American Thinker Blog
November 30, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"The Economy Grows More Than Expected" Hurricanes. And more hurricanes. And now tornadoes. And yet, according to the report issued by the Commerce Department today, November 30, 2005 The economy grew at a lively 4.3 percent pace in the third quarter,... More
November 30, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Bosnia's ethnic/religious groups uniting to form government" Dick Morris asks: why don't we see headlines on this story? Will we see the same thing for Iraq? Ed Lasky 11 30 05 ... More
November 30, 2005
"Where's the special prosecutor?"
Powerline blogger John Hinderaker skillfully presents the prosecution's case that the CIA is engaged in a not—so—secret conspiracy to destroy the Bush administration with leak after leak after leak regarding CIA covert operations relating to captive terror suspects. Where's the... More
November 30, 2005
Abramoff: the prequel
The left wing media are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff's scandals bringing down GOP politicians, neglecting (of course) the various Dem pols who have enjoyed his political contributions, and possibly more. But Abramaoff is not... More
November 30, 2005
NYT obsession politicizes obituary of beloved figure
The New York Times has no shame. It attacks Stan Berenstain in its obituary for the co—author of the beloved non—PC Berenstain Bears series. ...critics for years have commented on the ursine clan's adherence to gender stereotypes, including Mama Bear's... More
November 30, 2005
More on the CIA war against Bush
The American Thinker has connected a number of dots in the ongoing CIA effort to subvert an elected American president. John Hinderaker now suggests that high officials in the CIA itself deliberately exposed the Agency's covert flights to transport terrorists... More
November 30, 2005
Your UN $$$$ at work
Thousands upon hundreds of thousands have died in Darfur while many more are near death; even more are suffering horribly daily. Starvation, terror and disease infest Africa; Iran blithely works on nuclear weapons, easily flicking off the few complaining gnats;... More
November 30, 2005
Report from Northern Iraq
Kevin Sites files an impressive report from Kurdish—dominated northern Iraq for the internet—optimized Hot Zone on Yahoo, with stills and video in addition to text. The situation he describes is largely positive, though he realistically notes that there are many... More
November 30, 2005
Iran acquiring advanced space technology
According to the AP, Iran is "snapping up" space technology as fast as it can be purchased, apparently in the fear that restrictions will be placed on space technology sales similar to those now in place for nuclear teachnology. We... More
November 30, 2005
Iraqi Author: Galloway should be tried like Saddam
Iraqi author Fadhil Rashad has called for British MP George Galloway to stand trial for robbing the Iraqi people. "It is a truism that money can blind one to the truth... I know that George Galloway knows the truth, and... More
November 29, 2005
The Gall of Gaul
French Prime Minister Villepin now warns against a hasty US withdrawal from Iraq after fighting tooth and nail against the war: Asked whether Washington should set a timetable for bringing home troops, Villepin said any withdrawal "should be coordinated with... More
November 29, 2005
Spain's Socialist leader flops on world stage: blames Israel
The man who owes his election victory to terrorism, now blames Israel for the failure of his boggled EURO—Mediterranean summit on international relations and terror. Let's get this straight: the headline of the New York Times on this summit was "Muslim... More
November 29, 2005
The CIA's war on Bush
I welcome Jim Hoagland's column about the nefarious activities of rogue elements of the US intelligence community and their allies in the press. Several of my earlier articles covering topics such as Iranian nuclear capabilities, Abu Ghraib, or the Netwar... More
November 29, 2005
Is Cindy Sheehan worth 18 distiguished combat vets?
Sweetness & Light has uncovered a disgraceful situation. Cindy Sheehan is to be paid 18 times as much to speak at a college campus than distinguished combat veteran Lt. Col. Scott Rutter. The Left loves to bemoan the plight of... More
November 29, 2005
US push-polling by our friends the French
Apparently the US media are not the only ones interested in manipulating US public opinion by biased polls. The French are doing it, too! In an article called "When France Polls America..." John Rosenthal reports that the lowest scores for... More
November 29, 2005
The left used to warn us about the CIA secret government....
Cliff Kincaid, of Accuracy in Media, highlights WaPo Columnist Jim Hoagland's words: The nut paragraph: "In a November 3 column in the Washington Post, Jim Hoagland confirmed that the Joseph Wilson affair was a CIA plot against President Bush. Writing... More
November 29, 2005
More kind MSM words for Wal-Mart
John Tierney, the sensible columnist of the New York Times, also has kind words to say about Wal—Mart. His column is locked—up in the Times Select pay service, but here is a fair use excerpt: Wal—Mart has been one of the... More
November 29, 2005
For the NYT, Bush is always wrong
President Bush gives the New York Times what they demand: a greater role for Iraqi forces in fighting terorists. And yet they still find fault with him: a distorted no—win approach towards Iraq sovereignity This is emblematic. Many in the... More
November 29, 2005
Debunking the myth of the underprivileged soldier
A common bit of disparagement among some journalists, especially at the New York Times and among their peers in the Democratic Party, is that soldiers are dead—enders: people from underprivileged backgrounds forced to fight a rich man's war because the... More
November 29, 2005
Former Kerry advisor: Wal-Mart is good
Apparently some of the brighter thinkers among the left wing Democrats are realizing that attacks on Wal—Mart, no matter how much they please the union bosses at UFCW, are counter—productive. One hundred million Americans shop there every week because they... More
November 29, 2005
China's internal power struggle
As the recent benzene spill in northeastern China continues to endanger the local citizens and harm the Middle Kingdom's international reputation, the growing anger is worrying Beijing's autocratic leadership. But, ironically, Beijing's hands are often tied because of uncooperative local bureaucratic... More
November 28, 2005
Jihad has lasted more than a thousand years, Ken
'What we have to do is get across, not just to our children in schools and the students in college, but to the editors of newspapers and broadcast media just how entwined these great global cultures of the West... More
November 28, 2005
Bush at the Border
President Bush is expected in Tucson, Arizona today and will comment on the hot button topic of the U.S. — Mexican border problem. The problem is the border is porous, allowing illegal entry into the country from peoples ranging from... More
November 28, 2005
European "soft power" gets even softer
Even the New York Times notices that the "soft power" appearsement approach of the Europeans to the Arab world is not paying many dividends lately. In a summit meeting marked as much by who was not there as who was,... More
November 28, 2005
The myth of 100,000 civilian casualties in Iraq
Aslan, at Logic Times, demolishes the phony figure bandied about by opponents of the war in Iraq. Hat tip: Dana Matthewson... More
November 28, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Chirac hits new low in popularity" The New York Sun reports: Jacques Chirac's presidency hit a new low yesterday when a poll showed that most voters think he now has little or no influence over events at home or... More
November 28, 2005
Remembering Stalin's Ukrainian Famine Victims
In 1932—33 Joseph Stalin created an artificial famine in Ukraine, killing millions in a deliberate policy of liquidating political opponents. This past weekend Ukrainians all over the world as well as at home marked the event and honored the memory... More
November 27, 2005
The Bow Tie Gang and Oakland Liquor Stores
Television viewers nationwide were recently treated to surveillance camera videotape of well—dressed black men in suits and bow ties trashing liquor stores in Oakland, California. Early reports scrupulously avoided mention of words like 'Muslim' or 'Islam.' But most people had... More
November 27, 2005
Giant mosque in London?
