Obama Youth

Georgia Rep. Paul Broun formally apologized to his constituents for comments he made concerning Barack Obama's proposed civilian security force. Broun compared it to those of a Marxist dictator. I read through Broun's comments carefully. Broun related the historical facts concerning the use of internal security services by both the Nazis and the Soviets pretty accurately. Where he got into hot water was when mentioned Hitler and Obama in the same sentence: "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist." Broun was immediately denounced as a "far right nut job" by the ever-tolerant left with editorials calling for everything from his impeachment to his commitment to a mental hospital. (Sounds like he inadvertently discovered another similarity to the political climate of past dictatorships.) I went back and read what Obama said last July: "We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded. Maybe Broun is a far right nut job and all that, but the fact is, both Hitler and Stalin organized para-military security forces loyal only to them – and immediately denounced any who dared criticize the plan. I don't know what Obama has in mind in the U.S., but a para-military civilian force as powerful, as strong and as well-funded as a nation's military is what they used, too. When Obama mentioned it on the campaign trail, I thought maybe it was some kind of "red meat" being tossed to a far-left liberal audience to grab a few votes, not a formal policy. Then I read WorldNetDaily's report regarding Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's interview outlining the vision. (Obama's website says his civilian force will "require" middle school students to participate. Whether Broun is nuts or not, Hitler also required middle school students to join his student army, known as the Hitler Youth.) "If you're worried about, are you going to have to do 50 jumping jacks, the answer is yes," Emanuel told the interviewer, a reporter who was podcasting for the New York Daily News at the time. "Somewhere between the age of 18 to 25 you will do three months of training. You can do it at some point in your college time," Emanuel said in the interview. "There can be nothing wrong with all Americans having a joint, similar experience of what we call civil defense training or civil service," Rahm continued. "There will be a body of citizens who are ready, capable and trained." Ready, capable and trained. ... Broun found some disturbing historical similarities here? REALLY! And he said them out loud! He must be punished! Even if he apologized. That's not enough! Nope. I don't see any historical similarities developing. Clearly, Rep. Broun has slipped a couple of cogs ... I'll have to cut this column short. I'm late for a book-burning.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday and called for "fundamental and fair" changes to U.S. policies in the region, Iran's official IRNA news agency said.

"I congratulate you for attracting a majority of votes ... I hope you will prefer real public interests and justice to the endless demands of a selfish minority," Ahmadinejad told Obama in a statement published by IRNA.

Iranian officials have said Obama's election victory on Tuesday showed the American people's desire for fundamental change in domestic and foreign policy from the policies of President George W. Bush, who labelled Iran part of an "axis of evil".

"The great Iranian nation welcomes real, fundamental and fair changes in America's behaviour and policies, particularly in the Middle East region," Ahmadinejad said.

Tehran and Washington cut diplomatic ties shortly after Iran's Islamic revolution, which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

The two countries have since been at odds over various issues, including Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington and its European allies say is a cover to build nuclear bombs. Iran insists its aim is to generate electricity.

Washington has accused Iran of funding, equipping and training militants in Iraq. Iran denies this and says insecurity is due to the presence of U.S. troops who should quit Iraq.

Ahmadinejad said he hoped Obama would put an end to the United States' "war-oriented" policies.

"Other nations expect war-oriented policies, occupation, bullying ... and imposing discriminatory policies on them to be replaced by those advocating respect ... and non-interference in other countries' state matters," he said.

Obama has said he would toughen sanctions on Iran but has also held out the possibility of direct talks to resolve rows, including Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West.

The president-elect, like Bush, has not ruled out military action although he has criticised the outgoing administration for not pushing for more diplomacy and engagement with Iran.

Tehran has warned its response to any military action would be tough and would include targeting U.S. interests and America's ally Israel.

Iran's Prosecutor-General Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dori- Najafabadi called on Obama on Thursday to show goodwill and remove sanctions against the Islamic Republic, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"Through the lifting of the past government's cruel sanctions against Iran, Barack Obama can demonstrate his goodwill to the Iranian people," he said.

"Calling for forgiveness and remorse for the past U.S. government's deeds by the new government can bring about the great Iranian nation's forgiveness."

Iran's refusal to suspend its sensitive nuclear work has led to three rounds of U.N. sanctions since 2006, as well as bilateral punitive measures by Washington.

Iran has rejected world powers' demand to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can have civilian and military uses, in exchange for trade and other benefits.