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In an interview with Steve Kroft for this Sunday's "60 Minutes" conducted today, President Obama said he won't release post-mortem images of Osama bin Laden taken to prove his death.

After bin Laden: Next Steps to Winning the War
Step 1: Finish the Job in Afghanistan and Iraq
Step 2: Continue to Hold Terrorists Accountable
Step 3: Stay Alert on the Home Front
Step 4: Stop Doing Stupid Security
Step 5: Provide for the Common Defense
Do Not Declare Victory Yet

Security Checkpoints Near Soft Targets May Soon Become The Norm
Counter terrorism experts say a retaliation attack for Osama bin Laden’s death is inevitable. Terrorists are expected to aim for more vulnerable soft targets like shopping malls or museums. Counter terrorism expert Juval Aviv said terrorists seeking revenge for Osama bin Laden’s death will turn to attacks less dramatic than the destruction on Sept. 11 — focusing instead on soft targets like hotels, places of worship and mass transit hubs. Security consultant David Boehm said the future could include security check points entering all soft targets — like your local department store. Boehm said even with a police presence, the areas are vulnerable.

Meet the Navy Seals
They're the nation's quietest killers, known as SEALs because of their delicate work by Sea, Air or Land. But they can also just crash through doors and "double tap" the enemy’s face, as they did with Osama bin Laden this week, killing the ringleader of the September 11th attacks with two point-blank shots. The SEALs were already a semi-legendary unit, the home to gung-ho soldiers who claim to drink snake venom and punctuate their kills with a kiss on the cheek (to take just two examples from the memoirs of former SEALs). Perhaps such braggadocio is inevitable given what it takes to qualify.

About 1 in 7 in U.S. Receive Food Stamps
Growth in the food stamp program appeared to reach a plateau in February — with 14.3% of the population relying on the safety net program. The number of food stamp recipients was essentially flat in February, the most recent month available, with 44.2 million Americans receiving benefits, according a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Time for the Supreme Court to Rule on State Immigration Laws
Last summer, the eye of the nation was focused on Arizona, as the Obama administration and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed dual lawsuits against the state and its sheriffs in an effort to prevent them from using law enforcement tools, codified in Arizona Senate Bill (SB) 1070, a law that fights illegal immigration and the crime that naturally results from it. Now, an unfavorable ruling by a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the one hand, and the victorious passage of a bill in Georgia modeled on SB 1070 on the other, has again turned the heads of Americans to the issue.

Obama gets no Bin Laden Bounce
While the public lauds the president’s performance killing Bin Laden, he got no overall bounce in a new Newsweek/Daily Beast poll.

Bin Laden Lived there for six years
There is no evidence Pakistani officials knew Osama bin Laden was living at a compound deep inside the country, but the United States is not ruling out the possibility, President Barack Obama's counterterrorism adviser said on Tuesday. Let’s see he lived there for 6 years within a mile of police headquarters and their military’s version of West Point another mile away and in one of the largest compounds. In addition they were Saudis as opposed to Pakistani.

US Defers to Inmates, Hides US Flag at Gitmo
I was stunned to learn while researching Mastermind that Guantanamo detainees succeeded in convincing prison officials to no longer raise the American flag anywhere they could see it. Each morning on every U.S. military base around the world, the American flag is raised to a bugle. But in the interests of not offending the detainees, it was stopped at Guantanamo.

John Paul II: Wojtyla, the Pope of Subsidiarity
“In a sense one might indeed refer to John Paul as the Pope of Subsidiarity. No previous pope… has outlined [the principle of subsidiarity] in such depth and detail…He showed…society needed to meet human needs where they actually existed [and that] creating expensive and ineffective bureaucracies… fail to see the deepest needs of the human heart.” These were the words of Fr. Robert Sirico. Sirico is an American priest and founder of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Just two days prior to Karol Wojtyla’s beatification, Sirico tells us why the Polish pope’s social and economic teachings should still be appreciated by the Church and the world today.

Sex businesses rely on abortion to exploit women
Sexually-oriented businesses, from strip clubs to sex trafficking, rely on keeping females visually and physically “available”and not pregnant. However, annual contraceptive ‘failure rates’ range from 2-50%, and when multiplied by a high number of sexual encounters, increase exponentially the chance of pregnancy– and abortion. So while sex profiteers try to justify these activities as victimless, there ARE millions of victims– including, not only debased women and runaway teens, but also millions of unborn children who have been aborted.

Obama Punishes Texas with no FEMA Aid
The Federal Emergency Management Agency defended its decision to refuse more assistance for Texas in the wake of devastating wildfires, saying Wednesday that the state has already received sufficient U.S. government help. Late Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry criticized the White House after learning that his April 16 request for a federal major disaster declaration and additional help had been rejected.