The UK Sunday Times reports on what looks like a serious proposal to errect a massive mosque capable of seating 40,000 worshippers in the heart of London, adjacent to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games. There are several problems... More
November 27, 2005
The PC flinch
Mark Steyn writes another typically wonderful column about the dearth of honest storytelling in Hollywood, due to the pervasive choke hold of political correctness. Perhaps that is why biopics like last year's Ray and the current Walk the Line stand... More
November 27, 2005
Iran trains Chechen terrorists
Iraq is not the bloodiest conflict between Islamist terrorists and a Western power. Not even Israel has that dubious distinction. The war between Russia and Chechen rebels is said to have claimed 200,000 victims, including 25,000 children. The Russians prefers... More
November 27, 2005
Iraqi Red Crescent thanks America
Cindy Sheehan group may have gobbled down Iraqi foods in a Thanksgiving gesture of 'solidarity with Iraq' by serving an Iraqi meal. But Sheehan's little charade was dwarfed by the Iraqi Thanksgiving gesture of "Thank you, America," in the form of a... More
November 26, 2005
Spousal privilege?
The attempt to liken homosexual relationships to marriage and claim the same privileges is extending to yet another bizzare realm. The AP reports: A gay man charged with helping his lover loot a wealthy school district has asked a judge... More
November 26, 2005
Walk the Line
The Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, which I saw this afternoon, is even better than I expected, and everything I had heard was great. The two lead roles were stunningly well—acted by Joaquin Phoenix and Resse Witherspoon. The script was... More
November 26, 2005
Mother Sheehan's book-signing in Crawford
Sweetness & Light has captured the essence of the Cindy does Crawford tour today. This is a classic. As I keep telling you, nobody does this sort of blogging better. S&L is a gem of the blogosphere. Hat tip: Lucainne.com... More
November 26, 2005
How about: "We're all good Germans"?
Germans are down in the dumps about themselves. Terrible economic growth may be the main reason, but then there is always the weather, the food, and uncomfortable questions about what Dad or Grandpa did during the war. Or maybe it... More
November 26, 2005
Like a gun show
Our soldiers have uncovered a massive storehouse of weapons near Baghdad. So big that one remarked, "It was like a gun show." Best of all, it was based on a civilian tip. We are winning, despite what the press and... More
November 26, 2005
Bad tippers and bitter waitresses
Once, years ago, I heard a heard a lecture by a rabbi on dating. He advised that if your date treats a waiter/waitress or a busboy in a condescending and mean manner, that is the way they will treat you... More
November 26, 2005
The Hugo Chavez fan club
An alert reader serving with our military in Qatar has noticed a curious ad on top of his Gmail messages. Gmail is a service of google, which is the hottest hi tech company since Microsoft, and which is raking in... More
November 26, 2005
China still finds it hard to reveal bad news
The public's right to know is often non—existent in the Middle Kingdom. The aftermath of a massive explosion a petrochemical plant in northeast China shows that too many Communist officials still maintain a "we—know—best" attitude. The SARS disaster less than... More
November 25, 2005
An Iraqi Thanksgiving
Celebrating the true meaning of Thanksgiving by enjoying a bountiful feast in a free and democratic society, less than 90 anti war protesters near Crawford, Texas gobbled down Iraqi style food. With plates piled high with rice, fish, lentils, feta... More
November 25, 2005
So sue me!
Sasha Baron Cohen, also known as Ali G, Bruno, and most memorably as Borat ("Number two television reporter of Kazakhstan Television"), is facing a lawsuit from the Kazakh government, which finds his politically incorrect questioning of interviewees repellant. The New... More
November 25, 2005
Defending Mao in Berkeley
Jung Chang and Jon Halliday have written an honest book about Mao Tes—tung, title Mao: The Unknown Story. If I remember Jon correctly from decades ago, he used to be a dedicated leftist. Apparently experience and personal honesty have opened his eyes to... More
November 24, 2005
Iran trying to develop nuclear-tipped missiles
The UK Telegraph reports on alarming developments in Iran's nuclear program: Britain and key European allies are using intelligence briefings to convince major powers that Iran is trying to develop nuclear warheads for its Shahab—3 missiles. The Shahab 3, displayed... More
November 24, 2005
Big bird
Our contributror Edward L. Daley has an essay on PETA's efforts to save the noble turkey. Edward disagrees, and calls his essay "Tofurkey or not Tofurkey, That is the Question." Read it here.... More
November 24, 2005
Unraveling Wilson's Plame Yarn
On August 3, 2003 Joseph A. Wilson IV refused to confirm his wife's CIA employment on the grounds it would be "a breach of national security": CNN.com: Transcripts CNN LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER Interview With Tom Ridge; Lott, Bayh... More
November 23, 2005
Give thanks if Ray Nagin isn't YOUR mayor
Sweetness & Light has once again scooped everyone else, capturing the bizzaro world of the circus clown wing of the Democratic Party, as revealed in the pages of the Jamaica Observer. New Orleans mayor Ray "School Bus" Nagin (who now... More
November 23, 2005
Judge a man by his enemies
If one judges writers by their enemies, then Jonah Goldberg, whom I already regard with a mixture of respect, awe, and affection (his mom is a pal), has taken on a stature approaching mythic. Judge for yourself the following letter... More
November 23, 2005
Religious tolerance in old Egypt
Anis Mansour, a famous Egyptian writer, has published a memoir about growing up in an Egypt that seems long gone: one where religious tolerance was the order of the day: There wasn't a day in my life that I did... More
November 23, 2005
The premature evacuation strategy
Victor Davis Hanson and Max Boot have articles which neatly dovetail today and explain why the smarter members of the Democratic party aren't joining their party's call for what I call the premature evacuation strategy. Boot notes the experts say we... More
November 23, 2005
Iraq president meets Iran's supreme leader
If the U.S. bolts from Iraq — and even if we don't? — who would be most likely to aid the Iraqi Shiites in a civil war against the Sunnis, Baathists, and al—Zarqawites? Does U.S. domestic opposition to and criticism... More
November 23, 2005
Castro the Muslim?
