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Guest post by Billie Tucker:

I am the co-founder of a tea party group in North Florida, and our main focus is education. Since we started our tea party, we have researched issues, met with our representatives, written letters, and attended rallies with our wonderful signs and flags. It’s been a great experience to help revive citizens to become active in their government both at the federal, state, and local levels.

We recently hosted a screening of the high-definition documentary, “33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age,”, produced by Heritage. The basic tenet of the film is this: you have only 33 minutes to prepare for impact once a nuclear weapon is released and heading toward the United States.

We also had the pleasure of having Dr. James Carafano with us to facilitate a discussion about the documentary and our national defense. We were very excited as we set up the room for the viewing, and we were honored that Dr. Carafano had agreed to join us. Three hundred and fifty people joined us for the event, and the room was filled with anticipation and excitement.

Attendees were eating scrumptious food arranged by our events team. They were visiting with each other, and many found old friends to chat with. Patriotic music played, and the atmosphere was ripe for a fun event.

When we began the event, our very own color guard presented the colors, and we all stood and recited the pledge together and sung our national anthem. You could not have asked for a better atmosphere for the event. Americans know how to put on a great party! The smell of popcorn filled the room as the lights dimmed. As the film began, you could have heard a pin drop as the audience watched in awe. The documentary was riveting, the production was first class, and the information was impressive.

Watching the “33 Minutes” documentary aroused the “mother bear” in me. As a parent, we teach our children to stand up for themselves when they are bullied. We tell them to say “No!” to strangers and run if they sense danger. We teach them to say “No!” to drugs and alcohol and educate them on the effects of both. We tell them to say “No!” to those who want to have a sexual encounter with them without their permission. It’s our job to educate and protect our children and grandchildren against the world’s many dangers.

As the documentary ended, I wondered how I would protect my family against the evil in the world and against those who would like to see America obliterated.

We are in danger partly because our leaders have a different ideology than the leaders of the past. Some of our country’s leaders talk about weapons and believe all the world needs is to hold hands and stop fighting. Talking is good, but we need weapons for protection.

Our leaders’ job is to protect and defend the Constitution as well as maintain liberty for all of us. Liberty can be maintained only by strong and wise leaders. America needs a leader who builds relationships with those who hate us as well as a base of weapons to defend us should those relationships falter.

Before the evening ended, Dr. Carafano took questions and relieved the minds of many of us. He gave us hope for our future and ensured us that good always wins in the end. The evening ended with educated and empowered attendees who are now hosting “33 Minutes” film screenings in home tea parties.

We encourage you to host a “33 Minutes” documentary screening in your grassroots organization or even in your own home. You can request a copy of the high-definition documentary from Heritage and view the trailer here.

It is a great educational tool and one that will empower your friends and family to vote for the right leaders in 2010 and 2012. Our safety lays in the hands of those who lead our country. As you choose your leaders, find out where they stand on national security issues. If they want to talk ONLY, consider them weak and naive. If they want to talk AND PREPARE, consider them strong and smart. Then ask yourself – “Which leader would you prefer to be in charge of your personal and national security?”

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Billie Tucker appeared at the Heritage Foundation in April. Watch the video below:

As the U.S. Senate deliberates whether to ratify START, Americans should be more concerned than ever about strong and comprehensive missile defense. As Baker Spring noted in his Heritage backgrounder, deterring nuclear strikes from rogue nations must go beyond the Cold War-era retaliation strategy and President Barack Obama’s present-day nuclear disarmament strategy.

Nuclear threats in Iran and North Korea are growing, and the U.S. must have the flexibility to develop and implement a defense strategy that isn’t hamstrung by agreements with Russia. The former Soviet Union agreed to sell S-300 missiles to Iran before announcing that the deal was included under sanctions against Iran.

In light of missile defense experts’ concerns about START, we invite them and readers to watch the Heritage Foundation’s high-definition, one-hour documentary, “33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age.” The documentary explains the history of missile defense, the present global nuclear threat, and what the U.S. must do to protect itself and the world. This film serves as a wake-up call to complacency and apathy. View the trailer below.

Visit the film’s YouTube channel.

 
David K. Rehbein, a national commander of the American Legion, wrote an article for the Business Wire on the state of missile defense. Even among those who believe strong missile defense is no longer needed, North Korea’s defiance has proven otherwise. The rogue state may not have the capability to launch a nuclear weapon now, but it is determined to improve the technology required to do so.

“Defense Secretary Robert Gates takes the threat seriously enough to have positioned a military ground-based missile defense system to protect Hawaii from missile attack, Rehbein writes. “While The American Legion applauds this decision, the nation’s largest veterans service organization is concerned that the United States is not doing enough to protect us from, well, nuclear annihilation.”

Although nuclear threats loom over us, the Obama administration intends to cut $1.62 billion from the missile defense budget. As we’ve noted before, the administration’s cuts impact Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Interceptors, which would be reduced from 44 to 30.

“The Heritage Foundation has produced a chilling documentary titled ‘33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age.’ A trailer of the film can be viewed at www.legion.org. It makes the sobering point that a ballistic missile fired at the United States could reach its target in 33 minutes or less. It is a moral imperative that our leaders in Washington protect America from this catastrophic possibility.”

Watch the trailer of the high-definition documentary:

 
The crisis in North Korea has only confirmed the need for a strong and comprehensive missile defense system. The Heritage Foundation’s high-definition documentary “33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age” speaks directly to Americans about what we may face in the near future. A screening of “33 Minutes” will take place in New York City on June 4 at the Marriott Marquis on 1535 Broadway. Be sure to RSVP is you plan to attend.

“33 Minutes” explains the history of missile defense, the present global nuclear threat, and what the U.S. must do to protect itself and the world. This film serves as a wake-up call to complacency and apathy. Prepare to be angry, shocked, enlightened, and inspired. While many countries in the world may be against us, we’ve always counted on the tenacity of freedom-loving people to remind our leaders of the constitutional mandate to protect and defend.

While we work, play, and sleep, the enemy is stockpiling an arsenal for our demise. Countries like North Korea, Iran, and Russia already have or will soon have the capability to kill potentially millions of Americans. We must continue to develop and strengthen our missile defense systems.

Coming this month is a high-definition documentary titled, “33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age,” which explains the history of missile defense, the present global nuclear threat, and what the U.S. must do to protect itself and the world. This film will serve as a wake-up call to complacency and apathy. Prepare to be angry, shocked, enlightened, and inspired. While many countries in the world may be against us, we’ve always counted on the tenacity of freedom-loving people to remind our leaders of the constitutional mandate to protect and defend.

In the meantime, visit our YouTube Channel, where you can watch a two-minute trailer for the documentary (embeded above) as well as short clips featuring Heritage Foundation experts, Lt. General Henry Obering of the Missile Defense Agency, and others.