Economists in the Wild
At the heart of this economic development rest secure property rights. Just as environmentalists now more widely appreciate the role of economic incentives, the key role of property rights—often very insecure in undeveloped, undemocratic nations—is coming into sharper focus as well. Owning parts of nature—whether habitat or actual rare species—sounds counterintuitive to the secular mind (though plainly not to the Old Testament fathers), but more and more case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of property rights approaches to protecting the environment, from ocean fisheries to African and South American forests and even elephants. The role of markets and property rights in promoting environmental protection is conspicuously missing from most evangelical literature about the environment.

Canada's Conservatives score massive election win
Canada's Conservatives stormed to a decisive victory in Monday's federal election, winning 54 percent of the seats in Parliament and securing a stable four-year term in power after vowing to focus on the economy. The victory, a relief for Canadian financial markets, left support for the separatist Bloc Quebecois in tatters and the party's leader without a seat. The Liberals, who have ruled Canada for more years than any other party, were reduced to a dismal third place showing with their worst ever seat haul.

Krauthammer: America’s top conservative columnist?
“It’s a very odd thing,” Charles Krauthammer said responding to a question about having become arguably the most important conservative columnist in America. “I’m doing the very same thing that I’ve been doing for the last 25-30 years … [but] as they say, ‘after 30 years, I became an overnight sensation.”

Smartphone data anxieties rise
Recent disclosures about the extent of sensitive personal data collected by smartphones and disseminated to businesses are prompting increased scrutiny by the US Congress and raising the odds that information privacy laws will be enacted.

Vatican Statement on the Killing of Bin Laden
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, P. Federico Lombardi, acknowledged Osama bin Laden's grave responsibility for spreading hatred and division among people, causing the deaths of countless people, and the exploitation of religion for this purpose. But the Vatican also cautioned us, "Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of everyone before God and man." Complete justice is in God’s hands.

Pakistan’s Bishops React to Bin Laden’s Death; Schools Closed, Churches Guarded
Amid security fears, Christian schools and other institutions closed in Pakistan following the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden. Additional police have been placed around churches in cities across the country. “In the soul of a Christian there is never joy for the death of a man, even if he is an enemy,” said Archbishop Anthony Rufin of Islamabad. “On the occasion of the death of bin Laden I would like to remind the supreme commandment of the Christian message: love your enemies.”

Pope John Paul II Beatified on Mercy Sunday, May 1
“John Paul II is blessed because of his faith — a strong, generous and apostolic faith,” Pope Benedict XVI said just minutes after formally beatifying his predecessor. Italian police estimated there were more than 1 million people in St. Peter’s Square, around the Vatican and watching the Mass on large screens at the Circus Maximus.

Blessed John Paul II: The Pope of Life
“The Gospel of Life” (Evangelium Vitae) the 1995 encyclical that John Paul II wrote was considered central to his entire pontificate. The encyclical calls us to “proclaim, celebrate, and serve” the gift of life, which is the foundation of society and of all the rights and goods we enjoy as individuals. He identifies abortion and euthanasia as the fundamental and most serious moral problems of our day. He called upon especially the young to build a “Culture of Life” with tremendous hope.

Kate Middleton's Dress
The big anticipation of the royal wedding was what would Kate Middleton's dress look like? The gorgeous dress, became an iconic garment the moment it appeared, featuring a deep V-neck, long sleeves, a full skirt, and a train measuring more than two meters long. It was adorned throughout with delicate, hand-sewn lace. The best part about this is that possibly the trend will change from the strapless bridal gown that most brides wear, even in church, to something more traditional and modest.

What Message Does This Send to the Youth About Cohabitation?
The Archbishop of York backed Prince William and Kate Middleton’s decision to live together before marriage, saying that many modern couples want to “test the milk before they buy the cow”. But Anglican traditionalists criticized the Archbishop, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, for failing to reinforce Christian teaching which prohibits sex outside marriage. Research indicates that people who live together prior to getting married are more likely to have marriages that end in divorce.

Tina Fey: We Chose to Prioritize Family Over Career
Tina Fey, the actress Newsweek called “the most admired woman in show business,” has enjoyed immense popularity as a comedienne and star of her own comedy show. But, she says, this has not stopped the 40-year-old star and her husband from welcoming more children into their home at the peak of Fey’s career.

Hollywood Shuns Actor Jim Caviezel
Jim Caviezel said he was ‘rejected in my own industry’ after taking on the lead role in Mel Gibson's controversial movie ‘The Passion of the Christ’. Since playing the son of God in the 2004 film, Caviezel said offers had dried up and he is shunned by many within the industry.