Cuban exiles at the blog called Killcastro.com (the name, spelled that way, derives from graffiti seen in Havana) have found news from Iran showing that Iranian mullahs now claim that Cuban dictator Fidel Castro may convert to Islam. Of course... More
November 23, 2005
Sex and the Single Saudi
Pssst! You there! Yeah, you, kid! Wanna see 72 virgins? It's the Jihadist answer to dirty French postcards, according to a reformist Muslim critic named Al—Sowayan, writing in the Saudi Gazette . The medium in this case isn't sexy postcards but... More
November 22, 2005
Nowhere else to go
Hitchens, again, aims past the foolish puerile yammering about Iraq and homes in on the reality——we have no option but to win this fight. I think that the continuation of the Saddam Hussein regime would have been even more dangerous... More
November 22, 2005
EU's green rules destroying rain forest
Like so much of the environmentalists' ill—considered "remedies", the EU's rules on bio—energy are having unintended detrimental consequences on the environment. THE drive for "green energy" in the developed world is having the perverse effect of encouraging the destruction of... More
November 22, 2005
Enviro-hypocrisy
Laurie David, the trophy wife of super—rich and super—funny comedian Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) has spent a lot of her husband's money promoting an extreme environmentalist agenda. Her husband is always seen driving hybrid vehicles on CYE, and... More
November 22, 2005
NYT editorial needs a correction
Mediacrity exposes the abysmal level of knowledge and intelligence which informs the editorial writers of the New York Times. It seems they missed a cover story in the Atlantic Magazine two months ago which puts the lie to their assertions... More
November 22, 2005
Citgo, Chavez, and the Kennedy sellout
As Hugo Chavez prepares to distribute cheap oil to 'the poor' in the U.S.,there's no question there's an unsavory political story behind it. We've found it. Pedro M. Burelli is a former board member of the Venezuelan oil company and... More
November 22, 2005
Iraq reconciliation conference
For the past three days, leaders from Iraq's Shiite, Kurdish, and Sunni communities have been meeting in Cairo, Eqypt, as part of a "reconciliation conference" sponsored by the Arab League. According to Voice of America , the conference was intended... More
November 22, 2005
Atta in Prague
One of the most easily understood reports about Saddam's connection to 9/11 was the report from Czech intelligence that Atta met in Prague with Iraqi intelligence prior to the 9/11 attack. This incident has been consistently misreported by almost... More
November 21, 2005
Adopting Abrams' strategy
A CENTCOM update last week on Operation Steel Curtain seems to indicate that Coalition and Iraqi forces are implementing a counter—insurgency strategy that was proving to be highly successful in the latter stages of the Vietnam War. When General Creighton... More
November 21, 2005
Chavez meddling in US politics
If you think Hugo Chavez's regional meddling is confined to Bolivia, you're in for a surprise. Chavez not only meddles in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua and any other country he can find an opportunity in, he also is... More
November 21, 2005
Home town paper rips Michael Moore
Word of Michael Moore's hypocrisy has reached his home town paper, the Flint Journal. Registration is easy, and worth it for the read. Peter Schweizer's best—seller Do as I Say (Not as I Do) is the ultimate source, but now... More
November 21, 2005
Murtha urged Somalia pullout
It turns out that Rep. John Murtha has a history of urging cut and run policies on US forces, and that President Clinton took his advice in Somalia, with disastrous results. Carl Limbacher of Newsmax has the story: "Our welcome... More
November 21, 2005
Work patterns in America and Western Europe
The New Yorker has a thoughtful piece, one which avoids the usual polemics, that explores differences in American and Euorpean work patterns. The changes which have developed over the last 30 years are profound and now result in substantial differences in... More
November 21, 2005
W reminds Murtha why we stay and fight
You won't see it get much media play, but President Bush gave an excellent speech in South Korea to the troops yesterday, talking lucidly about Iraq. The money quote: ...Zawahiri points to the Vietnam War as a model for al Qaeda.... More
November 21, 2005
Cheap shots: a new low for the NYT
The President of the United States is in China. In my local paper, the Chicago Tribune, there are two photos of his visit in the paper today. On the front page, there is a small photo with Bush and his... More
November 21, 2005
Some perspective on Murtha
Michael McGough, apparently no fan of President Bush, provides some valuable perspective on newly—sainted Democrat icon Rep. John Murtha in the Pittsburgh Post—Gazette: Three years ago, the Post—Gazette declined to endorse Rep. Murtha for re—election because he couldn't find time to... More
November 21, 2005
Barone joins the chorus
Michael Barone is a well—regarded political observer who has worked for The Washington Post and is currently a senior commentator for US News and World Report and FoxNews. He has authored a number of books, including the standard reference work... More
November 21, 2005
The NYT ferrets out those Jews
The New York Times continues it policy of presenting Jews as somewhat suspect Americans. In an article available online only to paid Times Select subscribers, it decries the efforts of Kenneth Tomlinson to bring some balance to NPR's coverage of Middle East... More
November 21, 2005
Why tolerate intolerance?
The New York Post's Amir Taheri writes of religious tolerance and intolerance as it affects Muslims, members of a religion which is predicated on religious dominance of all aspects of society, public and private. In such a religion, the idea... More
November 21, 2005
Civil War echoes
In a debate about the prosecution of the war, when the tide was turning against Lincoln, Jim Lane, a fire—breathing Senator from Kansas, gave a speech. I'm afraid I no longer have the date, or the occasion, or anything beyond... More
November 21, 2005
French normalcy
As the French intifada seemingly cools (just for the moment?) normalcy — French style — has returned. Torching cars——a common every day form of vandalism there——has dropped to a mere 98 per evening. And in the land of liberty, equality and... More
November 20, 2005
Compare and contrast
From the December 30, 2003 letter by Acting Attorney General Corney referring tha matter to Fitzgerald for investigation, we get this description of the Plame matter: 'all the authority of the Attorney General with respect to the Department's investigation into... More
November 20, 2005
What is a leftist?
Bill Palmer understates his case. It's not that the left is cowardly or timid. Leftist hate this country; some of them hate us almost as much as the Islamic fascists (really they're the same kind of people using different names). ... More
November 20, 2005
Not coming to a bookstore near you
Sweetness & Light has assembled some of the immortal words of Cindy Sheehan which are not likely to make it into print with her newly—announced book deal. Read them, and then ponder the fact that many powerful members of the... More
November 20, 2005
Not cowards...
The opponents of the war are not cowards for the simple reason that they have nothing at risk. They have nothing to be cowardly about. We have a voluntary military. If we were in a quagmire, our warriors would know... More
November 20, 2005
Murthagate?
The Astute Blogger has collected links to several items which suggest that Representative Murtha is facing some serious charges, and that his recent loud suggestion of immediate withdrawal from Iraq may be a smokescreen, to divert attention away from serious... More
November 20, 2005
Washington Post scrubs the record
In a blog item titled "Uncover the Stars of Uncovered " I described Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity and their role in the Plame matter (VIPS)and the Kerry campaign film "Uncovered". A leading member of VIPS appeared in October 2003 on... More
November 20, 2005
A new horror builds
Communist revolutions are all alike. They are characterized by the confiscation of private property, the destruction of wealth, the targetting of the middle class and industrious minorities, the rise of the lowly vicious, death squads, internal spies, aggression abroad, internal... More
November 20, 2005
Religious freedom in China
As President Bush and his wife attended church in Beijing on Sunday morning before discussing a series of thorny issues with the Chinese leadership, they should note an emerging story from Taiwan involving the Vatican and religious freedom. The South China... More
November 19, 2005
Put up or shut up
This Friday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced he will be soon selling up to 1.2 million gallons of discounted heating oil in poor communities in Boston and New York via his government's 16,000 Citgo Oil Company stations in the US.... More
November 19, 2005
Torture vesus tough interrogation
ABC news recently aired a segment on CIA interrogation techniques used in Afghanistan and Iraq to extract information from terrorists. As usual, the American interrogators and the Bush Administration were portrayed as crossing the line, violating international law, and using... More
November 19, 2005
CENTCOM Reports 19 November 2005
The CENTCOM Newsletter for the week of 14 November 2005 can be found here. Among the stories covered this week: Ad Din Province, Iraq — Alongside the longest inhabited region in the world — the very birthplace of civilization —... More
November 19, 2005
Was Colin Powell's Deputy Armitage Woodward's source?
