Happy Wednesday.

Who’s enjoying this limbo week between Christmas and New Year’s? Less traffic on the roads, catching that breath before New Year’s Eve and the big bowl games. Cleaning out the last bit of business of 2023.

Prayers For U.S. Servicemember Critically Wounded in Iran-Back Militia Attack in Iraq

But before we get to some of that, our prayers go out to the U.S. service member critically wounded Christmas Day in a drone attack by Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. Two others were also wounded. There have been more than 100 attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East by Iran-backed militias, with minimal U.S. response. After yesterday’s strike — the first known to have seriously wounded U.S. troops — the Pentagon launched “necessary and proportionate” strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah.

We pray for the quick recovery of the wounded and for the safety of all U.S. military personnel in the region.

Huh? Military Keeps Its Eye Off of the Ball in 2023

Ever wonder why these militia groups think it’s perfectly fine to attack the U.S. military without fear? Could this sort of thing be one of the reasons?

This is Space Force chief operating officer Lt. General DeAnna Burt back in June trying to explain how laws trying to stop the mutilation and castration of minors could be “dangerous for service members, their families, and the readiness of the force as a whole.”

U.S. Military Lt. General says she will replace qualifications for queerness in her hiring processes. She then suggests passing laws banning se* change surgeries for minors puts servicemembers in danger. pic.twitter.com/Hhf6NPlZ8w

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 25, 2023

So if you don’t chop the breasts off a 13-year-old girl, the Ayatollahs win?!

Lt. General Burt wasn’t just making some random comment to score brownie points during Pride Month. This is the military’s focus in the Biden Administration. Yesterday we posted an eye-opener, “Here’s What They’re Teaching in the Naval Academy’s Gender and Sexuality Class.”

The focus on woke rather than war is a ready explanation for the military’s dreadful year recruiting. The numbers from military.com for FY 2023 are shocking, despite the branches offering big bonuses and loosening standards. The Army came up short 10,000 recruits. The Army Reserve in FY2023 was about 26% short of its goal. The Navy came up 7,000 short. The Air Force had its worse recruiting year since 1999.

One bright spot. The Marines. They met their goal. Barely. They hoped to recruit 39,153 of the few and the proud. They ended up with 39,504. Semper Fi.

Kanye West Apologizes … in Hebrew … to the Jewish Community For His String of Anti-Semitic Statements

While many in the entertainment industry have been embracing anti-Semitism in the wake of the Oct 7 attack, at least one star with a wretched history of anti-Semitic remarks is trying to make amends. Rapper-entrepreneur Kanye West offered a long apology Tuesday morning to the Jewish Community for his outbursts. Outbursts that have included declaring “I like Hitler,” and blaming “powerful Jews” for this ill and that.  

His apology, written in Hebrew, says:

“I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions, it was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” West wrote. “I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1739689007834157121?s=20

Sincere or just a PR cleanup after losing several lucrative corporate sponsorships including his relationship with Adidas? Time will tell.

But in this season where university presidents can’t even condemn calls for the extermination of Jews, let us hope Ye is sincere and will put his formidable gifts to use in healing.

Along The Stream

The DCNF’s Jake Smith offers hope with “’This is Only the Beginning’: Conservatives World-Wide Boot Left-Wing Governments at the Polls in 2023.”

While here at home, Mark Judge opines “Christians and Conservatives Have Not Face It: We are No Longer Living in America.”  

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and co-author of the counter-terrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.