Glee's Hidden Agenda
Most people don't realize that Ryan Murphy, an open homosexual, is the producer of GLEE. His intent is to push acceptance of his lifestyle choice on teens and make it seem that this is the politically correct choice. Parents need to take notice that teenagers are being desensitized subtly by this program. Loving someone is not the same as acceptance or affirmation of a behavior. This show presents the behavior of being gay as the “new normal” and portrays those who adhere to outdated Christian morality as representing abnormal people.

Cardinal George Suspends Rev. Pfleger
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago drew the line against Rev. Michael Pfleger, who is known for his outspoken support for pro-abortion politicians, after the latter said that he would leave the Catholic Church if he were removed from his position as head of Chicago’s St. Sabina parish, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday. “If that is your attitude, you have already left the Catholic Church and are therefore not able to pastor a Catholic parish,” the cardinal wrote in a letter to Pfleger.

Vocations Video from the Dominican Friars of St. Joseph
The "Eastern" province of Dominican Friars, officially the Province of St. Joseph, has been having a quiet renaissance. 21 novices entered last summer. This video, with its serious content and joyful tone, shows why men are flocking to the Dominican Order.

Jackie Evancho Sings "Ave Maria"
Many children around the world will be honoring the Blessed Mother, "all generations shall call me blessed", Luke 1:48, for her "be it done to me according to thy word," Luke 1:38, and for enduring incredible pain and loss, "And thy own soul a sword shall pierce," Luke 2:35, with a May crowning of flowers. Jackie Evancho performs "Ave Maria" in her last performance of America's Got Talent.

Loads of Mother's Day Activities
Happy Mother's Day to all of the mother's who sacrifice every day for their children, grandchildren and for their community!

KC’s Falling Star – We Need Bike Lanes
Bike routes are regular city streets wide enough to accommodate cyclists and absent street hazards that can ruin bike tires and crack heads. Some $1 million has been spent over the past two years to replace 165 storm grates. And 112 more utility covers were made flush with the street. Others things that got Kansas City on the list: the 25-mile trail system grew to 42 miles. More pieces are being added, including a connection between the Trolley and Indian Creek trails. True, KC is nowhere close to matching bike-wild Portland, or even a college town like Lawrence. But I do see more people pedaling than 10 or 15 years ago.

Gospel of John 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

Patriotism and jubilance have certainly taken over the streets in this country. It is a well-deserved celebration. But it comes with a word of caution: The war against terrorism is not over. Al-Qaida remains active.

Though I share in the euphoria regarding the successful efforts to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, as former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I also understand that this victory brings with it the serious and real threat of retaliation. If distracted by a momentous achievement, we may fail to be vigilant against the next strike.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the United States has foiled 38 terrorist plots. It is certain that more attempts are to come.

Bin Laden's legacy is creating an international organization that survives him. He was the unifying figurehead for al-Qaida, but its operations will continue under new leadership.

Ayman al-Zawahri in Pakistan, Saif al-Adel in Iran and Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen will certainly see his death avenged and ensure the organization continues to grow.

Our most serious concerns may yet be over the rise of subsidiaries such as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and continual decentralization of the organization. In recent years, AQAP, with its base of operations in Yemen, has been responsible for most of the plots against the United States. And scattered, rather than centralized, extremist leadership is more difficult to target.

I thank President Bush for his commitment to dismantle this terrorist organization. President Obama and CIA Director Leon Panetta deserve credit for keeping the green light on actionable intelligence.

Previously, there were too many steps that had to be taken, and we did not have specific military capability to follow up on intelligence. But through legislative reform and lessons learned, we have the imperative capability today.

Additionally, this successful action must be followed up with efforts to improve our relationship with Pakistan and the rest of the Arab world, in particular Afghanistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Finally bringing bin Laden to justice should send a strong message to both Syria and Iran and all those who harbor terrorists.

With Gen. David Petraeus soon in charge of the CIA and Panetta to become defense secretary, I hope we can see more military action against those who are now actually in command within al-Qaida.

Personally, having been to Islamabad and having visited at length with at least 40 CIA and military personnel whose only and primary mission was to find bin Laden and bring him to justice, I know this successful effort has come with both satisfaction and the feeling of finally achieving the goal.

We will probably never be able to personally thank all responsible for ending the reign of terror of bin Laden, but I thank each and every individual who contributed to accomplishing this moment. Bin Laden's death brings justice for the thousands of Americans who died at the hands of al-Qaida's extremism, and victory to all those committed to the war against terrorism.

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