As we noted earlier, Woodward described the conversation with his unnamed source as an off—hand one ,denigrating the significance of the Wilson Mission. Woodward indicated this further information about his source: In the final weeks before the grand jury indicted... More
November 19, 2005
The Rookies
When it comes to pulling congressional stunts, We can see who are champs and who are the runts. Team captains like Reid and those other fool wusses Are like Nagin in N'awlins: they miss their own busses. By the... More
November 19, 2005
Containing, yet loosening up, China
Opionionjournal.com has an excellent commentary on President Bush and China, pointing out the delicate—yet—doable task ahead: conatining China's ambition for regional dominance while encouraging a loosening—up of the semi—Stalinist political system. Now that China's coastal populace has become acustomed to... More
November 19, 2005
The friends of the National Education Association
Robert Novak reports: The District of Columbia cell of the Communist Party USA has been revealed as holding a monthly luncheon in the cafeteria of the National Education Association (NEA), without the sponsorship but not with the disapproval of the... More
November 19, 2005
Bush should support this move toward openness in China
While many Americans are focused on President Bush's current tour of East Asia, some have overlooked a big political gamble involving the Chinese President Hu Jintao and the student protests that shook the Middle Kingdom in the spring of 1989. ... More
November 18, 2005
Woodward's source/Fitzgerald's focus
In an article today, Bob Woodward details the circumstances leading up to his testimony. In so doing, gives us a glimpse of the myopic nature of the Special Proecutor's focus: In his press conference announcing Libby's indictment, Fitzgerald noted that,... More
November 18, 2005
Zarqawi threatens his king
I though King Abdullah of Jordan was descended from Mohammed. Why does Jordan—born al—Zarqawi say that he is descended from traitors? Could it be that al—Zarqawi is not much of a Muslim? Ed Lasky 11 18 05 ... More
November 18, 2005
Uncover the stars of
Yesterday Peter Yost co—authored a piece on the Wilson/Plame matter. In it he argues the Plame case investigation will not die and says: A group of former intelligence officers urged President Bush not to pardon anyone convicted of leaking Valerie... More
November 18, 2005
Disturbing development on the northern front
Israpundit exposes a lie by the Prime Minister of Canada. This is important, and disturbing: Prime Minister Paul Martin is no friend of Israel. Even by the standards of politics, Paul Martin's willingness to lie to a Jewish audience, especially... More
November 18, 2005
An open letter to John Murtha
Dear Representative Murtha, I am still in shock over your pronouncement to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq. At least you had the personal courage to stand up and unequivocally define the end game of your political party. Many of... More
November 18, 2005
Zarqawi blinks
Perhaps stung by criticism within Jordan and from a borader collection of Muslims after the Amman hotel attacks, Iraqi terror thug in chief Zarqawi expressed what sounds like an apology for the killing of Muslims in Amman, particuarly at a... More
November 18, 2005
Pervasive propaganda
Mediacrity catches New York Times film critic Stephen Holden casually slipping into a film review anti—Israel propaganda: New York Times film critic Stephen Holden today reviews "Private," an Italian indie move on the Israel—Palestinian dispute that —— surprise, surprise —— portrays... More
November 18, 2005
The anti-Murtha
Congressman Murtha is indeed a Marine veteran with ample standing. The press is lionizing his reiteration of opposition to our presence in Iraq, and his proposed surrender to Islamofascism But Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas, a veteran and former POW... More
November 18, 2005
An editor's work is never done
Dick Weltz sends this cartoon strip into his editor — me. Very apt. Thomas Lifson Dennis Sevakis emails: Dear Esteemed and Most Honorable Editor, Please forward to Mr. Weltz my appreciation for and concurrence with his courageous observation regarding your... More
November 18, 2005
Smart strategy for Libby
Rich Galen has offered up a short but clever strategy for Libby that relies on the reported conversations among key news figures in the case with their colleagues. If you aren't familiar with him, Rich Galen is very funny: "If... More
November 18, 2005
I took Saddam's cash, admits French envoy
Selected nut paragraphs from the UK Telegraph's story: "One of France's most distinguished diplomats has confessed to an investigating judge that he accepted oil allocations from Saddam Hussein, it emerged yesterday. Jean—Bernard Mérimée is thought to be the first senior figure... More
November 18, 2005
A tale of two papers
Michael Barone compares the internicine warfare in the New York Times where Judy Miller was forced out after reporting based on the intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction which were based on the intelligence consensus of the world and... More
November 18, 2005
French curches burned
The "youths" of France — the ones the WaPo assures us have no particular religious motives — have defiled, ransacked or burned a dozen churches in France. So notes the Astute Blogger. Don't hoild your breath waiting for MSM coverage... More
November 17, 2005
The Washington Post's responsibility
Sweetness & Light, one of my favorite blogs, has some very astute comments on Bob Woodward's coming forward to put the lie to Patrick Fitzgerald's statement that Libby was the first official to "out" the non—covert CIA desk Jockey Valerie... More
November 17, 2005
Katrina blowback
The Los Angeles Times describes the vast changes underway in Louisiana politics as a result of the population dislocations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In a nutshell, much of the Democratic base in New Orleans has not come home,... More
November 17, 2005
Good fences make safer citizens
As Robert Frost wrote decades ago, "Good fences make good neighbors." And if the neighbors aren't good, good fences make innocent citizens safer. As a result, many countries are now constructing them, but as noted earlier, the world matter of factly acknowledges... More
November 17, 2005
Frontline trauma care
More bad news for the anti—war, moonbat left: the survival rate for US service members wounded in action in Iraq has reached 90 percent, which surpasses the rate in all previous wars, and is ten points higher than in First... More
November 17, 2005
Selective outrage
India is fencing off Muslim terror, a sensible thing to do, and just like the policy Israel has followed — to accusations of apartheid. Where is the world outrage over India? India fences off Bangladesh to keep out Muslim terrorDean... More
November 17, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"US jobless claims fall to lowest level in 7 months"... More
November 17, 2005
Oily George kisses butt again
Not since Lord Haw—Haw, who made radio broadcasts for the Nazis while they were bombing London, has there been a British figure quite as despicable as George Galloway. "Oily George" has made a name for himself by serially kissing the... More
November 17, 2005
What if Roe is reversed?
Nina Easton of the Boston Globe plays the "what if?" game on a possible Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade. Unsurpsingly, whe swallows whole a number of pro—abortion shibboleths in proclaiming that the GOP cold face trouble in suburban... More
November 16, 2005
Clinton's "mistake" speech
Bill Clinton calls the Iraq invasion a "big Mistake" and chooses to do so in Dubai. Thanks, Bill. But did you need to do this in an Arab dictatorship? Ed Lasky 11 16 05... More
November 16, 2005
EU, meet Oil-for-Food
The EU's budget has failed to win approval from its financial watchdog agency for the eleventh year in a row! The words of the auditors and the scale of the program bring to mind nothing less than the scandalous United... More
November 16, 2005
Sad collegiality
Van Laskey, a former paratrooper and licensed private detective, writes: There is no more spineless group of men than our esteemed Senate Republican leaders with the exception of Allen and Santorum. Had Rockefeller gone to Italy prior to 1941 and told... More
November 16, 2005
Dems lied to get us into war!
