sanson said.

Circus on the Severn Opens for 2008 Session

The Maryland General Assembly opened Wednesday for its 90 day 2008 session, as Maryland citizens face the increased taxes enacted during the special session last fall.

New Hampshire Results

It's McCain winning with Romney second in the GOP race. Clinton is narrowly leading Obama in the Dem race.

Feast of the Epiphany

Today is the final highlight of the Christmas Season, the Feast of the Epiphany, which celebrates the journey of the Magi, the 'Three Kings' or 'Wise men' to visit the child Jesus. Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio explains the background of this celebration in Scripture and tradition.

In chapter 60 of Isaiah (Is 60:1-6), it is predicted that at a time of darkness, the glory of the Lord will shine over Jerusalem. The heavenly light will be a beacon to the pagan nations and even to their kings. Here we find mention of camels whose job it will be to bring the wealth of these nations, including frankincense and gold, to the city of the Lord. Psalm 72 agrees that far off kings will bring gifts to the Son of David.

The Star that draws the Magi to Judea has long been a subject of wonder and scientific curiosity as explained in this USA Today article.

As told in the Gospel of Matthew, a star marked the birth of Jesus and led wise men, or Magi, from the East to present the child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Their arrival in Bethlehem is celebrated by Western Christians on Epiphany, or the 12th Day of Christmas.

For centuries, the star has intrigued astronomers, historians, artists and theologians alike: was it a one-time miracle, a literary myth, or was it an actual astronomical occurrence?

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Iowa Results

The earliest ever Iowa Caucuses were held tonight, and it was a good night for the grassroots campaigns of Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama. Edwards and Clinton are in a close race for second for the Dems and Romney came in second for the GOP with Thompson and McCain in a close race for third.

Results here for the GOP and here for the Dems.

From here on things will happen quickly with New Hampshire next week and other primaries soon to follow.

Another (Strange) Year Over

Where do we begin with this one? I think the year began with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi posing with children around the House rostrum. Trouble is, after the little ones left, Congress continued to be run by children all year.

The bloody war in Iraq was the dominant concern for much of the year, which began with President Bush's announcement of the 'surge' and new military leadership to execute it. Meanwhile, the Democrats in Congress began a year long campaign to thwart W's policy. As the tide began to turn for the better over the summer and especially after General Petraeus persuasively reported to the Congress in September, the political Iraq battles subsided, as did media coverage of the war.

Immigration was the other hot issue, where an outpouring of public opinion turned the tide against what seemed a 'shoe-in' behind closed doors for a complicated immigration bill.

By year's end, one contentious issue seemed to converge on a positive resolution. The discovery of a method of converting human skin cells into a form having the properties of embryonic stem cells without exploiting human embryos shows that real progress can be realized without compromising human dignity.

Human progress toward the stars continued forward with fits and starts. The International Space Station (ISS) really flowered this year with several assembly flights, while year-end problems with Shuttle and ISS hardware present a continuing challenge. Japan and China launched robotic lunar orbiters while the US launched another Mars lander. The private sector continued its steady progress toward opening wide the frontier. Bigelow's Genesis 2 launch was a highlight, while the tragic explosion at Mojave killing three is another reminder that progress does not come easily. Many commercial space developments were under the radar and will take flight in the next few years.

This year seemed like an endless presidential campaign with candidates' fortunes rising and falling and sometimes rising again. After all this, the new year will actually bring the caucuses, primaries and election that will decide the next US President. Whoever that is will need all our prayers as the terrible news from Pakistan this week of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto reminds us that it's still a very dangerous world.

I'm sure 2008 will have more dangers, advances and surprises than I'll have time to blog about, but let's hang in there for another wild ride.

Looking Forward

The former Blogs for Bush has been recently renamed Blogs for Victory and is focused on the 2008 elections and the continuing War on Terror. I've now updated my sidebar with the new name and link.

Benazir Bhutto, RIP

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who stood for moderation and against the extreme force of Islamofascism, was assassinated today in Pakistan. This terrible event and the unrest that is following in that country, which possesses nuclear weapons, is a reminder that the world is still a dangerous place. John Podhoretz notes that any wished for 'holiday from history' is over.

American politics would dearly love to take a holiday from history, just as it did in the 1990s. But our enemies are not going to allow us to do so. The murder of Bhutto moves foreign policy, the war on terror, and the threat of Islamofascism back into the center of the 2008 campaign.

UPDATE Dec. 28: You probably haven't heard this part of Benazir Bhutto's story from the conventional media, but she was outspokenly opposed to abortion as being destructive to children and harmful to women.

When Bhutto was the prime minister of Pakistan, she helped lead a delegation to the 1994 Cairo population conference that confronted abortion advocates looking to make abortion an international right.

"I dream ...of a world where we can commit our social resources to the development of human life and not to its destruction," she told the United Nations panel at the time.

Bhutto was one of only two women to address the conference.

Instead of telling women in nations where population growth is an issue that they should kill their offspring, Bhutto told world leaders that the best solutions is "tackling infant mortality, by providing villages with electrification, by raising an army of women."