Michael Hirsch explains: Behind Obama's takedown of the Qaida leader this week lies a profound discontinuity between administrations — a major strategic shift in how to deal with terrorists. From his first great public moment when, as a state senator, he called Iraq a "dumb war," Obama indicated that he thought that George W. Bush had badly misconceived the challenge … Read More
To Release The Bin Laden Photo Or Not
Pro: It will end rumors in Middle East "hot spots" that he is still alive. Con: Ugly photo could engender more anger and hostility at U.S. from those "on the fence". I come out against releasing the "dead bin Laden photo". There will always be an element who won't believe it. But if (a) his own daughter, who eyewitnessed the … Read More
New Bin Laden Tape On Its Way
Dammit, he's a zombie! (No, it's just a never-been-released tape he made a while ago. Kind of like Michael Jackson's latest "album").
The Gutsy Call
Conservatives are trying to downplay Obama's role in the killing of bin Laden, but the New York Times gives a dramatic account of what happened inside the White House, and indeed, it does show that Obama made a tough, and ultimately correct decision: As more than a dozen White House, intelligence and Pentagon officials described the operation on Monday, the … Read More
About Bin Laden’s Demise
I didn't know until this morning. Kind of surprising, and I won't believe it until I see the long form death certificate (joke). Well, first and foremost, kudos to the Navy Seals. It doesn't sound like it was an easy operation, but clearly the mission was accomplished. Secondly, the news is saying that bin Laden's compound was "just down the … Read More
McCain On DADT
Well, the repeal of DADT passed. And this made McCain cry. The Washington Post recounts the ugliness: In the end, McCain lost eight Republicans as the ban was easily overturned. This wasn't entirely surprising, because Defense Secretary Robert Gates (a Bush administration holdover) and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen both argued passionately for repeal, and a Pentagon study forecast that a repeal … Read More
McGain Moves Goalposts on DADT
Steve Benen reports it: The anti-gay senator started by saying we can't repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" until the Secretary of Defense says it's a good idea. When the Pentagon chief did just that, McCain shifted gears and said repeal should wait for the go-ahead from the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff. When the chairman did just that, … Read More
Long-Awaited Pentagon Report on DADT is Out
And guess what… From The Washington Post: The Pentagon's long-awaited report on gays in the military concludes that repealing the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" law would present only a low risk to the armed forces' ability to carry out their mission, and that 70 percent of service members believe it would have little or no effect on their units, … Read More
Nude Body Scanner or Groping Patdown?
Nude body scanner for me, please. And I can't believe that some people are so vain that they actually think a TSA worker, who is being sentenced to see nude-ish outlines of people all day, are suddenly going to get off on their body. We live in Fat America. You're no more beautiful nor more ugly that 90% of other people out there. … Read More
Juan Williams And Bigotry
"Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I … Read More
DADT Blocked
An attempt to get a vote on repealing Dont Ask Dont Tell failed this afternoon, as Republicans filibustered. The final roll call: 56 to 43 in favor of allowing Obama to repeal DADT. It was actually 57 to 42, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid switched his vote for procedural reasons, allowing him to be able to bring the bill … Read More
Who Could Have Predicted…?
Who could have predicted that an orchestrated campaign anti-Muslim hate speech on the part of many of the country's most prominent politicians and the country's biggest news network could have led to this unfortunate situation in Florida? [Source]
Link Between Anti-Muslim Sentiment and Opposition To The Park51 Mosque? You Bet.
They say they oppose the Park51 "mosque" in lower Manhattan out of "sensitivity for the 9/11 families", although (of course) many of the 9/11 families don't mind or care. So what is the reason for the opposition? Could there be some latent bigtory lurking just below the surface. You betcha: We now have clear evidence that there's a direct link between … Read More
How To Handle The Qu’ran Burning Thing
Here's an idea… don't put a microphone in front of the lunatic preacher and his band of 50 followers who plan to ban hundreds of copies of the Qu'ran on 9/11. Don't put a camera on his face. Don't invite him on your news show to explain what he intends to do. Well, I guess it's too late for that. It's … Read More
Fox News = Terrorist Funder
Yesterday morning on Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor Dan Senor observed that The Kingdom Foundation, whose chairman is Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, is a funder for the Cordoba House Initiative. “The Kingdom Foundation, so you know, is this Saudi organization, headed up by the guy that tried to give Rudy Giuliani $10 million after 9/11 that was sent back, funds radical madrassas … Read More