A funny thing happened on the way to democracy in Iraq. Democrats who voted against our entry into the first Gulf War, voted for the war resolution this time around. Why? They were certain that WMDs would be uncovered and... More
November 16, 2005
Mitt Romney on France
I knew there was a reason I like Mitt Romney so much. The Boston Globe reports: Speaking to educators, Romney warned that if the United States does not improve its schools, ''we'll end up being the France of the 21st... More
November 16, 2005
The no-WMDs meme is false
Jamie Glazov interviews former military intelligence officer Bill Tierney today in Front Page Magazine, covering much of the evidence that Saddam actually had WMDs, though the press and Democrats have pretended otherwise. Tierney obviously knows this territory well, and covers... More
November 16, 2005
Lehman's recommendations, redux
Former Secretary of the Navy and 9/11 Commission member John Lehman writes in today's Washington Post about the failure of the intelligence reforms his commission recommended. Of course, he blames the Bush administration for poor implementation, rather than the commission... More
November 16, 2005
Fitzgerald's case is about to crumble
Tom Maguire agrees that the Woodward testimony creates substantial problems for the continued prosecution of the Libby case: Based on the Woodward story, we have clear indications that at least one reporter, Woodward, knew about a Wilson and wife connection... More
November 16, 2005
Do your job, go to jail
Newsweek carries an article this week on the debate in Congress over legislation to outlaw "aggressive interrogation techniques" on terrorist detainees, which includes this interesting passage: Even (Senator John) McCain recognizes there could be rare instances when a president disobeys... More
November 16, 2005
Everyone into the investment pool
Lawrence Kudlow notes the vast expansion of the investor class, and its political implications: A brand new, hot—off—the—press survey shows that the American investor class continues to grow by leaps and bounds. In the last three years, the number of families... More
November 16, 2005
News from China
As President Bush makes his tour around East Asia, presumably trying to convince the regional leaders to make a greater effort to fight the global war on terror, he should focus on what is happening in the south China city... More
November 16, 2005
Letter from Iraq
This is an excellent piece on the "ground" in Iraq. It has lots of details. Exactly the kind of thing you don't get from the MSM. Greg Richards and Doug Hanson 11 16 05... More
November 16, 2005
More bad news for the Special Prosecutor
The Washington Post reports that Bob Woodward was told of "Wilson's wife" working for the CIA before Novak or Miller and by an Administration official , apparently not Libby nor Rove. William Jeffress Jr., one of Libby's lawyers, said yesterday... More
November 15, 2005
Big Brussels is watching
The European Union is run, frankly, by unelected control freaks. In Ronald Reagan's words, the EU is a government with a people, not a people with a government. Most European nations have little concern with individual rights. Britain is rapidly... More
November 15, 2005
Jarhead still gets it wrong
I had previously criticized Jonathan Last's positive review of the Sam Mendes film Jarhead based on Last's assertion that the movie 'got it right' on the Marines and the Gulf War. Apparently, it never occurred to Last that one disillusioned... More
November 15, 2005
Meeting terror-masters
This is simply stunning: Hezbollah's deputy secretary general hosted a US delegation of families of September 11 victims in Beirut. The delegation presented the aim of its visit which was spreading peace and rejecting violence all over the world as... More
November 15, 2005
Carter redux
Chirac cites a "malaise" in the riot outbreaks. Malaise — I thought that leads to lassitude, not violence. Though Carter never actually used the term malaise, the Chirac regime increasingly mimics the Carter presidency. An obsessive romancing of Third World despots,... More
November 15, 2005
Back to base
J. Peter Freire advocates a return to conservative policies as the cure for what ails George W. Bush. Solidify the base, in other words. Rush Limbaugh is the most notable commentatorto make the point that the American people will vote for... More
November 15, 2005
Seamless cities
John Avlon writes in the New York Sun about a shining success story for the GOP's strategy to win African—American and urban voters. It is a must—read. Ed Lasky 11 15 05... More
November 15, 2005
Conservative punditry – MIA
Thomas Sowell and AT Editor Thomas Lifson were right. The tidal wave of opposition from conservative opinion makers to the Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination was wildly misdirected and too emotional in the extreme. The conservative crackdown on GW over... More
November 15, 2005
A grown-up German chancellor.
Germany has finally elected an adult as prime ministe. Angela Merkel is a physicist who was born in the old East Germany, and therefore has few illusions about the miraculous powers of the state. However, she is in a weak... More
November 14, 2005
Tracking the decline of the NYT
Dinocrat.com has been following the financial decline of the New York Times like nobody else. Core circulation in the New Tork metropolitan area is declining rapidly, masked by an increase in national circulation via satellite printing facilities. The financial performance... More
November 14, 2005
Hitchens hammers it home
Copyright limitations prevent me from quoting the entire Christopher Hitchens article demolishing the left's nonsensical propositions that (a) they voted for regime change but not an invasion in 1998 and an invasion but not a regime change in 2002 and (b)... More
November 14, 2005
Rabbi Lapin and the Foxman folly
It cannot be doubted that in a world which grows increasingly unsympathetic to Israel, America's fundamentalist Christians remain its staunchist allies . The Anti Defamation League's Abraham Foxman's efforts to drive a wedge between American Jews and the fundamentalist Christians... More
November 14, 2005
Orphans for jihad
The London Times reports on children orphaned by Kasmir earhtquake, children now being raised by terror groups. Such humanitarians.... Ed Lasky 11 14 05... More
November 14, 2005
Carter rewrites history
Jimmy Carter, in a Los Angeles Times op—ed: we are the prime cause of nuclear proliferation. can you spot the other fictions? Note that he ingores his own mischevious and disruptive, arrogant role in permitting the North Koreans to continue... More
November 14, 2005
Cashing in in higher education
Higher education is a huge industry in the United States, and a rich one, privileged with multiple tax exemptions, able to extort crippling levels of tuition from parents anxious to ensure their children get a running start at a lucrative... More
November 14, 2005
The UN: two views
Recall, yesterday the New York Times said UN actions in Iraq had been "crucial." This version of reality from the New York Sun differs significantly: After the ouster of Saddam, America and its allies hoped United Nations involvement would blunt... More
November 14, 2005
The editor of The Economist writes to us
Last week, Ed Lasky posted a blog item criticizing The Economist magazine of the U.K. for publishing an article he felt ridiculed the death of Christians. In response, the Editor in Chief of The Economist, Bill Emmott, wrote to us questioning... More
November 14, 2005
Dem senators renegging on their 2002 votes for war
A vote for war is the most sober, profound, consequential vote that a senator can make. No other vote in an entire career will be remotely as important. So, what is all this backsliding? What are Edwards, Kerry, Rockefeller, et... More
November 14, 2005
The strange case of Brandon/Nassim
The Viking Observer does an outstanding job in checking out a strange——totally false——story about Muslims in Denmark by a Christian Science Monitor reporter stationed there and finds out the reporter's background is at least as clouded as is his reporting. ... More
November 14, 2005
Andy Rooney loses a bet
Matt May still watches 60 Minutes on CBS for some reason. Perhaps he was trolling for material for his "funny quotations" feature. Last night's edition featured an Andy Rooney verbal essay on Jimmy Carter, which was either hilarious or ridiculous,... More
November 13, 2005
The progressive message progression
Tom Maguire notes that the New York Times has alerted the "reality based" community that they have little chance at gaining control of the House of Representatives on 2006; notes the Times wasn't pessimistic enough; and observes the progressive progression... More
November 13, 2005
Russert: caught
Sweetness & Light catches Tim Ruusert deliberately misleading his viewers by taking out of context the words of Colin Powell, and using them to reinforce a Democrat talking point. Shameful!... More
November 13, 2005
BRAC becomes law
I suppose there is one advantage to the current Congressional quagmire. Legislation that is forwarded for Congressional review with the provision that no objection results in concurrence will allow this type of bill to become law. Such is the case... More
November 13, 2005
CENTCOM Reports
The CENTCOM Newsletter for the week of 7 November 2005 can be found here. Among this week's stories: Base Camp Adder (Ali Base) Iraq — Local workers completed renovations to the Nasiriyah Intelligence Police Station in late October. The station... More
November 13, 2005
John Edwards, myth-maker
A John Edwards op—ed repeats the myth and canard of manipulated intelligence. Edwards, the erstwhile Presidential candidate, tries the "I made a Mistake" gambit to explain his vote to approve the war in 2002.* We probably can expect more of... More
November 13, 2005
"Separation barrier"?
A New York Times "reporter" calls Israel's security barrier a "separation barrier." Needless to say, this is parroting the Palestinian propaganda about Israeli "apartheid." The article makes no mention of the terror attacks which prompted the erection of the security barrier.... More
November 13, 2005
New York Times doesn't know the basic facts
The MSM constantly lecture us that one big advantage for their readers lies in the fact that editors and fact checkers ensure that the information they present is reliable, unlike those nasty internet websites. The New York Times is supposed to... More
November 13, 2005
One ridiculous paragraph
New York Times obtuseness and UN—boosting are both on display in one ridiculous pragraph today. The Times again goes to bat for the discredited United Nations. After deep—sixing innumerable reports illustrating UN incompetence, bias, and corruption the Times continues its... More
November 13, 2005
Blame Israel (a continuing series)
Despite evidence to the contrary, a former Clinton Cabinet member blames Israel for continuing unrest in the Arab world. No mention of Muslims living under despotism and poverty, or surveys in the Arab world showing the Arab populations do not... More
November 13, 2005
US concern at Saudi action on terror
The Financial Times reports a concern of the US Treasury that Saudi Arabia is 'not being active enough in shutting down sources of financing for terrorist organizations?' Are the actions by 'Our Saudi Friends' finally being scrutinized for what they... More
November 13, 2005
Beijing's bird flu blinders
Just days after pledging 'complete openness' in the fight against bird flu, Communist officials in Beijing have reportedly ordered newspapers to seek approval from the authorities before publishing any reports on new outbreaks of bird flu and any animal or... More
November 12, 2005
More newspaper layoffs
The San Jose Mercury—News, once renowned as the newspaper with the most advertising linage in the entire United States, is laying off 16% of its newsroom staff, through attrition and buyouts, so as to avoid the nasty—sounding term "lay—off". The... More
November 12, 2005
Saddam, our ally?
Powerline notes the outlandish claims being made by Michael Scheuer, formerly of the CIA: The pathetic Michael Scheuer claims that, "in the war against al Qaeda, Saddam Hussein was one of our best allies." And the selectively pathetic Chris Matthews gives... More
November 12, 2005
Who Said?
Norman Podhoretz has assembled 10 pre—war statements. Can you guess who said which? 1. I participated in a Washington meeting about Iraqi WMD...One of the senior people put a question to the group: did anyone in the room doubt that... More
November 12, 2005
Veterans Day thoughts
We were undergoing server maintenance during Veterans Day. As Our first post followng resumption of service, nothing could be better than these words: 'The soldier is the army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a... More
November 09, 2005
First fashion victims, now architecture victims
Another example of French obtuseness: "We are victims of our architecture," says Guillaume Parmentier, the head of a French institute, as he struggles to explain two weeks of rioting in the sterile high—rise ghettos populated by France's Muslim immigrants. True.... More
November 09, 2005
French media censor their own riots
The French media were the leaders in broadcasting the Palestinian "story of the death of Mohammed Al—Dura" in 2000. The last part of that sentence is in quotes because the story spread by French media was a Palestinian propaganda ploy to portray the death... More
November 08, 2005
Your tax dollars at work
The latest pork for Congress: $623 popcorn machines, plasma TVs, and more $823 for ioinic air fresheners Reps. David Dreier (R—Calif.), Mark Souder (R—Ind.) and John Murtha (D—Pa.) spent more than $5,700 each on plasma—screen televisions. Rep. Jim Cooper (D—Tenn.)... More
November 08, 2005
Paristine
Joseph Farah, an American of Lebanese Christian descent, has the perfect solution to stop the rioting in France: a Paristinian state. And why not——he's merely applying the solution the French have so pompously given to Israel and adapted it for the... More
November 08, 2005
Where's the outrage?
Israel may export a security barrier to Russia to fence off Chechnya. Where is the world outrage? Russia trying to fend itself from terror by keeping it out. When Israel did this, howls of outrage echoed throughout the world. The... More
November 08, 2005
New Andalusia?
A Chirac adviser and Arabist calls for "new Andalusia" in which Muslims and Chrsitians would create a new culture Of course, he leaves out other groups — like French Jews (France has the largest Jewish popualtion in the world, after... More
November 08, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Euro hits 18 month low" Via Bloomberg. Ed Lasky 11 08 05... More
November 08, 2005
Economist magazine ridicules death of Christians
Another sign of the Times (NY, that is). The Economist magazine, like the New York Times, is often considered de rigueur reading by the elites of the world. It positions itself as a magazine for the world, since it covers... More
November 08, 2005
Correction
In a blog item the other day about Wilson's green room disclosures, I inadvertently erred in adding Victor Davis Hanson's name to the list of those who Wilson had told that his wife worked in the CIA. On the other hand... More
November 08, 2005
Curiouser and curiouser
The American Spectator adds more details to the puzzle of who authorized Wilson's trip and who referred the Plame non—outing to the Department of Justice: A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Valerie Plame —— who suggested... More
November 08, 2005
Kerry reveals the politics of feelings
Speaking to young Democrats at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, John F. (for "feelings") Kerry accidentally revealed the strategy of Democrats to prey on feelings, not logic. "All politics is a reaction to felt needs. You need to get people... More
November 08, 2005
The news the MSM don't see fit to print
Reliapundit notes that the MSM is censoring news from France that proves the Islamist intent behind at least some of the rioting in France and the piracy off Somalia. The French media are also censoring ($ link) news regarding the pandemonium.... More
November 08, 2005
So where is the report?
On October 25, 2005 the report on the investigation involving Henry Cisneros, which cost taxpayers $21 million and whose release has been held up by counsel for some of the Clinton Administration officials persons named therein, was ordered released by... More
November 07, 2005
A new "peace plan" from Iran
So, are Tom Friedman and the New York Times going to push this peace plan, as they did the Saudi Peace Plan, the Geneva Peace Plan, the Road map...and every purported peace plan ever presented? How can anyone accept the... More
November 07, 2005
Joe Wilson's earlier mission to Niger
Not much commented on is the fact that in 1999, according to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Joseph A. Wilson IV made another trip to Niger, a trip also paid for by the CIA and for which he was... More
November 07, 2005
Adventure vacations, Part II
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's legacy to the War on Terror has gone largely unreported by the major press. Thanks to thirty years of socialist policies, Germany was forced to withdraw its naval presence around the Horn of Africa to... More
November 07, 2005
Diversity?
Diversity in college: how about classes for "only native Americans" at ASU?Ed Lasky 11 07 05... More
November 07, 2005
UNESCO honors anti-Semite
UNESCO awarded its International Music Prize 2005 to 'Zorba the Greek' composer Mikis Theodorakis for his contributions to understanding between cultures and the advancement of peace. Two years ago: Composer Mikis Theodorakis has said he was condemning Israel's Government by... More
November 07, 2005
Muslims demonstrate against al Qaeda
Gateway Pundit reports that 150,000 Moroccans have taken to streets of Casablanca to demonstrate against al Qaeda. Some are carryting signs pledging unity with Iraq. Don't believe the MSM propagandists who insist that we are losing the war on terror.... More
November 07, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Gas prices return to pre—Katrina levels" CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Retail gas prices plunged an average of 23 cents nationwide in the past two weeks, marking a return to pre—Hurricane Katrina levels, according to a survey.... More
November 07, 2005
Night 11 of the French intifada
Your morning update — Here are some highlights, or is that lowlights President Jacques Chirac has said restoring order is his top priority. Yeah, that's what he "says" but is it, really? "It is strictly forbidden for any Muslim... to... More
November 07, 2005
Michael Ledeen on the French Connection
Just posted on National Review Online, one hour after our posting of James Lewis's AT article today, the estimable Michael Ledeen explores the forged Niger documents in an imagined dialogue with James Angleton and concludes (with the help of his... More
November 06, 2005
Al-Libi and an al-Lie
The New York Times suggests that the Administration knowingly relied on an unreliable source (al—Libi) to strengthen its claim about links between Iraq and Al Qaeda. If so, that fault lies with CIA Director George Tenet, not the White House, and... More
November 06, 2005
Curse of the ice man?
The Gulf News reports on the latest in sseries of "mysterious" deaths associated with the discovery of the 5,300 year old hunter's corpse in an Alpine glacier: An Australian molecular biologist who carried out research on the Stone Age hunter... More
November 06, 2005
"God told me..."
A homosexual bishop is saying that God called him to his elevated post: ""About 10 or 12 years ago, God began to pursue me about the episcopate," he said. "I've often compared it to a little yapping dog biting at... More
November 06, 2005
The UK Tax Man will tax views
Once they had made a lot of money, the Beatles wrote a wry song about the Tax Man, who would tax the street, your feet, and other supposed absurdities. Reality has a lamentable tendency to imitiate some art. The United... More
November 06, 2005
Vallely update.
Joseph A. Wilson IV has threatened to sue General Paul Vallely unless he retracts his statement that in 2002 Wilson told him (while they shared a green room at Fox) that his wife was a CIA agent. Vallely stands by... More
November 06, 2005
A real leak with real consequences
Unlike the non—outing of a non—covert agent Valerie Plame, which Bob Woodward says an informal CIA assessment determined had no consequences, the leak of the holding of Al Qaeda prisoners on former Eastern bloc countries is having real consequences: EASTERN European... More
November 06, 2005
CENTCOM reports
The CENTCOM Newsletter for the week of October 31, 2005 can be found here. The newsletter highlights continuing reconstruction projects in the Central Region and earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan. The CENTCOM Public Affairs Office has forwarded to American Thinker... More
November 05, 2005
Scandal at the University of California
Inquiries by The San Francsico Chronicle have apparently led to the sudden resignation of the number two—ranking official of the University of California system, the nation's most prominent higher education system. Nobody, apparently, was minding the store when it came... More
November 05, 2005
Sexual frustration awaits martyred jihadists
The prophet Muhammad taught that Muslim men martyred in a holy war will be rewarded with darked—eyed houris (huris) or perpetual virgins (Suras 44:51—56; 52:17—29; 55:46—78). However, "houris" may be a mistranslation of "white raisins." This very brief article — complete with... More
November 05, 2005
Violence in France
Our contributor Olivier Guitta has an excellent article for the Weekly Standard on the history of Muslim violence in France, as subject on which he is extremely well—informed.... More
November 05, 2005
History Channel Ad for Crusades documentary
Can there be a more biased, inflammatory, and incorrect headline than this one for the upcoming History Channel Documentary on the Crusades? "CAN A PRESIDENT FINISH WHAT A KING, A SULTAN AND A POPE BEGAN?" What exactly is the HISTORY... More
November 05, 2005
Far out
General Vallely says Wilson offered up to him the information that his wife was a CIA employee, well before the Novak article. Joseph C. Wilson, revealed wife Valerie Plame's identity in a casual conversation more than a year before she... More
November 05, 2005
A market-based solution to Paris intifada?
Reliapundit at The Astute Blogger, has an interesting suggestion for the French government to end its problems with rampaging "youths." It will never happen, of course.... More
November 05, 2005
Revs. Jackson and Sharpton are needed in Paris
I'm really surprised that we haven't heard anything from Jesse or Al regarding the ongoing and apparently uncontrolled 'civil unrest' in France as well as some other EU countries, the full extent of which has been less than fully reported... More
November 05, 2005
AP repeats The Big Lie. Again.
The AP reports that the motivation for the forged documents of a sale to Iraq of Nigerien yellowcake was financial, not political. But they do so in the context of an assertion which has been established to be utterly false by at... More
November 05, 2005
Still no electricity in Miami
Val Prieto, of Babalu Blog in Miami, writes about what it's like to be without electricity so long after Hurricane Wilma has passed. The title is witty: "No—power blogging." With summit going on in Argentina, the blogosphere needs Val's full... More
November 05, 2005
Speech at the Rome rally against Iran's threat to Israel
My good friend Max Grossman has translated from Italian part of a speech given by Emilia Guarnieri, President of the Association of 'Meeting' for the Friendship Among Peoples, at the rally of 10—15,000 people in Rome protesting Iran's threat to... More
November 05, 2005
Group-think
Gregory Kane, of the Baltimore Sun, is one of my favorite columnists. He is consistently sensible, honest, eloquent, and penetrating. And he doesn't care a whit about offending the delicate sensibilites of the politically correct. Considering where he works, he... More
November 05, 2005
Adventure vacations are quite popular these days
Off the coast of Somalia, passengers on the luxury liner Seabourn Spirit were treated to the latest offering in ocean—going entertainment. While on its way from Alexandria in Egypt to Mombassa in Kenya, the ship was fired upon by gunmen... More
November 04, 2005
MSM blackout on the intifada in Denmark
It's not just Paris. Successive nights of riots have rocked parts of �rhus, the second largest city in Denmark. Little to nothing has appeared in the English language press about the second front in the Eurabian intifada. �rhus is home... More
November 04, 2005
LA Times repeats urban legends. Again.
A Los Angeles Times op—ed by Jonathant ("Why I hate George Bush") Chait again repeats the canard about Bush bullying intelligence analysts into suppressing contrary information. Nobody bullied intelligence analysts into suppressing contrary information, and they didn't pass on information... More
November 04, 2005
The Paris intifada continues and grows
The French have sneered at America when Los Angeles erupted in riots, when New Orleans flooded, and on many other occasions, such as walking past a McDonald's outlet. The New York Sun editorializes today: As the Chicago Sun—Times reported in... More
November 04, 2005
Capitalism, rising
Pierre Omidyar, the founder of ebay, and his wife Pam, have donated $100 million to their alma mater Tufts University. While such philanthropy is admirable, even more praiseworthy are the conditions surrounding the gift. In essence, Mr. and Mrs. Omidyar... More
November 04, 2005
Castro did WHAT in Brazil?
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has not only has wrought mayhem all over the poor countries of the hemisphere, he now seems to be moving in on more advanced countries, like Brazil — no small country — undermining them through alleged bribery... More
November 04, 2005
An honest liberal
Liberal Jeff Rosen of The New Republic thinks the indictment of Libby is indefensible: ...it's important for journalists (including me) who vigorously opposed the Kenneth Starr investigation to state the obvious: The Fitzgerald indictments are an embarrassing confirmation of the... More
November 04, 2005
Italians demonstrate against Iran's threat to Israel
Ten to 15 thousand epople took to the streets of Rome last night to demonstrate against Iran's open threat to exterminate Israel. While not a massive number, it is 10 to 15 thousand more people than have taken to the... More
November 04, 2005
A Brit looks at U.S. test scores
Harry Hutton, my favorite British blogger, who's done incredible work on the real situation in Colombia, seems to be spending time in the States lately and blogging about all he sees here. He notes that the states with the lowest... More
November 04, 2005
Missing headlines (a continuing series)
"Unemployment down, payrolls up" Despite devastating hurricanes from late August through mid October, according to the Labor Department: America's payrolls grew by a rather tepid 56,000 in October, a sign that the nation's job market is slowly regaining its footing... More
November 04, 2005
What are your kids learning about Islam?
A few days ago AT publicized the distortions and misrepresentations of what and how students are taught about Islam and the Arab world, based on a curriculum by organizations financed by Saudi Arabia. This curriculum was publicized in a New... More
November 04, 2005
Prince Charles in the Bay Area
It turns out that Charles and Camilla will be spending half of their American visit in the San Francisco Bay Area: a grand total of four days. Frankly, I don't spend much time concerned with matters related to the Battenburg family, or... More
November 03, 2005
To a louse
Robert Burns' classic, To a Louse, begins "Oh would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us." Someone ought to send it to Dan Rather who still seems stuck in an alternate reality. From the... More
November 03, 2005
Refinery crisis
D.J. Drummond of Polipundit has a superb analysis of the crisis situation the United States faces with a lack of new refineries, and the almost impossible task of building new ones. Ed Lasky 11 03 05... More
November 03, 2005
Dress Code? What dress code?
The NBA had its opening night on Tuesday with three games on the schedule. Who won and lost is recorded in the next morning papers' sports pages. For the rest of the story, just flip over to the fashion section. ... More
November 03, 2005
Behind the Delhi blasts
India and Pakistan are moving forward with detente, most recently symbolized and deepened by the opening of the border between Indian and Pakistan—governed portions of Kashmir, to permit earthquake aid from India to reach Pakistani victims. But Islamicist forces are... More
November 03, 2005
Not fit to print
The motto of the New York Times, once known as "the paper of record" is "all the news that's fit to print." What's not fit to print, apparently, is information that contradicts their own biases; facts that contradict their deeply... More
November 03, 2005
The Big Mo
Victoria Toensing has raised many of the same questions as Clarice Feldman does in her article here today on the Wilson Gambit. Scott Johnson at Powerline concurs. Momentum is shifting. There are far more interestiung questions needing investigation than Lewis... More
November 03, 2005
Hearty welcome to Larry Kudlow's blog!
We are pleased to welcome a significant new citizen of the blogoshere. Noted economist, writer, and thinker Larry Kudlow has just introduced his own blog. Larry is one of the most astute commentators of the day regarding sundry topics, but focusing... More
November 03, 2005
US forces providing earthquake aid in Pakistan under fire
The South Asia Analysis Group, an India—based group which covers the war on terror, has issued a paper regarding the reaction to the deployment of US forces to provide aid in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. There... More
November 03, 2005
NPR's euphemisms
NPR could not bring itself to use the term "Muslim" in its report this morning on the rioting in Paris. It referred to the two teenagers whose deaths began the situation as "...of African origin." The rioters were called... More
November 03, 2005
Thinking outside the box: economic boom in Iraq
Iraq is "a disaster" — at least according to what you see in the mainstream media. That's their story, and they're sticking to it, for the most part. Ron Nessen, writing in the very mainstream Washington Post, however, notices that... More
November 03, 2005
Schumer: the stunt "played far better than we had thought"
The Washington Post's Charles Babington has a "still smoldering" Bill Frist saying that Tuesday's closed session was not necessary while DSCC honcho Chuck Schumer says: "My phones have been ringing off the hook. It has played far better than we... More
November 02, 2005
Suicide cartoons for kids
Watch it and weep. An Iranian children's cartoon is now teaching young kids how to hate. It shows how a little boy's father is brutally murdered by an Israeli officer. That's the premise for revenge. The cartoon tells how the little... More
November 02, 2005
Kristof corrects his article (I think)
Last week I described the tardy correction of the June 12, 2003 article in the Washington Post which aired Wilson's lies. I noted then that an earlier article by Nicholas Kristof saying essentially the same thing had still not been... More
November 02, 2005
Who just leaked a dangerous CIA secret?
Today's Washington Post reveals a national security secret that can imperil us far more than the phony Valerie Wilson "leak". The writer, Dana Priest, with the certain cooperation of CIA leftwingers, reveals a highly secret CIA—run prison network for Al... More
November 02, 2005
What gets you into trouble working for San Francisco
A child welfare worker for the city of San Francisco discovers that a psychiatrist working for the city's foster care program is featured in a starring role on a pornographic gay sex site. The worker shows the pictures to her... More
November 02, 2005
Vote for us - we're gullible
Now that the Dems have returned to their Bush Lied theme, Anchoress dusts off and reviews the Clinton Administration justifications fot the Iraq Liberation Act and observes: We went to war because Bill Clinton told the truth. The Dems would... More
November 02, 2005
Bravo, Italia!
Years ago when I prosecuted Nazi war criminals for the Department of Justice's Office of Special Investigations, I came across a number of contemporary German military records complaining of the "undisciplined" Italian troops who had hidden Jews in their own... More
November 02, 2005
Harry Reid, loser
Matt May dissects the statement of Searchlight, NV's dim bulb, Harry Reid, likening George W. Bush to Millard Fillmore. When, decades from now, the definitive histories of the current age are written, one thing is certain: Sen. Harry Reid of... More
November 02, 2005
Notable quotable
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee: "Flu vaccine is a tough pill to swallow" Send that man to medical school! Ed Lasky 11 02 05 ... More
November 02, 2005
Liberal columnist notices GOP emphasis on meritocracy
David Ignatius, liberal Washington Post columnist, has noticed that the GOP is increasingly calling on the talents of high achievers with elite credentials (the latest example being Samuel Alito, Jr.), rather than good ol' boys and cronies. Mostly he sees irony... More
November 02, 2005
BBC: ghettos shackle French Muslims
Prince Charles and Camilla are on their way here to imbue us with a bit of British tolerance for Muslims. (Or, have they arrived? Oh, dear! I haven't been paying attention.) For a preview of what's in store, here's part... More
November 02, 2005
Orwell lives - at the New York Times
The New York Times calls unemployment assistance "pay" and calls for higher amounts for Katrina states. The formerly prestigious paper seems to have overlooked the concept that "pay" is compensation for work performed — a transaction with two sides to... More
November 02, 2005
Hillary attacks - and ignores her own culpability
Hillary Clinton responded to President Bush's plans to prepare for a possible avian fluy crisis by attacking the shortages of vaccines that have occurred under his Administration and, of course, by criticizing Bush for tardiness in taking the steps he... More
November 02, 2005
Saudi-influenced texts in public schools
The New York Sun reports on a study conducted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency of Saudi—financed texts made available to public schools and used for "teacher training sessions" in no fewer than 175 cities in 43 states, with "more than... More
November 01, 2005
I'm jealous of Christopher Hitchens
How can one not envy a writer who, in calling for a full airing of the wrong—headedness of the Scowcroftians, begins his essay this way? The sole point of the non—findings of the Fitzgerald non—investigation, into the non—commission of non—crimes... More
November 01, 2005
Not good enough
The conservative punditry mounted a concerted campaign against the President to force the withdrawal of Harriet Miers from consideration for the Supreme Court. Now that they have the type of nominee they fervently hoped for in Judge Alito, do they... More
November 01, 2005
Act of war
David Warren, of the Ottawa Citizen, looks at Iran's public threat to destroy Isarel, and draws the appropriate conclusions in a column via Real Clear Politics: For years I have thought the West should be trying harder not to appease, but... More
November 01, 2005
Making excuses for "wipe Israel off the map"
The Christian Science Monitor excuses (and, in essence, apologizes for) the Iranian president's remarks on the grounds that he is inexperienced in foreign policy matters: In states like Iran — which has diplomatic relations with neither Israel nor the US... More
November 01, 2005
Democrats have incentive to delay Alito confirmation
The Hill notes that delay in confirming Samuel Alito too the Supreme Court could affect cases of significance to social conservatives. Two high—profile abortion—related cases are scheduled for argument before the Supreme Court on Nov. 30, according to the court's... More
November 01, 2005
The intifada reaches Paris
Pro—Arab capitulation and anti—Israel venom will not shield France from its own "Intifada" — tear gas shooting into mosque, police attacked, cars destroyed. Sacre bleu! It is an outrage. I assume the French will introduce a Security Council resolution condemning... More
November 01, 2005
Ere Wilson met Kristof
From October 2002 through May 2003 (that is, from a period of time that spanned 7 months after his Mission to Niger to over 1 year after it), when he was the source for Nicholas Kristof's sensational New York Times article... More
November 01, 2005
Koizumi's political moves distress China
In a recent cabinet reshuffle, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has picked a couple outspoken conservatives as his new top ministers. these choices are bound to generate more tension with Beijing and Seoul during in his remaining ten months in office. ... More
November 01, 2005
UN fails its own standards
Were it not for the fact that the UN's failures have had such tragic consequences for sexually—epxloited children in Africa and Asia, that its corruption denied money to pay for medicines and food for Iraqi children, and that it abets... More
November 01, 2005
Physical threats to conservatives
Lastango, at the Daily Pundit, is worried about a spate of recent attacks and threats against prominent conservatives. I have long called by the most vigorous possible prosecution of crimes of violence in the name of politics, whether it be... More
November 01, 2005
The lawsuit weapon
The Islamic Society of Boston, a group which is a city—designated developer of a $22 million mosque next to Roxbury Community College, has launched a lawsuit alleging defamation and conspiracy to defame against a wide range of critics: Steven Emerson,... More
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